| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: point from which Reilly had plunged down two hundred feet to the
jagged rocks below.
At the curve they came face to face with Bucky O'Connor. Three
weapons went up quicker than the beating of an eyelash. More
slowly each went down again
"What are you doing here, Bucky?" the sheriff asked.
"Just pirootin' around, Val. It occurred to me Leroy might not
mean to play fair with you, so I kinder invited myself to the
party. When I heard shooting I thought it was you they had
bushwhacked, so I sat in to the game "
"You guessed wrong, Bucky. Reilly and the others rounded on
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lucile by Owen Meredith: "And I some consolation, no doubt; for the tears
Of another have not flow'd for me many years."
It was then that Matilda herself seized the hand
Of Lucile in her own, and uplifted her; and
Thus together they enter'd the house.
XIV.
'Twas the room
Of Matilda.
The languid and delicate gloom
Of a lamp of pure white alabaster, aloft
From the ceiling suspended, around it slept soft.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: chained them. And so the boy's lips pouted more and more, and he
made greater and greater efforts not to cry, thinking it a shame
to cry in such a case.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE LORD.
Nekhludoff kept up with the quick pace of the convicts. Though
lightly clothed he felt dreadfully hot, and it was hard to
breathe in the stifling, motionless, burning air filled with
dust.
When he had walked about a quarter of a mile he again got into
the trap, but it felt still hotter in the middle of the street.
Resurrection |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Symposium by Plato: Moreover, I have asked Socrates about the truth of some parts of his
narrative, and he confirmed them. Then, said Glaucon, let us have the tale
over again; is not the road to Athens just made for conversation? And so
we walked, and talked of the discourses on love; and therefore, as I said
at first, I am not ill-prepared to comply with your request, and will have
another rehearsal of them if you like. For to speak or to hear others
speak of philosophy always gives me the greatest pleasure, to say nothing
of the profit. But when I hear another strain, especially that of you rich
men and traders, such conversation displeases me; and I pity you who are my
companions, because you think that you are doing something when in reality
you are doing nothing. And I dare say that you pity me in return, whom you
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