| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: and was once more pointed for the sea and safety. Not often in
naval history was there a moment of more sickening peril, and it
was dignified by one of those incidents that reconcile the
chronicler with his otherwise abhorrent task. From the doomed
flagship the Americans hailed the success of the English with a
cheer. It was led by the old admiral in person, rang out over the
storm with holiday vigour, and was answered by the Calliopes with
an emotion easily conceived. This ship of their kinsfolk was
almost the last external object seen from the CALLIOPE for hours;
immediately after, the mists closed about her till the morrow. She
was safe at sea again - UNA DE MULTIS - with a damaged foreyard,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy: had been no trips in boats, no well-fitted garments, etc., if my
wife had worn some shapeless blouse, and I had seen her thus at
her home, I should not have been seduced.
CHAPTER VIII.
"And note, also, this falsehood, of which all are guilty; the
way in which marriages are made. What could there be more
natural? The young girl is marriageable, she should marry. What
simpler, provided the young person is not a monster, and men can
be found with a desire to marry? Well, no, here begins a new
hypocrisy.
The Kreutzer Sonata |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Hellenica by Xenophon: slain, and then the pursuit became general; nor could the pursuers
well have failed to capture the camp, barricade and all, had they not
caught sight of the mob of traffickers with a long array of attendants
and slaves, and thinking that here was a prize indeed, desisted from
further chase.
[10] Or, "he would knock them all down to the hammer."
[11] Or, "cut off from their pay."
[12] Lit. "lochagoi and taxiarchs."
[13] Or, "to retaliate"; or, "to complete the movement."
[14] Reading, after Dindorf, {oi politai}, or, if with the MSS., {oi
oplitai}; translate "the heavy-armed among the assailants saw
|
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 Domestic Peace by Honore de Balzac: "This room is charming," said she, admiring the sky-blue hangings
looped with pearls.
"All here is love and delight!" said the Baron, with deep emotion.
In the mysterious light which prevailed he looked at the Countess, and
detected on her gently agitated face an expression of uneasiness,
modesty, and eagerness which enchanted him. The young lady smiled, and
this smile seemed to put an end to the struggle of feeling surging in
her heart; in the most insinuating way she took her adorer's left
hand, and drew from his finger the ring on which she had fixed her
eyes.
"What a fine diamond!" she exclaimed in the artless tone of a young
|
