| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: suspended over his head,--martial music is heard in the distance, at the
first sound the vision disappears. The music grows louder and louder.
Egmont awakes. The prison is dimly illuminated by the dawn.--His first
impulse is to lift his hand to his head, he stands up, and gazes round, his
hand still upraised.)
The crown is vanished! Beautiful vision, the light of day has frighted thee!
Yes, their revealed themselves to my sight uniting in one radiant form the
two sweetest joys of my heart. Divine Liberty borrowed the mien of my
beloved one; the lovely maiden arrayed herself in the celestial garb of my
friend. In a solemn moment they appeared united, with aspect more
earnest than tender. With bloodstained feet the vision approached, the
Egmont |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dreams by Olive Schreiner: where her neck had lain so long. And she looked at the earth, and she
looked at the sky, and she looked at him who stood by her: but he looked
out across the desert.
And I saw her body quiver; and she pressed her front knees to the earth,
and veins stood out; and I cried; "She is going to rise!"
But only her sides heaved, and she lay still where she was.
But her head she held up; she did not lay it down again. And he beside me
said, "She is very weak. See, her legs have been crushed under her so
long."
And I saw the creature struggle: and the drops stood out on her.
And I said, "Surely he who stands beside her will help her?"
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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 Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: for there is a long, long journey before us, and if you should
lose your head and let go your hold you will fall and be dashed
to pieces."
Then he spread the two great wings, and away he flew as fast as
the wind, with Gebhart hanging to his belt.
Over hills, over dales, over mountains, over moors he flew, with
the brown earth lying so far below that horses and cows looked
like pismires and men like fleas.
Then, by-and-by, it was over the ocean they were crossing, with
the great ships that pitched and tossed below looking like chips
in a puddle in rainy weather.
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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 Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: Wentworth staring and the Frenchman scowling.
"Shall I call the guard, my lord?" asked Wentworth crisply.
"I t'ink yes," said Feversham, and the captain gained the door, and
spoke a word to one of the soldiers without.
"But, my lord," exclaimed Blake in a tone of protest, "I vow you are too
ready to take this fellow's word."
"He `as spoke so few," said Feversham.
"Do you know who he is?"
"You `af `eard `im say - t'e lady's `usband."
"Aye - but his name," cried Blake, quivering with anger. "Do you know
that it is Wilding?"
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