| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Critias by Plato: set apart a race-course of a stadium in width, and in length allowed to
extend all round the island, for horses to race in. Also there were guard-
houses at intervals for the guards, the more trusted of whom were appointed
to keep watch in the lesser zone, which was nearer the Acropolis; while the
most trusted of all had houses given them within the citadel, near the
persons of the kings. The docks were full of triremes and naval stores,
and all things were quite ready for use. Enough of the plan of the royal
palace.
Leaving the palace and passing out across the three harbours, you came to a
wall which began at the sea and went all round: this was everywhere
distant fifty stadia from the largest zone or harbour, and enclosed the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll: comfort,' she said as she stepped under the trees, `after being
so hot, to get into the--into WHAT?' she went on, rather
surprised at not being able to think of the word. `I mean to get
under the--under the--under THIS, you know!' putting her
hand on the trunk of the tree. `What DOES it call itself, I
wonder? I do believe it's got no name--why, to be sure it
hasn't!'
She stood silent for a minute, thinking: then she suddenly
began again. `Then it really HAS happened, after all! And now,
who am I? I WILL remember, if I can! I'm determined to do it!'
But being determined didn't help much, and all she could say,
Through the Looking-Glass |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: atque in contrariam partem revinctis, tanta erat operis firmitudo atque ea
rerum natura ut, quo maior vis aquae se incitavisset, hoc artius inligata
tenerentur. Haec derecta materia iniecta contexebantur ac longuriis
cratibusque consternebantur; ac nihilo setius sublicae et ad inferiorem
partem fluminis oblique agebantur, quae pro ariete subiectae et cum omni
opere coniunctae vim fluminis exciperent, et aliae item supra pontem
mediocri spatio, ut, si arborum trunci sive naves deiciendi operis causa
essent a barbaris missae, his defensoribus earum rerum vis minueretur neu
ponti nocerent.
Diebus X, quibus materia coepta erat comportari, omni opere effecto
exercitus traducitur. Caesar ad utramque partem pontis firmo praesidio
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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 A Collection of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: after the shop was closed.
When it came to Jan. 1st there
was still no money, and Pickles
was unable to buy a dog licence.
"It is very unpleasant, I am
afraid of the police," said Pickles.
"It is your own fault for being
a terrier; _I_ do not require a licence,
and neither does Kep, the Collie
dog."
"It is very uncomfortable, I am
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