| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift: are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance.
For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen
the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly over-run, being
the principal breeders of the nation, as well as our most
dangerous enemies, and who stay at home on purpose with a design
to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their
advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who have
chosen rather to leave their country, than stay at home and pay
tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate.
Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of
their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and
A Modest Proposal |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: engineers should report,--for one engineer, with two assistants is
enough for a department.
The present hierarchy in these bodies results in the subordination
of active energetic capacities to the worn-out capacities of old
men, who, thinking they know best, alter or nullify the plans
submitted by their subordinates,--perhaps with the sole aim of
making their existence felt; for that seems to me the only
influence exercised over the public works of France by the
Council-general of the /Ponts et Chaussees/.
Suppose, however, that I become, between thirty and forty years of
age, an engineer of the first-class and an engineer-in-chief
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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 At the Sign of the Cat & Racket by Honore de Balzac: responsibility in so grave a matter, since her opinion was not
listened to. Nevertheless, in spite of her apparent self-control, when
she saw her husband giving way so mildly under a catastrophe which had
no concern with business, she exclaimed:
"Really, monsieur, you are so weak with your daughters! However----"
The sound of a carriage, which stopped at the door, interrupted the
rating which the old draper already quaked at. In a minute Madame
Roguin was standing in the middle of the room, and looking at the
actors in this domestic scene: "I know all, my dear cousin," said she,
with a patronizing air.
Madame Roguin made the great mistake of supposing that a Paris
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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 Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: leaving behind only the dead and dying. The moment was tempting
to MacEagh's vengeful spirit.--"That I should die by your hand,
red as it is with the blood of my kindred," said he, answering
the threat of Allan in a tone as menacing as his own, "is not
more likely than that you should fall by mine." With that, he
struck at M'Aulay with such unexpected readiness, that he had
scarce time to intercept the blow with his target.
"Villain!" said Allan, in astonishment, "what means this?"
"I am Ranald of the Mist!" answered the Islesman, repeating the
blow; and with that word, they engaged in close and furious
conflict. It seemed to be decreed, that in Allan M'Aulay had
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