| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: [8] {alogous}, i.e. "without speach and reason"; cf. modern Greek {o
alogos} = the horse (sc. the animal par excellence). See
"Horsemanship," viii. 14.
[9] {ede}, "ipso facto."
[10] See "Anab." I. vii. 4; Frotscher ap. Breit. cf. Cic. "ad Fam." v.
17. 5, "ut et hominem te et virum esse meminisses."
[11] Or, "joyance."
To these arguments Hiero replied: Nay, but, Simonides, the honours and
proud attributes bestowed on tyrants have much in common with their
love-makings, as I described them. Like honours like loves, the pair
are of a piece.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: frying in her life. Whenever she could find an excuse she
loitered about the saloon. There she found life and talk and
color. Old Red Front Huckins used to chase her away, but she
always turned up again, somehow, with a dish for the lunch
counter or with an armful of clean towels.
Ben Westerveld never said clearly to himself, "I want to marry
Bella." He never dared meet the thought. He intended honestly
to marry Emma Byers. But this thing was too strong for him. As
for Bella, she laughed at him, but she was scared, too. They
both fought the thing, she selfishly, he unselfishly, for the
Byers girl, with her clear, calm eyes and her dependable ways,
One Basket |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: going to observe.
MISS HARDCASTLE. (Aside.) I vow and so do I. (To him.) You were
observing, sir, that in this age of hypocrisy--something about
hypocrisy, sir.
MARLOW. Yes, madam. In this age of hypocrisy there are few who upon
strict inquiry do not--a--a--a--
MISS HARDCASTLE. I understand you perfectly, sir.
MARLOW. (Aside.) Egad! and that's more than I do myself.
MISS HARDCASTLE. You mean that in this hypocritical age there are few
that do not condemn in public what they practise in private, and think
they pay every debt to virtue when they praise it.
She Stoops to Conquer |
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 Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: he could not be sure. He called to Mosaku, and was frightened because the
old man did not answer. He put out his hand in the dark, and touched
Mosaku's face, and found that it was ice! Mosaku was stark and dead...
By dawn the storm was over; and when the ferryman returned to his station,
a little after sunrise, he found Minokichi lying senseless beside the
frozen body of Mosaku. Minokichi was promptly cared for, and soon came to
himself; but he remained a long time ill from the effects of the cold of
that terrible night. He had been greatly frightened also by the old man's
death; but he said nothing about the vision of the woman in white. As soon
as he got well again, he returned to his calling,-- going alone every
morning to the forest, and coming back at nightfall with his bundles of
Kwaidan |
