| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: warriors in the strife of valour, and with like result. They also, in
their degree, might be expected to attain to some unknown height of
manly virtue.
[1] See "Hell." V. iv. 32.
[2] Cf. "Cyrop." II. i. 22.
[3] Or, "pit face to face."
What method he adopted to engage these combatants I will now explain.
It is on this wise. Their ephors select three men out of the whole
body of the citizens in the prime of life. These three are named
Hippagretai, or masters of the horse. Each of these selects one
hundred others, being bound to explain for what reason he prefers in
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Silverado Squatters by Robert Louis Stevenson: the valley, eighteen years old, I think; yet he began a
penniless barber, and even after he had broken ground up here
with his black malvoisies, continued for long to tramp the
valley with his razor. Now, his place is the picture of
prosperity: stuffed birds in the verandah, cellars far dug
into the hillside, and resting on pillars like a bandit's
cave:- all trimness, varnish, flowers, and sunshine, among
the tangled wildwood. Stout, smiling Mrs. Schram, who has
been to Europe and apparently all about the States for
pleasure, entertained Fanny in the verandah, while I was
tasting wines in the cellar. To Mr. Schram this was a solemn
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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 The Talisman by Walter Scott: battle, and the fighting in front when it begins. But, Sir
Thomas, were it fair to take the Holy Land from the heathen
Saladin, so full of all the virtues which may distinguish
unchristened man, and give it to Giles Amaury, a worse pagan than
himself, an idolater, a devil-worshipper, a necromancer, who
practises crimes the most dark and unnatural in the vaults and
secret places of abomination and darkness?"
"The Grand Master of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem is
not tainted by fame, either with heresy or magic," said Thomas de
Vaux.
"But is he not a sordid miser?" said Richard hastily; "has he
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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 Rinkitink In Oz by L. Frank Baum: festival.
Those three days were long remembered in Pingaree,
for never -- before nor since -- has such feasting and
jollity been known upon that island. Rinkitink made the
most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with him
by day and by night.
Then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and the
King of Gilgad and Ruler of the Dominion of Rinkitink
was escorted by a grand procession to his boat and
seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty
boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into
Rinkitink In Oz |
