| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Nada the Lily by H. Rider Haggard: old, and, being worn with sorrow, have no longing to rule. But you are
young, Umslopogaas, and there is no man like you in the land.
Moreover, there are other matters of which it is not well to speak,
that shall serve you as a raft whereon to swim to power."
Now Umslopogaas glanced up sharply, for in those days he was
ambitious, and desired to be first among the people. Indeed, having
the blood of Chaka in his veins, how could it be otherwise?
"What is your plan, my father?" he asked. "Say how can this be brought
about?"
"This and thus, Umslopogaas. Among the tribe of the Halakazi in
Swaziland there dwells a maid who is named the Lily. She is a girl of
Nada the Lily |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: however, neath his careless surface, was wonderfully
shrewd and sagacious. Even while speaking at random,
perhaps the better to hide his desire to learn, he never forgot
himself. His loquacity even helped him to conceal his
thoughts, and he was perhaps even more discreet than his
confrere of the Daily Telegraph. Both were present at this
fete given at the New Palace on the night of the 15th of
July in their character of reporters.
It is needless to say that these two men were devoted to
their mission in the world -- that they delighted to throw
themselves in the track of the most unexpected intelligence
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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 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: "But everywhere the slave has the right to regain his liberty."
"Who denies you this right? Have I ever tried to chain you with an oath?"
He looked at me with his arms crossed.
"Sir," I said, "to return a second time to this subject will be neither
to your nor to my taste; but, as we have entered upon it, let us go
through with it. I repeat, it is not only myself whom it concerns.
Study is to me a relief, a diversion, a passion that could make
me forget everything. Like you, I am willing to live obscure,
in the frail hope of bequeathing one day, to future time,
the result of my labours. But it is otherwise with Ned Land.
Every man, worthy of the name, deserves some consideration.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
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 Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson: Merlin and Vivien
A storm was coming, but the winds were still,
And in the wild woods of Broceliande,
Before an oak, so hollow, huge and old
It looked a tower of ivied masonwork,
At Merlin's feet the wily Vivien lay.
For he that always bare in bitter grudge
The slights of Arthur and his Table, Mark
The Cornish King, had heard a wandering voice,
A minstrel of Caerlon by strong storm
Blown into shelter at Tintagil, say
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