The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: supposing further he can handle them in the right way, not only in the
training for war, but in exercises with a view to display, or lastly,
in the stress of actual battle, what is there to prevent such a man
from making every horse he owns of far more value in the end than when
he bought it, with the further outlook that, unless some power higher
than human interpose,[11] he will become the owner of a celebrated
stable, and himself as celebrated for his skill in horsemanship.
[11] Or, "there is nothing, humanly speaking, to prevent such a man."
For the phrase see "Mem." I. iii. 5; cf. "Cyrop." I. vi. 18; and
for the advice, "Econ." iii. 9, 10.
XII
 On Horsemanship |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Soul of Man by Oscar Wilde: hideous, grotesque, tragic, amusing, serious, and obscene. It is
impossible for the artist to live with the People. All despots
bribe. The people bribe and brutalise. Who told them to exercise
authority? They were made to live, to listen, and to love.
Someone has done them a great wrong. They have marred themselves
by imitation of their inferiors. They have taken the sceptre of
the Prince. How should they use it? They have taken the triple
tiara of the Pope. How should they carry its burden? They are as
a clown whose heart is broken. They are as a priest whose soul is
not yet born. Let all who love Beauty pity them. Though they
themselves love not Beauty, yet let them pity themselves. Who
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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 Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: a few words that passed between the two, surprised the other
lodgers. Vautrin, who saw Eugene for the first time since their
interview, seemed as if he would fain read the student's very
soul. During the night Eugene had had some time in which to scan
the vast field which lay before him; and now, as he remembered
yesterday's proposal, the thought of Mlle. Taillefer's dowry
came, of course, to his mind, and he could not help thinking of
Victorine as the most exemplary youth may think of an heiress. It
chanced that their eyes met. The poor girl did not fail to see
that Eugene looked very handsome in his new clothes. So much was
said in the glance, thus exchanged, that Eugene could not doubt
 Father Goriot |
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 Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott: And o'er the home of happy flowers
The golden light for ever lay.
Thus the Fairy mission ended,
And all Flower-Land was taught
The "Power of Love," by gentle deeds
That little Violet wrought.
As Sunny Lock ceased, another little Elf came forward; and this was
the tale "Silver Wing" told.
EVA'S VISIT TO FAIRY-LAND.
DOWN among the grass and fragrant clover lay little Eva by the
brook-side, watching the bright waves, as they went singing by under
 Flower Fables |