| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Menexenus by Plato: fell in naval engagements at the Hellespont, after having in one day taken
all the ships of the enemy, and defeated them in other naval engagements.
And what I call the terrible and desperate nature of the war, is that the
other Hellenes, in their extreme animosity towards the city, should have
entered into negotiations with their bitterest enemy, the king of Persia,
whom they, together with us, had expelled;--him, without us, they again
brought back, barbarian against Hellenes, and all the hosts, both of
Hellenes and barbarians, were united against Athens. And then shone forth
the power and valour of our city. Her enemies had supposed that she was
exhausted by the war, and our ships were blockaded at Mitylene. But the
citizens themselves embarked, and came to the rescue with sixty other
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: and a bascinet, or open- faced helmet. A great triangular shield
covered with leather and studded with bosses of iron, and a heavy
broadsword, pointed and dulled at the edges, completed the
equipment.
The practice at the pels which Myles was bidden to attend
comprised the chief exercise of the day with the esquires of
young cadet soldiers of that time, and in it they learned not
only all the strokes, cuts, and thrusts of sword-play then in
vogue, but also toughness, endurance, and elastic quickness. The
pels themselves consisted of upright posts of ash or oak, about
five feet six inches in height, and in girth somewhat thicker
Men of Iron |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Collection of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: Lucinda's bolster, she remembered
that she herself was in want of
a feather-bed.
WITH Tom Thumb's
assistance she carried the
bolster down-stairs and across
the hearth-rug. It was difficult
to squeeze the bolster into the
mouse-hole; but they managed
it somehow.
THEN Hunca Munca went
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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 The Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: as they have seldom heard of in the provinces."
This little incident proved of great importance. Madame Evangelista
invited all Bordeaux to witness the signature of the contract, and
showed her intention of displaying in this last fete a luxury which
should refute the foolish lies of the community.
The preparations for this event required over a month, and it was
called the fete of the camellias. Immense quantities of that beautiful
flower were massed on the staircase, and in the antechamber and
supper-room. During this month the formalities for constituting the
entail were concluded in Paris; the estates adjoining Lanstrac were
purchased, the banns were published, and all doubts finally
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