| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hellenica by Xenophon: time upon time your eyes were called upon to witness her friendly
bearing to your foes in contrast with her hatred of your friends. Can
it be denied that Thebes refused to take part with you in the campaign
against your direst enemy, the democracy in Piraeus; and balanced that
lukewarmness by on onslaught on the Phocians, whose sole crime was
cordiality to yourselves?[26] Nor is that all. In full knowledge that
you were likly to be engaged in war with Olynthus, she proceeded at
once to make an alliance with that city. So that up to the last moment
you were in constant expectation of hearing that the whole of Boeotia
was laid at the feet of Thebes. With the late incidents all is
changed. You need fear Thebes no longer. One brief despatch[27] 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 My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: Sir Philip Forester was moved; he laid aside the mocking tone in
which he had hitherto spoken.
"Dear Lady Bothwell," he said, taking her reluctant hand, "we are
both wrong. You are too deeply serious; I, perhaps, too little
so. The dispute I had with Major Falconer was of no earthly
consequence. Had anything occurred betwixt us that ought to have
been settled PAR VOIE DU FAIT, as we say in France, neither of us
are persons that are likely to postpone such a meeting. Permit
me to say, that were it generally known that you or my Lady
Forester are apprehensive of such a catastrophe, it might be the
very means of bringing about what would not otherwise be likely
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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 Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: "Don't misunderstand me. I was quite honest with him. I told
him, what was true, that I liked him very much, that I hoped to
come to like him more, but that I was not in any way what the
world calls 'in love' with him. He declared that that satisfied
him, and so--we were married."
She waited a long time, a little frown had gathered on her
forehead. She seemed to be looking back earnestly into those
past days.
"I think--I am sure--he cared for me at first. But I suppose we
were not well matched. Almost at once, we drifted apart. He--it
is not a pleasing thing for my pride, but it is the truth--tired
The Mysterious Affair at Styles |
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 Lady Susan by Jane Austen: union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in this
case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that
lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been
doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage
of my sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom
she was always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage.
And this circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's
conduct, and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, may
also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to be
credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the malevolence
of slander. If my sister, in the security of retirement, with as little
Lady Susan |
