| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tanach: Psalms 13: 5 (13:6) But as for me, in Thy mercy do I trust; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
Psalms 13: 6 (13:6) I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 14: 1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart: 'There is no God'; they have dealt corruptly, they have done abominably; there is none that doeth good.
Psalms 14: 2 The LORD looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God.
Psalms 14: 3 They are all corrupt, they are together become impure; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalms 14: 4 'Shall not all the workers of iniquity know it, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD?'
Psalms 14: 5 There are they in great fear; for God is with the righteous generation.
Psalms 14: 6 Ye would put to shame the counsel of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
Psalms 14: 7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the LORD turneth the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Psalms 15: 1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Thy holy mountain?
Psalms 15: 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart;
The Tanach |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Hidden Masterpiece by Honore de Balzac: "No," remarked the old man, "that is only one of my early daubs."
"Zounds!" cried Poussin naively; "are you the king of painters?"
The old man smiled, as if long accustomed to such homage. "Maitre
Frenhofer," said Porbus, "could you order up a little of your good
Rhine wine for me?"
"Two casks," answered the host; "one to pay for the pleasure of
looking at your pretty sinner this morning, and the other as a mark of
friendship."
"Ah! if I were not so feeble," resumed Porbus, "and if you would
consent to let me see your Beautiful Nut-girl, I too could paint some
lofty picture, grand and yet profound, where the forms should have the
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde: What business is it of ours?
MRS. ARBUTHNOT. What this man has been, he is now, and will be
always.
GERALD. Mother, tell me what Lord Illingworth did? If he did
anything shameful, I will not go away with him. Surely you know me
well enough for that?
MRS. ARBUTHNOT. Gerald, come near to me. Quite close to me, as
you used to do when you were a little boy, when you were mother's
own boy. [GERALD sits down betide his mother. She runs her
fingers through his hair, and strokes his hands.] Gerald, there
was a girl once, she was very young, she was little over eighteen
|
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 1492 by Mary Johntson: other masses from land. Tunny fish were caught among
them.
And that very moment, as the endless possibilities of
things would have it, one, leaning on the rail, cried out
that there were tunnies. We all looked and saw them in a
clear canal between two floating masses. It brought the
Admiral credence. ``Look you all!'' he said, ``how most
things have been seen before!''
``But Father Aristotle's ship--Was he `Saint' or
`Father'?''
``He was a heathen--he believed in Mahound.''
|
