| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alexandria and her Schools by Charles Kingsley: These words, I think, show us the secret of Islam. They are a just
comment on that short and rugged chapter of the Koran which is said to
have been Mohammed's first attempt either at prophecy or writing; when,
after long fasting and meditation among the desert hills, under the
glorious eastern stars, he came down and told his good Kadijah that he
had found a great thing, and that she must help him to write it down.
And what was this which seemed to the unlettered camel-driver so
priceless a treasure? Not merely that God was one God--vast as that
discovery was--but that he was a God "who showeth to man the thing which
he knew not;" a "most merciful God;" a God, in a word, who could be
trusted; a God who would teach and strengthen; a God, as he said, who
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: Lochiel, and the centre by the Earl of Menteith, who preferred
fighting on foot in a Highland dress to remaining with the
cavalry.
The Highlanders poured on with the proverbial fury of their
country, firing their guns, and discharging their arrows, at a
little distance from the enemy, who received the assault with the
most determined gallantry. Better provided with musketry than
their enemies, stationary also, and therefore taking the more
decisive aim, the fire of Argyle's followers was more destructive
than that which they sustained. The royal clans, perceiving
this, rushed to close quarters, and succeeded on two points in
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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 Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: understand her. Tell me what I can do to make her love me?"
"Tell me how any one could help it?" said Malbone, looking
fondly on the sweet, pleading face before him.
"I am beginning to fear that it can be helped," she said. Her
thoughts were still with Emilia.
"Perhaps it can," said Phil, "if you sit so far away from
people. Here we are alone on the bay. Come and sit by me,
Hope."
She had been sitting amidships, but she came aft at once, and
nestled by him as he sat holding the tiller. She put her face
against his knee, like a tired child, and shut her eyes; her
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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 A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare: Dem. No sir, she shall not, though you take her part
Hel. O when she's angry, she is keene and shrewd,
She was a vixen when she went to schoole,
And though she be but little, she is fierce
Her. Little againe? Nothing but low and little?
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
Let me come to her
Lys. Get you gone you dwarfe,
You minimus, of hindring knot-grasse made,
You bead, you acorne
Dem. You are too officious,
A Midsummer Night's Dream |
