| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: trespassed, must bear the shame and punishment to render the former
godly and honorable. But let them know that in the sight of God they
are the greatest thieves, and that He will punish them as they are
worthy and deserve.
Now, since this commandment is so far-reaching [and comprehensive], as
just indicated, it is necessary to urge it well and to explain it to
the common people, not to let them go on in their wantonness and
security, but always to place before their eyes the wrath of God, and
inculcate the same. For we have to preach this not to Christians, but
chiefly to knaves and scoundrels, to whom it would be more fitting for
judges, jailers, or Master Hannes [the executioner] to preach.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from To-morrow by Joseph Conrad: hungry, though. Had no breakfast to-day.
Couldn't you scare up some bread from that tea
for me, or--"
She was gone already. He had been on the point
of asking her to let him come inside. No matter.
Anywhere would do. Devil of a fix! What would
his chum think?
"I didn't ask you as a beggar," he said, jest-
ingly, taking a piece of bread-and-butter from the
plate she held before him. "I asked as a friend.
My dad is rich, you know."
To-morrow |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson: and presently the moon was silvering the frozen snow. Now or never
was their opportunity to gain the Goat and Bagpipes unobserved and
change their tell-tale garments. Yet even then it was advisable to
go round by the outskirts, and not run the gauntlet of the market-
place, where, in the concourse of people, they stood the more
imminent peril to be recognised and slain.
This course was a long one. It took them not far from the house by
the beach, now lying dark and silent, and brought them forth at
last by the margin of the harbour. Many of the ships, as they
could see by the clear moonshine, had weighed anchor, and,
profiting by the calm sky, proceeded for more distant parts;
|
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 Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: near; but we made but slow way towards the shore; nor were we able
to reach the shore till, being past the lighthouse at Winterton,
the shore falls off to the westward towards Cromer, and so the land
broke off a little the violence of the wind. Here we got in, and
though not without much difficulty, got all safe on shore, and
walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men,
we were used with great humanity, as well by the magistrates of the
town, who assigned us good quarters, as by particular merchants and
owners of ships, and had money given us sufficient to carry us
either to London or back to Hull as we thought fit.
Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull, and have gone
Robinson Crusoe |
