| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: his days in happiness exempt from fears and jealousy[17] and risk. But
the current of the tyrant's life runs differently. Day and night, I do
assure you, Simonides, he lives like one condemned by the general
verdict of mankind to die for his iniquity.
[14] Lit. "Honours would seem to be the outcome and expression of
conditions utterly remote from these, in fact their very
opposites."
[15] Cf. Napoleon's accost of Goethe, "Vous etes un homme," and "as
Goethe left the room, Napoleon repeated to Berthier and Daru,
'Voila un homme!'" ("The Life of Goethe," Lewes, p. 500).
[16] Reading {koines}, which ought to mean "common to them and him";
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: felt that we were making a good end after a brave fight. They were
battering at the door now, but, thank Heaven, Marais had made strong
doors, and it held a while.
The wood began to give at last, an assegai appeared through a shattered
plank, but Hans stabbed along the line of it with the spear he held,
that which I had snatched from the flank of the horse, and it was
dropped with a scream. Black hands were thrust through the hole, and
the Hottentot hacked and cut at them with the spear. But others came,
more than he could pierce, and the whole door-frame began to be dragged
outwards.
"Now, Marie, be ready," I gasped, lifting the pistol.
Marie |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: liar; open between me and between them an opening, and save me and
those of the believers who are with me!'
So we saved him and those with him in the laden ark, then we drowned
the rest; verily, in that is a sign, but most of them will never be
believers; and, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and merciful.
And 'Ad called the apostles liars; when their brother Hud said to
them, 'Will ye not fear? Verily, I am to you a faithful apostle;
then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire
is only with the Lord of the worlds. Do ye build on every height a
landmark in sport, and take to works that haply ye may be immortal?
'And when ye assault ye assault like tyrants; but fear God and
The Koran |
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: discovered us all hard at work on the outside of the ship's bottom
and side, washing, and graving, and stopping, as every seafaring
man knows how. They stood for a while gazing at us, and we, who
were a little surprised, could not imagine what their design was;
but being willing to be sure, we took this opportunity to get some
of us into the ship, and others to hand down arms and ammunition to
those that were at work, to defend themselves with if there should
be occasion. And it was no more than need: for in less than a
quarter of an hour's consultation, they agreed, it seems, that the
ship was really a wreck, and that we were all at work endeavouring
to save her, or to save our lives by the help of our boats; and
Robinson Crusoe |
