| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Enchanted Island of Yew by L. Frank Baum: While the steeds were being led to the stables an old man, clothed in
a flowing robe as white in color as his beard, bowed before Prince
Marvel and said in a soft voice:
"Follow me!"
The prince stretched his arms, yawned as if tired with his ride, and
then glared upon the old man with an expression of haughty surprise.
"I follow no one!" said he, proudly. "I am Prince Marvel, sirrah, and
if the owner of this castle wishes to see me I shall receive him here,
as befits my rank and station."
The man looked surprised, but only bowed lower than before.
"It is the king's command," he answered.
The Enchanted Island of Yew |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum: I command you!"
It was now that the wisdom of the Scarecrow, in bringing the head of the
Thing to life instead of the legs, was proved beyond a doubt. For the Gump,
already high in the air, turned its head at Tip's command and gradually
circled around until it could view the roof of the palace.
"Come back!" shouted the boy, again.
And the Gump obeyed, slowly and gracefully waving its four wings in the air
until the Thing had settled once more upon the roof and become still.
200 Full page line-art drawing.
201 In the Jackdaw's Nest
"This," said the Gump, in a squeaky voice not at all proportioned to the
The Marvelous Land of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Melmoth Reconciled by Honore de Balzac: I will go to the theatre with you this evening? But all in good time;
let us have dinner! There is a nice little dinner for you--just what
you like."
"It is very hard to part from such a woman as you!" exclaimed
Castanier.
"Very well then, why do you go?" asked she.
"Ah! why? why? If I were to begin to begin to explain the reasons why,
I must tell you things that would prove to you that I love you almost
to madness. Ah! if you have sacrificed your honor for me, I have sold
mine for you; we are quits. Is that love?"
"What is all this about?" said she. "Come, now, promise me that if I
|
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 The Rig Veda: That circumambient Car, worthy of sacrifice, we call with our
pure
hymns at earliest flush of dawn.
2 Ye, O Nasatyas, mount that early-harnessed Car, that travels
early,
laden with its freight of balm,
Wherewith ye, Heroes, visit clans who sacrifice, even the poor
man's
worship where the priest attends.
3 If to the deft Adhvaryu with the meath in hand, or to the
Kindler
The Rig Veda |
