| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: THE CHAPTER OF REPENTANCE OR IMMUNITY
(IX. Medinah.)
AN immunity from God and His Apostle to those idolaters with whom ye
have made a league.
Roam ye at large in the land for four months, but know that ye
cannot make God helpless, and that God disgraces the misbelievers.
A proclamation from God and His Apostle to the people on the day
of the greater pilgrimage, that God is clear of the idolaters as is
His Apostle! If then ye repent it is better for you; but if ye turn
your backs, then know that ye cannot make God helpless. Give to
those who misbelieve glad tidings of grievous woe!- Except to those of
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: baited divine, the hesitating author, decide severally to do what
Napoleon, what St Paul, what Shakespeare would have done; and
there remains only the minor question, What is that? In Gideon's
case one thing was clear: Skill was a man of singular decision,
he would have taken some step (whatever it was) at once; and the
only step that Gideon could think of was to return to his
chambers.
This being achieved, all further inspiration failed him, and he
stood pitifully staring at the instrument of his confusion. To
touch the keys again was more than he durst venture on; whether
they had maintained their former silence, or responded with the
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