| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Seraphita by Honore de Balzac: things on this earth. Science is the language of the Temporal world,
Love is that of the Spiritual world. Thus man takes note of more than
he is able to explain, while the Angelic Spirit sees and comprehends.
Science depresses man; Love exalts the Angel. Science is still
seeking, Love has found. Man judges Nature according to his own
relations to her; the Angelic Spirit judges it in its relation to
Heaven. In short, all things have a voice for the Spirit. Spirits are
in the secret of the harmony of all creations with each other; they
comprehend the spirit of sound, the spirit of color, the spirit of
vegetable life; they can question the mineral, and the mineral makes
answer to their thoughts. What to them are sciences and the treasures
Seraphita |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: SIR PETER. Your Ladyship must excuse me--I'm called away by
particular Business--but I leave my Character behind me--
[Exit.]
SIR BENJAMIN. Well certainly Lady Teazle that lord of yours
is a strange being--I could tell you some stories of him would make
you laugh heartily if He wern't your Husband.
LADY TEAZLE. O pray don't mind that--come do let's hear 'em.
[join the rest of the Company going into the Next Room.]
SURFACE. Maria I see you have no satisfaction in this society.
MARIA. How is it possible I should? If to raise malicious smiles
at the infirmities or misfortunes of those who have never injured us
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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 Salome by Oscar Wilde: avez jure devant tout le monde.
HERODIAS. Taisez-vous. Ce n'est pas e vous que je parle.
HERODIAS. Ma fille a bien raison de demander la tete de cet homme.
Il a vomi des insultes contre moi. Il a dit des choses monstrueuses
contre moi. On voit qu'elle aime beaucoup sa mere. Ne cedez pas,
ma fille. Il a jure, il a jure.
HERODE. Taisez-vous. Ne me parlez pas . . . Voyons, Salome, il
faut etre raisonnable, n'est-ce pas? N'est-ce pas qu'il faut etre
raisonnable? Je n'ai jamais ete dur envers vous. Je vous ai
toujours aimee . . . Peut-etre, je vous ai trop aimee. Ainsi, ne me
demandez pas cela. C'est horrible, c'est epouvantable de me
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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 Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: supreme judge of the Scriptures. "The Church," they say, "chose only four
gospels. The Church might have chosen more. Ergo the Church is above the
Gospel." With equal force one might argue: "I approve the Scriptures. Ergo I
am above the Scriptures. John the Baptist confessed Christ. Hence he is
above Christ." Paul subordinates himself, all preachers, all the angels of
heaven, everybody to the Sacred Scriptures. We are not the masters,
judges, or arbiters, but witnesses, disciples, and confessors of the
Scriptures, whether we be pope, Luther, Augustine, Paul, or an angel from
heaven.
VERSE 10. For do I now persuade men, or God?
With the same vehemence Paul continues: "You Galatians ought to be able
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