| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: gate worshipping and say 'hittatun. So will we pardon you your sins
and give increase unto those who do well.'
But those who did wrong changed it for another word than that
which was said to them: and we sent down upon those who did wrong,
wrath from heaven for that they had so sinned.
When Moses, too, asked drink for his people and we said, 'Strike
with thy staff the rock,' and from it burst forth twelve springs; each
man among them knew his drinking place. 'Eat and drink of what God has
provided, and transgress not on the earth as evildoers.'
And when they said, Moses, we cannot always bear one kind of food;
pray then thy Lord to bring forth for us of what the earth grows,
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Cavalry General by Xenophon: from horseback with precision, but to perform all other feats expected
of the expert horseman. Next comes the need to arm both horse and man
in such a manner as to minimise the risk of wounds, and yet to
increase the force of every blow delivered.[7] This attended to, you
must contrive to make your men amenable to discipline, without which
neither good horses, nor a firm seat, nor splendour of equipment will
be of any use at all.
[7] Lit. "so that whilst least likely to be wounded themselves, they
may most be able to injure the enemy."
The general of cavalry,[8] as patron of the whole department, is
naturally responsible for its efficient working. In view, however, of
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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 Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: me in those days. Also I sought to forget my griefs, I desired to
forget that I was doomed to the sacrifice, and that every day
brought me nearer to the red knife of the priest.
I desired to forget, but alas! I could not. The fumes of the
mescal and the pulque that I had drunk at feasts would pass from my
brain, the perfume of flowers, the sights of beauty and the
adoration of the people would cease to move me, and I could only
brood heavily upon my doom and think with longing of my distant
love and home. In those days, had it not been for the tender
kindness of Otomie, I think that my heart would have broken or I
should have slain myself. But this great and beauteous lady was
Montezuma's Daughter |
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 Dreams & Dust by Don Marquis: Or tranc'd with sight of recent miracles,
And yet they trembled, down their folded wings
Quivered the hint of sweet withholden things,
Ah, bitter-sweet in their intensity!
One paused and said unto my wonderings:
"Lo, I am Love; I bid thee follow me!"
The Hours passed by, through huddled cities loud
With witless hate and stale with stinking mire:
So cowled monks might march with bier and shroud
Down streets plague-spotted toward some cleans-
ing pyre;--
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