| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: of my heart, by owning, that it suffered a pain, which worthier
occasions could not have inflicted. - I was mortified with the loss
of her hand, and the manner in which I had lost it carried neither
oil nor wine to the wound: I never felt the pain of a sheepish
inferiority so miserably in my life.
The triumphs of a true feminine heart are short upon these
discomfitures. In a very few seconds she laid her hand upon the
cuff of my coat, in order to finish her reply; so, some way or
other, God knows how, I regained my situation.
- She had nothing to add.
I forthwith began to model a different conversation for the lady,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: before, and what vestiges they leave behind; and everything have we
counted in a plain model.
Strike out for them a parable: the fellows of the city when there
came to it the apostles; when we sent those two and they called them
both liars, and we strengthened them with a third; and they said,
'Verily, we are sent to you.'
They said, 'Ye are only mortals like ourselves, nor has the Merciful
sent down aught; ye are naught but liars.'
They said, 'Our Lord knows that we are sent to you, and we have only
our plain message to preach.'
They said, 'Verily, we have augured concerning you, and if ye do not
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Witch, et. al by Anton Chekhov: the same way."
"What way?"
"To the bad, young man. To ruin, we must suppose. . . The time
has come for God's world to perish."
The old man put on his cap and began gazing at the sky.
"It's a pity," he sighed, after a brief silence. "O God, what a
pity! Of course it is God's will; the world was not created by
us, but yet it is a pity, brother. If a single tree withers away,
or let us say a single cow dies, it makes one sorry, but what
will it be, good man, if the whole world crumbles into dust? Such
blessings, Lord Jesus! The sun, and the sky, and the forest, and
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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 Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: been running money. Devil send that the sport's not over yet, for
these are jolly times; golden, rare, roaring, scrambling times.
Hallo, bully! Hallo! Hallo! Drink, bully, drink. Where are ye
there! Hallo!'
With such vociferations, and with a boisterous manner which bespoke
his perfect abandonment to the general licence and disorder, he
groped his way towards the shed, where Hugh and Barnaby were
sitting on the ground.
'Put it about!' he cried, handing his flask to Hugh. 'The kennels
run with wine and gold. Guineas and strong water flow from the
very pumps. About with it, don't spare it!'
Barnaby Rudge |
