| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Odyssey by Homer: milk pails into which he milked, were swimming with whey. When
they saw all this, my men begged me to let them first steal some
cheeses, and make off with them to the ship; they would then
return, drive down the lambs and kids, put them on board and
sail away with them. It would have been indeed better if we had
done so but I would not listen to them, for I wanted to see the
owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present.
When, however, we saw him my poor men found him ill to deal
with.
"We lit a fire, offered some of the cheeses in sacrifice, ate
others of them, and then sat waiting till the Cyclops should
The Odyssey |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Nada the Lily by H. Rider Haggard: mind, for I knew well that it was the design of Dingaan to be rid of
me for a space that he might find time to plot my overthrow, and that
he cared little for this matter of a petty chief, who, living far
away, had dared to defy Chaka. Yet I wished to go, for there had
arisen in me a great desire to see this Bulalio, who spoke of
vengeance to be taken for one Mopo, and whose deeds were such as the
deeds of Umslopogaas would have been, had Umslopogaas lived to look
upon the light. Therefore I answered:--
"I hear the king. The king's word shall be done, though, O King, thou
sendest a big man upon a little errand."
"Not so, Mopo," answered Dingaan. "My heart tells me that this chicken
Nada the Lily |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: infamy and agony, to blow up you!'
'Somerset, Somerset!' said Zero, turning very pale, 'this is
wrong; this is very wrong. You pain, you wound me,
Somerset.'
'Give me a match!' cried Somerset wildly. 'Let me set fire
to this incomparable monster! Let me perish with him in his
fall!'
'For God's sake,' cried Zero, clutching hold of the young
man, 'for God's sake command yourself! We stand upon the
brink; death yawns around us; a man - a stranger in this
foreign land - one whom you have called your friend - '
|
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: Lord
of Bays, with thy Bay Horses.
Made for the Firm and Strong are these libations. The pressing-stones
are set and fire is kindled.
3 Fair cheeks hath Indra, Maghavan, the Victor, Lord of a great
host,
Stormer, strong in action.
What once thou didst in might when mortals vexed thee,-where
now, O
Bull, are those thy hero exploits?
4 For, overthrowing what hath ne'er been shaken, thou goest
The Rig Veda |
