| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: that men may not let so great a treasure which is daily administered
and distributed among Christians pass by unheeded, that is, that those
who would be Christians make ready to receive this venerable Sacrament
often. For we see that men seem weary and lazy with respect to it; and
there is a great multitude of such as hear the Gospel, and, because the
nonsense of the Pope has been abolished, and we are freed from his laws
and coercion, go one, two, three years, or even longer without the
Sacrament, as though they were such strong Christians that they have no
need of it; and some allow themselves to be prevented and deterred by
the pretense that we have taught that no one should approach it except
those who feel hunger and thirst, which urge them to it. Some pretend
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving: message with that air of importance and effort at fine language
which a negro is apt to display on petty embassies of the kind,
he dashed over the brook, and was seen scampering, away up the
Hollow, full of the importance and hurry of his mission.
All was now bustle and hubbub in the late quiet schoolroom.
The scholars were hurried through their lessons without stopping
at trifles; those who were nimble skipped over half with
impunity, and those who were tardy had a smart application now
and then in the rear, to quicken their speed or help them over a
tall word. Books were flung aside without being put away on the
shelves, inkstands were overturned, benches thrown down, and the
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells: and Dr. Martineau got in.
Sir Richmond walked thoughtfully down the platform towards
the exit.
"What else could I do?" he asked aloud to nobody in
particular.
For a little while he thought confusedly of the collapse of
his expedition into the secret places of his own heart with
Dr. Martineau, and then his prepossession with Miss Grammont
resumed possession of his mind. Dr. Martineau was forgotten.
Section 2
For the better part of forty hours, Sir Richmond had either
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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 The Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine and Mucedorus by William Shakespeare: To marry me unto Segasto, one,
Whose wealth through father's former usury
Is known to be no less than wonderful,
We both of custom oftentimes did use,
Leaving the court, to walk within the fields
For recreation, especially in the spring,
In that it yields great store of rare delights:
And passing further than our wonted walks,
Scarce were entered within these luckless woods,
But right before us down a steep fall hill
A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast,
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