| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: And if God touch thee with harm, there is none to take it off but
He; and if He touch thee with good, He is mighty over all. He is
sovereign over His servants, He is the wise, the aware!
Say, 'What is the greatest witness?' Say, 'God is witness between
you and me.' This Koran was inspired to me to warn you and those it
reaches. Do ye really bear witness that with God are other gods?
Say, 'I bear not witness thereto:' say, 'He is but one God, and I am
clear of your associating (gods with him).'
Those to whom we have brought the Book know him as they know their
sons;- those who lose their souls do not believe.
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie, or says His
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Roads of Destiny by O. Henry: elect. How no? Sacramento! If that I am president and do not make one
meelion dolla in the one year you shall keek me on that side!--
/valgame Dios/!'
"Denver got a Cuban cigar-maker to fix up a little cipher code with
English and Spanish words, and gave the General a copy, so we could
cable him bulletins about the election, or for more money, and then we
were ready to start. General Rompiro escorted us to the steamer. On
the pier he hugged Denver around the waist and sobbed. 'Noble mans,'
says he, 'General Rompiro propels you into his confidence and trust.
Go, in the hands of the saints to do the work for your friend. /Viva
la libertad/!'
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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 To-morrow by Joseph Conrad: eh?"
"He's our landlord," Bessie faltered out, catch-
ing hold of the iron railing.
"Owns both them rabbit-hutches, does he?"
commented young Hagberd, scornfully; "just the
thing he would be proud of. Can you tell me who's
that chap coming to-morrow? You must know
something of it. I tell you, it's a swindle on the old
man--nothing else."
She did not answer, helpless before an insur-
mountable difficulty, appalled before the necessity,
To-morrow |
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 Timaeus by Plato: creation and of the world, as we shall do well in believing on the
testimony of wise men: God desired that all things should be good and
nothing bad, so far as this was attainable.' This is the leading thought
in the Timaeus, just as the IDEA of Good is the leading thought of the
Republic, the one expression describing the personal, the other the
impersonal Good or God, differing in form rather than in substance, and
both equally implying to the mind of Plato a divine reality. The slight
touch, perhaps ironical, contained in the words, 'as we shall do well in
believing on the testimony of wise men,' is very characteristic of Plato.
TIMAEUS.
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Critias, Timaeus, Hermocrates.
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