| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: what do you understand of the affair? said Dr. Slop, looking towards Trim,
with something more of contempt than the Corporal's honest heart deserved.-
-What do you know, friend, about this battle you talk of?--I know, replied
Trim, that I never refused quarter in my life to any man who cried out for
it;--but to a woman or a child, continued Trim, before I would level my
musket at them, I would loose my life a thousand times.--Here's a crown for
thee, Trim, to drink with Obadiah to-night, quoth my uncle Toby, and I'll
give Obadiah another too.--God bless your Honour, replied Trim,--I had
rather these poor women and children had it.--thou art an honest fellow,
quoth my uncle Toby.--My father nodded his head, as much as to say--and so
he is.--
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Verses 1889-1896 by Rudyard Kipling:
O the mutter overside, when the port-fog holds us tied,
And the sirens hoot their dread!
When foot by foot we creep o'er the hueless viewless deep
To the sob of the questing lead!
It's down by the Lower Hope, dear lass,
With the Gunfleet Sands in view,
Till the Mouse swings green on the old trail,
our own trail, the out trail,
And the Gull Light lifts on the Long Trail --
the trail that is always new.
Verses 1889-1896 |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Smalcald Articles by Dr. Martin Luther: be saved by the present Messiah, and must not, with the
[rabble of the] Jews deny nor persecute Him.
In a word, enthusiasm inheres in Adam and his children from
the beginning [from the first fall] to the end of the world,
[its poison] having been implanted and infused into them by
the old dragon, and is the origin, power [life], and strength
of all heresy, especially of that of the Papacy and Mahomet.
Therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point,
that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through
the spoken Word and the Sacraments. It is the devil himself
whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word 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 The Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine and Mucedorus by William Shakespeare: I slew this captain in mine own defence,
Not of any malice, but by chance;
But mine accuser hath a further meaning.
SEGASTO.
Words will not here prevail,
I seek for justice, & justice craves his death.
KING.
Shepherd, thine own confession hath condemned thee.
Sirra, take him away, 7 do him to execution straight.
MOUSE.
So he shall, I warrant him; but do you hear, master
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