| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Youth by Joseph Conrad: without a stitch but what they stood in, stores spoiled,
ship strained. We put her head for home, and--would
you believe it? The wind came east right in our teeth.
It blew fresh, it blew continuously. We had to beat up
every inch of the way, but she did not leak so badly,
the water keeping comparatively smooth. Two hours'
pumping in every four is no joke--but it kept her afloat
as far as Falmouth.
"The good people there live on casualties of the sea,
and no doubt were glad to see us. A hungry crowd of
shipwrights sharpened their chisels at the sight of that
Youth |
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 Koran: Say, 'It is not for me to, change it of my own accord; I do not follow
aught but what I am inspired with; verily, I fear, if I rebel
against my Lord, the torment of a mighty day!'
Say, 'Had God pleased, should not have recited it to you, nor taught
you therewith. I have tarried a lifetime amongst you before it;-
have ye not then any sense?'
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie, or says His
signs are lies? verily, the sinners shall not prosper.
They worship beside God what can neither harm them nor profit
them, and they say, 'These are our intercessors with God!' Say,
'Will ye inform God of aught in the heavens or the earth, that He
The Koran |
