| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Little Rivers by Henry van Dyke: the flood, stranded on the shore. And as we climbed the bank we
looked back and wondered whether Noah was sorry when he said good-
bye to his ark.
1888.
ALPENROSEN AND GOAT'S MILK
Nay, let me tell you, there be many that have forty times our
estates, that would give the greatest part of it to be healthful
and cheerful like us; who, with the expense of a little money, have
ate, and drank, and laughed, and angled, and sung, and slept
securely; and rose next day, and cast away care, and sung, and
laughed, and angled again; which are blessings rich men cannot
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mayflower Compact: Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of
the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country,
a Voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne Parts
of Virginia; doe, by these Presents, solemnly and mutually
in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and
combine ourselves together into a civill Body Politick,
for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance
of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact,
constitute, and frame, such just and equall Laws, Ordinances,
Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time,
as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Charmides and Other Poems by Oscar Wilde: With all the wonder of this history,
Within whose scented womb their limbs should rest
Where olive-trees make tender the blue sky
On the low hills of Paphos, and the Faun
Pipes in the noonday, and the nightingale sings on till dawn.
Nor failed they to obey her hest, and ere
The morning bee had stung the daffodil
With tiny fretful spear, or from its lair
The waking stag had leapt across the rill
And roused the ouzel, or the lizard crept
Athwart the sunny rock, beneath the grass their bodies slept.
|
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 Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: mistress of the house, who was very fond of music and a very good
pianist herself, valued him because he was a good musician and
played duets with her.
Nekhludoff was in such good humour that even this man was not
unpleasant to him, in spite of what he knew of his vices. The
bright, energetic aide-de-camp, with his bluey grey chin, who was
continually offering his services, pleased Nekhludoff by his good
nature. But it was the charming young couple, the General's
daughter and her husband, who pleased Nekhludoff best. The
daughter was a plain-looking, simple-minded young woman, wholly
absorbed in her two children. Her husband, whom she had fallen in
Resurrection |
