| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: further in his behalf, by saying, that I had never less reason to
repent of the impulses which generally do determine me, than in
regard to this fellow; - he was a faithful, affectionate, simple
soul as ever trudged after the heels of a philosopher; and,
notwithstanding his talents of drum beating and spatterdash-making,
which, though very good in themselves, happened to be of no great
service to me, yet was I hourly recompensed by the festivity of his
temper; - it supplied all defects: - I had a constant resource in
his looks in all difficulties and distresses of my own - I was
going to have added of his too; but La Fleur was out of the reach
of every thing; for, whether 'twas hunger or thirst, or cold or
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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 Koran: praise of God! and exalted be He above what they associate with Him!
Thy Lord knows what they conceal in their breasts and what they
manifest.
He is God, there is no god but He; to Him belongs praise, in the
first and the last; and His is the judgment; and unto Him shall ye
return!
Have ye considered, if God were to make for you the night endless
until the resurrection day, who is the god, but God, to bring you
light? can ye not then hear?
Say, 'Have ye considered, if God were to make for you the day
endless until the day of judgment, who is the god, except God, to
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Treatise on Parents and Children by George Bernard Shaw: because their rhythm sticks to me, I have never yet seen a Latin
inscription on a tomb that I could translate throughout. Of Greek I
can decipher perhaps the greater part of the Greek alphabet. In
short, I am, as to classical education, another Shakespear. I can
read French as easily as English; and under pressure of necessity I
can turn to account some scraps of German and a little operatic
Italian; but these I was never taught at school. Instead, I was
taught lying, dishonorable submission to tyranny, dirty stories, a
blasphemous habit of treating love and maternity as obscene jokes,
hopelessness, evasion, derision, cowardice, and all the blackguard's
shifts by which the coward intimidates other cowards. And if I had
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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 Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: many years?"
"No," she interrupted, "I remember it well. I remember how it
ended also. Scorn for scorn, contempt for contempt, hate for
hate. I am not of your race. Between your people and me there
is also a barrier that nothing can remove. You ask why I want to
go, and I ask you why I should stay."
He staggered as if struck in the face, but with a quick,
unhesitating grasp she caught him by the arm and steadied him.
"Why you should stay!" he repeated slowly, in a dazed manner, and
stopped short, astounded at the completeness of his misfortune.
"You told me yesterday," she went on again, "that I could not
Almayer's Folly |
