| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Rescue by Joseph Conrad: In this way did the restless shade of Captain H. C. Jorgenson
recross the water of oblivion to step back into the life of men.
VI
For two years, Lingard, who had thrown himself body and soul into
the great enterprise, had lived in the long intoxication of
slowly preparing success. No thought of failure had crossed his
mind, and no price appeared too heavy to pay for such a
magnificent achievement. It was nothing less than bringing Hassim
triumphantly back to that country seen once at night under the
low clouds and in the incessant tumult of thunder. When at the
conclusion of some long talk with Hassim, who for the twentieth
The Rescue |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: kill neither with hand, heart, mouth, signs, gestures, help, nor
counsel. Therefore it is here forbidden to every one to be angry,
except those (as we said) who are in the place of God, that is, parents
and the government. For it is proper for God and for every one who is
in a divine estate to be angry, to reprove and punish, namely, on
account of those very persons who transgress this and the other
commandments.
But the cause and need of this commandment is that God well knows that
the world is evil, and that this life has much unhappiness; therefore
He has placed this and the other commandments between the good and the
evil. Now, as there are many assaults upon all commandments, so it
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