| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Master and Man by Leo Tolstoy: 'And how they do!' said the neighbour. 'There's no managing
them! They know too much. There's Demochkin now, who broke
his father's arm. It's all from being too clever, it seems.'
Nikita listened, watched their faces, and evidently would have
liked to share in the conversation, but he was too busy
drinking his tea and only nodded his head approvingly. He
emptied one tumbler after another and grew warmer and warmer
and more and more comfortable. The talk continued on the same
subject for a long time--the harmfulness of a household
dividing up--and it was clearly not an abstract discussion but
concerned the question of a separation in that house; a
Master and Man |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: alms; and they did serve us.
And Lot, to him we gave judgment and knowledge, and we brought him
safely out of the city which had done vile acts; verily, they were a
people who wrought abominations! And we made him enter into our mercy;
verily, he was of the righteous!
And Noah, when he cried aforetime, and we answered him and saved him
and his people from the mighty trouble, and we helped him against
the people who said our signs were lies; verily, they were a bad
people, so we drowned them all together.
And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field,
when some people's sheep had strayed therein at night; and we
The Koran |
