| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: sentiments, opinions, feelings, actions too, are nothing but
agitation in empty space - to amuse life - a sort of superior
debauchery, exciting and fatiguing, meaning nothing, leading
nowhere. She is the creature of that circle. And I ask myself if
she is obeying the uneasiness of an instinct seeking its
satisfaction, or is it a revulsion of feeling, or is she merely
deceiving her own heart by this dangerous trifling with romantic
images. And everything is possible - except sincerity, such as
only stark, struggling humanity can know. No woman can stand that
mode of life in which women rule, and remain a perfectly genuine,
simple human being. Ah! There's some people coming out."
Within the Tides |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: speak, who call themselves servants of a present Christ, not the
vicars of an absent one!
Perhaps I am shamelessly bold in seeming to teach so great a
head, by whom all men ought to be taught, and from whom, as those
plagues of yours boast, the thrones of judges receive their
sentence; but I imitate St. Bernard in his book concerning
Considerations addressed to Eugenius, a book which ought to be
known by heart by every pontiff. I do this, not from any desire
to teach, but as a duty, from that simple and faithful solicitude
which teaches us to be anxious for all that is safe for our
neighbours, and does not allow considerations of worthiness or
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Economist by Xenophon: i.e. the skirmishers. Al. "those who have to retreat," i.e. the
non-combatants.
[7] Al. "are quite capable of trampling down the troops behind in
their retreat." {tous opla ekhontas} = "the troops proper," "heavy
infantry."
"How different is an army well organised in battle order: a splendid
sight for friendly eyes to gaze at, albeit an eyesore to the enemy.
For who, being of their party, but will feel a thrill of satisfaction
as he watches the serried masses of heavy infantry moving onwards in
unbroken order? who but will gaze with wonderment as the squadrons of
the cavalry dash past him at the gallop? And what of the foeman? will
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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 Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: the measure you were going to mete me, and therefore did
not know the measure that would be returned to you again."
"You answer me; you think only of her. You stick to her
in all things."
"That proves her to be worthy. I have never yet supported
what is bad. And I do not care only for her. I care
for you and for myself, and for anything that is good.
When a woman once dislikes another she is merciless!"
"O Clym! please don't go setting down as my fault what is
your obstinate wrongheadedness. If you wished to connect
yourself with an unworthy person why did you come home
Return of the Native |
