| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Othello by William Shakespeare: Iago. I should be wise; for Honestie's a Foole,
And looses that it workes for
Oth. By the World,
I thinke my Wife be honest, and thinke she is not:
I thinke that thou art iust, and thinke thou art not:
Ile haue some proofe. My name that was as fresh
As Dians Visage, is now begrim'd and blacke
As mine owne face. If there be Cords, or Kniues,
Poyson, or Fire, or suffocating streames,
Ile not indure it. Would I were satisfied
Iago. I see you are eaten vp with Passion:
Othello |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: these it is who are prosperous.
And what-ye put out to usury that it may increase with the wealth of
men, it shall not increase with God; but what ye put- out in alms,
desiring the face of God-these it is who shall gain double.
It is God who created you and then provided for you; and then will
make you die, and then will quicken you again; is there any of your
partners who can do aught of that? Celebrated be His praises, and
exalted be He above what they associate with Him!
Trouble hath appeared in the land and the sea, for what men's
hands have gained! to make them taste a part of that which they have
done,-haply they may return!
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from La Grande Breteche by Honore de Balzac: " 'All right, my child; I will keep all your secrets with a thief's
honor, which is the most loyal known.'
" 'If it is all the same to you,' said she, 'I would rather it should
be with your own.'
"Thereupon she set her head-kerchief straight, and settled herself to
tell the tale; for there is no doubt a particular attitude of
confidence and security is necessary to the telling of a narrative.
The best tales are told at a certain hour--just as we are all here at
table. No one ever told a story well standing up, or fasting.
"If I were to reproduce exactly Rosalie's diffuse eloquence, a whole
volume would scarcely contain it. Now, as the event of which she gave
La Grande Breteche |
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 The Mayflower Compact: 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
Generall Good of the Colonie; unto which we promise
all due Submission and Obedience.
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