| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: and hartis on wood. The cut represents the Hero and the Eagle, and
is emblematic of Cortez first viewing the Pacific Ocean, which
(according to the bard Keats) it took place in Darien. The cut is
much admired for the sentiment of discovery, the manly proportions
of the voyager, and the fine impression of tropical scenes and the
untrodden WASTE, so aptly rendered by the hartis.
I would send you the book; but I declare I'm ruined. I got a penny
a cut and a halfpenny a set of verses from the flint-hearted
publisher, and only one specimen copy, as I'm a sinner. - was
apostolic alongside of Osbourne.
I hope you will be able to decipher this, written at steam speed
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Smalcald Articles by Dr. Martin Luther: were [although it would be] possible for them to concede to us
all the other articles, yet they could not concede this. As
Campegius said at Augsburg that he would be torn to pieces
before he would relinquish the Mass, so, by the help of God,
I, too, would suffer myself to be reduced to ashes before I
would allow a hireling of the Mass, be he good or bad, to be
made equal to Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, or to be
exalted above Him. Thus we are and remain eternally separated
and opposed to one another. They feel well enough that when
the Mass falls, the Papacy lies in ruins. Before they will
permit this to occur, they will put us all to death if they
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lemorne Versus Huell by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard: expected in my two months' performance. I did not dream that I was
enjoying them, any more than I supposed myself to be enjoying a
sea-bath while pulling Aunt Eliza to and fro in the surf. Nothing
in the life around me stirred me, nothing in nature attracted me.
I liked the fog; somehow it seemed to emanate from me instead of
rolling up from the ocean, and to represent me. Whether I went
alone or not, the coachman was ordered to drive a certain round;
after that I could extend the ride in whatever direction I pleased,
but I always said, "Anywhere, William." One afternoon, which
happened to be a bright one, I was riding on the road which led to
the glen, when I heard the screaming of a flock of geese which were
|
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 Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: the sight of God were in want, and had need of His mercy. And as
our heavenly Father has freely helped us in Christ, so ought we
freely to help our neighbour by our body and works, and each
should become to other a sort of Christ, so that we may be
mutually Christs, and that the same Christ may be in all of us;
that is, that we may be truly Christians.
Who then can comprehend the riches and glory of the Christian
life? It can do all things, has all things, and is in want of
nothing; is lord over sin, death, and hell, and at the same time
is the obedient and useful servant of all. But alas! it is at
this day unknown throughout the world; it is neither preached nor
|