| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe: some downstairs and some upstairs, and getting together as well as
they could, locked themselves into their chambers and screamed out
at the window for help, as if they had been frighted out of their, wits.
The master, more composed than they, though both frighted and
provoked, was going to lay hands on him and throw him downstairs,
being in a passion; but then, considering a little the condition of the
man and the danger of touching him, horror seized his mind, and he
stood still like one astonished. The poor distempered man all this
while, being as well diseased in his brain as in his body, stood still
like one amazed. At length he turns round: 'Ay!' says he, with all the
seeming calmness imaginable, 'is it so with you all? Are you all
A Journal of the Plague Year |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James: religion lies in individuality in attempts like those of
Professor Baldwin (Mental Development, Social and Ethical
Interpretations, ch. x) and Mr. H. R. Marshall (Instinct and
Reason, chaps. viii. to xii.) to make it a purely "conservative
social force."
Let us agree, then, that Religion, occupying herself with
personal destinies and keeping thus in contact with the only
absolute realities which we know, must necessarily play an
eternal part in human history. The next thing to decide is what
she reveals about those destinies, or whether indeed she reveals
anything distinct enough to be considered a general message to
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: without any accident, and alighted at the tavern of Great St.
Martin, the same at which they had stopped on their first
journey.
The host, on seeing a young man followed by a lackey with two
extra horses, advanced respectfully to the door. Now, as they
had already traveled eleven leagues, D'Artagnan thought it time
to stop, whether Porthos were or were not in the inn. Perhaps it
would not be prudent to ask at once what had become of the
Musketeer. The result of these reflections was that D'Artagnan,
without asking information of any kind, alighted, commended the
horses to the care of his lackey, entered a small room destined
The Three Musketeers |
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 Nada the Lily by H. Rider Haggard: Should you fall and I live on, I promise this: I will avenge you to
the last and guard the Lily whom you love, offering her comfort, but
no more. Now the foe draws on, they have travelled round about by the
ford, for they dared not face the torrent, and they cried to me that
they are sworn to slay us or be slain, as Dingaan, the king,
commanded. So the fighting will be of the best, if, indeed, they do
not run before the fangs of the Grey People. Now, Chief, speak your
word that I may obey it."
Thus Galazi spoke in the circle of the wolves, while Umslopogaas
leaned upon his Axe Groan-Maker, and listened to him, ay, and wept as
he listened, for after the Lily and me, Mopo, he loved Galazi most
Nada the Lily |
