| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: embraced Ioasaph, now a son of his heavenly father, wishing him
eternal peace and salvation, and he departed out of the palace,
and went his way, rejoicing and giving thanks to God, who had
well ordered his steps for good.
XXII.
After Barlaam was gone forth, Ioasaph gave himself unto prayer
and bitter tears, and said, "O God, haste thee to help me: O
Lord, make speed to help me, because the poor hath committed
himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the orphan. Look upon
me, and have mercy upon me; thou who willest have all men to be
saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, save me, and
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: soul has generosity unknown to many women who perhaps despise
you, and are less worthy than you. But remember that there is not
only the mistress, but the family; that besides love there are
duties; that to the age of passion succeeds the age when man, if
he is to be respected, must plant himself solidly in a serious
position. My son has no fortune, and yet he is ready to abandon
to you the legacy of his mother. If he accepted from you the
sacrifice which you are on the point of making, his honour and
dignity would require him to give you, in exchange for it, this
income, which would always put you out of danger of adversity.
But he can not accept this sacrifice, because the world, which
Camille |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Vision Splendid by William MacLeod Raine: exultantly.
A little man standing behind a showcase was watching him tensely.
CHAPTER 9
"Man is for woman made,
And woman made for man
As the spur is for the jade,
As the scabbard for the blade,
As for liquor is the can,
So man's for woman made,
And woman made for man."
THE HERO STUDIES THE MONA LISA SMILE IN ITS PROPER SETTING.
|
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 Snow Image by Nathaniel Hawthorne: calculation.
"Young man," said he, abruptly, "what quantity of land do the
Shakers own here, in Canterbury?"
"That is more than I can tell thee, friend," answered Josiah,
"but it is a very rich establishment, and for a long way by the
roadside thee may guess the land to be ours, by the neatness of
the fences."
"And what may be the value of the whole," continued the stranger,
"with all the buildings and improvements, pretty nearly, in round
numbers?"
"Oh, a monstrous sum,--more than I can reckon," replied the young
The Snow Image |
