| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: themselves holiday and amusement" (R. Williams). Thuc. ii. 38,
"And we have not forgotten to provide for our weary spirits many
relaxations from toil; we have regular games and sacrifices
throughout the year" (Jowett). Plut. "Them." v., {kai gar
philothuten onta kai lampron en tais peri tous xenous dapanais
. . .} "For loving to sacrifice often, and to be splendid in his
entertainment of strangers, he required a plentiful revenue"
(Clough, i. 236). To which add Theophr. "Char." xv. 2, "The
Shameless Man": {eita thusas tois theois autos men deipnein par'
etero, ta de krea apotithenai alsi pasas, k.t.l.}, "then when he
has been sacrificing to the gods, he will put away the salted
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: and leaders be called together as quickly as possible; and you,
who have brought us the first news of this joyful event,--for
such it shall be,--you, M'Ilduy, shall bring it to a joyful
issue, by guiding us the best and nearest road against our
enemy."
"That will I willingly do," said M'Ilduy; "if I have shown you
paths by which to retreat through these dusky wilds, with far
more readiness will I teach you how to advance against your foe."
A general bustle now prevailed, and the leaders were everywhere
startled from the rude couches on which they had sought temporary
repose.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from 1492 by Mary Johntson: and cordage, even her two cannon. Eventually, as she broke
up, we might float away to shore much of her timber. When
I looked from the wreck to the little Nina, I could see,
limned as it were in air, the Viceroy's first colony, set in
Hispaniola, beside Guacanagari's town. All Christmas day
we toiled and the Indians at our side. We found them ready,
not without skill, gay and biddable.
Toward sunset came Guacanagari. All the little shore was
strewn and heaped with our matters. And here I will say
that no Indian stole that day though he might have stolen,
and though our possessions seemed to him great wonders
|
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 Koran: They who shall be gathered upon their faces to hell,-these are in
the worst place, and err most from the path.
And we did give to Moses the Book, and place with him his brother
Aaron as a minister; and we said, 'Go ye to the people who say our
signs are lies, for we will destroy them with utter destruction.'
And the people of Noah, when they said the apostles were liars, we
drowned them, and we made them a sign for men; and we prepared for the
unjust a grievous woe.
And 'Ad and Thamud and the people of ar Rass, and many generations
between them.
For each one have we struck out parables, and each one have we
The Koran |
