| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare: And has the truest title in't, Let him
Take off my wheaten Gerland, or else grant
The fyle and qualitie I hold, I may
Continue in thy Band.
[Here the Hynde vanishes under the Altar: and in the place ascends
a Rose Tree, having one Rose upon it.]
See what our Generall of Ebbs and Flowes
Out from the bowells of her holy Altar
With sacred act advances! But one Rose:
If well inspird, this Battaile shal confound
Both these brave Knights, and I, a virgin flowre
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: this evil, when faith is passed over in silence, and only the
ordinances of men are taught, as has been done hitherto by the
pestilent, impious, and soul-destroying traditions of our
pontiffs and opinions of our theologians. An infinite number of
souls have been drawn down to hell by these snares, so that you
may recognise the work of antichrist.
In brief, as poverty is imperilled amid riches, honesty amid
business, humility amid honours, abstinence amid feasting, purity
amid pleasures, so is justification by faith imperilled among
ceremonies. Solomon says, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and
his clothes not be burned?" (Prov. vi. 27). And yet as we must
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: flow; whenever they are provided with fruit therefrom they say,
'This is what we were provided with before,' and they shall be
provided with the like; and there are pure wives for them therein, and
they shall dwell therein for aye.
Why, God is not ashamed to set forth a parable of a gnat, or
anything beyond; and as for those who believe, they know that it is
truth from the Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say,
'What is it that God means by this as a parable? He leads astray
many and He guides many;'- but He leads astray only the evildoers; who
break God's covenant after the fixing thereof, and cut asunder what
God has ordered to be joined, and do evil in the earth;- these it is
The Koran |
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 Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: "if not by fair means, then by foul--if not of your consent,
then by brute force!"
"Utterson," said the voice, "for God's sake, have mercy!"
"Ah, that's not Jekyll's voice--it's Hyde's!" cried
Utterson. "Down with the door, Poole!"
Poole swung the axe over his shoulder; the blow shook the
building, and the red baize door leaped against the lock and
hinges. A dismal screech, as of mere animal terror, rang from the
cabinet. Up went the axe again, and again the panels crashed and
the frame bounded; four times the blow fell; but the wood was
tough and the fittings were of excellent workmanship; and it was
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde |
