| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) by Dante Alighieri: Open'd the form of wings: then when he knew
The pilot, cried aloud, "Down, down; bend low
Thy knees; behold God's angel: fold thy hands:
Now shalt thou see true Ministers indeed.
Lo how all human means he sets at naught!
So that nor oar he needs, nor other sail
Except his wings, between such distant shores.
Lo how straight up to heaven he holds them rear'd,
Winnowing the air with those eternal plumes,
That not like mortal hairs fall off or change!"
As more and more toward us came, more bright
 The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: come hither at my bidding."
In an instant there sounded a rumble as of thunder. The floor
swayed and rocked beneath the young man's feet. The dust flew in
clouds, and there stood Zadok as black as ink, and with eyes that
shone like coals of fire.
"I have come," said Zadok, "and first let me cure thy smarts, O
master."
He removed the cloths from the young man's back, and rubbed the
places that smarted with a cooling unguent. Instantly the pain
and smarting ceased, and the merchant's son had perfect ease.
"Now," said Zadok, "what is thy bidding?"
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