| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: resurrection day, and he shall be therein for aye despised. Save he
who turns again and believes and does a righteous work; for, as to
those, God will change their evil deeds to good, for God is ever
forgiving, merciful.
And he who turns again and does right, verily, he turns again to God
repentant.
And those who do not testify falsely; and when they pass by
frivolous discourse, pass by it honourably; and those who when they
are reminded of the signs of their Lord do not fall down thereat
deaf and blind; and those who say, 'Our Lord! grant us from our
wives and seed that which may cheer our eyes, and make us models to
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Aesop's Fables by Aesop: out." At last the Crane agreed to try, and told the Wolf to lie
on his side and open his jaws as wide as he could. Then the Crane
put its long neck down the Wolf's throat, and with its beak
loosened the bone, till at last it got it out.
"Will you kindly give me the reward you promised?" said the
Crane.
The Wolf grinned and showed his teeth and said: "Be content.
You have put your head inside a Wolf's mouth and taken it out
again in safety; that ought to be reward enough for you."
Gratitude and greed go not together.
The Man and the Serpent
Aesop's Fables |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Seraphita by Honore de Balzac: gathering her children that she may feed them with her milk; see him
who lashes the ropes in the height of the gale; see her who sits in
the hollow of the rocks, awaiting the father! Behold all they who
stretch their hands in want after a lifetime spent in thankless toil.
To all peace and courage, and to all farewell!
"Hear you the cry of the soldier, dying nameless and unknown? the wail
of the man deceived who weeps in the desert? To them peace and
courage; to all farewell!
"Farewell, you who die for the kings of the earth! Farewell, ye people
without a country and ye countries without a people, each, with a
mutual want. Above all, farewell to Thee who knew not where to lay Thy
Seraphita |
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 Symposium by Xenophon: [70] Niceratus quotes "Il." ix. 122, 123, 263, 264.
[71] Or, "by number and by measure," "so much apiece, so much a
pound," in reference to Antisthenes' remark that Socrates does not
stint his "good things."
The remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the company, who thought
the speaker hit the truth exactly.
Then some one: It lies with you, Hermogenes, to tell us who your
friends are; and next, to demonstrate the greatness of their power and
their care for you, if you would prove to us your right to pride
yoruself on them.
Herm. That the gods know all things, that the present and the future
The Symposium |
