| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: all expenses; I divide profits; and you won't take the slightest
pains to help me. It's not decent; it's not honest; it's not even
kind.'
'But suppose,' objected John, who was considerably impressed by
his brother's vehemence, 'suppose that Uncle Masterman is alive
after all, and lives ten years longer; must I rot here all that
time?'
'Of course not,' responded Morris, in a more conciliatory tone;
'I only ask a month at the outside; and if Uncle Masterman is not
dead by that time you can go abroad.'
'Go abroad?' repeated John eagerly. 'Why shouldn't I go at once?
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: of offence to thy soul, why put it in my pathway and seek to trip
me up?" When Ioasaph perceived that he spake thus, and that his
purpose was fixed, he ceased from communing with him. And now,
at about the dead of night, he wrote his people a letter, full of
much wisdom, expounding to them all godliness; telling them what
they should think concerning God, what life, what hymns and what
thanksgiving they should offer unto him. Next, he charged them
to receive none other than Barachias to be ruler of the kingdom.
Then left he in his bed-chamber the roll containing his letter,
and, unobserved of all, went forth from his palace. But he might
not win through undetected, for, early on the morrow, the
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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 King of the Golden River by John Ruskin: "We've quite enough water in our kitchen without making it a
drying house."
"It is a cold day toturn an oldman out in, sir; look at
my gray hairs." They hung down to his shoulders, as I told you
before.
"Aye!" said Hans; "there are enough of them to keep you
warm. Walk!"
"I'm very, very hungry, sir; couldn't you spare me a bit of
bread before I go?"
"Bread, indeed!" said Schwartz; "do you suppose we've
nothing to do with our bread but to give it to such red-nosed
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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 Divine Comedy (translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) by Dante Alighieri: I on my knees had fallen, and wished to speak;
But even as I began, and he was 'ware,
Only by listening, of my reverence,
"What cause," he said, "has downward bent thee thus?"
And I to him: "For your own dignity,
Standing, my conscience stung me with remorse."
"Straighten thy legs, and upward raise thee, brother,"
He answered: "Err not, fellow-servant am I
With thee and with the others to one power.
If e'er that holy, evangelic sound,
Which sayeth 'neque nubent,' thou hast heard,
The Divine Comedy (translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) |
