| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: and join in one straight round white graceful shaft, which would
seem (but only seem) to support the roof of the cave. And out of
that cave--though not always out of the mouth of it--will run a
stream of water, which seems to you clear as crystal, though it is
actually, like the Itchen at Winchester, full of lime; so full of
lime, that it makes beds of fresh limestone, which are called
travertine--which you may see in Italy, and Greece, and Asia
Minor: or perhaps it petrifies, as you call it, the weeds in its
bed, like that dropping-well at Knaresborough, of which you have
often seen a picture. And the cause is this: the water is so
full of lime, that it is forced to throw away some of it upon
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon: teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be
regularly called.
Article XV: Of Ecclesiastical Usages.
Of Usages in the Church they teach that those ought to be
observed which may be observed without sin, and which are
profitable unto tranquillity and good order in the Church, as
particular holy-days, festivals, and the like.
Nevertheless, concerning such things men are admonished that
consciences are not to be burdened, as though such observance
was necessary to salvation.
They are admonished also that human traditions instituted to
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum: eat you as soon as I can open my jaws."
"I beg to differ with you," returned the soldier
firmly. "I have made an engagement with Queen
Ann of Oogaboo to help her conquer the world,
and I cannot break my word for the sake of being
eaten by a Rak."
"Oh; that's different," said the monster. "If
you've an engagement, don't let me detain you."
So Files felt around in the dark and grasped
the hand of the trembling Queen, whom he led
away from the flapping, sighing Rak. They
Tik-Tok of Oz |
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 Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: sophist, an incredible rage torments him; for he feels that
whatever discredit to Rome has arisen through me has been caused
by the fault of himself alone.
Suffer me, I pray you, most excellent Leo, both to plead my own
cause, and to accuse your true enemies. I believe it is known to
you in what way Cardinal Cajetan, your imprudent and unfortunate,
nay unfaithful, legate, acted towards me. When, on account of my
reverence for your name, I had placed myself and all that was
mine in his hands, he did not so act as to establish peace, which
he could easily have established by one little word, since I at
that time promised to be silent and to make an end of my case, if
|
