The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Four Arthurian Romances by Chretien DeTroyes: prefer to fight with them, and I should not ask for the slightest
postponement, adjournment or delay. However, in deference to
you, I will consent to wait until to-morrow; but despite what any
one may say, longer I will not wait." Then the king assured him
that all would be done as he wished; then he has the
lodging-place prepared, and insistently requests his men, who are
in the company, to serve him, which they do devotedly. And the
king, who would gladly have made peace, had it been possible,
went at once to his son and spoke to him like one who desires
peace and harmony, saying: "Fair son, be reconciled now with this
knight without a fight! He has not come here to disport himself
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Collected Articles by Frederick Douglass: and cheerfully went to work with my saw and buck. It was new business to me,
but I never did better work, or more of it, in the same space of time
on the plantation for Covey, the negro-breaker, than I did for myself
in these earliest years of my freedom.
Notwithstanding the just and humane sentiment of New Bedford
three and forty years ago, the place was not entirely free from
race and color prejudice. The good influence of the Roaches,
Rodmans, Arnolds, Grinnells, and Robesons did not pervade all
classes of its people. The test of the real civilization of the
community came when I applied for work at my trade, and then my
repulse was emphatic and decisive. It so happened that Mr. Rodney
|
The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard: not far off Harry.
When I was in England I used to live in a very fine house --
at least I call it a fine house, speaking comparatively, and
judging from the standard of the houses I have been accustomed
to all my life in Africa -- not five hundred yards from the old
church where Harry is asleep, and thither I went after the funeral
and ate some food; for it is no good starving even if one has
just buried all one's earthly hopes. But I could not eat much,
and soon I took to walking, or rather limping -- being permanently
lame from the bite of a lion -- up and down, up and down the
oak-panelled vestibule; for there is a vestibule in my house
Allan Quatermain |
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 King James Bible: our soul:
PSA 124:5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
PSA 124:6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their
teeth.
PSA 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the
fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
PSA 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and
earth.
PSA 125:1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which
cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
PSA 125:2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is
King James Bible |