| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from King James Bible: mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
NUM 20:28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon
Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses
and Eleazar came down from the mount.
NUM 20:29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they
mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
NUM 21:1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south,
heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought
against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
NUM 21:2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt
indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy
King James Bible |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: and festal days. The last time I delivered it was in the
Cathedral, as a charity sermon on behalf of the Society for the
Prevention of Discontent among the Upper Orders. The Bishop, who
was present, was much struck by some of the analogies I drew.
JACK. Ah! that reminds me, you mentioned christenings I think, Dr.
Chasuble? I suppose you know how to christen all right? [DR.
CHASUBLE looks astounded.] I mean, of course, you are continually
christening, aren't you?
MISS PRISM. It is, I regret to say, one of the Rector's most
constant duties in this parish. I have often spoken to the poorer
classes on the subject. But they don't seem to know what thrift
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Long Odds by H. Rider Haggard: "But it was not of the slightest use," he went on, "the cartridge would
not move. I only hope that no other man will ever be put in such an
awful position. The lioness gathered herself together, and I gave
myself up for lost, when suddenly Tom shouted out from somewhere in my
rear--
"'You are walking on to the wounded cub; turn to the right.'
"I had the sense, dazed as I was, to take the hint, and slewing round at
right-angles, but still keeping my eyes on the lioness, I continued my
backward walk.
"To my intense relief, with a low growl she straightened herself,
turned, and bounded further up the kloof.
Long Odds |
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 Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: "Have you not observed it, you who were formerly so
keen-sighted?"
"Are you jealous of the Duke of Buckingham?"
"To the very death."
"Again jealous?"
"This time the affair will be easy to arrange between us; I
have taken the initiative, and have sent him a letter."
"It was you, then, who wrote to him?"
"How do you know that?"
"I know it, because he told me so. Look at this;" and he
handed De Guiche the letter he had received nearly at the
Ten Years Later |
