| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: departed, nor pitieth the survivor. For after that it hath
cruelly duped and entangled in its meshes the one party, it
immediately transferreth the resources of its ingenuity against
the other, not willing that any should escape its cruel snares,
"These men that have foolishly alienated themselves from a good
and kind master, to seek the service of so harsh and savage a
lord, that are all agog for present joys and are glued thereto,
that take never a thought for the future, that always grasp after
bodily enjoyments, but suffer their souls to waste with hunger,
and to be worn with myriad ills, these I consider to be like a
man flying before the face of a rampant unicorn, who, unable to
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: rattle in your pouch! Go win fortune and a name before you dare to
look up to such as she.'
'That is my desire, and I will do it, sir,' I answered.
'So, you apothecary's drudge, you will win name and place, will
you! Well, long before that deed is done the maid shall be safely
wedded to one who has them and who is not unknown to you.
Daughter, say now that you have finished with him.'
'I cannot say that, father,' she replied, plucking at her robe.
'If it is not your will that I should marry Thomas here, my duty is
plain and I may not wed him. But I am my own and no duty can make
me marry where I will not. While Thomas lives I am sworn to him
Montezuma's Daughter |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Foolish Virgin by Thomas Dixon: "Seems to me a mighty little one and a mighty cheap
one, but he said it was the thing."
"It's all right, dear," she whispered. "Kiss me!"
He pressed his lips to hers and held them until she
sank back and lifted her hand in warning.
"Be careful!"
"Whose afraid?" Jim muttered, glancing over his
shoulder toward the door. "Now tell me what day--
tomorrow?"
"Nonsense, man!" she cried. "Give me time to
breathe----"
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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 Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: it is called the Mugen-Kane, or Bell of Mugen.
* * *
Now there are queer old Japanese beliefs in the magical efficacy of a
certain mental operation implied, though not described, by the verb
nazoraeru. The word itself cannot be adequately rendered by any English
word; for it is used in relation to many kinds of mimetic magic, as well as
in relation to the performance of many religious acts of faith. Common
meanings of nazoraeru, according to dictionaries, are "to imitate," "to
compare," "to liken;" but the esoteric meaning is to substitute, in
imagination, one object or action for another, so as to bring about some
magical or miraculous result.
Kwaidan |
