| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: in a hole we had dug in the sand and the rest of it
supported by the trunks of date-palms cut for the
purpose.
It was a mighty engineering job with only wild Arabs
and their wilder mounts to do the work of an electric
crane--but finally it was completed, and I was ready
for departure.
For some time I hesitated to take the Mahar back
with me. She had been docile and quiet ever since she
had discovered herself virtually a prisoner aboard the
"iron mole." It had been, of course, impossible for me
Pellucidar |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poems by T. S. Eliot: They all were sure our feelings would relate
So closely! I myself can hardly understand.
We must leave it now to fate.
You will write, at any rate.
Perhaps it is not too late.
I shall sit here, serving tea to friends."
And I must borrow every changing shape
To find expression ... dance, dance
Like a dancing bear,
Cry like a parrot, chatter like an ape.
Let us take the air, in a tobacco trance--
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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 Finished by H. Rider Haggard: charge. At least some of them, he said, were so seated, but
others were already advancing.
Presently these appeared over the crest of the hill, ten thousand
of them I should say, and amongst them I recognized the shields
of the Nodwengu, the Dududu, the Nokenke and the Ingoba-makosi
regiments. Now there was nothing to be done except retreat, for
the impi was attacking in earnest. The General Untshingwayo,
together with Undabuko, Cetewayo's brother, and the chief Usibebu
who commanded the scouts, had agreed not to fight this day for
the reason I have given, because it was that of the new moon, but
circumstances had forced their hand and the regiments could no
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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 Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche: wailedst nightly: 'Is taking not more blessed than giving? And stealing
yet more blessed than taking?'--THAT was forsakenness!
And dost thou remember, O Zarathustra? When thy stillest hour came and
drove thee forth from thyself, when with wicked whispering it said: 'Speak
and succumb!'-
--When it disgusted thee with all thy waiting and silence, and discouraged
thy humble courage: THAT was forsakenness!"--
O lonesomeness! My home, lonesomeness! How blessedly and tenderly
speaketh thy voice unto me!
We do not question each other, we do not complain to each other; we go
together openly through open doors.
Thus Spake Zarathustra |
