| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Blix by Frank Norris: before he had written a word the character lost the charm of its
novelty, the scene the freshness of its original conception.
Then, with infinite painstaking and with a patience little short
of miraculous, he must slowly build up, brick by brick, the plan
his brain had outlined in a single instant. It was all work--
hard, disagreeable, laborious work; and no juggling with phrases,
no false notions as to the "delight of creation," could make it
appear otherwise. "And for what," he muttered as he rose, rolled
up his sheaf of manuscript, and put on his coat; "what do I do it
for, I don't know."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Poems of Goethe, Bowring, Tr. by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Fly not my sight--be open then!
Known late or early it must be,
And here thou hast thy word again.
My duty is fulfill'd to-day,
No longer will I guard thee from surprise;
But, oh, forgive the friend who from thee turns away,
And to himself for refuge flies!
1797.
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THE EXCHANGE.
THE stones in the streamlet I make my bright pillow,
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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 Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
2. May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a
bellows?
'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
'Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
Your inner being guard, and keep it free.
6. The valley spirit dies not, aye the same;
The female mystery thus do we name.
Its gate, from which at first they issued forth,
Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth.
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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 When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard: immovable and looking extremely ridiculous in their paint and
feathers, with dread unutterable stamped upon their evil faces.
The Sleeper spoke again:
"You would murder as did your forefathers, O children of snakes
and hogs fashioned in the shape of men. You would sacrifice those
who dwell in my shadow to satisfy your hate because they are
wiser than you. Come hither thou," and he beckoned with a bony
finger to the chief magician.
The man advanced towards him in short jumps, as a mechanical
toy might do, and stood before him, his miniature crate and
feathers all awry and the sweat of terror melting the paint in
When the World Shook |
