| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: But on a sudden she would burst into sobs and lie stretched on the
large bed of ox-leather straps without moving, repeating a word that
was ever the same, with open eyes, pale as one dead, insensible, cold;
and yet she could hear the cries of the apes in the tufts of the palm
trees, with the continuous grinding of the great wheel which brought a
flow of pure water through the stories into the porphyry centre-basin.
Sometimes for several days she would refuse to eat. She could see in a
dream troubled stars wandering beneath her feet. She would call
Schahabarim, and when he came she had nothing to say to him.
She could not live without the relief of his presence. But she
rebelled inwardly against this domination; her feeling towards the
Salammbo |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: seduced by Satan into false beliefs.
This accounts for the many new battles we have to wage nowadays. But the
attacks of the old Serpent are not without profit to us, for they confirm our
doctrine and strengthen our faith in Christ. Many a time we were wrestled
down in these conflicts with Satan, but Christ has always triumphed and
always will triumph. Do not think that the Galatians were the only ones to be
bewitched by the devil. Let us realize that we too may be seduced by Satan.
VERSE 1. Who hath bewitched you?
In this sentence Paul excuses the Galatians, while he blames the false
apostles for the apostasy of the Galatians.
As if he were saying: "I know your defection was not willful. The devil sent
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