| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: that they were fast and hard-riding cowboys in a land where all
riders were good. They would not have owned any but strong,
swift horses. Moreover, it was a district where ranchers had
suffered beyond all endurance the greed and brutality of
outlaws. Duane had simply been so unfortunate as to run right
into a lynching party at a time of all times when any stranger
would be in danger and any outlaw put to his limit to escape
with his life.
Duane did not look back again till he had crossed the ridgy
piece of ground and had gotten to the level road. He had gained
upon his pursuers. When he ascertained this he tried to save
The Lone Star Ranger |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbot: But trust me, your wise men are wrong."
I. Then is omnividence the attribute of others besides Gods?
SPHERE. I do not know. But, if a pick-pocket or a cut-throat
of our country can see everything that is in your country,
surely that is no reason why the pick-pocket or cut-throat should be
accepted by you as a God. This omnividence, as you call it --
it is not a common word in Spaceland -- does it make you more just,
more merciful, less selfish, more loving? Not in the least.
Then how does it make you more divine?
I. "More merciful, more loving!" But these are the qualities
of women! And we know that a Circle is a higher Being
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: made a desperate lunge at his heart, which, but that his guard was
quick and true, would have stretched him dead upon the grass.
In the act of striking him, the torrent of his opponent's rage had
reached a stop. He parried his rapid thrusts, without returning
them, and called to him, with a frantic kind of terror in his face,
to keep back.
'Not to-night! not to-night!' he cried. 'In God's name, not
tonight!'
Seeing that he lowered his weapon, and that he would not thrust in
turn, Sir John lowered his.
'Not to-night!' his adversary cried. 'Be warned in time!'
Barnaby Rudge |
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 The Smalcald Articles by Dr. Martin Luther: good works. For all is built upon a rotten and vain
foundation, which is called a good work or law, even though no
good work is there, but only wicked works, and no one does the
Law (as Christ, John 7, 19, says), but all transgress it.
Therefore the building [that is raised upon it] is nothing but
falsehood and hypocrisy, even [in the part] where it is most
holy and beautiful.
And in Christians this repentance continues until death,
because, through the entire life it contends with sin
remaining in the flesh, as Paul, Rom. 7, 14-25, [shows]
testifies that he wars with the law in his members, etc.; and
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