| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Golden Sayings of Epictetus by Epictetus: should seem then that where the real nature of God is, there too
is to be found the real nature of the Good. What then is the real
nature of God?--Intelligence, Knowledge, Right Reason. Here then
without more ado seek the real nature of the Good. For surely
thou dost not seek it in a plant or in an animal that reasoneth
not.
LX
Seek then the real nature of the Good in that without whose
presence thou wilt not admit the Good to exist in aught else.--
What then? Are not these other things also works of God?--They
are; but not preferred to honour, nor are they portions of God.
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Disputation of the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther: nominati sunt neque cogniti apud populum Christi.
7. [57] Temporales certe non esse patet, quod non tam facile eos
profundunt, sed tantummodo colligunt multi concionatorum.
8. [58] Nec sunt merita Christi et sanctorum, quia hec semper sine
Papa operantur gratiam hominis interioris et crucem, mortem
infernumque exterioris.
9. [59] Thesauros ecclesie s. Laurentius dixit esse pauperes
ecclesie, sed locutus est usu vocabuli suo tempore.
10. [60] Sine temeritate dicimus claves ecclesie (merito Christi
donatas) esse thesaurum istum.
11. [61] Clarum est enim, quod ad remissionem penarum et casuum
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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 Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson: For there is nothing in it as it seems
Saving the King; though some there be that hold
The King a shadow, and the city real:
Yet take thou heed of him, for, so thou pass
Beneath this archway, then wilt thou become
A thrall to his enchantments, for the King
Will bind thee by such vows, as is a shame
A man should not be bound by, yet the which
No man can keep; but, so thou dread to swear,
Pass not beneath this gateway, but abide
Without, among the cattle of the field.
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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 Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: the barriers, leaving their horses at the outer gate, they met
the Earl of Alban and his followers, who were just quitting the
lists, which they also were in the habit of visiting nearly every
day. As the two parties passed one another, the Earl spoke to a
gentleman walking beside him and in a voice loud enough to be
clearly overheard by the others: "Yonder is the young sprig of
Falworth," said he. "His father, my Lords, is not content with
forfeiting his own life for his treason, but must, forsooth,
throw away his son's also. I have faced and overthrown many a
better knight than that boy."
Myles heard the speech, and knew that it was intended for him to
Men of Iron |
