| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: was writing something quickly. Seeing me, she started, got up
from the table, and remained standing in an attitude such as to
screen her papers from me.
"I beg your pardon, I have only come for a minute," I said, and,
I don't know why, I was overcome with embarrassment. "I have
learnt by chance that you are organizing relief for the famine,
Natalie."
"Yes, I am. But that's my business," she answered.
"Yes, it is your business," I said softly. "I am glad of it, for
it just fits in with my intentions. I beg your permission to take
part in it."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: an astrologer, and a philosopher as well."
" Tis a long list of excellency," said old Bidpai.
" Tis not as long as was his head, " said Dr. Faustus.
"It would be good for us all to hear a story of such a man," said
old Bidpai.
"Nay," said Dr. Faustus, "the story is not altogether of the man
himself, but rather of a pupil who came to learn wisdom of him."
"And the name of your story is what?" said Fortunatus.
"It hath no name," said Dr. Faustus.
"Nay," said St. George, "everything must have a name."
"It hath no name," said Dr. Faustus. "But I shall give it a name,
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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 Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: of the basin of the great river. Allahabad was now only twelve miles
to the north-east. They stopped under a clump of bananas,
the fruit of which, as healthy as bread and as succulent as cream,
was amply partaken of and appreciated.
At two o'clock the guide entered a thick forest which extended
several miles; he preferred to travel under cover of the woods.
They had not as yet had any unpleasant encounters, and the journey
seemed on the point of being successfully accomplished, when the
elephant, becoming restless, suddenly stopped.
It was then four o'clock.
"What's the matter?" asked Sir Francis, putting out his head.
Around the World in 80 Days |
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 Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx: more than the demands of "Practical Reason" in general, and the
utterance of the will of the revolutionary French bourgeoisie
signified in their eyes the law of pure Will, of Will as it was
bound to be, of true human Will generally.
The world of the German literate consisted solely in bringing
the new French ideas into harmony with their ancient
philosophical conscience, or rather, in annexing the French ideas
without deserting their own philosophic point of view.
This annexation took place in the same way in which a foreign
language is appropriated, namely, by translation.
It is well known how the monks wrote silly lives of Catholic
The Communist Manifesto |
