| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: stay at Santa Ysabel del Mar. Yet it was perhaps a week before the priest
knew this guest was come to abide with him. The guest could be discreet,
could withdraw, was not at first importunate.
Sail away on the barkentine? A wild notion, to be sure! although fit
enough to enter the brain of such a young scape-grace. The Padre shook
his head and smiled affectionately when he thought of Gaston Villere. The
youth's handsome, reckless countenance would shine out, smiling, in his
memory, and he repeated Auber's old remark, "Is it the good Lord, or is
it merely the devil, that always makes me have a weakness for rascals?"
Sail away on the barkentine! Imagine taking leave of the people here--of
Felipe! In what words should he tell the boy to go on industriously with
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from American Notes by Rudyard Kipling: The mischief of it is that West Point seems to be created for the
purpose of spreading a general knowledge of military matters
among the people. A boy goes up to that institution, gets his
pass, and returns to civil life, so they tell me, with a
dangerous knowledge that he is a suckling Von Moltke, and may
apply his learning when occasion offers. Given trouble, that man
will be a nuisance, because he is a hideously versatile American,
to begin with, as cock-sure of himself as a man can be, and with
all the racial disregard for human life to back him, through any
demi-semi-professional generalship.
In a country where, as the records of the daily papers show, men
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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 King James Bible: God a ransom for him:
PSA 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever:)
PSA 49:9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
PSA 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the
brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
PSA 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for
ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their
lands after their own names.
PSA 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the
beasts that perish.
King James Bible |
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 Salome by Oscar Wilde: HERODE. Je ne veux pas qu'il fasse cela. Je lui defends de faire
cela. Je ne permets pas qu'on ressuscite les morts. Il faut
chercher cet homme et lui dire que je ne lui permets pas de
ressusciter les morts. Ou est-il e present, cet homme?
LE SECOND NAZAREEN. Il est partout, Seigneur, mais il est tres
difficile de le trouver.
LE PREMIER NAZAREEN. On dit qu'il est en Samarie e present.
UN JUIF. On voit bien que ce n'est le Messie, s'il est en Samarie.
Ce n'est pas aux Samaritains que le Messie viendra. Les Samaritains
sont maudits. Ils n'apportent jamais d'offrandes au temple.
LE SECOND NAZAREEN. Il a quitte la Samarie il y a quelques jours.
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