| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: imitation will not satisfy God. And bear in mind that Paul is not now
discussing the example of Christ, but the salvation of Christ.
That Abraham submitted to circumcision at the command of God, that he was
endowed with excellent virtues, that he obeyed God in all things, was
certainly admirable of him. To follow the example of Christ, to love one's
neighbor, to do good to them that persecute you, to pray for one's enemies,
patiently to bear the ingratitude of those who return evil for good, is
certainly praiseworthy. But praiseworthy or not, such virtues do not acquit
us before God. It takes more than that to make us righteous before God. We
need Christ Himself, not His example, to save us. We need a redeeming, not an
exemplary Christ, to save us. Paul is here speaking of the redeeming Christ
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac: one, to group with the others, express all we have ever imagined of
the sacred marvels of that early age of humanity.
"And yet this fine concerted piece is no more than a development of
the theme of the march into all its musical outcome. That theme is the
inspiring element alike for the orchestra and the voices, for the air,
and for the brilliant instrumentation that supports it.
"Elcia now comes to join the crowd; and to give shade to the rejoicing
spirit of this number, Rossini has made her utter her regrets. Listen
to her /duettino/ with Amenofi. Did blighted love ever express itself
in lovelier song? It is full of the grace of a /notturno/, of the
secret grief of hopeless love. How sad! how sad! The Desert will
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lock and Key Library by Julian Hawthorne, Ed.: with great solemnity, "'is worth two in the Bosh.'"
"Truly I am of the same opinion," said I; "but shouldn't it be
Bush?"
"It came to me, Bosh," returned the gentleman.
The gentleman then informed me that the spirit of Socrates had
delivered this special revelation in the course of the night. "My
friend, I hope you are pretty well. There are two in this railway
carriage. How do you do? There are seventeen thousand four
hundred and seventy-nine spirits here, but you cannot see them.
Pythagoras is here. He is not at liberty to mention it, but hopes
you like travelling." Galileo likewise had dropped in, with this
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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 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: "It was a subject which they could not mention before me."
"No; it would have been strange if they had; but I make no
doubt they often talk of it between themselves. Well, if they can
be easy with an estate that is not lawfully their own, so much the
better. _I_ should be ashamed of having one that was only
entailed on me."
Chapter 41
The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began.
It was the last of the regiment's stay in Meryton, and all the
young ladies in the neighbourhood were drooping apace. The
dejection was almost universal. The elder Miss Bennets alone
Pride and Prejudice |
