| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: things, thou shalt not be cast into the pit of arrogance, but
shalt fear God, the true and heavenly King, and verily thou shalt
be blessed. For he saith, `Blessed are all they that fear the
Lord, and walk in his ways,' and `Blessed is the man that feareth
the Lord: he shall have great delight in his commandments.' And
which commandments above all shouldest thou observe? `Blessed
are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,' and `Be ye
merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful.' For the
fulfilment of this commandment, above all, is required of them
that are in high authority. And, soothly, the holder of great
authority ought to imitate the giver of that authority to the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: slain? how die a thousand deaths?
[20] Holden aptly cf. Plut. "Sol." 14, {kalon men einai ten torannida
khorion, ouk ekhein de apobasin}, "it was true a tyrrany was a
very fair spot, but it had no way down from it" (Clough, i. p.
181).
[21] Or, "how undergo in his own person the imprisonments he has
inflicted?" Reading {antipaskhoi}, or if {antiparaskhoi}, transl.
"how could he replace in his own person the exact number of
imprisonments which he has inflicted on others?"
Ah, no! Simonides (he added), if to hang one's self outright be ever
gainful to pour mortal soul, then, take my word for it, that is the
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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 Ivanhoe by Walter Scott: as he did, excepting only he escaped the death: and, therefore,
publickly did revoke all things that were done in that extremity,
and especially he revoked the subscription of the three writings,
to wit, of a fyve yeir tack and nineteen year tack, and of a
charter of feu. And so the house remained, and remains (till
this day, the 7th of February, 1571,) in the custody of the said
Laird of Bargany and of his servants. And so cruelty was disappointed
of proffeit present, and shall be eternallie punished, unless
he earnestly repent. And this far for the cruelty committed,
to give occasion unto others, and to such as hate the monstrous
dealing of degenerate nobility, to look more diligently upon their
Ivanhoe |
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 Young Forester by Zane Grey: in my escape. He was listening. There was not a sound save the dull roar of
rushing water.
Hiram slid forward a little, and rose cautiously to look over. I did the
same. When I saw the cave and the spring-hole I felt a catch in my throat.
But there was not a man in sight. Dick's captors had broken camp; they were
gone. The only thing left in the gorge to show they had ever been there was
a burned-out campfire.
"They're gone," I whispered.
"Wal, it 'pears so," replied Hiram. "An' it's a move I don't like.
Youngster, it's you they want. Leslie's no particular use to them. They'll
have to let him go sooner or later, if they hain't already."
The Young Forester |
