| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Pupil by Henry James: couldn't do enough to be nice to him, to show him they had him on
their mind and make up for his loss. That was just what made the
whole thing so sad and caused him to rejoice after all in
Pemberton's return - he had to keep thinking of their affection
less, had less sense of obligation. Pemberton laughed out at this
last reason, and Morgan blushed and said: "Well, dash it, you know
what I mean." Pemberton knew perfectly what he meant; but there
were a good many things that - dash it too! - it didn't make any
clearer. This episode of his second sojourn in Paris stretched
itself out wearily, with their resumed readings and wanderings and
maunderings, their potterings on the quays, their hauntings of the
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Unseen World and Other Essays by John Fiske: again seen upon the face of the earth. Applying the imagery of
Daniel, it became a logical conclusion that he must have ascended
into the sky, whence he might shortly be expected to make his
appearance, to enact the scenes foretold in prophecy. That such
was the actual process of inference is shown by the legend of the
Ascension in the first chapter of the "Acts," and especially by
the words, "This Jesus who hath been taken up from you into
heaven, will come in the same manner in which ye beheld him going
into heaven." In the Apocalypse, written A. D. 68, just after the
death of Nero, this second coming is described as something
immediately to happen, and the colours in which it is depicted
The Unseen World and Other Essays |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: position--not the position of a prisoner (she was ashamed of
that), but her position as a prostitute. She seemed satisfied,
even proud of it. And, yet, how could it be otherwise? Everybody,
in order to be able to act, has to consider his occupation
important and good. Therefore, in whatever position a person is,
he is certain to form such a view of the life of men in general
which will make his occupation seem important and good.
It is usually imagined that a thief, a murderer, a spy, a
prostitute, acknowledging his or her profession as evil, is
ashamed of it. But the contrary is true. People whom fate and
their sin-mistakes have placed in a certain position, however
Resurrection |
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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: your happiness and welfare? and has he not told you that the
good old knight was following, with good heart and health, his
favourite and wonted exercise. Who has dared put other thoughts
into your head?"
"Oh, no one, my lord, no one," said the Countess, something
alarmed at the tone, in which the question was put; "but yet, my
lord, I would fain be assured by mine own eyesight that my father
is well."
"Be contented, Amy; thou canst not now have communication with
thy father or his house. Were it not a deep course of policy to
commit no secret unnecessarily to the custody of more than must
Kenilworth |
