| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: have not for six long months bought one yard of lawn or cambric,
or one trinket, the most inconsiderable, for my own use, and at
my own choice, the better question is, What hast thou got to
sell? Lay aside for me that cambric partlet and pair of sleeves
--and those roundells of gold fringe, drawn out with cyprus--and
that short cloak of cherry-coloured fine cloth, garnished with
gold buttons and loops;--is it not of an absolute fancy, Janet?"
"Nay, my lady," replied Janet, "if you consult my poor judgment,
it is, methinks, over-gaudy for a graceful habit."
"Now, out upon thy judgment, if it be no brighter, wench," said
the Countess. "Thou shalt wear it thyself for penance' sake; and
Kenilworth |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Glasses by Henry James: friendship. He doubtless told me his simple story, but the matter
comes back in a kind of sense of my being rather the mouthpiece, of
my having had to put it together for him. He took it from me in
this form without a groan, and I gave it him quite as it came; he
took it again and again, spending his odd half-hours with me as if
for the very purpose of learning how idiotically he was in love.
He told me I made him see things: to begin with, hadn't I first
made him see Flora Saunt? I wanted him to give her up and lucidly
informed him why; on which he never protested nor contradicted,
never was even so alembicated as to declare just for the sake of
the point that he wouldn't. He simply and pointlessly didn't, and
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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 The Koran: to them, 'Do ye not fear? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle; so
fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is
only with the Lord of the worlds. Shall ye be left here in safety with
gardens and springs, and corn-fields and palms, the spathes whereof
are fine? and ye hew out of the mountains houses skilfully. But fear
God and obey me; and obey not the bidding of the extravagant, who do
evil in the earth and do not act aright!'
They said, 'Thou art only of the infatuated; thou art but mortal
like ourselves; so bring us a sign, if thou be of those who speak
the truth!'
He said, 'This she-camel shall have her drink and you your drink
The Koran |
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 Children of the Night by Edwin Arlington Robinson: And all-triumphant sailing, when the ships
Of Wisdom loose their fretful chains and swing
Forever from the crumbled wharves of Time.
Two Quatrains
I
Unity
As eons of incalculable strife
Are in the vision of one moment caught,
So are the common, concrete things of life
Divinely shadowed on the walls of Thought.
II
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