| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: seem to have passed the stage arrived at in the Protagoras, for Socrates is
no longer discussing whether virtue can be taught--from this question he is
relieved by the ingenuous declaration of the youth Cleinias; and (4) not
yet to have reached the point at which he asserts 'that there are no
teachers.' Such grounds are precarious, as arguments from style and plan
are apt to be (Greek). But no arguments equally strong can be urged in
favour of assigning to the Euthydemus any other position in the series.
EUTHYDEMUS
by
Plato
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Letters of Two Brides by Honore de Balzac: to find one in your neighborhood. My mother has given me thirty
thousand francs for the furnishing, and I shall do my best not to
disgrace the dear sister of my election--no pun intended.
I am grateful to you for having already done so much at Court for
Louis. But though M. de Bourmont and M. de Polignac have paid him the
compliment of asking him to join their ministry, I do not wish so
conspicuous a place for him. It would commit him too much; and I
prefer the Audit Office because it is permanent. Our affairs here are
in very good hands; so you need not fear; as soon as the steward has
mastered the details, I will come and support Louis.
As for writing long letters nowadays, how can I. This one, in which I
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