| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Anabasis by Xenophon: take the throne from Artaxerxes, and the ensuing
return of the Greeks, in which Xenophon played a
leading role. This occurred between 401 B.C. and
March 399 B.C.
PREPARER'S NOTE
This was typed from Dakyns' series, "The Works of Xenophon," a
four-volume set. The complete list of Xenophon's works (though
there is doubt about some of these) is:
Work Number of books
The Anabasis 7
The Hellenica 7
Anabasis |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: lost) my courage. I must not be down-hearted; many of the
best men had made a failure in the beginning. I told him I had
no head for business, and his kind face darkened. "You must
not say that, Loudon," he replied; "I will never believe my son
to be a coward."
"But I don't like it," I pleaded. "It hasn't got any interest for
me, and art has. I know I could do more in art," and I
reminded him that a successful painter gains large sums; that a
picture of Meissonier's would sell for many thousand dollars.
"And do you think, Loudon," he replied, "that a man who can
paint a thousand dollar picture has not grit enough to keep his
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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 Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: patience and hope. Therefore, even as thou hast heard from me,
and been instructed, and hast laid a sure foundation, do thou
abound therein, increasing and advancing, and warring the good
warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, witnessed by good
works, following after righteousness, godliness, faith, charity,
patience, meekness, laying hold on eternal life whereunto thou
wast called. But remove far from thee all pleasure and lust of
the affections, not only in act and operation, but even in the
thoughts of thine heart, that thou mayest present thy soul
without blemish to God. For not our actions only, but our
thoughts also are recorded, and procure us crowns or punishments:
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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 Plain Tales from the Hills by Rudyard Kipling: sort of man.
There is nothing peculiar about him, except a slight stiffness,
caused by a riding-strain, in the right leg.
IN ERROR.
They burnt a corpse upon the sand--
The light shone out afar;
It guided home the plunging boats
That beat from Zanzibar.
Spirit of Fire, where'er Thy altars rise.
Thou art Light of Guidance to our eyes!
Salsette Boat-Song.
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