| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: inner self:[33] "Be of good cheer, my soul, there are many battles[34]
yet in store for us," and so he fell to discussing the viands once
again.
[32] Philippus would seem to have anticipated Mr. Woodward; see
Prologue to "She Stoops to Conquer":
Pray, would you know the reason I'm crying?
The Comic Muse long sick is now a-dying!
And if she goes . . .
[33] Cf. "Cyrop." I. iv. 13; Eur. "Med." 1056, 1242; Aristoph. "Ach."
357, 480.
[34] Or add, "ere we have expended our last shot." Philippus puns on
The Symposium |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lin McLean by Owen Wister: instantly spent the high wages still paid them. With their bodies full of
youth and their pockets full of gold, they rode into town by twenties, by
fifties, and out again next morning, penniless always and happy. And then
the Four-ace Johnstons would sit card-playing with each other till the
innocents should come to town again.
To-night the innocents had certainly come to town, and Drybone was
furnishing to them all its joys. Their many horses stood tied at every
post and corner--patient, experienced cow-ponies, well knowing it was an
all-night affair. The talk and laughter of the riders was in the saloons;
they leaned joking over the bars, they sat behind their cards at the
tables, they strolled to the post-trader's to buy presents for their easy
|
