| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: word which appears only in this passage in prose (Holden). L. & S.
cf. Hom. "Il."i. 146, xxi. 589, of persons; "Od." xiv. 552, of
things. Pind. "Pyth." iv. 140; "Isth." 7 (6), 30.
And now for ways and means: On which principle do you expect your
revenues to flow more copiously--by keeping your own private
capital[4] employed, or by means devised to make the resources of the
entire state[5] productive?
[4] Reading {idia}, al. {idia}, = "your capital privately employed."
[5] Lit. "of all citizens alike," "every single member of the state."
And next to speak of that which people hold to be the flower of
institutions, a pursuit both noble in itself and best befitting a
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: from a distance she could distinguish by the light of the moon a
gigantic shadow walking obliquely in the cypress avenue to the left of
Salammbo, a sign which presaged death.
Taanach went up again into the chamber. She threw herself upon the
ground tearing her face with her nails; she plucked out her hair, and
uttered piercing shrieks with all her might.
It occurred to her that they might be heard; then she became silent,
sobbing quite softly with her head in the hands and her face on the
pavement.
CHAPTER XI
IN THE TENT
 Salammbo |