| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tanach: Numbers 3: 40 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
Numbers 3: 41 And thou shalt take the Levites for Me, even the LORD, instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.'
Numbers 3: 42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.
Numbers 3: 43 And all the first-born males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.
Numbers 3: 44 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
Numbers 3: 45 'Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be Mine, even the LORD'S.
Numbers 3: 46 And as for the redemption of the two hundred and three score and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above the number of the Levites,
Numbers 3: 47 thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them--the shekel is twenty gerahs.
Numbers 3: 48 And thou shalt give the money wherewith they that remain over of them are redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons.'
 The Tanach |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: lifetime; and then he will be off.[22]
[22] Lit. "to get from the tyrant all in a moment many times more than
he will earn from all the rest of mankind in a whole lifetime, and
depart."
To which Simonides: Well, granted you have the worst of it in sights
and sightseeing; yet, you must admit you are large gainers through the
sense of hearing; you who are never stinted of that sweetest of all
sounds,[23] the voice of praise, since all around you are for ever
praising everything you do and everything you say. Whilst, conversely,
to that most harsh and grating of all sounds, the language of abuse,
your ears are sealed, since no one cares to speak evil against a
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