| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: Pythian god himself[8] was a thing not illegal only, but profane.
[7] See Plut. "Lycurg." 5, 6, 29 (Clough, i. 89, 122); Polyb. x. 2, 9.
[8] Or, "a code delivered in Pytho, spoken by the god himself."
IX
The following too may well excite our admiration for Lycurgus. I speak
of the consummate skill with which he induced the whole state of
Sparta to regard an honourable death as preferable to an ignoble life.
And indeed if any one will investigate the matter, he will find that
by comparison with those who make it a principle to retreat in face of
danger, actually fewer of these Spartans die in battle, since, to
speak truth, salvation, it would seem, attends on virtue far more
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather: with my bridge, and I arranged not to come to New York
until after you had gone. Then, when your manager
added two more weeks, I was already committed."
He dropped upon the stool in front of her and
sat with his hands hanging between his knees.
"What am I to do, Hilda?"
"That's what I wanted to see you about,
Bartley. I'm going to do what you asked me
to do when you were in London. Only I'll do
it more completely. I'm going to marry."
"Who?"
Alexander's Bridge |
