| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: general of the states[7] who may care to assist. There, too, are to be
seen two of the ephors, who neither meddle nor make, save only at the
summons of the king, yet have they their eyes fixed on the proceedings
of each one there and keep all in order,[8] as may well be guessed.
When the sacrifices are accomplished the king summons all and issues
his orders[9] as to what has to be done. And all with such method
that, to witness the proceedings, you might fairly suppose the rest of
the world to be but bungling experimenters,[10] and the Lacedaemonians
alone true handicraftsmen in the art of soldiering.
[7] I.e. "allied"? or "perioecid"?
[8] {sophronizousin}, "keep every one in his sober senses."
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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 A Heap O' Livin' by Edgar A. Guest: home you can't go in.
THE PERFECT DINNER TABLE
A table cloth that's slightly soiled
Where greasy little hands have toiled;
The napkins kept in silver rings,
And only ordinary things
From which to eat, a simple fare,
And just the wife and kiddies there,
And while I serve, the clatter glad
Of little girl and little lad
Who have so very much to say
A Heap O' Livin' |
