| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: tell a good foot clearly by the ring," says Simon happily;[8] for the
hollow hoof rings like a cymbal against the solid earth.[9]
[6] Lit. "the swallow."
[7] Al. "a knock-kneed person." See Stonehenge, "The Horse" (ed.
1892), pp. 3, 9.
[8] Or, "and he is right."
[9] Cf. Virg. "Georg." iii. 88; Hor. "Epod." xvi. 12.
And now that we have begun with the feet, let us ascend from this
point to the rest of the body. The bones[10] above the hoof and below
the fetlock must not be too straight, like those of a goat; through
not being properly elastic,[11] legs of this type will jar the rider,
On Horsemanship |
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 Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: herself with having parted from Eleanor coldly, with having
never enough valued her merits or kindness, and never
enough commiserated her for what she had been yesterday
left to endure. The strength of these feelings, however,
was far from assisting her pen; and never had it been
harder for her to write than in addressing Eleanor Tilney.
To compose a letter which might at once do justice
to her sentiments and her situation, convey gratitude
without servile regret, be guarded without coldness,
and honest without resentment--a letter which Eleanor
might not be pained by the perusal of--and, above all,
Northanger Abbey |
