| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Republic by Plato: describe the world below--Cocytus and Styx, ghosts under the earth, and
sapless shades, and any similar words of which the very mention causes a
shudder to pass through the inmost soul of him who hears them. I do not
say that these horrible stories may not have a use of some kind; but there
is a danger that the nerves of our guardians may be rendered too excitable
and effeminate by them.
There is a real danger, he said.
Then we must have no more of them.
True.
Another and a nobler strain must be composed and sung by us.
Clearly.
The Republic |
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 Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: I had two unsatisfactory meetings with Beatrice, meetings that
had no privacy--in which we said things of the sort that need
atmosphere, baldly and furtively. I wrote to her several times
and she wrote back notes that I would sometimes respond to
altogether, sometimes condemn as insincere evasions. "You don't
understand. I can't just now explain. Be patient with me.
Leave things a little while to me." She wrote.
I would talk aloud to these notes and wrangle over them in my
workroom--while the plans of Lord Roberts B waited.
"You don't give me a chance!" I would say. "Why don't you let me
know the secret? That's what I'm for--to settle difficulties!
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