| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Statesman by Plato: who have the worst sort of ignorance of the highest truths--I mean to say,
that they are wholly unaquainted with politics, of which, above all other
sciences, they believe themselves to have acquired the most perfect
knowledge.
YOUNG SOCRATES: Very true.
STRANGER: Then the question arises:--which of these untrue forms of
government is the least oppressive to their subjects, though they are all
oppressive; and which is the worst of them? Here is a consideration which
is beside our present purpose, and yet having regard to the whole it seems
to influence all our actions: we must examine it.
YOUNG SOCRATES: Yes, we must.
Statesman |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Tanach: Job 41: 22 (41:14) In his neck abideth strength, and dismay danceth before him.
Job 41: 23 (41:15) The flakes of his flesh are joined together; they are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
Job 41: 24 (41:16) His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, firm as the nether millstone.
Job 41: 25 (41:17) When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid; by reason of despair they are beside themselves.
Job 41: 26 (41:18) If one lay at him with the sword, it will not hold; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
Job 41: 27 (41:19) He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
Job 41: 28 (41:20) The arrow cannot make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
Job 41: 29 (41:21) Clubs are accounted as stubble; he laugheth at the rattling of the javelin.
Job 41: 30 (41:22) Sharpest potsherds are under him; he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
Job 41: 31 (41:23) He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a seething mixture.
Job 41: 32 (41:24) He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
The Tanach |
