| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: The necessary limitation or relative nature of all phenomena. Plato is
aware that his own doctrine of ideas, as well as the Eleatic Being and Not-
being, alike admit of being regarded as verbal fallacies. The sophism
advanced in the Meno, 'that you cannot enquire either into what you know or
do not know,' is lightly touched upon at the commencement of the Dialogue;
the thesis of Protagoras, that everything is true to him to whom it seems
to be true, is satirized. In contrast with these fallacies is maintained
the Socratic doctrine that happiness is gained by knowledge. The
grammatical puzzles with which the Dialogue concludes probably contain
allusions to tricks of language which may have been practised by the
disciples of Prodicus or Antisthenes. They would have had more point, if
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Virginian by Owen Wister: heard applied to the Virginian that epithet which Steve so freely
used. The same words, identical to the letter. But this time they
had produced a pistol. "When you call me that, SMILE!" So I
perceived a new example of the old truth, that the letter means
nothing until the spirit gives it life.
III. STEVE TREATS
It was for several minutes, I suppose, that I stood drawing these
silent morals. No man occupied himself with me. Quiet voices, and
games of chance, and glasses lifted to drink, continued to be the
peaceful order of the night. And into my thoughts broke the voice
of that card-dealer who had already spoken so sagely. He also
The Virginian |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: Blessed be He in whose hand is the kingdom, for He is mighty over
all!
Who created death and life, to try you, which of you does best;
for He is the mighty, the forgiving!
Who created seven heavens in stories; thou canst not see any
discordance in the creation of the Merciful!
Why, look again! canst thou see a flaw? Then look again
twice!-they look shall return to thee driven back and dulled!
And we have adorned the lower heaven with lamps; and set them to
pelt the devils with; and we have prepared for them the torment of the
blaze!
The Koran |
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 Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare: Who, disciplin'd and dieted in grace,
Believ'd her eyes when they t oassail begun,
All vows and consecrations giving place.
O most potential love! vow, bond, nor space,
In thee hath neither sting, knot, nor confine,
For thou art all, and all things else are thine.
'When thou impressest, what are precepts worth
Of stale example? When thou wilt inflame,
How coldly those impediments stand forth,
Of wealth, of filial fear, law, kindred, fame!
Love's arms are peace, 'gainst rule, 'gainst sense, 'gainst
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