| 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: Under the pleasurable sense of freedom, thanks to the relaxation of
the bit, with stately bearing and legs pliantly moving he dashes
forward in his pride, in every respect imitating the airs and graces
of a horse approaching other horses. Listen to the epithets with which
spectators will describe the type of horse: the noble animal! and what
willingness to work, what paces,[12] what a spirit and what mettle;
how proudly he bears himself[13]--a joy at once, and yet a terror to
behold.
[11] Cf. "Hell." V. iv. 46, "kindled into new life."
[12] {ipposten}, "a true soldier's horse."
[13] {sobaron}, "what a push and swagger"; {kai ama edun te kai gorgon
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 Anthem by Ayn Rand: stole from the Home of the Scholars;
but we had been taught, when still a child,
that the loadstone points to the north and that
this is a law which nothing can change;
yet our new power defies all laws.
We found that it causes lightning, and never
have men known what causes lightning.
In thunderstorms, we raised a tall rod of
iron by the side of our hole, and we
watched it from below. We have seen the
lightning strike it again and again.
Anthem |
