| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin: in an exaggerated form has become hereditary in our pointers and setters.
Now I have noticed scores of times that when two strange dogs meet on
an open road, the one which first sees the other, though at the distance
of one or two hundred yards, after the first glance always lowers its bead,
generally crouches a little, or even lies down; that is, he takes the proper
attitude for concealing himself and {illust. caption = for making a rush
or FIG. 4.--Small dog watching a cat on a spring, although the road table.
From a photograph taken is quite open and The distance Mr. Rejlander.} great.
Again, dogs of all kinds when intently watching and slowly approaching
their prey, frequently keep one of their fore-legs doubled up for a long time,
ready for the next cautious step; and this is eminently characteristic
Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: [9] Lit. "what he has for which to claim utility."
[10] Or, "give the work completeness." Cf. Plat. "Charm." 173 A;
"Gorg." 454 A.
He asnwered: My father,[11] in his pains to make me a good man,
compelled me to learn the whole of Homer's poems, and it so happens
that even now I can repeat the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" by heart.[12]
[11] Nicias.
[12] Of, "off-hand." See "Mem." III. vi. 9; Plat. "Theaet." 142 D.
You have not forgotten (interposed Antisthenes), perhaps, that besides
yourself there is not a rhapsodist who does not know these epics?
Forgotten! is it likely (he replied), considering I had to listen to
The Symposium |
