| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: both conditions,[4] you should know better than myself, wherein the
life of the despotic ruler differs from the life of any ordinary
person, looking to the sum of joys and sorrows to which flesh is heir.
[3] Or, "a common citizen," "an ordinary mortal," "a private
individual."
[4] Or, "having experienced both lots in life, both forms of
existence."
Would it not be simpler (Hiero replied) if you, on your side,[5] who
are still to-day a private person, would refresh my memory by
recalling the various circumstances of an ordinary mortal's life? With
these before me,[6] I should be better able to describe the points of
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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 Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: "There are only two people here who make me feel as
if they understood what I mean and could explain
things to me: you and Mr. Beaufort."
Archer winced at the joining of the names, and then,
with a quick readjustment, understood, sympathised
and pitied. So close to the powers of evil she must have
lived that she still breathed more freely in their air. But
since she felt that he understood her also, his business
would be to make her see Beaufort as he really was,
with all he represented--and abhor it.
He answered gently: "I understand. But just at first
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