| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: on the right whilst they are marching in column, they have nothing
further to do but to wheel each company to the right, like a trireme,
prow forwards,[22] to meet the enemy, and thus the rear company again
finds itself on the right. If, however, the enemy should attack on the
left, either they will not allow of that and push him aside,[23] or
else they wheel their companies to the left to face the antagonist,
and thus the rear company once more falls into position on the left.
[13] Or, "alongside of any comrade who may have fallen in their way."
See Plut. "Pelop." 23 (Clough, ii. 222); Thuc. v. 72.
[14] Or, "drill sergeant."
[15] See Jebb, note to "Theophr." viii. 3.
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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 The Shadow Line by Joseph Conrad: into the dining room, by his screech: "I always
said you'd be the death of me."
This clamour not only overtook me, but went
ahead as it were on to the verandah and brought
out Captain Giles.
He stood before me in the doorway in all the
commonplace solidity of his wisdom. The gold
chain glittered on his breast. He clutched a
smouldering pipe.
I extended my hand to him warmly and he
seemed surprised, but did respond heartily enough
The Shadow Line |
