| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: taking about a duke in his Master-Attendant's steam-
launch to visit the harbor improvements. Before that
he had "most obligingly" gone out in person to pick
out a good berth for the ducal yacht. Afterwards he
had an invitation to lunch on board. The duchess her-
self lunched with them. A big woman with a red face.
Complexion quite sunburnt. He should think ruined.
Very gracious manners. They were going on to
Japan. . . .
He ejaculated these details for Captain Whalley's edi-
fication, pausing to blow out his cheeks as if with a
End of the Tether |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: agreeable by all alike, they do battle for their possession; a spirit
of disunion[16] enters, and the parties range themselves in adverse
camps. Discord and anger sound a note of war: the passion of more-
having, staunchless avarice, threatens hostility; and envy is a
hateful fiend.[17]
[15] i.e. a cunning intertwining of the threads of warp and woof.
[16] Cf. Shelley, "The devil of disunion in their souls."
[17] The diction is poetical.
But nevertheless, through all opposing barriers friendship steals her
way and binds together the beautiful and good among mankind.[18] Such
is their virtue that they would rather possess scant means painlessly
The Memorabilia |
