| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Theaetetus by Plato: Suidas, who mentions him twice over, first, as a pupil of Socrates, and
then of Plato, he is said to have written the first work on the Five
Solids. But no early authority cites the work, the invention of which may
have been easily suggested by the division of roots, which Plato attributes
to him, and the allusion to the backward state of solid geometry in the
Republic. At any rate, there is no occasion to recall him to life again
after the battle of Corinth, in order that we may allow time for the
completion of such a work (Muller). We may also remark that such a
supposition entirely destroys the pathetic interest of the introduction.
Theodorus, the geometrician, had once been the friend and disciple of
Protagoras, but he is very reluctant to leave his retirement and defend his
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Essays & Lectures by Oscar Wilde: perfection: it is for the critic to create for art the social aim,
too, by teaching the people the spirit in which they are to
approach all artistic work, the love they are to give it, the
lesson they are to draw from it.
All these appeals to art to set herself more in harmony with modern
progress and civilisation, and to make herself the mouthpiece for
the voice of humanity, these appeals to art 'to have a mission,'
are appeals which should be made to the public. The art which has
fulfilled the conditions of beauty has fulfilled all conditions:
it is for the critic to teach the people how to find in the calm of
such art the highest expression of their own most stormy passions.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: went round the Borough canvassing for Mr. Thrale; and the child was
true to this early consecration. 'A life of lettered ease spent in
provincial retirement,' it is thus that the biographer of that
remarkable man, William Taylor, announces his subject; and the
phrase is equally descriptive of the life of Edward Barron. The
pair were close friends, 'W. T. and a pipe render everything
agreeable,' writes Barron in his diary in 1823; and in 1833, after
Barron had moved to London and Taylor had tasted the first public
failure of his powers, the latter wrote: 'To my ever dearest Mr.
Barron say, if you please, that I miss him more than I regret him -
that I acquiesce in his retirement from Norwich, because I could
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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 Memorabilia by Xenophon: politic."
Thereupon Euthydemus: Be assured I fully concur in your opinion; the
precept KNOW THYSELF cannot be too highly valued; but what is the
application? What the starting-point of self-examination? I look to
you for an explanation, if you would kindly give one.[45]
[45] Or, "at what point to commence the process of self-inspection?--
there is the mystery. I look to you, if you are willing, to
interpret it."
Well (replied Socrates), I presume you know quite well the distinction
between good and bad things: your knowledge may be relied upon so far?
Why, yes, to be sure (replied the youth); for without that much
The Memorabilia |
