| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: helmet of salvation, and having thy feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace, and taking in thine hands the
shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word
of God. And, being thus excellently armed and guarded on every
side, in this confidence go forth to the warfare against
ungodliness, until, this put to flight, and its prince, the
devil, dashed headlong to the earth, thou be adorned with the
crowns of victory from the right hand of thy master, the Lord of
life."
XIX.
With such like doctrines and saving words did Barlaam instruct
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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 Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson: held you in his hand, and spared you! 'Tis as brave to kill a
kitten, as a man that not defends himself."
Dick was struck dumb.
"I slew him fair. I ran me in upon his bow," he cried.
"It was a coward blow," returned Matcham. "Y' are but a lout and
bully, Master Dick; ye but abuse advantages; let there come a
stronger, we will see you truckle at his boot! Ye care not for
vengeance, neither - for your father's death that goes unpaid, and
his poor ghost that clamoureth for justice. But if there come but
a poor creature in your hands that lacketh skill and strength, and
would befriend you, down she shall go!"
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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 Theaetetus by Plato: willing to be examined, and Socrates begins by asking him what he learns of
Theodorus. He is himself anxious to learn anything of anybody; and now he
has a little question to which he wants Theaetetus or Theodorus (or
whichever of the company would not be 'donkey' to the rest) to find an
answer. Without further preface, but at the same time apologizing for his
eagerness, he asks, 'What is knowledge?' Theodorus is too old to answer
questions, and begs him to interrogate Theaetetus, who has the advantage of
youth.
Theaetetus replies, that knowledge is what he learns of Theodorus, i.e.
geometry and arithmetic; and that there are other kinds of knowledge--
shoemaking, carpentering, and the like. But Socrates rejoins, that this
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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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: intersecting and crossing each other, formed the CORPS DE LOGIS.
A protecting bartizan or two, with the addition of small turrets
at the angles, much resembling pepper-boxes, had procured for
Darnlinvarach the dignified appellation of a castle. It was
surrounded by a low court-yard wall, within which were the usual
offices.
As the travellers approached more nearly, they discovered marks
of recent additions to the defences of the place, which had been
suggested, doubtless, by the insecurity of those troublesome
times. Additional loop-holes for musketry were struck out in
different parts of the building, and of its surrounding wall.
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