| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: Of course, he replied.
Then temperance, I said, will not be doing one's own business; not at least
in this way, or doing things of this sort?
Clearly not.
Then, as I was just now saying, he who declared that temperance is a man
doing his own business had another and a hidden meaning; for I do not think
that he could have been such a fool as to mean this. Was he a fool who
told you, Charmides?
Nay, he replied, I certainly thought him a very wise man.
Then I am quite certain that he put forth his definition as a riddle,
thinking that no one would know the meaning of the words 'doing his own
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: find any way of so doing. Nevertheless, I try to overcome the karma of my
errors by sincere repentance, and by helping as afar as I can, those who
are unfortunate."
Kwairyo was pleased by this announcement of good resolve; and he said to
the aruji:--
"My friend, I have had occasion to observe that man, prone to folly in
their youth, may in after years become very earnest in right living. In the
holy sutras it is written that those strongest in wrong-doing can become,
by power of good resolve, the strongest in right-doing. I do not doubt
that you have a good heart; and I hope that better fortune will come to
you. To-night I shall recite the sutras for your sake, and pray that you
Kwaidan |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: and afterwards the privy chamber, places in which it would have
been impossible to have held secret consultation. Aware that the
king was resolved to protect her majesty, and conscious the
evidence of her accusers was more wildly improbable than usual,
the Lords refused to second the address of the Commons, when the
charge against this hapless woman was abandoned, to the great
vexation of my Lord Shaftesbury.
Though the queen happily escaped the toils of her enemies, the
reign of terror was by no means at an end. At request of the
king, the Duke of York left England and took refuge in Brussels;
the catholic peers imprisoned in the Tower were impeached with
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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 Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: that the boat being gone a good way into the creek, and, as it
were, in a harbour within the land, they took one of the three men
out of her, to go along with them, and left only two in the boat,
having fastened her to the stump of a little tree on the shore.
This was what I wished for; and immediately leaving Friday and the
captain's mate to their business, I took the rest with me; and,
crossing the creek out of their sight, we surprised the two men
before they were aware - one of them lying on the shore, and the
other being in the boat. The fellow on shore was between sleeping
and waking, and going to start up; the captain, who was foremost,
ran in upon him, and knocked him down; and then called out to him
Robinson Crusoe |
