| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac: Vendramin, if he cannot understand this sublime music, he is perhaps
incurable."
"If you would but tell me the cause of their madness, I could cure
them," said the Frenchman.
"And since when have great physicians ceased to read men's minds?"
said she, jestingly.
The ballet was long since ended; the second act of /Mose/ was
beginning. The pit was perfectly attentive. A rumor had got abroad
that Duke Cataneo had lectured Genovese, representing to him what
injury he was doing to Clarina, the /diva/ of the day. The second act
would certainly be magnificent.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: that he seemed so good to ye - like our Father in heaven, I
thought; and I thought that mebbe, perhaps, we had all been
wrong about him from the first. But I'll have to tell Mr.
M'Brair; I'm under a kind of a bargain to him to tell him
all.'
'Tell it to the divil if ye like for me!' cried the lass.
'I've naething to be ashamed of. Tell M'Brair to mind his
ain affairs,' she cried again: 'they'll be hot eneugh for
him, if Haddie likes!' And so strode off, shoving her beasts
before her, and ever and again looking back and crying angry
words to the boy, where he stood mystified.
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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 Cratylus by Plato: subject all in a moment.' 'No, but you may "add little to little," as
Hesiod says.' Socrates here interposes his own request, that Cratylus will
give some account of his theory. Hermogenes and himself are mere
sciolists, but Cratylus has reflected on these matters, and has had
teachers. Cratylus replies in the words of Achilles: '"Illustrious Ajax,
you have spoken in all things much to my mind," whether Euthyphro, or some
Muse inhabiting your own breast, was the inspirer.' Socrates replies, that
he is afraid of being self-deceived, and therefore he must 'look fore and
aft,' as Homer remarks. Does not Cratylus agree with him that names teach
us the nature of things? 'Yes.' And naming is an art, and the artists are
legislators, and like artists in general, some of them are better and some
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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 Symposium by Xenophon: flute-girl, perfect in her art; and next, a dancing-girl, skilled to
perform all kinds of wonders; lastly, in the bloom of beauty, a boy,
who played the harp and danced with infinite grace. This Syracusan
went about exhibiting his troupe, whose wonderful performance was a
source of income to him.
[1] See Plat. "Symp." 176 A; Athen. ix. 408.
After the girl had played to them upon the flute, and then the boy in
turn upon the harp, and both performers, as it would appear, had set
the hearts of every one rejoicing, Socrates turned to Callias:
A feast, upon my word, O princeliest entertainer![2] Was it not enough
to set before your guests a faultless dinner, but you must feast our
The Symposium |
