| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: to restore her to you."
"She is to be married this day," said the stranger, "and perhaps is married
by this, to a rich old knight; and yesterday I knew it not."
"What is your name?" said Robin.
"Allen," said the stranger.
"And where is the marriage to take place, Allen?" said Robin.
"At Edwinstow church," said Allen, "by the bishop of Nottingham."
"I know that bishop," said Robin; "he dined with me a month since, and paid
three hundred pounds for his dinner. He has a good ear and loves music.
The friar sang to him to some tune. Give me my harper's cloak, and I
will play a part at this wedding.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Apology by Plato: necessarily flow out of the loftiness of his situation. He is not acting a
part upon a great occasion, but he is what he has been all his life long,
'a king of men.' He would rather not appear insolent, if he could avoid it
(ouch os authadizomenos touto lego). Neither is he desirous of hastening
his own end, for life and death are simply indifferent to him. But such a
defence as would be acceptable to his judges and might procure an
acquittal, it is not in his nature to make. He will not say or do anything
that might pervert the course of justice; he cannot have his tongue bound
even 'in the throat of death.' With his accusers he will only fence and
play, as he had fenced with other 'improvers of youth,' answering the
Sophist according to his sophistry all his life long. He is serious when
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