| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Intentions by Oscar Wilde: much 'perilous stuff,' and by presenting high and worthy objects
for the exercise of the emotions purifies and spiritualises the
man; nay, not merely does it spiritualise him, but it initiates him
also into noble feelings of which he might else have known nothing,
the word [Greek text which cannot be reproduced] having, it has
sometimes seemed to me, a definite allusion to the rite of
initiation, if indeed that be not, as I am occasionally tempted to
fancy, its true and only meaning here. This is of course a mere
outline of the book. But you see what a perfect piece of aesthetic
criticism it is. Who indeed but a Greek could have analysed art so
well? After reading it, one does not wonder any longer that
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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 Cavalry General by Xenophon: [11] i.e. "given by general word of command, or in writing." As to the
"word-of-mouth command," see above, S. 3; "Hell." VII. v. 9; and
for the "herald," see "Anab." III. iv. 36.
[12] Reading {pros to dia p.}, or if {pros to} . . . transl. "with a
view to."
[13] Lit. pempadarchs, i.e. No. 6 in the file. See "Cyrop." II. i. 22
foll., iii. 21.
[14] Lit. "so that each officer may pass the word to as few as
possible."
[15] Cf. "Anab." IV. vi. 6.
When an advanced guard is needed, I say for myself I highly approve of
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