| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Philebus by Plato: neglecting the many individuals, nor attempting to count them all, but
finding the genera and species under which they naturally fall. Here,
then, and in the parallel passages of the Phaedrus and of the Sophist, is
found the germ of the most fruitful notion of modern science.
Plato describes with ludicrous exaggeration the influence exerted by the
one and many on the minds of young men in their first fervour of
metaphysical enthusiasm (compare Republic). But they are none the less an
everlasting quality of reason or reasoning which never grows old in us. At
first we have but a confused conception of them, analogous to the eyes
blinking at the light in the Republic. To this Plato opposes the
revelation from Heaven of the real relations of them, which some
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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 Rescue by Joseph Conrad: you on it and my heart failed me. I was there like an empty man
and I dared not face you. You must forgive me. No, I had no right
to doubt you for a moment. I feel as if I ought to go on my knees
and beg your pardon for forgetting what you are, for daring to
forget."
"Why, King Tom, what is it?"
"It seems as if I had sinned," she heard him say. He seized her
by the shoulders, turned her about, moved her forward a step or
two. His hands were heavy, his force irresistible, though he
himself imagined he was handling her gently. "Look straight
before you," he growled into her ear. "Do you see anything?" Mrs.
The Rescue |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rig Veda: 3 He goes upon his way, unresting, to the cows, over the roaring
sound
which Sarya's Daughter loves.
The Falcon brought it to him for his own delight: now with
the twofold
kindred sisters is his home.
4 Washed by the men, stone-pressed, dear on the holy grass,
faithful
to seasons, Lord of cattle from of old,
Most liberal, completing sacrifice for men, O Indra, pure bright
Soma,
The Rig Veda |
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 First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail,
by the judgment of this great tribunal, the American people.
By the frame of the government under which we live, this same people
have wisely given their public servants but little power for mischief;
and have, with equal wisdom, provided for the return of that little
to their own hands at very short intervals. While the people retain
their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of
wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government
in the short space of four years.
My countrymen, one and all, think calmly and WELL upon this
whole subject. Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.
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