| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Letters from England by Elizabeth Davis Bancroft: tradesmen! these are the torments of London. Very soon came the
tailor with embroidered dress, sword, and chapeau, but, alas! Mr.
Isidore, who was to have dressed my hair at half-past ten was not
forthcoming, and to complete my perplexity, he had my head-dress in
his possession. At last, just as Russell had resumed her office at
the toilet, came Isidore, a little before twelve, coiffure and all,
which was so pretty that I quire forgave him all his sins. It was
of green leaves and white FLEUR-DE-LIS, with a white ostrich feather
drooping on one side. I wear my hair now plain in front, and the
wreath was very flat and classical in its style. My dress was black
velvet with a very rich bertha. A bouquet on the front of FLEUR-DE-
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: relictae nihil saxa et cotes timerent; quarum rerum omnium nostris navibus
casus erat extimescendus.
Compluribus expugnatis oppidis Caesar, ubi intellexit frustra tantum
laborem sumi neque hostium fugam captis oppidis reprimi neque iis noceri
posse, statuit expectandam classem. Quae ubi convenit ac primum ab
hostibus visa est, circiter CCXX naves eorum paratissimae atque omni
genere armorum ornatissimae profectae ex portu nostris adversae
constiterunt; neque satis Bruto, qui classi praeerat, vel tribunis militum
centurionibusque, quibus singulae naves erant attributae, constabat quid
agerent aut quam rationem pugnae insisterent. Rostro enim noceri non
posse cognoverant; turribus autem excitatis tamen has altitudo puppium ex
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Theaetetus by Plato: something; and presently we will see whether you have brought forth wind or
not. Tell me, then, what do you think of the notion that "All things are
becoming"?'
'When I hear your arguments, I am marvellously ready to assent.'
'But I ought not to conceal from you that there is a serious objection
which may be urged against this doctrine of Protagoras. For there are
states, such as madness and dreaming, in which perception is false; and
half our life is spent in dreaming; and who can say that at this instant we
are not dreaming? Even the fancies of madmen are real at the time. But if
knowledge is perception, how can we distinguish between the true and the
false in such cases? Having stated the objection, I will now state the
|
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 Odyssey by Homer: found great delight in drinking the sweet draught, and
asked me for it yet a second time:
'"Give it me again of thy grace, and tell me thy name
straightway, that I may give thee a stranger's gift,
wherein thou mayest be glad. Yea for the earth, the
grain-giver, bears for the Cyclopes the mighty clusters of
the juice of the grape, and the rain of Zeus gives them
increase, but this is a rill of very nectar and ambrosia."
'So he spake, and again I handed him the dark wine. Thrice
I bare and gave it him, and thrice in his folly he drank it
to the lees. Now when the wine had got about the wits of
The Odyssey |
