The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Woman and Labour by Olive Schreiner: unnecessary for her to share man's grosser and lower toils: is it certain
he always in practical life remembers his theory? When waking tomorrow
morning, he finds that the elderly house drudge, who rises at dawn while he
yet sleeps to make his tea and clean his boots, has brought his tea late,
and polished his boots ill; may he not even sharply condemn her, and assure
her she will have to leave unless she works harder and rises earlier? Does
he exclaim to her, "Divine child-bearer! Potential mother of the race!
Why should you clean my boots or bring up my tea, while I lie warm in bed?
Is it not enough you should have the holy and mysterious power of bringing
the race to life? Let that content you. Henceforth I shall get up at dawn
and make my own tea and clean my own boots, and pay you just the same!"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Euthyphro by Plato: EUTHYPHRO: Then some one else has been prosecuting you?
SOCRATES: Yes.
EUTHYPHRO: And who is he?
SOCRATES: A young man who is little known, Euthyphro; and I hardly know
him: his name is Meletus, and he is of the deme of Pitthis. Perhaps you
may remember his appearance; he has a beak, and long straight hair, and a
beard which is ill grown.
EUTHYPHRO: No, I do not remember him, Socrates. But what is the charge
which he brings against you?
SOCRATES: What is the charge? Well, a very serious charge, which shows a
good deal of character in the young man, and for which he is certainly not
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