| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: translation of a Greek author is full of tautology. The tendency of modern
languages is to become more correct as well as more perspicuous than
ancient. And, therefore, while the English translator is limited in the
power of expressing relation or connexion, by the law of his own language
increased precision and also increased clearness are required of him. The
familiar use of logic, and the progress of science, have in these two
respects raised the standard. But modern languages, while they have become
more exacting in their demands, are in many ways not so well furnished with
powers of expression as the ancient classical ones.
Such are a few of the difficulties which have to be overcome in the work of
translation; and we are far from having exhausted the list. (6) The
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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 Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: Yet a time is sure to come when every mortal who has grown old and
lived his life is required to leave this world for another; so it is
no wonder that, after Santa Claus had driven his reindeer on many and
many a Christmas Eve, those stanch friends finally whispered among
themselves that they had probably drawn his sledge for the last time.
Then all the Forest of Burzee became sad and all the Laughing Valley
was hushed; for every living thing that had known Claus had used to
love him and to brighten at the sound of his footsteps or the notes of
his merry whistle.
No doubt the old man's strength was at last exhausted, for he made no
more toys, but lay on his bed as in a dream.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: "Clear away that running rigging!" said Amyas, while the dark
Dominican stood perfectly collected, with something of a smile of
pity at the miserable bishop. A man accustomed to cruelty, and
firm in his fanaticism, he was as ready to endure suffering as to
inflict it; repeating to himself the necessary prayers, he called
Fray Gerundio to witness that he died, however unworthy, a martyr,
in charity with all men, and in the communion of the Holy Catholic
Church; and then, as he fitted the cord to his own neck, gave Fray
Gerundio various petty commissions about his sister and her
children, and a little vineyard far away upon the sunny slopes of
Castile; and so died, with a "Domine, in manus tuas," like a
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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 Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: "I'll bring you some this afternoon. You don't want them
after they've been lying about, do you?"
"Oh, I'm not particular," smiled Pussy.
"Oh no," he said. "They'll be dusty."
He went up to Clara's bench.
"Sorry I left these things littering about," he said.
She flushed scarlet. He gathered them together in his fist.
"They'll be dirty now," he said. "You should have taken them.
I wonder why you didn't. I meant to have told you I wanted you to."
He flung them out of the window into the yard below.
He just glanced at her. She winced from his eyes.
Sons and Lovers |
