| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: youths; to divert the eyes of some bronze stature were less difficult.
And as to quiet bearing, no bride ever stepped in bridal bower[6] with
more natural modesty. Note them when they have reached the public
table.[7] The plainest answer to the question asked--that is all you
need expect to hear from their lips.
[4] See Cic. "pro Coelio," 5.
[5] See Plat. "Charmid." 159 B; Jowett, "Plato," I. 15.
[6] Longinus, {peri ups}, iv. 4, reading {ophthalmois} for
{thalamois}, says: "Yet why speak of Timaeus, when even men like
Xenophon and Plato, the very demigods of literature, though they
had sat at the feet of Socrates, sometimes forget themselves in
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: the chance of a storm or victory, or the fetching in some town or
doorp, when a cavalier of fortune, who knows the usage of wars,
seldom faileth to make some small profit."
"I begin rather to wonder, sir," said Lord Menteith, "that you
should have continued so long in the Swedish service, than that
you should have ultimately withdrawn from it."
"Neither I should," answered the Ritt-master; "but that great
leader, captain, and king, the Lion of the North, and the bulwark
of the Protestant faith, had a way of winning battles, taking
towns, over-running countries, and levying contributions, whilk
made his service irresistibly delectable to all true-bred
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac: is so ugly. Now, go," said she to the Duke. "You dismissed me; now I
dismiss you. We are quits."
At a gesture on Cataneo's part, as he seemed inclined to dispute this
order, which was given with an action worthy of Semiramis,--the part
in which la Tinti had won her fame,--the prima donna flew at the old
ape and put him out of the room.
"If you do not leave me in quiet this evening, we never meet again.
And my /never/ counts for more than yours," she added.
"Quiet!" retorted the Duke, with a bitter laugh. "Dear idol, it
strikes me that I am leaving you /agitata/!"
The Duke departed.
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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 Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso: Rinaldo came, whose fury, haste and ire,
Seemed earthquake, thunder, tempest, storm and fire.
LIV
The first he met was Asimire, his throne
That set in Meroe's hot sunburnt land,
He cut his neck in twain, flesh, skin and bone,
The sable head down tumbled on the sand;
But when by death of this black prince alone
The taste of blood and conquest once he fand,
Whole squadrons then, whole troops to earth he brought,
Things wondrous, strange, incredible he wrought.
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