| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Glasses by Henry James: symptom, however disguised, of embarrassed sight; on which, after a
moment's thought, he exclaimed "Disguised?" as if my use of that
word had vaguely awakened a train. "She's not a bit myopic," he
said; "she doesn't blink or contract her lids." I fully recognised
this and I mentioned that she altogether denied the impeachment;
owing it to him moreover to explain the ground of my inquiry, I
gave him a sketch of the incident that had taken place before me at
the shop. He knew all about Lord Iffield; that nobleman had
figured freely in our conversation as his preferred, his injurious
rival. Poor Dawling's contention was that if there had been a
definite engagement between his lordship and the young lady, 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 Rig Veda: together in the whirl of battle.
When warrior bands encounter one another some in the grapple
quit
themselves like Indra.
5 Hence many a one worships the might of Indra: hence let the
brew
succeed the meal-oblation.
Hence let the Soma banish those who pour not: even hence I
joy to pay
the Strong One worship.
6 Indra gives comfort to the man who truly presses, for him
The Rig Veda |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: pleasure, to begin with, goes, the pleasure of anticipation, the
monarch is at disadvantage compared with private people.
And in the next place (he continued), I am sure your own experience
will bear me out so far: the more viands set before a man at table
(beyond what are sufficient),[25] the more quickly will satiety of
eating overtake him. So that in actual duration of the pleasure, he
with his many dishes has less to boast of than the moderate liver.
[25] {ta peritta ton ikanon}. These words Hartm. op. cit. p. 254,
regards as an excrescence.
Yes, but good gracious! surely (broke in Simonides), during the actual
time,[26] before the appetite is cloyed, the gastronomic pleasure
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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 The Works of Samuel Johnson by Samuel Johnson: imprudence or temerity; yet that, in the eye of all
who can consider virtue as distinct from wealth, the
fault of two of them, at least, is outweighed by the
merit; and that of the third is so much extenuated
by the circumstances of his life, as not to deserve a
perpetual prison: yet must these, with multitudes
equally blameless, languish in confinement, till
malevolence shall relent, or the law be changed.
I am, Sir,
Your humble servant,
MISARGYRUS.68
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