| 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: and relationships must share in the universal condition.
In a primitive society (if a somewhat prolix illustration may be allowed)
where for countless generations the conditions of life had remained
absolutely unchanged; where for ages it had been necessary that all males
should employ themselves in subduing wild beasts and meeting dangerous
foes, polygamy might universally have been a necessity, if the race were to
exist and its numbers be kept up; and society, recognising this, polygamy
would be an institution universally approved and submitted to, however much
suffering it entailed. If food were scarce, the destruction of superfluous
infants and of the aged might also always have been necessary for the good
of the individuals themselves as well as of society, and the whole society
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: appear to be in a divine fury, for already I am getting into
dithyrambics" (Jowett).
[50] Lit. "to speak openly against that other sort of love which is
its rival."
[51] Cf. Michelet, I think, as to the French peasant-farmer regarding
his property as "sa femme."
Again, let us consider the effect upon the object of attachment. Let
him but know his beauty is a bond sufficient to enthrall his
lover,[52] and what wonder if he be careless of all else and play the
wanton. Let him discover, on the contrary, that if he would retain his
dear affection he must himself be truly good and beautiful, and it is
The Symposium |
