| 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: Necessity, moreover, is laid upon them to study a good habit of the
body, coming as they do to blows with their fists for very strife's
sake whenever they meet. Albeit, any one present has a right to
separate the combatants, and, if obedience is not shown to the
peacemaker, the Pastor of youth[4] hales the delinquent before the
ephors, and the ephors inflict heavy damages, since they will have it
plainly understood that rage must never override obedience to law.
[4] Lit. "the Paidonomos."
With regard to those who have already passed[5] the vigour of early
manhood, and on whom the highest magistracies henceforth devolve,
there is a like contrast. In Hellas generally we find that at this age
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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 Aspern Papers by Henry James: and of the pity of their being shut up in apartments which in the Venetian
July even Venetian vastness did not prevent from being stuffy.
Their life seemed miles away from the life of the Piazza, and no doubt
it was really too late to make the austere Juliana change her habits.
But poor Miss Tita would have enjoyed one of Florian's ices, I was sure;
sometimes I even had thoughts of carrying one home to her.
Fortunately my patience bore fruit, and I was not obliged to do
anything so ridiculous.
One evening about the middle of July I came in earlier than usual--
I forget what chance had led to this--and instead of going up to my
quarters made my way into the garden. The temperature was very high;
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