| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Apology by Plato: and then if somebody asks them, Why, what evil does he practise or teach?
they do not know, and cannot tell; but in order that they may not appear to
be at a loss, they repeat the ready-made charges which are used against all
philosophers about teaching things up in the clouds and under the earth,
and having no gods, and making the worse appear the better cause; for they
do not like to confess that their pretence of knowledge has been detected--
which is the truth; and as they are numerous and ambitious and energetic,
and are drawn up in battle array and have persuasive tongues, they have
filled your ears with their loud and inveterate calumnies. And this is the
reason why my three accusers, Meletus and Anytus and Lycon, have set upon
me; Meletus, who has a quarrel with me on behalf of the poets; Anytus, on
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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 Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: But Johnny was not so brave and he did care. He
knew that his best course was an immediate return
home, but he did not know what he might have to
face. He could not in the least understand why his
aunt Janet had not told at once. He was sure that
she knew. Then he thought of a possible reason for
her silence; she might have feared his arrest at the
hands of the chief of police. Johnny quailed. He
knew his aunt Janet to be rather a brave sort of
woman. If she had fears, she must have had reason
for them. He might even now be arrested. Suppose
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