| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy: I would have him with me here in a moment, but he is not old
enough to be of any use in the bar nor will be for years
and years, and naturally Cartlett might think him in the way.
They have, however, packed him off to me in charge of some friends
who happened to be coming home, and I must ask you to take
him when he arrives, for I don't know what to do with him.
He is lawfully yours, that I solemnly swear. If anybody says
he isn't, call them brimstone liars, for my sake. Whatever I
may have done before or afterwards, I was honest to you from
the time we were married till I went away, and I remain, yours,
&c.,
Jude the Obscure |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: should be disposed to think. But did you carry the search any further, and
did you find the art which you were seeking?
SOCRATES: Find! my dear sir, no indeed. And we cut a poor figure; we were
like children after larks, always on the point of catching the art, which
was always getting away from us. But why should I repeat the whole story?
At last we came to the kingly art, and enquired whether that gave and
caused happiness, and then we got into a labyrinth, and when we thought we
were at the end, came out again at the beginning, having still to seek as
much as ever.
CRITO: How did that happen, Socrates?
SOCRATES: I will tell you; the kingly art was identified by us with the
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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 Daisy Miller by Henry James: "I am much obliged to you," laughed the young man.
"You might have come to see me!" said Daisy.
"I arrived only yesterday."
"I don't believe tte that!" the young girl declared.
Winterbourne turned with a protesting smile to her mother, but this
lady evaded his glance, and, seating herself, fixed her eyes upon
her son. "We've got a bigger place than this," said Randolph.
"It's all gold on the walls."
Mrs. Miller turned uneasily in her chair. "I told you if I were to bring you,
you would say something!" she murmured.
"I told YOU!" Randolph exclaimed. "I tell YOU, sir!"
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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 Apology by Xenophon: [41] Or, "laid the greatest stress of not being guilty of impiety";
"attached the greatest importance to the fact that he was never
guilty of impiety."
[42] {upotimasthai}. See L. Dind. cf. Cic. "Orat." i. 54; the
technical word is {antitimasthai}. Cf. Plat. "Apol." 36 D; Diog.
Laert. ii. 41. These authorities tell a different story. Why
should these stories, if true, as no doubt they were, be omitted?
[43] Cf. Plat. "Crit." 44 B.
When the trial drew to an end, we are told, the master said:[44]
"Sirs, those who instructed the witnesses that they ought to perjure
themselves and bear false witness against me, alike with those who
The Apology |
