| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Republic by Plato: How do justice and injustice grow up in States? for we do not want either
to omit what is to the point or to draw out the argument to an inconvenient
length.
Adeimantus thought that the enquiry would be of great service to us.
Then, I said, my dear friend, the task must not be given up, even if
somewhat long.
Certainly not.
Come then, and let us pass a leisure hour in story-telling, and our story
shall be the education of our heroes.
By all means.
And what shall be their education? Can we find a better than the
The Republic |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: to header material.
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#STARTMARK#
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
March 4, 1861
Fellow citizens of the United States: in compliance with a custom as old
as the government itself, I appear before you to address you briefly
and to take, in your presence, the oath prescribed by the Constitution
of the United States, to be taken by the President "before he enters
on the execution of his office."
I do not consider it necessary, at present, for me to discuss those matters
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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 Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: redintegratis viribus, quod plerumque in spe victoriae accidere consuevit,
acrius impugnare coeperunt. Hostes undique circumventi desperatis omnibus
rebus se per munitiones deicere et fuga salutem petere contenderunt. Quos
equitatus apertissimis campis consectatus ex milium L numero, quae ex
Aquitania Cantabrisque convenisse constabat, vix quarta parte relicta,
multa nocte se in castra recepit.
Hac audita pugna maxima pars Aquitaniae sese Crasso dedidit obsidesque
ultro misit; quo in numero fuerunt Tarbelli, Bigerriones, Ptianii,
Vocates, Tarusates, Elusates, Gates, Ausci, Garumni, Sibusates, Cocosates:
paucae ultimae nationes anni tempore confisae, quod hiems suberat, id
facere neglexerunt.
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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 Ann Veronica by H. G. Wells: "Very," said Mr. Stanley. "Very," and cracked a walnut
appreciatively.
"Life--things--I don't think her prospects now--Hopeful
outlook."
"You were in a difficult position," Mr. Stanley pronounced, and
seemed to hesitate whether he had not gone too far. He looked at
his port wine as though that tawny ruby contained the solution of
the matter. "All's well that ends well," he said; "and the less
one says about things the better."
"Of course," said Capes, and threw a newly lit cigar into the
fire through sheer nervousness. "Have some more port wine, sir?"
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