| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Parmenides by Plato: added to any other part until it has reached the last and become one whole;
it will be wanting neither to the middle, nor to the first, nor to the
last, nor to any of them, while the process of becoming is going on?
True.
Then the one is of the same age with all the others, so that if the one
itself does not contradict its own nature, it will be neither prior nor
posterior to the others, but simultaneous; and according to this argument
the one will be neither older nor younger than the others, nor the others
than the one, but according to the previous argument the one will be older
and younger than the others and the others than the one.
Certainly.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: "It is a jest," said he, but his accents lacked conviction.
"It is the truth," Ruth assured him quietly.
"The truth?" His brow darkened ominously - stupendously for one so
fair. "The truth, you baggage...?" He began and stopped in very fury.
She saw that she must tell him all.
"I promised to wed Mr. Wilding this day se'night so that he saved your
life and honour," she told him calmly, and added, "It was a bargain
that we drove." Richard continued to stare at her. The thing she
told him was too big to be swallowed at a mouthful; he was absorbing
it by slow degrees.
"So now," said Diana, "you know the sacrifice your sister has made to
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