| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: per cent. interest on all deposits. And you didn't want necessarily
to belong to the well-to-do classes in order to participate in the
advantages of virtue. If you had but a spare sixpence in the world
and went and gave it to de Barral it was Thrift! It's quite likely
that he himself believed it. He must have. It's inconceivable that
he alone should stand out against the infatuation of the whole
world. He hadn't enough intelligence for that. But to look at him
one couldn't tell . . . "
"You did see him then?" I said with some curiosity.
"I did. Strange, isn't it? It was only once, but as I sat with the
distressed Fyne who had suddenly resuscitated his name buried in my
Chance |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Parmenides by Plato: become older or younger than the others, nor the others than the one; but
inasmuch as that which came into being earlier and that which came into
being later must continually differ from each other by a different portion
--in this point of view the others must become older and younger than the
one, and the one than the others.
Certainly.
For all these reasons, then, the one is and becomes older and younger than
itself and the others, and neither is nor becomes older or younger than
itself or the others.
Certainly.
But since the one partakes of time, and partakes of becoming older and
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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 Laches by Plato: until they have delivered their opinions, which they give in a
characteristic manner. Nicias, the tactician, is very much in favour of
the new art, which he describes as the gymnastics of war--useful when the
ranks are formed, and still more useful when they are broken; creating a
general interest in military studies, and greatly adding to the appearance
of the soldier in the field. Laches, the blunt warrior, is of opinion that
such an art is not knowledge, and cannot be of any value, because the
Lacedaemonians, those great masters of arms, neglect it. His own
experience in actual service has taught him that these pretenders are
useless and ridiculous. This man Stesilaus has been seen by him on board
ship making a very sorry exhibition of himself. The possession of the art
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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 Enchanted Island of Yew by L. Frank Baum: way with your wishes."
Prince Marvel looked at him thoughtfully, and then said: "My time on
this island is short. In a few months Prince Marvel will have passed
out of the knowledge of men, and his name will be forgotten. Before
then I hope to visit the Kingdoms of Dawna and Auriel and Plenta; so I
must not delay, but beg you will permit me to depart at once."
"Very well," answered Terribus. "Come with me, and I shall show you
the way."
He led the prince and Nerle to a high wall of rock, and placing his
hand upon its rough surface, touched a hidden spring. Instantly an
immense block of stone began to swing backward, disclosing a passage
The Enchanted Island of Yew |
