| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from From London to Land's End by Daniel Defoe: Christopher Wren, the wall was found to be less than five inches
thick; upon which a consultation was had whether the spire, or at
least the upper part of it, should be taken down, it being supposed
to have received some damage by the great storm in the year 1703;
but it was resolved in the negative, and Sir Christopher ordered it
to be so strengthened with bands of iron plates as has effectually
secured it; and I have heard some of the best architects say it is
stronger now than when it was first built.
They tell us here long stories of the great art used in laying the
first foundation of this church, the ground being marshy and wet,
occasioned by the channels of the rivers; that it was laid upon
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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 Hiero by Xenophon: becomes the destroyer of all sweet joys.
[8] Reading {sumparakolouthon lumeon}. Stob. gives {sumparomarton
lumanter}. For the sentiment cf. "Cyrop." III. i. 25.
And if you know anything of war, Simonides, and war's alarms; if it
was your fortune ever to be posted close to the enemy's lines,[9] try
to recall to mind what sort of meals you made at those times, with
what sort of slumber you courted rest. Be assured, there are no pains
you then experienced, no horrors to compare with those that crowd upon
the despot, who sees or seems to see fierce eyes of enemies glare at
him, not face to face alone, but from every side.
[9] Or, "in the van of battle, opposite the hostile lines."
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