| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: the Republic in the Second Edition and noted several inaccuracies.
In both editions the Introductions to the Dialogues have been enlarged, and
essays on subjects having an affinity to the Platonic Dialogues have been
introduced into several of them. The analyses have been corrected, and
innumerable alterations have been made in the Text. There have been added
also, in the Third Edition, headings to the pages and a marginal analysis
to the text of each dialogue.
At the end of a long task, the translator may without impropriety point out
the difficulties which he has had to encounter. These have been far
greater than he would have anticipated; nor is he at all sanguine that he
has succeeded in overcoming them. Experience has made him feel that a
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Love and Friendship by Jane Austen: but to tell you the truth, our freindship arose rather from
Caprice on her side than Esteem on mine. We spent two or three
days together with a Lady in Berkshire with whom we both happened
to be connected--. During our visit, the Weather being
remarkably bad, and our party particularly stupid, she was so
good as to conceive a violent partiality for me, which very soon
settled in a downright Freindship and ended in an established
correspondence. She is probably by this time as tired of me, as
I am of her; but as she is too Polite and I am too civil to say
so, our letters are still as frequent and affectionate as ever,
and our Attachment as firm and sincere as when it first
Love and Friendship |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: "For me? for me? How mad I am! ...But why make you miserable?
It's awful to think that any outsider can shatter our happiness."
"It's humiliating too, of course."
"Oh, then I'll keep him here all the summer, and will overwhelm
him with civility," said Levin, kissing her hands. "You shall
see. To-morrow ...Oh, yes, we are going to-morrow."
Chapter 8
Next day, before the ladies were up, the wagonette and a trap for
the shooting-party were at the door, and Laska, aware since early
morning that they were going shooting, after much whining and
darting to and fro, had sat herself down in the wagonette beside
Anna Karenina |
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 Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: this code of laws. The point is clear so far, that Lycurgus himself is
said to have lived in the days of the Heraclidae.[7] But being of so
long standing, these laws, even at this day, still are stamped in the
eyes of other men with all the novelty of youth. And the most
marvellous thing of all is that, while everybody is agreed to praise
these remarkable institutions, there is not a single state which cares
to imitate them.
[7] See Plut. "Lycurg." 1.
XI
The above form a common stock of blessings, open to every Spartan to
enjoy, alike in peace and in war. But if any one desires to be
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