| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: again recovering their empire.[6] Yet, if they have incurred all these
reproaches, we need not wonder, seeing that they are so plainly
disobedient to the god himself and to the laws of their own lawgiver
Lycurgus.
[1] For the relation of this chapter to the rest of the treatise, see
Grote, ix. 325; Ern. Naumann, "de Xen. libro qui" {LAK. POLITEIA}
inscribitur, p. 18 foll.; Newmann, "Pol. Aristot." ii. 326.
[2] Harmosts.
[3] "Xenelasies," {xenelasiai} technically called. See Plut. "Lycurg."
27; "Agis," 10; Thuc. ii. 39, where Pericles contrasts the liberal
spirit of the democracy with Spartan exclusiveness; "Our city is
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Poems of Goethe, Bowring, Tr. by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: The forest gay
From frost and ice is freed;
No snow is found,
Glad songs resound
Across the verdant mead.
Upon the height
The snow lies light,
Yet thither now we go,
There to extol our Father's name,
Whom we for ages know.
Amid the smoke shall gleam the flame;
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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 The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: light in this upper story looking to the front was
considerably brighter than in the parlour; and he was able to
make out that the paper bore the mark of the hotel at Euston,
and even, by peering closely, to decipher the following lines
in a very elegant and careful female hand:
'DEAR M'GUIRE, - It is certain your retreat is known. We
have just had another failure, clockwork thirty hours too
soon, with the usual humiliating result. Zero is quite
disheartened. We are all scattered, and I could find no one
but the SOLEMN ASS who brings you this and the money. I
would love to see your meeting. - Ever yours,
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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 Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie: up.
"Mrs. Vandemeyer," she read, "20 South Audley Mansions. Miss
Wheeler, 43 Clapington Road, Battersea. She's a lady's maid, as
far as I remember, so probably won't be there, and, anyway, she's
not likely."
"Then the Mayfair lady is clearly indicated as the first port of
call."
"Tommy, I'm getting discouraged."
"Buck up, old bean. We always knew it was an outside chance.
And, anyway, we're only starting. If we draw a blank in London,
there's a fine tour of England, Ireland and Scotland before us."
Secret Adversary |
