| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: "Gorg." 490 E.
Yes (answered Socrates), and what is still more strange, Hippias, it
is not only the same old talk but about the same old subjects. Now
you, I daresay, through versatility of knowledge,[14] never say the
same thing twice over on the same subject?
[14] Or, "such is the breadth of your learning," {polumathes}. Cf.
Plat. "Hipp. maj."
To be sure (he answered), my endeavour is to say something new on all
occasions.
What (he asked) about things which you know, as for instance in a case
of spelling, if any one asks you, "How many letters in Socrates, and
The Memorabilia |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poems of William Blake by William Blake: To fade away like morning beauty from her mortal day:
Down by the river of Adona her soft voice is heard;
And thus her gentle lamentation falls like morning dew.
O life of this our spring! why fades the lotus of the water?
Why fade these children of the spring? born but to smile & fall.
Ah! Thel is like a watry bow, and like a parting cloud,
Like a reflection in a glass: like shadows in the water
Like dreams of infants, like a smile upon an infants face.
Like the doves voice, like transient day, like music in the air:
Ah! gentle may I lay me down and gentle rest my head.
And gentle sleep the sleep of death, and gently hear the voice
Poems of William Blake |
