“Therefore all those who teach things took their birth
From simple fire, or water, air, or earth,
Lie under palpable mistakes. And those
That teach from doubled elements they rose,
As air and fire, as earth and water joined,
Or all four, earth, air, water, fire combined:
Thus sung Empedocles.
*****
If all things from four elements arose,
And are again by death dissolved to those: