| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: "I understand. It is your brother who sends this carriage."
"Exactly; but that is not all. That letter you have received, and
which you believe to be from Madame de Chevreuse--"
"Well?"
"It is a forgery."
"How can that be?"
"Yes, a forgery; it is a snare to prevent your making any resistance
when they come to fetch you."
"But it is D'Artagnan that will come."
"Do not deceive yourself. D'Artagnan and his friends are detained at the
siege of La Rochelle."
The Three Musketeers |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 2 by Alexis de Toqueville: "Fourthly, We are grown to that intemperance in all excess
of riot, as no mean estate almost will suffice a man to keep sail
with his equals, and he that fails in it must live in scorn and
contempt: hence it comes to pass, that all arts and trades are
carried in that deceitful manner and unrighteous course, as it is
almost impossible for a good upright man to maintain his constant
charge and live comfortably in them.
"Fifthly, The schools of learning and religion are so
corrupted, as (besides the unsupportable charge of education)
most children, even the best, wittiest, and of the fairest hopes,
are perverted, corrupted, and utterly overthrown by the multitude
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