| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: conditions, those gentlemen enter upon their functions
again. The king has been induced to sign that."
"It is monstrous, incredible!"
"Such is the fact, however."
"I do indeed pity you, Baisemeaux. But why, in the name of
fortune, did M. Mazarin grant you this pretended favor? It
would have been far better to have refused you altogether."
"Certainly, but he was strongly persuaded to do so by my
protector."
"Who is he?"
"One of your own friends, indeed; M. d'Herblay."
Ten Years Later |
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 The Country Doctor by Honore de Balzac: the middle of the cowhouse, "both men and women do their work here
together in the evenings. The tables are set out here, and in this way
the people keep themselves warm without going to any expense. The
sheep are housed in the same way. You would not believe how quickly
the beasts fall into orderly ways. I have often wondered to see them
come in; each knows her proper place, and allows those who take
precedence to pass in before her. Look! there is just room enough in
each stall to do the milking and to rub the cattle down; and the floor
slopes a little to facilitate drainage."
"One can judge of everything else from the sight of this cowhouse,"
said Genestas; "without flattery, these are great results indeed!"
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