| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honore de Balzac: lunatic, "I will protect you; I never forget either my foes or my
friends."
She rang; the maid drew open the curtains, and daylight flooded the
room; she asked for her desk, and the maid brought it in. The Marquise
hastily scrawled a few lines.
"Tell Godard to go on horseback, and carry this note to the
Chancellor's office.--There is no reply," said she to the maid.
The woman went out of the room quickly, but, in spite of the order,
remained at the door for some minutes.
"There are great mysteries going forward then?" asked Madame d'Espard.
"Tell me all about it, dear child. Has Clotilde de Grandlieu put a
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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 Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville: court and of the great multitude of folk that he holds, natheles I
shall say you a part of him and of his folk, after that I have seen
the manner and the ordinance full many a time. And whoso that will
may lieve me if he will, and whoso will not, may leave also. For I
wot well, if any man hath been in those countries beyond, though he
have not been in the place where the great Chan dwelleth, he shall
hear speak of him so much marvellous thing, that he shall not trow
it lightly. And truly, no more did I myself, till I saw it. And
those that have been in those countries and in the great Chan's
household know well that I say sooth. And therefore I will not
spare for them, that know not ne believe not but that that they
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