| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Domestic Peace by Honore de Balzac: that of bearing a name promised to history, which made the soldiers so
attractive? Were women drawn to them by the certainty that the secret
of their passions would be buried on the field of battle? or may we
find the reason of this gentle fanaticism in the noble charm that
courage has for a woman? Perhaps all these reasons, which the future
historian of the manners of the Empire will no doubt amuse himself by
weighing, counted for something in their facile readiness to abandon
themselves to love intrigues. Be that as it may, it must here be
confessed that at that time laurels hid many errors, women showed an
ardent preference for the brave adventurers, whom they regarded as the
true fount of honor, wealth, or pleasure; and in the eyes of young
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from In the Cage by Henry James: ugly face in the long sequence, nor really hearing the stupid
questions that she patiently and perfectly answered. All patience
was possible now, all questions were stupid after his, all faces
were ugly. She had been sure she should see the lady again; and
even now she should perhaps, she should probably, see her often.
But for him it was totally different; she should never never see
him. She wanted it too much. There was a kind of wanting that
helped--she had arrived, with her rich experience, at that
generalisation; and there was another kind that was fatal. It was
this time the fatal kind; it would prevent.
Well, she saw him the very next day, and on this second occasion it
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: law, and proved himself so faithful a servant to Charles I., that
his majesty had made him Privy Councillor and Chancellor of the
Exchequer. After the king's execution, in 1649, the chancellor
thought it wise for himself and his family to seek refuge in
exile, and accordingly joined Charles II., with whom he lived in
the closest friendship, and for whose return he subsequently
negotiated with General Monk.
Now James, after his fashion, made love to Mistress Hyde, who
encouraged his advances until they reached a certain stage,
beyond which the judicious maiden forbade them to proceed unless
blessed by the sanction of holy church. The Duke, impatient to
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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 Damaged Goods by Upton Sinclair: naturally wouldn't tell, when he knew it would damn him for
life."
George had a sick sensation inside of him. "Is it as bad as
that?" he asked.
"Of course," said the other, "Should you want to have anything to
do with a person who had it? Should you be willing to room with
him or travel with him? You wouldn't even want to shake hands
with him!"
"No, I suppose not," said George, feebly.
"I remember," continued the other, "an old fellow who used to
live out in the country near me. He was not so very old, either,
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