The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: foretold a coming storm. They turned a point of the valley, and saw
a light below them in the depth of the hollow, shining through a
cottage-casement and dancing in its reflection on the restless stream.
Robin blew his horn, which was answered from below. The cottage
door opened: a boy came forth with a torch, ascended the steep,
showed tokens of great delight at meeting with Robin, and lighted
them down a flight of steps rudely cut in the rock, and over a series
of rugged stepping-stones, that crossed the channel of the river.
They entered the cottage, which exhibited neatness, comfort, and plenty,
being amply enriched with pots, pans, and pipkins, and adorned
with flitches of bacon and sundry similar ornaments, that gave
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: the evening. There were to be cards before supper. Lousteau came for
the short notice of the vaudeville; it had been written beforehand
after the general rehearsal, for Etienne wished to have the paper off
his mind. Lucien read over one of the charming sketches of Parisian
whimsicalities which made the fortune of the paper, and Lousteau
kissed him on both eyelids, and called him the providence of
journalism.
"Then why do you amuse yourself by turning my article inside out?"
asked Lucien. He had written his brilliant sketch simply and solely to
give emphasis to his grievance.
"I?" exclaimed Lousteau.
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