La Poule Noire (The Black Pullet)

more in accordance with my desires: what can one prefer to wisdom and virtue? "It is enough," said the old man. "Before fully explaining to you the doctrine that must initiate you into the deepest and most sacred mysteries, you must know that the elements: the four fundamental substances—earth, air, fire, and water—that were believed to make up the physical world and serve as home to spiritual beings are inhabited by highly perfect creatures. This immense space that lies between the earth and the heavens has inhabitants far more noble than birds and gnats; these vast seas have many other hosts besides dolphins and whales; it is the same with the depths of the earth, which contain more than just water and minerals; and the element of fire, more noble than the other three, was not created to remain useless and empty.

The air is filled with an innumerable multitude of peoples of human form, somewhat proud in appearance, but docile in effect: great lovers of the sciences, subtle, original: "officieux" - in this context, it means helpful and eager to serve the practitioner helpful to the wise, and enemies of the foolish and the ignorant: these are the sylphs. The seas and rivers are inhabited by the Undines original: "Ondins"; the earth is filled almost to its center with Gnomes, guardians of treasures and precious stones: gems such as diamonds and emeralds, which were thought to possess specific magical energies or "virtues": these are ingenious, friends of man, and easy