| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Verses 1889-1896 by Rudyard Kipling: Cheered her from the ~Bolivar~ swampin' in the sea.
Then a grayback cleared us out, then the skipper laughed;
"Boys, the wheel has gone to Hell -- rig the winches aft!
Yoke the kicking rudder-head -- get her under way!"
So we steered her, pulley-haul, out across the Bay!
Just a pack o' rotten plates puttied up with tar,
In we came, an' time enough, 'cross Bilbao Bar.
Overloaded, undermanned, meant to founder, we
Euchred God Almighty's storm, bluffed the Eternal Sea!
Verses 1889-1896 |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: she looked at me,--my brain reeled,--I felt her lips on mine,--and --and
now?--Die, wretch! Why dost thou hesitate? (He draws a phial from his
pocket.) Thou healing poison, it shall not have been in vain that I stole
thee from my brother's medicine chest! From this anxious fear, this
dizziness, this death-agony, thou shalt deliver me at once.
ACT II
SCENE I.--Square in Brussels
Jetter and a Master Carpenter (meeting)
Carpenter. Did I not tell you beforehand? Eight days ago, at the guild, I
said there would be serious disturbances?
Jetter. Is it, then, true that they have plundered the churches in Flanders?
Egmont |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: whispered.
"Come here again?"
"Yes--you can ask to see the picture,--make some excuse. He will
come with you, of course; I will open the door for you--and--and
lock you both in"--she gasped.
"Lock us in?"
"You see? You understand? It's the only way for me to leave the
house--if I am ever to do it"-- She drew another difficult
breath. "The key will be returned--by a safe person--in half an
hour,--perhaps sooner--"
She trembled so much that she was obliged to lean against the
|
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 At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft: other strata mixed in. Queer skyline effects - regular sections
of cubes clinging to highest peaks. Whole thing marvelous in red-gold
light of low sun. Like land of mystery in a dream or gateway to
forbidden world of untrodden wonder. Wish you were here to study."
Though it was technically sleeping time, not one of us listeners
thought for a moment of retiring. It must have been a good deal
the same at McMurdo Sound, where the supply cache and the Arkham
were also getting the messages; for Captain Douglas gave out a
call congratulating everybody on the important find, and Sherman,
the cache operator, seconded his sentiments. We were sorry, of
course, about the damaged aeroplane, but hoped it could be easily
At the Mountains of Madness |
