Today's Stichomancy for Robert Redford

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Man against the Sky by Edwin Arlington Robinson:

Will have it so? If this we say, then let us all be still About our share in it, and live and die More quietly thereby.

Where was he going, this man against the sky? You know not, nor do I. But this we know, if we know anything: That we may laugh and fight and sing And of our transience here make offering To an orient Word that will not be erased, Or, save in incommunicable gleams

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Desert Gold by Zane Grey:

It was incomprehensible; it was terrible. It was the one thing of all possible happenings in the world of chance that both father and lover would have found unendurable.

Cameron's pain reached to despair when he felt this relation between Warren and himself. Something within him cried out to him to reveal his identity. Warren would kill him; but it was not fear of death that put Cameron on the rack. He had faced death too often to be afraid. It was the thought of adding torture to this long-suffering man. All at once Cameron swore that he would not augment Warren's trouble, or let him stain his hands with blood. He would tell the truth of Nell's sad story and his own, and make what amends he could.

Desert Gold

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tanach:

Psalms 35: 12 They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to my soul.

Psalms 35: 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer, may it return into mine own bosom.

Psalms 35: 14 I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

Psalms 35: 15 But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; the abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; they tear me, and cease not;

Psalms 35: 16 With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

Psalms 35: 17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, mine only one from the lions.

Psalms 35: 18 I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.

Psalms 35: 19 Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

Psalms 35: 20 For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

Psalms 35: 21 Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'

Psalms 35: 22 Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

The Tanach

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 Lady Susan by Jane Austen:

Frederica. SHE shall not soon forget the occurrences of this day; she shall find that she has poured forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed herself for ever to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest resentment of her injured mother.

Your affectionate

S. VERNON.

XXIII

MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY

Churchhill.

Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most

Lady Susan