| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: choly passed over him, for the deserted aspect of the
little flower hedged cote seemed dismally prophetic
of a near future without the beaming, jovial face of his
friend and adviser.
Scarcely had the horde of Torn passed out of sight
down the east edge of the valley ere a party of richly
dressed knights, coming from the south by another
road along the west bank of the river, crossed over
and drew rein before the cottage of Father Claude.
As their hails were unanswered one of the party
dismounted to enter the building.
The Outlaw of Torn |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: the latest advices from Mexico, after dinner, and, it may
be, fall asleep over them both. What is the price-current
of an honest man and patriot today? They hesitate, and they
regret, and sometimes they petition; but they do nothing in
earnest and with effect. They will wait, well disposed, for
other to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to
regret. At most, they give up only a cheap vote, and a
feeble countenance and Godspeed, to the right, as it goes by
them. There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of
virtue to one virtuous man. But it is easier to deal with
the real possessor of a thing than with the temporary
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft: we trace that second, unexplainable fetor to any immediate source
- and the instant we did so Danforth, remembering certain very
vivid sculptures of the Old Ones’ history in the Permian Age one
hundred and fifty million years ago, gave vent to a nerve-tortured
cry which echoed hysterically through that vaulted and archaic
passage with the evil, palimpsest carvings.
I came only just
short of echoing his cry myself; for I had seen those primal sculptures,
too, and had shudderingly admired the way the nameless artist
had suggested that hideous slime coating found on certain incomplete
and prostrate Old Ones - those whom the frightful Shoggoths had
At the Mountains of Madness |
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 This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald: AMORY: (His lips against her wet cheek) Don't! Keep it, pleaseoh,
don't break my heart!
(She presses the ring softly into his hand.)
ROSALIND: (Brokenly) You'd better go.
AMORY: Good-by
(She looks at him once more, with infinite longing, infinite
sadness.)
ROSALIND: Don't ever forget me, Amory
AMORY: Good-by
(He goes to the door, fumbles for the knob, finds itshe sees him
throw back his headand he is gone. Goneshe half starts from the
This Side of Paradise |
