| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft: certainly to be; though my memory, despite much the papers and
collections of my uncle, failed in any way to identify this particular
species, or even hint at its remotest affiliations.
Above these
apparent hieroglyphics was a figure of evident pictorial intent,
though its impressionistic execution forbade a very clear idea
of its nature. It seemed to be a sort of monster, or symbol representing
a monster, of a form which only a diseased fancy could conceive.
If I say that my somewhat extravagant imagination yielded simultaneous
pictures of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature, I shall
not be unfaithful to the spirit of the thing. A pulpy, tentacled
Call of Cthulhu |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Stories From the Old Attic by Robert Harris: many months, until, in the fullness of time, it could be concealed
no longer. At that point she resolved to throw herself on the mercy
of her mistress, the king's daughter, to whom she was a lady in
waiting. She took her newborn son to the princess and begged quite
pathetically for her help.
The king's daughter, knowing that he was a hard man who had never
hesitated to crush, kill, or otherwise persecute anyone who offended
him in the slightest, realized that she could not tell the truth or
say simply that the child had been found during one of the princess'
walks, because the king would then send it to a harsh life in an
orphanage--and that would be if she found him in a good mood. She
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: deft than he, for did I not overcome Simon of Ely in a fair
bout in the ring at Hertford Town? But if thou knowest him,
my jolly blade, wilt thou go with me and bring me to him?
Fourscore bright angels hath the Sheriff promised me if I serve
the warrant upon the knave's body, and ten of them will I give
to thee if thou showest me him."
"Ay, that will I," quoth Robin, "but show me thy warrant, man, until I
see whether it be good or no."
"That will I not do, even to mine own brother," answered the Tinker. "No man
shall see my warrant till I serve it upon yon fellow's own body."
"So be it," quoth Robin. "And thou show it not to me I know not to whom
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
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 Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson: feelings; Alan angry and ashamed, ashamed that he had lost my
money, angry that I should take it so ill.
The thought of a separation ran always the stronger in my mind;
and the more I approved of it, the more ashamed I grew of my
approval. It would be a fine, handsome, generous thing, indeed,
for Alan to turn round and say to me: "Go, I am in the most
danger, and my company only increases yours." But for me to turn
to the friend who certainly loved me, and say to him: "You are in
great danger, I am in but little; your friendship is a burden;
go, take your risks and bear your hardships alone ----" no, that
was impossible; and even to think of it privily to myself, made
Kidnapped |
