| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Shadow out of Time by H. P. Lovecraft: I was queerly
anxious to have the excavations extend to this territory, yet
at the same time dreaded what might be revealed. Obviously, I
was getting into a rather bad state - all the worse because I
could not account for it.
An indication of my poor nervous health
can be gained from my response to an odd discovery which I made
on one of my nocturnal rambles. It was on the evening of July
l1th, when the moon flooded the mysterious hillocks with a curious
pallor.
Wandering somewhat beyond my usual limits, I came upon
Shadow out of Time |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Chinese Boy and Girl by Isaac Taylor Headland: when they let go hands, stood straight, and the game was
finished.
"Have you any other games which develop the protective instinct
in boys?" we inquired of Chi.
"The hawk catching the young chicks," said the matter-of-fact
boy, answering my question and directing the boys at the same
time.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Professor by Charlotte Bronte: shrubberies, I allowed my glance to come back to herself, nor did
I hastily withdraw it.
I had thought to see a tall, meagre, yellow, conventual image in
black, with a close white cap, bandaged under the chin like a
nun's head-gear; whereas, there stood by me a little and roundly
formed woman, who might indeed be older than I, but was still
young; she could not, I thought, be more than six or seven and
twenty; she was as fair as a fair Englishwoman; she had no cap;
her hair was nut-brown, and she wore it in curls; pretty her
features were not, nor very soft, nor very regular, but neither
were they in any degree plain, and I already saw cause to deem
The Professor |
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 The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: door closed very softly, and naturally I looked up to see who
was abroad like myself at such an hour. As it happens, there
is a street lamp close to the house in question, and I saw a man
standing on the step. He had just shut the door and his face
was towards me, and I recognized Crashaw directly. I never knew
him to speak to, but I had often seen him, and I am positive
that I was not mistaken in my man. I looked into his face for a
moment, and then--I will confess the truth--I set off at a
good run, and kept it up till I was within my own door."
"Why?"
"Why? Because it made my blood run cold to see that
The Great God Pan |
