| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Gahan. "She will never become Jeddara of Manator--first will she
destroy herself."
"She would do that?" asked I-Gos.
"She will, unless you can get word to her that I still live and
that there is yet hope," replied Gahan.
"I cannot get word to her," said I-Gos. "The quarters of his
women O-Tar guards with jealous hand. Here are his most trusted
slaves and warriors, yet even so, thick among them are countless
spies, so that no man knows which be which. No shadow falls
within those chambers that is not marked by a hundred eyes."
Gahan stood gazing at the lighted windows of the high tower in
The Chessmen of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Cruise of the Jasper B. by Don Marquis: it! It's his skull--it's Loge's skull come alive. Stop it, I
say, it's come alive and getting bigger." With a violent effort
he raised himself before the nurse could prevent him, shrinking
back from the horrid hallucination which pressed towards him, and
then fell prone and senseless on the bunk.
"God!--his wounds!" cried the Doctor, starting forward. As
Farnsworth had feared, they had broken open and were bleeding
again. "It's a ticklish thing," said Farnsworth, rumpling his
hair. "If I give him enough sedative to keep him quiet his heart
may stop any time. If I don't, he'll thrash himself to pieces in
his delirium before the day's over."
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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 Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Had she been able to read mine, I am afraid that her pride
would have suffered a rather severe shock when I turned at
her command to 'gaze upon the holy vision of her radiant face.'"
"What do you mean?" he whispered in an affrighted
voice, so low that I could scarcely hear him.
"I mean that I thought her the most repulsive and vilely
hideous creature my eyes ever had rested upon."
For a moment he eyed me in horror-stricken amazement,
and then with a cry of "Blasphemer" he sprang upon me.
I did not wish to strike him again, nor was it necessary,
since he was unarmed and therefore quite harmless to me.
The Gods of Mars |
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 Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: fancy may make him, would have ended by reproaching you for having
abased him. You, yourself, might have come, sooner or later, to
despise him. The strong man forgives, but the poet whines. Such,
mademoiselle, is the answer which my honesty compels me to make to
you.
And now, listen to me. You have the triumph of forcing me to
reflect deeply,--first on you, whom I do not sufficiently know;
next, on myself, of whom I knew too little. You have had the power
to stir up many of the evil thoughts which crouched in my heart,
as in all hearts; but from them something good and generous has
come forth, and I salute you with my most fervent benedictions,
Modeste Mignon |
