| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft: and he would have given worlds for some even half-normal sound;
but these toad-things had no voices, and the slaves did not talk.
Then through that star-specked darkness there did come a normal
sound. It rolled from the higher hills, and from all the jagged
peaks around it was caught up and echoed in a swelling pandaemoniac
chorus. It was the midnight yell of the cat, and Carter knew at
last that the old village folk were right when they made low guesses
about the cryptical realms which are known only to cats, and to
which the elders among cats repair by stealth nocturnally, springing
from high housetops. Verily, it is to the moon's dark side that
they go to leap and gambol on the hills and converse with ancient
 The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Iliad by Homer: have them; they, therefore, are awake and keep each other to
their duty as sentinels; but the allies who have come from other
places are asleep and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard, for
their wives and children are not here."
Ulysses then said, "Now tell me; are they sleeping among the
Trojan troops, or do they lie apart? Explain this that I may
understand it."
"I will tell you truly all," replied Dolon. "To the seaward lie
the Carians, the Paeonian bowmen, the Leleges, the Cauconians,
and the noble Pelasgi. The Lysians and proud Mysians, with the
Phrygians and Meonians, have their place on the side towards
 The Iliad |