| 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: first interview the manuscript records daily calls of the young
man, during which he related startling fragments of nocturnal
imaginery whose burden was always some terrible Cyclopean vista
of dark and dripping stone, with a subterrene voice or intelligence
shouting monotonously in enigmatical sense-impacts uninscribable
save as gibberish. The two sounds frequently repeated are those
rendered by the letters "Cthulhu" and "R'lyeh."
On March 23,
the manuscript continued, Wilcox failed to appear; and inquiries
at his quarters revealed that he had been stricken with an obscure
sort of fever and taken to the home of his family in Waterman
Call of Cthulhu |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lin McLean by Owen Wister: profanities behind, and engaged in a town conversation that silenced him,
and set him listening with all his admiring young might. Nor did Mr.
McLean join in the talk, but sat embarrassed by this knowledge, which
seemed about as much as he knew himself.
"I'll be goshed," he thought, "if I'd caught on to half that when I was
streakin' around in short pants! Maybe they grow up quicker now." But now
the Country Mouse perceived Billy's eager and attentive apprenticeship.
"Hello, boys!" he said, "that theatre's got a big start on us."
They had all forgotten he had said anything about theatre, and other
topics left their impatient minds, while the Country Mouse paid the bill
and asked to be guided to the Opera-house. "This man here will look out
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: than his match. But a child, however precocious,
inevitably would fall in love with the first uncom-
mon stranger she met; and Rezanov, less vain than
most men of his kind, and with a fundamental hu-
manity that was the chief cause in his efforts to im-
prove the condition of his wretched promuschleniki,
had no taste for the role of heart-breaker.
But the girl had proved her timeliness; would, if
trustworthy, be of further use in inclining her
father and the Governor toward such of his de-
signs as he had any intentions of revealing; and,
Rezanov |
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 Rig Veda: And Friend, choice-worthy, for his friend.
4 Fiere let the foe-destroyers sit, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman,
Like men, upon our sacred grass.
5 O ancient Herald, be thou glad in this our rite and fellowship:
Hearken thou well to these our songs.
6 Whate'er in this perpetual course we sacrifice to God and
God,
That gift is offered up in thee
7 May he be our dear household Lord, Priest, pleasant and,
choice-worthy may
We, with bright fires, be dear to him.
The Rig Veda |
