| 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: little by little to talk of their cold twilight land, of their
exquisite onyx city, and of their fear of the high and impassable
peaks beyond which Leng was said to be. They told him how sorry
they were that no cats would stay in the land of Inquanok, and
how they thought the hidden nearness of Leng was to blame for
it. Only of the stony desert to the north they would not talk.
There was something disquieting about that desert, and it was
thought expedient not to admit its existence.
On later days
they talked of the quarries in which Carter said he was going
to work. There were many of them, for all the city of Inquanok
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 Cavalry General by Xenophon: exposed and hiding away a portion in obscurity, you may effect your
object.[4] But if the ground nowhere admits of cover, your best course
is to form your files[5] into ranks one behind the other, and wheel
them round so as to leave intervals between each file; the troopers
nearest the enemy in each file will keep their lances erect, and the
rest low enough not to show above.
[3] Cf. Polyaen. II. i. 17, of Agesilaus in Macedonia, 394 B.C. (our
author was probably present); IV. iv. 3, of Antipater in Thessaly,
323 B.C.
[4] Lit. "steal your troopers." See "Cyrop." V. iv. 48.
[5] Lit. "form your decads (squads of ten; cf. our 'fours') in ranks
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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 Octopus by Frank Norris: March. There was a great rush to secure "partners." Young
Vacca, still going the rounds, was pushed to one side. The gayly
apparelled clerk from the Bonneville store lost his head in the
confusion. He could not find his "partner." He roamed wildly
about the barn, bewildered, his eyes rolling. He resolved to
prepare an elaborate programme card on the back of an old
envelope. Rapidly the line was formed, Hilma and Harran Derrick
in the lead, Annixter having obstinately refused to engage in
either march, set or dance the whole evening. Soon the confused
shuffling of feet settled to a measured cadence; the orchestra
blared and wailed, the snare drum, rolling at exact intervals,
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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 Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott: and her soft face glowed with motherly pride, as she bent fondly over
them. But when Thistle came, he saw with sorrow how she bade them
close their green curtains, and conceal themselves beneath the leaves,
for there was danger near; and, drooping still more closely over them,
she seemed to wait with trembling fear the cruel Fairy's coming.
But no rude hand tore her little ones away, no unkind words were
spoken; but a soft shower of dew fell lightly on them, and Thistle,
bending tenderly above them, said,--
"Dear flower, forgive the sorrow I once brought you, and trust me now
for Lily-Bell's sake. Her gentleness has changed my cruelty to
kindness, and I would gladly repay all for the harm I have done;
Flower Fables |
