| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Nada the Lily by H. Rider Haggard: stir the stone from within." And she laughed a little, then ceased
from laughing and spoke again. "Yet it would be ill if Umslopogaas
came back no more to roll away that rock, for then I should be like
one in a grave--as one who is placed in a grave being yet strong and
quick." She shuddered as she thought of it, but presently started up
and set her ear to the hole to listen, for from far down the mountain
there rose a mighty howling and a din of men.
When Umslopogaas had shut the cave, he moved swiftly down the
mountain, and with him went certain of the wolves; not all, for he had
not summoned them. His heart was heavy, for he feared that Galazi was
no more. Also he was mad with rage, and plotted in himself to destroy
Nada the Lily |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: be it tillage or the working of a vessel,[4] or any of the thousand
and one things on which a man may chance to be employed. To him it is
given to rejoice as he reflects, "I am doing well." But is the
pleasured derived from all these put together half as joyous as the
consciousness of becoming better oneself, of acquiring better and
better friends? That, for my part, is the belief I continue to
cherish.
[4] "The business of a shipowner or skipper."
Again, if it be a question of helping one's friends or country, which
of the two will have the larger leisure to devote to these objects--he
who leads the life which I lead to-day, or he who lives in the style
The Memorabilia |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft: me that he had likewise been vainly trying to reach Lake. He had
not known about the wind, for very little was blowing at McMurdo
Sound, despite its persistent rage where we were.
Throughout
the day we all listened anxiously and tried to get Lake at intervals,
but invariably without results. About noon a positive frenzy of
wind stampeded out of the west, causing us to fear for the safety
of our camp; but it eventually died down, with only a moderate
relapse at 2 P.M. After three o’clock it was very quiet, and we
redoubled our efforts to get Lake. Reflecting that he had four
planes, each provided with an excellent short-wave outfit, we
At the Mountains of Madness |
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 Moral Emblems by Robert Louis Stevenson: Some like Mrs. Stowe;
Some not.
Some like to laugh,
Some like to cry,
Some like chaff;
Not I.
Poem: II
Here, perfect to a wish,
We offer, not a dish,
But just the platter:
A book that's not a book,
|
