| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin: marked
[6] I have reason, however, to suspect that there is a field-
mouse. The common European rat and mouse have roamed far from
the habitations of the settlers. The common hog has also run
wild on one islet; all are of a black colour: the boars are
very fierce, and have great trunks.
[7] The "culpeu" is the Canis Magellanicus brought home by
Captain King from the Strait of Magellan. It is common in
Chile
[8] Pernety, Voyage aux Isles Malouines, p. 526.
[9] "Nous n'avons pas ete moins saisis d'etonnement a la vue
The Voyage of the Beagle |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft: biological, and astronomical features - and embodied an art which
would be called decadent in comparison with that of specimens
we found in older buildings after crossing bridges under the glacial
sheet. One edifice hewn from the solid rock seemed to go back
forty or possibly even fifty million years - to the lower Eocene
or upper Cretaceous - and contained bas-reliefs of an artistry
surpassing anything else, with one tremendous exception, that
we encountered. That was, we have since agreed, the oldest domestic
structure we traversed.
Were it not for the support of those
flashlights soon to be made public, I would refrain from telling
At the Mountains of Madness |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: "Really!" exclaimed Lord Lambeth. "Ah, in England it all depends, you know."
"You will not think much of our gaieties," said the young girl,
looking at him with a little mixture of interrogation and decision
which was peculiar to her. The interrogation seemed earnest and
the decision seemed arch; but the mixture, at any rate, was charming.
"Those things, with us, are much less splendid than in England."
"I fancy you don't mean that," said Lord Lambeth, laughing.
"I assure you I mean everything I say," the young girl declared.
"Certainly, from what I have read about English society,
it is very different."
"Ah well, you know," said her companion, "those things are
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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 The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: And Laura, glowing, answered softly, "Have you had tea? Won't you have an
ice? The passion-fruit ices really are rather special." She ran to her
father and begged him. "Daddy darling, can't the band have something to
drink?"
And the perfect afternoon slowly ripened, slowly faded, slowly its petals
closed.
"Never a more delightful garden-party ..." "The greatest success ..."
"Quite the most ..."
Laura helped her mother with the good-byes. They stood side by side in the
porch till it was all over.
"All over, all over, thank heaven," said Mrs. Sheridan. "Round up the
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