| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Hero of Our Time by M.Y. Lermontov: own," I said, with a yawn, and I got up
to go.
"Confess, though, you repent?" . . .
"What nonsense! If I like I will be at
Princess Ligovski's to-morrow evening!" . . .
"We shall see" . . .
"I will even begin to pay my addresses to
Princess Mary, if you would like me to" . . .
"Yes, if she is willing to speak to you" . . .
"I am only awaiting the moment when she will
be bored by your conversation. . . Good-
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Herbert West: Reanimator by H. P. Lovecraft: "From Eric Moreland Clapham-Lee, St. Eloi, Flanders." Six years
before, in Flanders, a shelled hospital had fallen upon the headless
reanimated trunk of Dr. Clapham-Lee, and upon the detached head
which -- perhaps -- had uttered articulate sounds.
West was
not even excited now. His condition was more ghastly. Quickly
he said, "It’s the finish -- but let’s incinerate -- this." We
carried the thing down to the laboratory -- listening. I do not
remember many particulars -- you can imagine my state of mind
-- but it is a vicious lie to say it was Herbert West’s body which
I put into the incinerator. We both inserted the whole unopened
Herbert West: Reanimator |
