Today's Stichomancy for Alyssa Milano
| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Confessio Amantis by John Gower: The figure and the bok withal
Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal 1320
The Seal, and therupon thymage
Of Thebith, for his avantage
He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere,
Which helplich is to this matiere.
Babilla with hire Sones sevene,
Which hath renonced to the hevene,
With Cernes bothe square and rounde,
He traceth ofte upon the grounde,
Makende his invocacioun;
Confessio Amantis |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Finished by H. Rider Haggard: Presently they returned with the table, which had a green cloth
over it that hung down half-way to the ground. Also one of the
native boys brought a tray with spirits, from which I judged by
various signs, old Marnham, who had already drunk his share at
dinner, had helped himself freely on the way. Soon we were
arranged, Anscombe, who was to be my partner, opposite to me in
his long chair, and the game began.
I forget what particular variant of cards it was we played,
though I know it admitted of high and progressive stakes. At
first, however, these were quite moderate and we won, as I
suppose we were meant to do. After half an hour or so Marnham
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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 Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: poor Richard's sake. Oh, Mr. Wilding," she turned to him, holding out
a hand; her eyes shone, filmed with moisture, "I shall have a kindness
for you.., all my days for your... generosity to-day." It was
lamentably weak, far from the hot expressions which she forced it to
replace.
"Yes, I was generous," he admitted. "We will move on as far as the
cross-roads." Again they ambled gently forward. Up the slope from the
ford Diana and Jerry were slowly climbing; not another human being was
in sight ahead or behind them. "After you left me," he continued, "your
memory and your entreaties lingered with me. I gave the matter of our
position thought, and it seemed to me that all was monstrously ill-done.
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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 Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: write the "Scenes from Military Life," led me to many a battle-
field once wet with the blood of France and her enemies. Among
them I went to Wagram. When I reached the shores of the Danube,
opposite Lobau, I noticed on the bank, which is covered with turf,
certain undulations that reminded me of the furrows in a field of
lucern. I asked the reason of it, thinking I should hear of some
new method of agriculture: "There sleep the cavalry of the
imperial guard," said the peasant who served us as a guide; "those
are their graves you see there." The words made me shudder. Prince
Frederic Schwartzenburg, who translated them, added that the man
had himself driven one of the wagons laden with cuirasses. By one
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