| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Herbert West: Reanimator by H. P. Lovecraft: Despite the obvious danger of attracting notice and bringing down
on our heads the dreaded police investigation -- a thing which
after all was mercifully averted by the relative isolation of
our cottage -- my friend suddenly, excitedly, and unnecessarily
emptied all six chambers of his revolver into the nocturnal visitor.
For that visitor was neither Italian nor policeman. Looming
hideously against the spectral moon was a gigantic misshapen thing
not to be imagined save in nightmares -- a glassy-eyed, ink-black
apparition nearly on all fours, covered with bits of mould, leaves,
and vines, foul with caked blood, and having between its glistening
teeth a snow-white, terrible, cylindrical object terminating in
Herbert West: Reanimator |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Meno by Plato: famous horseman; and had him taught to stand upright on horseback and hurl
a javelin, and to do many other marvellous things; and in anything which
could be learned from a master he was well trained? Have you not heard
from our elders of him?
ANYTUS: I have.
SOCRATES: Then no one could say that his son showed any want of capacity?
ANYTUS: Very likely not.
SOCRATES: But did any one, old or young, ever say in your hearing that
Cleophantus, son of Themistocles, was a wise or good man, as his father
was?
ANYTUS: I have certainly never heard any one say so.
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