| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: comme les autres Deesses.
LA VOIX D'IOKANAAN. Il est venu, le Seigneur! Il est venu, le fils
de l'Homme. Les centaures se sont caches dans les rivieres, et les
sirenes ont quitte les rivieres et couchent sous les feuilles dans
les forets.
SALOME. Qui a crie cela?
SECOND SOLDAT. C'est le prophete, princesse.
SALOME. Ah! le prophete. Celui dont le tetrarque a peur?
SECOND SOLDAT. Nous ne savons rien de cela, princesse. C'est le
prophete Iokanaan.
LE JEUNE SYRIEN. Voulez-vous que je commande votre litiere,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: promising person, but, from another point of view, not dangerous.
Thus lightly was the notorious (and at the same time mysterious)
Monsieur George brought into the world; out of the contact of two
minds which did not give a single thought to his flesh and blood.
Their purpose explains the intimate tone given to their first
conversation and the sudden introduction of Dona Rita's history.
Mills, of course, wanted to hear all about it. As to Captain Blunt
- I suspect that, at the time, he was thinking of nothing else. In
addition it was Dona Rita who would have to do the persuading; for,
after all, such an enterprise with its ugly and desperate risks was
not a trifle to put before a man - however young.
The Arrow of Gold |
