the time has come to make things right
ii.
the second line, divided, shows its subject, in the condition indicated by ming i, wounded in the left thigh. he saves himself by the strength of a swift horse and is fortunate.
the fourth line, divided, shows its subject just entered into the left side of the belly of the dark land. but he is able to carry out the mind appropriate in the condition indicated by ming i, quitting the gate and courtyard of the lord of darkness.
the sixth line, divided, shows the case where there is no light, but only obscurity. its subject had at first ascended to the top of the sky, but his future shall be to go into the earth.
the left card represents an important element of the past. queen of swords, when reversed: consuming fire; the flames of the martyrdom of joan of arc, phaedra's misguided passion, medea's jealousy, lady macbeth's ambition. fire, if left to burn unchecked, can consume the soul.
the middle card represents a deciding element of the present. the devil, when reversed: irresponsible pleasures. prankishness. childish panic. undignified behavior. fare baccano, to "paint the town."
the right card represents a critical element of the future. five of swords (defeat), when reversed: entering new experiences after persuasion or seduction. undertaking new adventures.
for their difficulty was not a practical but a metaphysical one; and their conception of falsehood was really impaired and weakened by a metaphysical illusion.
while the selfish interests hidden in these hearts were struggling in deadly combat the events which resulted from them had a fatal celebrity.
such an one makes me merry with the sound of his voice; and when i hear him i am thought to be a lover of discourse; so eager am i in drinking in his words. but a man whose actions do not agree with his words is an annoyance to me; and the better he speaks the more i hate him, and then i seem to be a hater of discourse. as to socrates, i have no knowledge of his words, but of old, as would seem, i have had experience of his deeds; and his deeds show that free and noble sentiments are natural to him.
"on the soul which i have lost and on the conscience which i have killed, i tell you that i CANNOT feel! i am as the gods, knowing good and evil, but untouched by either. is this enviable or is it not?"
ah, if odysseus might but return and come to his own country, right soon would yonder doors full wide as they are, prove all too strait for thee in thy flight through the doorway!