“Let us drink deep brothers,' he cried, leaving off his strange anointment for a while, to lift a great glass, filled with sparkling liquor, to his lips. 'Let us drink to our approaching triumph. Let us drink to the great poison, Macousha. Subtle seed of Death, - swift hurricane that sweeps away Life, - vast hammer that crushes brain and heart and artery with its resistless weight, -I drink to it.' 'It is a noble concoction, Duke Balthazar,' said Madame Filomel, nodding in her chair as she swallowed her wine in great gulps. 'Where did you obtain it?''It is made,' said the Wondersmith, swallowing another great draught of wine ere he replied, 'in the wild woods of Guiana, in silence and in mystery. Only one tribe of Indians, the Macoushi Indians, know the secret. It is simmered over fires built of strange woods, and the maker of it dies in the making. The place, for a mile around the spot where it is fabricated, is shunned as accursed. Devils hover over the pot in which it stews; and the birds of the air, scenting the smallest breath of its vapour from far away, drop to earth with paralysed wings, cold and dead.''It kills, then, fast?' asked Kerplonne, the artificial-eye maker, - his own eyes gleaming, under the influence of the wine, with a sinister lustre, as if they had been fresh from the factory, and were yet untarnished by use.'Kills?' echoed the Wondersmith, derisively; 'it is swifter than thunderbolts, stronger than lightning. But you shall see it proved before we let forth our army on the city accursed. You shall see a wretch die, as if smitten by a falling fragment of the sun.'("The Wondersmith")”
Analysis
In this quote from "The Wondersmith" by Fitz-James O'Brien, the character Duke Balthazar, also known as the Wondersmith, introduces a deadly poison called Macousha to his companions. The description of the poison is filled with dark and ominous imagery, emphasizing its potency and lethality. Duke Balthazar speaks of the poison with admiration and excitement, suggesting a twisted sense of pleasure in its destructive power. The reactions of his companions, particularly Madame Filomel and Kerplonne, showcase a mixture of curiosity, fascination, and perhaps a hint of malice in their eagerness to witness the effects of Macousha. This passage sets the stage for a sinister and dangerous plot that is sure to unfold in the story.
Modern Relevance:
In this excerpt from "The Wondersmith" by Fitz-James O'Brien, the characters celebrate with a mysterious and deadly concoction known as Macousha. This passage highlights themes of power, temptation, and the allure of the unknown. The idea of a potent and deadly substance being brewed in secrecy can be seen as a metaphor for the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of pursuing power at any cost. In today's society, this serves as a cautionary tale about the unforeseen consequences of seeking power and control without considering the ethical implications. The allure of power and the willingness to sacrifice morality for personal gain are timeless themes that continue to resonate in modern times.
Usage Examples
In this dark and mysterious passage from Fitz-James O'Brien's "The Wondersmith," we see Duke Balthazar and his companions indulging in a dangerous and potent concoction known as Macousha. The Wondersmith describes the deadly effects of the poison, instilling fear and fascination in those around him. Let's delve deeper into the mysterious world created by the author.
- The characters gathered around Duke Balthazar as he raised a glass filled with the sparkling liquor, toasting to their approaching triumph and the power of Macousha.
- Madame Filomel expressed admiration for the noble concoction, questioning the origin of the poison and learning of its deadly effects from the Wondersmith.
- Kerplonne, under the influence of wine, sought to understand the swiftness and strength of Macousha, intrigued by the prospect of witnessing its deadly capabilities firsthand in a demonstration planned by the Wondersmith.
Reflection Questions:
This passage from "The Wondersmith" by Fitz-James O'Brien explores the dark and mysterious world of a potent poison called Macousha. As you reflect on this excerpt, consider the following questions:
- How does the description of Macousha and its origins make you feel? What emotions or thoughts does it evoke?
- What do you think the characters' reactions to Macousha reveal about their personalities and motivations?
- In what ways does the Wondersmith's enthusiasm for Macousha reflect a deeper theme or message in the story?
- How does the setting of the scene contribute to the eerie and foreboding atmosphere surrounding Macousha?
- Consider the symbolism of Macousha as a powerful and deadly force. What do you think the author is trying to convey through this symbol?
Take some time to reflect on these questions and consider how they deepen your understanding of the themes and characters in "The Wondersmith".
Similar quotes
“This wine is grand. This poison is grand. It is fine to have good wine to drink, and good poison to kill with, is it not?("The Wondersmith")”
“...brandy, which is fallen and accursed wine, as devils are fallen and accursed angels...("The Wondersmith")”
“A poet once said, 'The whole universe is in a glass of wine.' We will probably never know in what sense he meant it, for poets do not write to be understood. But it is true that if we look at a glass of wine closely enough we see the entire universe. There are the things of physics: the twisting liquid which evaporates depending on the wind and weather, the reflection in the glass; and our imagination adds atoms. The glass is a distillation of the earth's rocks, and in its composition we see the secrets of the universe's age, and the evolution of stars. What strange array of chemicals are in the wine? How did they come to be? There are the ferments, the enzymes, the substrates, and the products. There in wine is found the great generalization; all life is fermentation. Nobody can discover the chemistry of wine without discovering, as did Louis Pasteur, the cause of much disease. How vivid is the claret, pressing its existence into the consciousness that watches it! If our small minds, for some convenience, divide this glass of wine, this universe, into parts -- physics, biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, and so on -- remember that nature does not know it! So let us put it all back together, not forgetting ultimately what it is for. Let it give us one more final pleasure; drink it and forget it all!”
“Branson ate his salad, and left the rest of his fish untouched, while Grace tucked into his steak and kidney pudding with relish. 'I read a while ago,' he told Branson, 'that the French drink more red wine than the English but live longer. The Japanese eat more fish than the English but drink less wine and live longer. The Germans eat more red meat than the English, and drink more beer and they live longer too. You know the moral of this story? 'No''It's not what you eat or drink - it's speaking English that kills you.”
“Reminds us that greatness lies even in the smallest of moments, in the humblest of hearts, and we shall, each of us, be called to greatness. Whether we shall rise to meet it or let it slip away is the challenge put before us all.”