Literature Clues: 8 Swords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

firemaiden	14 May 2003
I sacri nomi di padre d'amante, nè profferir poss'io, nè ricordar Per l'un --per l'altro --confusa tremante io piangere vorrei, vorrei pregar. Ma la mia prece in bestemmia si muta delitto è il pianto a me, colpa il sospir in notte cupa la mente è perduta e nell'ansia crudel vorrei morir. Giuseppe Verdi, Aïda, Act I (aria: Ritorna Vincitor) libretto: Antonio Ghislanzoni

jmd	14 May 2003
9 Swords ?

firemaiden	14 May 2003
ooooooooooooooooooooh! close!! I mean it certainly fits the 9. That isn't exactly the card I had in mind, though.

allibee	14 May 2003
Yes, reading through the text my first guess was the 9 Swords too .... so I plump for the Moon in that case A.

firemaiden	14 May 2003
Perhaps this will clarify the situation: (Per chi piango? per chi prego? qual poter m'avvince a lui Deggio amarlo ed è costui un nemico, uno stranier!)

allibee	14 May 2003
3 Swords?

firemaiden	14 May 2003
close :D, but no cigar :(

allibee	14 May 2003
2 Swords ... or the Lovers?

firemaiden	14 May 2003
veeeeeeeeeeery close, but still no ciggie

firemaiden	14 May 2003
(actually, any of these answers could have been the right one! They all fit! Merde, I just happened to have a different one in mind, sigh...)

allibee	14 May 2003
Well, having looked at the aria in question, I get the feeling of dishonour and guilt. Like they have lost their moral compass, so I think it may be 5 Swords? A.

firemaiden	14 May 2003
nope, nope. Not too many left!!

allibee	14 May 2003
Devil .... in love with the wrong person and bound to the wrong thoughts?

firemaiden	14 May 2003
oops. you were closer before :D (not a major)

allibee	14 May 2003
*allibee throws in the towel*

Two of Wands	14 May 2003
Five of Cups maybe

firemaiden	14 May 2003
hmmmm. nope, not the towel, and not the 5 of cups. Here's another hint: the first guess was by far the closest.

Two of Wands	14 May 2003
The Eight of Swords?

Dark Eyes	14 May 2003
ten swords??

Two of Wands	14 May 2003
Yeah, or that one! :)

firemaiden	15 May 2003
Two of Wands has it: the EIGHT OF SWORDS!! I had in my mind the picture of the bound lady with swords all around. Aida is in a dilemna: she is in love with her enemy Radames, whose job is now to go to war with her father! She is torn between praying for her lover's success or crying for her father (who is after all assembling the army to rescue her, although you would not have known that from only the quoted portion of the aria). She is confused. It is a dilemna, from which she cannot move, she cannot act. Her love "binds" her to the problem. (As she is also bound by slavery, but you would not necessarily have known that either) Although you all rightly pointed out that the 9 of swords would have been perfect (cruel anguish) as well as the 3 of swords (heartbreak) or the 2 of swords (stalement, or suspension), and others suggested it could have been the princess of swords (she is after all a true princess), I had in mind the eight of swords, because of the sense of bondage, of confusion, of not being able to move from where you are. Joan Bunning (:P) mentions in her on-line interpretation, among other things: feeling trapped, feeling confused, unsure in which way to turn, feeling overwhelmed, feeling powerless -- all of which I thought fit the situation well.

allibee	17 May 2003
Two of Wands, where are you? :O) If you want to pass over the baton, just let us know and we'll put it up for grabs. A.

Two of Wands	17 May 2003
Firemaiden, I think your clue was really good. I'm sorry for not posting another quicker. Usually I'm much quicker but I've had a few none internet days as I've had a lot on. I shall post the next one later today! Sorry to keep you waiting!

The Literature Clues: 8 Swords thread was originally posted on 14 May 2003 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.