| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Princess of Parms by Edgar Rice Burroughs: before we realized it. We were brought back to a realization
of our present conditions by a messenger bearing a summons
from Lorquas Ptomel directing me to appear before him
forthwith. Bidding Dejah Thoris and Sola farewell, and
commanding Woola to remain on guard, I hastened to the
audience chamber, where I found Lorquas Ptomel and Tars
Tarkas seated upon the rostrum.
CHAPTER XII
A PRISONER WITH POWER
As I entered and saluted, Lorquas Ptomel signaled me to advance,
and, fixing his great, hideous eyes upon me, addressed me thus:
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lucile by Owen Meredith: He falter'd, "Lucile, ah, Lucile!"
"Nay, not me,"
She murmur'd, "but man! The lone nun standing here
Has no claim upon earth, and is pass'd from the sphere
Of earth's wrongs and earth's reparations. But she,
The dead woman, Lucile, she whose grave is in me,
Demands from her grave reparation to man,
Reparation to God. Heed, O heed, while you can,
This voice from the grave!"
"Hush!" he moan'd, "I obey
The Soeur Seraphine. There, Lucile! let this pay
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: tea-things for us, you see."
"No more there are, indeed. How very provoking! But
I think we had better sit still, for one gets so tumbled
in such a crowd! How is my head, my dear? Somebody gave
me a push that has hurt it, I am afraid."
"No, indeed, it looks very nice. But, dear Mrs. Allen,
are you sure there is nobody you know in all this multitude
of people? I think you must know somebody."
"I don't, upon my word--I wish I did. I wish I had a
large acquaintance here with all my heart, and then I should
get you a partner. I should be so glad to have you dance.
Northanger Abbey |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Gambara by Honore de Balzac: his son by rousing him to tremendous emotions. Robert, beggared,
frenzied, searching everything, eager for blood, fire, and sword, is
his own son; in this mood he is exactly like his father. What hideous
glee we hear in Bertram's words: '/Je ris de tes coups/!' And how
perfectly the Venetian /barcarole/ comes in here. Through what
wonderful transitions the diabolical parent is brought on to the stage
once more to make Robert throw the dice.
"This first act is overwhelming to any one capable of working out the
subjects in his very heart, and lending them the breadth of
development which the composer intended them to call forth.
"Nothing but love could now be contrasted with this noble symphony of
Gambara |
