| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: Draw life from what to other men were death,
Like poisonous plants that on corruption live?
No, no, I think God would not suffer that:
Yet the Duke will not die: he is too sinful.
But I will die alone, and on this night
Grim Death shall be my bridegroom, and the tomb
My secret house of pleasure: well, what of that?
The world's a graveyard, and we each, like coffins,
Within us bear a skeleton.
[Enter LORD MORANZONE all in black; he passes across the back of
the stage looking anxiously about.]
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fables by Robert Louis Stevenson: moon. So they came to the dead-cairn, and they laid their ears to
the stones; and the dead complained withinsides like a swarm of
bees: "Time was that marrow was in our bones, and strength in our
sinews; and the thoughts of our head were clothed upon with acts
and the words of men. But now are we broken in sunder, and the
bonds of our bones are loosed, and our thoughts lie in the dust."
Then said the Poor Thing: "Charge them that they give you the
virtue they withheld".
And the man said: "Bones of my fathers, greeting! for I am sprung
of your loins. And now, behold, I break open the piled stones of
your cairn, and I let in the noon between your ribs. Count it well
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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 Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: off his dispatch, addressed to his cousin.
But that was not Blount's idea, who did not intend to
give up the wicket, but have it in his power to send off the
news just as the events occurred. He would therefore not
make way for his companion.
"But you have finished!" exclaimed Jolivet.
"I have not finished," returned Harry Blount quietly.
And he proceeded to write some sentences, which he
handed in to the clerk, who read out in his calm voice:
"John Gilpin was a citizen of credit and renown; a train-
band captain eke was he of famous London town."
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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 Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: in watered valleys with close woods, such as I suppose to
form the surroundings of Rahero's homestead. Quarter of a
mile away, where the air moves freely, you shall look in vain
for one.
Note 5, "HOOK" of mother-of-pearl. Bright-hook fishing, and
that with the spear, appear to be the favourite native
methods.
Note 6, "LEAVES," the plates of Tahiti.
Note 7, "YOTTOWAS," so spelt for convenience of
pronunciation, QUASI Tacksmen in the Scottish Highlands. The
organisation of eight subdistricts and eight yottowas to a
Ballads |
