| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Intentions by Oscar Wilde: the method.
In designing the scenery and costumes for any of Shakespeare's
plays, the first thing the artist has to settle is the best date
for the drama. This should be determined by the general spirit of
the play, more than by any actual historical references which may
occur in it. Most HAMLETS I have seen were placed far too early.
HAMLET is essentially a scholar of the Revival of Learning; and if
the allusion to the recent invasion of England by the Danes puts it
back to the ninth century, the use of foils brings it down much
later. Once, however, that the date has been fixed, then the
archaeologist is to supply us with the facts which the artist is to
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: continually looking everywhere for his treasured friend, the aged
Barlaam. Frequent were the temptations and assaults of the evil
spirits that he encountered, and many the hardships that he
endured through the lack of herbs that he needed for meat,
because the desert, being dry, yielded even these in but scant
supply. But, being kindled by love of her Master, this
adamantine and indomitable soul bore these annoyances more easily
than other men bear their pleasures. Wherefore he failed not of
the succour that is from above, but, many as were the sorrows and
toils Chat he endured, comfort came to him from Christ, and,
asleep or awake, refreshed his soul. By the space of those two
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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 Madame Firmiani by Honore de Balzac: gross blunder in the course of a single evening. They will tell you
they were in Paris at the time of Mallet's conspiracy, forgetting that
half an hour earlier they had described how they had crossed the
Beresina. Nearly all Contradictors are "chevaliers" of the Legion of
honor; they talk loudly, have retreating foreheads, and play high.
"Madame Firmiani a hundred thousand francs a year? nonsense, you are
crazy! Some people will persist in giving millions with the liberality
of authors, to whom it doesn't cost a penny to dower their heroines.
Madame Firmiani is simply a coquette, who has lately ruined a young
man, and now prevents him from making a fine marriage. If she were not
so handsome she wouldn't have a penny."
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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 The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin: want, sir?"
"Want?" said the old gentleman petulantly. "I want fire and
shelter, and there's your great fire there blazing, crackling, and
dancing on the walls with nobody to feel it. Let me in, I say; I
only want to warm myself."
Gluck had had his head, by this time, so long out of the window
that he began to feel it was really unpleasantly cold, and when he
turned and saw the beautiful fire rustling and roaring and throwing
long, bright tongues up the chimney, as if it were licking its chops
at the savory smell of the leg of mutton, his heart melted within
him that it should be burning away for nothing. "He does look very
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