| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Niblung's Ring by George Bernard Shaw: Rhine maidens' yodel, Mimmy's tinkling anvil beat, the note of
the forest bird, the call of Siegfried's horn, and so on, it will
bear a good deal of rehearing. Those who have but newly learnt
their way through The Ring will not readily admit that there is a
bar too much repetition.
But how if you find some anti-Wagnerite raising the question
whether the thematic system does not enable the composer to
produce a music drama with much less musical fertility than was
required from his predecessors for the composition of operas
under the old system!
Such discussions are not within the scope of this little book.
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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 Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: rectors in their parishes the same powers which Monseigneur exercises
in his diocese,--barring, of course, all questions of discipline and
ecclesiastical obedience."
"That is true," said the bishop. "But the question here is how to
obtain from the condemned man voluntary information which may
enlighten justice."
"My mission is to win souls to God," said Monsieur Bonnet.
Monsieur de Grancour shrugged his shoulders slightly, but his
colleague, the Abbe Dutheil nodded his head in sign of approval.
"Tascheron is no doubt endeavoring to shield some one, whom the
restitution will no doubt bring to light," said the /procureur-
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