| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln: It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . .
we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead,
who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power
to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember,
what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished
work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining
before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . .
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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 Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: stage is dimly lighted.
Egmont (stands for a time as if buried in thought, and allows Silva to retire
without looking round. He imagines himself alone, and, on raising his
eyes, beholds Alva's son).
Thou tarriest here? Wouldst thou by thy presence augment my
amazement, my horror? Wouldst thou carry to thy father the welcome
tidings that in unmanly fashion I despair? Go. Tell him that he deceives
neither the world nor me. At first it will be whispered cautiously behind
his back, then spoken more and more loudly, and when at some future day
the ambitious man descends from his proud eminence, a thousand voices
will proclaim--that 'twas not the welfare of the state, not the honour of the
Egmont |
