[Note: This text contains many words with archaic spelling,which I have not modernized. Also, while the first word of eachpoem is usually capitalized, not all of them are, and I have left the uncapitalized words as is.]
THE MASQUE OF THE ELEMENTS
BY HERMAN SCHEFFAUER
LONDON: J. M. Dent & Sons, Limited
Bedford Street, Strand 1912
New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.
All rights reserved
TO MY DEAR FRIEND
ALBERT M. BENDER
CONTENTS
ARGUMENT
In this Threnody and Birth-song of the Elements, written in California some fiveyears ago, I have striven to capture and present some of the chief-factors and phases ofthe eternal drama of Life and Death in the Universe. These powers, elements andagents I have endowed with human attributes and human emotions as thoughit were Man himself who uttered himself through them.
The actors in this cosmic masque or pageant ofthe planets are the Sun, the Moon and the Earth with her fourElements; for stage there is the limitlessbackground of Time and Space, and the audience maybe conceived as being represented by Immanent