"You say that at first you could not make anything of the subject, but that a sudden light dawned upon you. I figured to myself Elijah as a thorough prophet, such as we might again require in our own day--energetic and zealous, but also stern, wrathful, and gloomy; a striking contrast to the court rabble and popular rabble--in fact, in opposition to the whole world, and yet borne on angels' wings. Is this the inference you also draw from the subject, and is this the sense in which you conceived an affection for it? I am most anxious to do full justice to the _dramatic_ element, and, as you say, no epic narrative must be introduced. I am glad to learn that you are searching out the always heart-affecting sense of the Scriptural words; but if I might make one observation, it is that I would fain see the dramatic element more prominent, as well as more exuberant and defined--appeal and rejoinder, question and answer, sudden interruptions, etc., etc. Not that it disturbs me that Elijah, for example, first speaks of assembling the people, then forthwith addresses them--such liberties are the natural privileges of a composition such as an oratorio; but I should like to have the representation itself as spirited as possible; for instance, it annoys me that Elijah does not reply to Ahab's words, No. 16, till No. 18, various other speeches and a chorus intervening. I should like to have had an instant and eager rejoinder, etc., etc. "But we are no doubt likely to agree about this; and I would only entreat you, when you resume your work, to think of this wish of mine. Above all, accept my thanks for your kindness, and write to me soon on the same subject.--Ever yours, "FELIX M.-B." [Footnote 9: "Briefwechsel," p. 134.] Schubring sent to Mendelssohn another "plan," for Part I., dated "Reformationsfest [October 31], 1838," accompanying it with the following (selected) observations[10]:-- [Footnote 10: "Briefwechsel," p. 129.] [SCHUBRING TO MENDELSSOHN.] "I have sought throughout--although it is not always possible--to introduce pieces, not merely suitable to the particular situation in question, but such as might awaken an echo in the hearts of the hearers--as, for instance, this aria ['If with all your hearts']. I have noticed that in your 'St. Paul,' for example, such numbers have excited the most interest.... In oratorios it does no harm if you exaggerate the dramatic effect: on the contrary, it seems to me necessary.... I think it will often occur to you, as it does to me, to marvel at the manifold things which can be found in the Bible." In the letter[11] ("Dessau, November 1, 1838") which accompanied the new "plan," Schubring remarks:-- [Footnote 11: _Ibid._, p. 137.]