Scene 3

Scene 3The Same.(Enter left, Magnus Bellicosus, Romanus, Torquatus, and Hilary, in deep conversation, and pausing in their walk.)Bellicosus:And if his headstrong mood will not be changed,How can prosperity attend the workWhich Hilary is fain to dedicateIn loving service to his fellowmen?Romanus:What our friend’s true companion in his workDid give as reason why he did object,Hath weight not only amongst men who formOpinions based on outer facts of life.Are not these arguments advanced by himAlso in harmony with mystic views?Bellicosus:Yet it lies not within the spirit groupWhich holds our projects in its firm embrace.Those who succeeded to our mystic taskWere Benedictus’ pupils;—’tis for themThat Hilary would make a field of workIn which their spirit-fruitage can mature.The wise powers ruling over destinyHave, in the temple, joined them to ourselves;Our friend, however, represents aloneThe wisdom which to us within the shrineAs spirit-law and duty was revealed.Romanus:But art thou sure that thou dost understandThis spirit-law? More simply it might meanThat Benedictus and his pupils too,Whom in his way he to the spirit led,Should still remain within the temple’s shrineAnd not at this time tread the hard rough roadTo which friend Hilary would lead them on.For but too easily can spirit-sightBe turned, upon that road, to soul’s dream-sleep.Bellicosus:I did not hope to hear such words from theeTo Hilary’s companion in his work.We must indeed allow that knowledge gainedFrom books alone is but of little worth.But thou art bound to recognize the signsWhich are begotten on the mystic way.How Benedictus’ pupils were impelledTo come to us, speaks clearly to our souls.They are joined with us that we may obeyWhat their clairvoyance doth to them reveal.Torquatus:Another sign doth still make manifestThat full rich blessing from the spirit-powersUpon that project hath not been outpouredWhich in the temple showed itself to us.Capesius hath now withdrawn himselfFrom Benedictus and his pupils’ group.That he should not yet in its fullness feelThe wakefulness of soul which now in himDoth Benedictus seek, doth cast sad doubtE’en on our teacher’s personal competence.Bellicosus:The gift of seership lies still far from me:Yet intuition often doth revealWithin my soul the meaning of events.When for the first time in our sacred faneI saw Capesius within our groupThe thought oppressed me, that fate set him thereTo be both near to us and yet far off.Romanus:Thine intuition I can fully grasp.But at that very moment none amongstOur new-found mystic friends so closely knitBy fate to us as Strader, could I find.Such intuition is to me a signTo show my soul the road, where I may thenWith reason search; and when I come to actI must destroy that intuition firstWhich gave strength and direction to my thought.Thus mysticism’s strict decrees ordain.In spirit-realms I find myself in truthWith Benedictus’ pupils close allied;Yet, if I leave my inner mystic groupAnd find my way back into life on earth,By Strader’s side alone dare I do this.Torquatus:But Hilary’s companion in his workFinds not in Strader’s soul true spirit-strengthSuch as can prove of use in outer life.And if myself I heed my inner voiceIt is revealed that he entirely lacksThe rightful mood to tread the mystic path.What outward signs can show him of these thingsAnd what his reason grasps of spirit-life,Arouse the explorer’s zeal in him;From inward spirit-life he stands far off.What can the spirit products of this manBe but obscurely woven mystic dreams?Romanus:Upon the spirit path his friends have trod;He hath not made sufficient progress yetTo join himself to foes of his own soul,Who bring to many mystics danger greatWhen they pursue him into life on earth.Bellicosus:If thou dost think him safe from such attacksNought hinders thee from working for him thereSo that this great scheme may be brought to passWhich Hilary would carry out through him.For when our friend’s companion comes to knowHow highly thou dost rate the man whom heDares think of little worth, he will in truthMisdoubt his own opinion. Thou aloneCanst win him over to the cause we serve.For well he knows that in thine outer lifeThou hast invariably achieved successIn all thou hast essayed with forethought wise.Romanus:If thou wilt Strader take, dear Hilary,As thy companion, and, from this thy workKeep Benedictus’ other followersOn spirit paths from all illusion free,Thou shalt not stand alone;—I offer theeNot only what now Bellicosus asksAs my assistance; but will also helpWith all the worldly goods at my commandIn making Strader’s plan a real success.Hilary:How canst thou think that Strader at this timeFrom Benedictus’ pupils would depart?To follow his own spirit-aims alone?The others are as near him as himself.Romanus:In human life they well may stand so close.But only that part of his soul can holdThat they in spirit too are one with him,Which still is deeply sunk in spirit-sleepBut soon, methinks, it will be evidentHow that part can grow ripe to waking life.(Exeunt right.)(Enter left—Capesius, Strader, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde; as if coming to a standstill during their talk because of the importance to them of the following dialogue.)Capesius:To seek the spirit in mine inmost soulIs all that I can do at such a time.Were I to load myself with outward work,That spirit might be brought to realms of sense,With rashness should I strive to grasp the causeOf being in those worlds whose essence trueI have not fully grasped within myself.Of cosmic being I can see no moreThan hath already shaped itself in me.How shall my work do good to other menIf in creating I but please myself?Strader:Thy meaning is, I take it, that thy workWill only carry thine own being’s stamp;And in that work, thou dost but manifestTo outward cosmic life thy personal self?Capesius:Till I encounter with mine inner worldA being strange to me, ’tis even so.How far I now can pierce another’s soulI realized with pain, when for a whileI was awake and could with clearness judge.Felix Balde:Thou speak’st as I have never heard thee speak—But ne’er could I so understand thy mindAs I do now, when naught speaks but thyself.In all thy words there rings the mystic moodWhich I have sought unwearied many years;And which alone can recognise the lightIn which the human spirit feels itselfA part of cosmic spirit through clear sight.Capesius:Because I felt how near I’d drawn to theeI sought thee, fleeing from the kind of lifeThat was about to slay mine inner world.Strader:I often understood thy present speech;—And then I thought it wisdom;—but no wordIn all thy speech can I now understand.Capesius and father Felix bothConceal dark meanings in transparent words.…Do I not feel these words of thine are butThe cloak of forces: forces of the soulThat exile me from thee unto those wordsWhich lie remote from all thy spirit-paths?Worlds I have no desire for,—since I mustDeep in my soul adore that world of thine.The opposition I can lightly bearWhich from without now menaceth my work;Yea, e’en if all my plans were broken upUpon this opposition;—I could bear.But I cannot forego these worlds of thine.Felix Balde:A man cannot attain the spirit-worldBy seeking to unlock the gates himself.Once didst thou give me pleasure, when of oldOf thine invention thou wast wont to speak—Then, when enlightenment was granted theeBy what thou didst not strive to understand.Thou wast far nearer to the mystic mood.To strive for nought,—but just to live in peace,Expectancy the soul’s whole inner life:—That is the mystic mood. When waked in manIt leads his inmost soul to realms of light.Our outward tasks do not endure such mood.If them thou wouldst through mysticism seek,Mystic illusion will destroy thy life.Strader:I need thee sorely;—yet I find thee not—The being that unites us thou dost scorn.Yet how can men be found to undertakeTrue cosmic work if mystics all declineTo leave their individuality?Felix Balde:Into thy world of active daily lifeThe tender being of clairvoyant sightCannot be introduced, for it will fadeE’en as its welcome border line appears.In faith devout, revering spirit-swayWith spirit-sight reposing in the heart:—Thus mystics should draw nigh the world of deeds.Capesius:And if they strive to tread it otherwiseThe work of error they will then behold;But wisdom’s radiance they will never see.I once saw clearly through another’s soul.I knew that I saw truly what I saw.Yet only that soul’s error could I see.This was my fate for spoiling spirit-sightBy my desire for outer deeds on earth.Strader:Thus speaks Capesius who hath advancedBeyond me far upon the path of souls.And yet my spirit-vision only wakesWhen thoughts of action wholly fill my soul;And it is flooded with a living hopeThat for the spirit it may build a shrineAnd kindle there on earth the light that shinesSo warmly through the spirit-worlds on highAnd seeks, through human sense-activities,A new home in the daily life of earth.Am I a son of error?—not thy son,Ye wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells?(Strader turns away, for a moment, from the companions with whom he has been conversing; and now he has the following spirit-vision—Benedictus, Maria, Ahriman appear—in the guise of his thought-forms but nevertheless in real spirit-intercourse; first Benedictus and Ahriman, then Maria.)Benedictus:In wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwellsThou seekest aid to still thy questioning doubt,Which makes the secret of thine inner lifeLie like a burden on thine earthly thought.And thou shalt have an answer, such an oneAs spirit-spaces out of their soul-depthsAre willing to reveal through this my voice.But learn to understand what thou hast guessedAnd what thou often hast made bold to say,But in thine inner being only dreamst.Give to thy dreams the life, which I am boundTo offer thee from out the spirit-world;But turn to dreams whatever thou canst drawBy thought from all thy sense-experience.Capesius and Felix cast thee forthFrom out the spirit-light which they behold;Thy place th’ abyss betwixt themselves and thee—Do not complain that they have done this thing,But gaze in thine abyss.Ahriman:But gaze in thine abyss.Aye, gaze therein!Thou shalt behold there what to thee seems meetFor human spirits on their cosmic path.’Twere well for thee, if other spirit-powersDid tell thee when thy soul is sunk in sleep;But Benedictus tells thee when awake,So dost thou slay, beholding, thy response.Aye, gaze therein.Strader:Aye, gaze therein.I will. What do I see?Two forms confused? They change, yea, and they tear,One at the other tears—a battle now—The phantoms fight each other furiously,—Destruction reigns, and from it gloom is born;—From out the gloom now issue other shadesWith ether’s light around them,—flick’ring red;One of the forms quite clearly leaves the rest;And comes to me;—sent from the dark abyss.(Maria steps forth from the abyss.)Maria:Thou seest demons;—summon up thy strength,They are not thus,—before thee they appearWhat they are not. If thou canst hold them fastUntil their phantom nature shall becomeIllumined to the being of thy soulThou wilt behold what value they possessIn evolution of the cosmic scheme.Thy power of sight doth fade ere they unfoldThe forces which will make them luminous.Illuminate them with thine own self’s light.Where is thy light? Thou rayest darkness out—Perceive thy darkness all around thyself—’Midst light thou dost create the baffling gloom;And feelst it when created by thyself.Yet then thou ne’er canst feel thyself create.Thou wouldst forget thy longing to create,Which reigns unconsciously within thy soul.Because thou art afraid to ray out light.Thou wouldst enjoy this light that is thine own.Thou wouldst enjoy therein thyself alone.Thou seekst thyself, and seekest to forget.Thou let’st thyself sink dreaming in thyself.Ahriman:Aye, list to her; thy riddles she can solveBut her solution solves them not for thee.She gives thee wisdom—so that with its aidThou canst direct thy steps to foolishness.Wisdom were good for thee—at other times,When on thee spirit-day doth brightly shine.But when Maria speaks thus in thy dreamsShe slays thy riddle’s answer by her words.Aye, list to her.Strader:Aye, list to her.What mean such words as these?Maria, are they born from out the light?From out my light? Or is my darkness thatFrom which they sound? O Benedictus, speak;Who brought me counsel from the dark abyss?Benedictus:At thine abyss’s edge she sought thee out.Thus spirits seek out men to shelter them,From those who fashion phantoms for men’s soulsAnd so conceal the cosmic-spirit’s swayWith mazy darkness, that they only knowThemselves in truth in their own being’s net.Look further yet within thy dark abyss.Strader:What now lives in the depths of mine abyss?Benedictus:Gaze on these shades; upon the right, blue-redEnticing Felix—and the others see—There on the left—where red with yellow blends;Who are intent to reach Capesius.They both do feel the might of these same shades;—And each in loneliness creates the lightWhich foils the shades who would deceive men’s souls.Ahriman:He would do better did he show to theeThy shades—yet this thing could he scarcely do;—He hath the best intentions certainly.He only sees not where to seek those shades.They stand behind thee, critically near,—Yet thou thyself dost hide them now from him.Strader:So now I hear in mine abyss these wordsWhich once I thought the prating of a fool,When Hilary’s adviser uttered them.…Maria:Sire Felix tempers for himself the bladeThat rids him of his danger; one who treadsThe path thy soul takes needs another kind.The sword Capesius doth fashion here,And bravely wields in battle with his foes,Would be for Strader but a shadow swordShould he commence therewith the spirit-fightWhich powers of destiny ordain for soulsWho must change spirit-being, ripe for deedsWith mighty power, to earth activity.Thou canst not use their weapons in thy fight;Yet thou must know them, so that thou mayst forgeThine own from out soul-substance thoughtfully.(The figures of Benedictus, Ahriman, and Maria disappear; i.e., from outward sight; Strader wakes up from his spirit-vision; he looks round for Capesius, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde, who again approach him; he has seated himself upon a rock.)Felix Balde:Dear Strader, even now the spirit droveThee far from us—thus it appeared to me.(He pauses a while in the expectation that Strader will say something, but since the latter remains silent Felix continues.)I would not seem to cast thee coldly forthFrom out our group to other paths of life.I only wish to check thy further stepsIn that illusion which confuseth thee.What spirit sees in spirit must by soulsIn spirit also be received and lived.How foolish were it if FeliciaShould take the fairies living in her soul,Who also fain would only live in souls,And make them dance upon a puppet’s stage.Their magic charm would be completely lost.Dame Balde:I surely have been silent long enough.But speak I will, if thou art going to castThy mystic mood upon my fairy sprites.They would indeed enjoy to have their powerDrawn out of them, that they might be brought upAnd suckled fresh with mysticism’s milk.I honour mysticism; but I fainWould keep it distant from my fairy realms.Capesius:Felicia, was it not thy fairy-talesThat set my feet first on the spirit-path?Those stories of the air and water-sprites,Called up so oft before my thirsting soul,Were messengers to me from yonder worldWhereto I now the mystic entrance seek.Dame Balde:But since thou cam’st with this new mystic artInto our house thou hast but seldom askedWhat my fair magic beings are about.More often thou hast only thought of worthWhat wears a solemn air of dignity;While those who caper out of sheer delightAre uncongenial to thy mystic ways.Capesius:I do not doubt, Felicia, that IShall one day comprehend the meaning hidDeep in the being of those wondrous elvesWho show their wisdom through a merry mask.Yet now my power hath not advanced so far.Felix Balde:Felicia, thou knowest how I loveThose fairy beings who do visit thee;But to conceive them as mechanicalEmbodied dolls—this goes against the grain.Dame Balde:As yet I have not brought them to thee thus;Thy fancy flies—too high; but I was gladWhen Strader’s plan was told me, and, I heard,Thomasius also strives to representThe spirit cased in matter visible.I saw in spirit dancing merrilyMy fairy princes and my souls of fireIn thousand doll-games, beautified by art;And there I left them, happy in the thought,To find their own way to the nurseries.CurtainScene 4The Same.(The Manager and Romanus, pausing in their walk, speak as follows.)Manager:Thou know’st the mystic friends of Hilary,And I perceive in thee a clever manWith power to give at all times judgment sureBoth in life’s work and in the mystic arts:And so I value thy considered thought.But how shall I make sense of what thou sayst?That Strader’s friends should stay in spirit-realmsAnd not as yet use their clairvoyant powersUpon the fashioning of things of senseSeems right to thee. But will the selfsame pathFor Strader not be just as dangerous?His spirit methods seem to prove to meThat nature-spirits always blind his eyesAs soon as strong desire for personal deedsDrives him to seek some outer work in life.Within oneself, as all true mystics know,Those forces must develop in their strengthIn order to oppose these enemies;But Strader’s sight, it seems, is not yet ripeTo see such foes upon his spirit-path.Romanus:Yet those good spirits who conduct such men,As stand outside the spirit-realms entire,Have not yet left his side, but guide his steps.These spirits ever pass those mystics byWho make a pact with beings to secureTheir service for their personal spirit mood.In Strader’s methods I can plainly feelHow nature-spirits still give to his selfThe fruits of their benign activity.Manager:So ’tis by feeling only thou art ledTo think good spirits work in Strader’s case;Thou off’rest little and dost ask full much.These are the spirits I must henceforth askIf I continue active in this placeWhere for so long I have been privilegedTo serve the work-plans and that spirit trueWhich Hilary’s own father ever loved;And which I still hear speaking from his grave,E’en if his son hath no more ears for it.What saith this spirit of that brave strong manWhen he perceives these crazy spirits nowWhich his son tries to bring within his house?I know that spirit who for ninety yearsLived in his body. He it was who taughtTo me the truest secrets of my workIn those old days when he could work himself,The while his son crept off to mystic fanes.Romanus:My friend, canst thou indeed be unawareHow highly this same spirit I revere?His servant certainly was that old manWhom for a pattern thou didst rightly choose.And I myself have striv’n to serve him tooFrom childhood’s days up to the present time.But I too crept away to mystic fanes.I planted truly deep within my soulWhat they were willing to bestow on me.But reason swept aside the temple moodWhen at the door it entered into life.I knew that in this way I best could bringThis mood’s strong forces into earthly life.From out the temple none the less I broughtMy soul into my work. And it is wellThat soul by reason should not be disturbed.Manager:And dost thou find that Strader’s spirit-wayIs even distantly akin to thine?I find myself at thy side ever freeFrom spirit-beings Strader brings to me.I clearly feel, e’en in his random speech,How elemental spirits, quick with life,By word and nature pour themselves through himRevealing things the senses cannot grasp.It is just this that keeps me off from him.Romanus:This speech, my friend, doth strike me to the heart.Since I drew nigh to Strader I have feltThose very thoughts which come to me through himTo be endowed with quite peculiar power.They cleft me just as if they were mine own.And one day I reflected: What if IOwe to his soul not to myself the powerWhich let me ripen to maturity!Hard on this feeling came a second one;What if for all that makes me of some useIn life and work and service for mankindI am indebted to some past earth-life?Manager:I feel precisely thus about him too.When one draws near to him, the spirit whichDoth work through him moves powerfully one’s soul.And if thy strong soul must succumb to him,How shall I manage to protect mine ownIf I unite with him in this his work?Romanus:It will depend on thee alone to findThe right relation ’twixt thyself and him.I think that Strader’s power will not harm meSince in my thought I have conceived a wayIn which he may have made that power his own.Manager:Have made—his own—such power—and over thee—A dreamer—over the—the man of deeds!Romanus:If one might dare to make a guess that nowSome spirit lives its life in Strader’s frameWho in some earlier earth-life had attainedTo most unusual altitude of soul;Who knew much which the men of his own timeWere still too undeveloped to conceive.Then it were possible that in those daysThoughts in his spirit did originateWhich by degrees could make their way to earthAnd mingle in the common life of men;And that from this source people like myselfHave drawn their capability for work—The thoughts which in my youth I seized upon,And which I found in my environment,Might well have been this spirit’s progeny!Manager:And dost thou think it justifiableTo trace back thoughts to Strader and none elseThat hold a value for mankind’s whole life?Romanus:I were a dreamer if I acted thus.I spin no dreams about mankind’s whole lifeWith eyes fast closed. I ne’er had use for thoughtsThat show themselves and forthwith fade away.I look at Strader with wide-open eyes;And see what this man’s nature proves to be,What qualities he hath and how he acts,And that wherein he fails;—and then I knowI have no option left me but to judgeOf his endowments as I have just done.As if this man had stood before mine eyesAlready many hundred years ago,So do I feel him in my spirit now.And that I am awake—I know full well.I shall lend my support to Hilary;For that which must will surely come to pass.So think his project over once again.Manager:It will be of more benefit to meIf I think over that which thou hast said.(Exeunt Manager and Romanus. Johannes comes from another direction, deep in thought, and sits down on a boulder. Johannes is at first alone, afterwards appear his Double, the Spirit of Johannes’ youth, and finally the Guardian of the Threshold, and Ahriman.)Johannes:I was astonished when CapesiusMade known to me how my soul’s inner selfRevealed itself unto his spirit’s eye.I could so utterly forget a factWhich years ago was clear as day to me:—That all that lives within the human soulWorks further in the outer spirit-realms;Long have I known it, yet I could forget.When Benedictus was directing meTo my first spirit-vision, I beheldCapesius and Strader by this means,Clear as a picture, in another age.I saw the potent pictures of their thoughtsSend circling ripples through the world’s expanse.Well do I know all this—and knew it notWhen I beheld it through Capesius.The part of me which knows was not awake;That in an earth-life of the distant pastCapesius and I were closely knit:That also for a long time have I known,—Yet at that instant I did know it not.How can I keep my knowledge all the time?(A voice from the distance, that of Johannes’ Double.)‘The magical webThat forms their own life.’Johannes:‘And clairvoyant dreamsMake clear unto soulsThe magical webThat forms their own life.’(While Johannes is speaking these lines his Double approaches him. Johannes does not recognize him, but thinks “the other Philia” is coming towards him.)O spirit-counsellor, thou com’st once more;True counsel didst thou bring unto my soul.The Double:Johannes, thine awakening is but falseUntil thou shalt thyself set free the shadeWhom thine offence doth lend a magic life.Johannes:This is the second time thou speakest thus.I will obey thee. Point me out the way.The Double:Johannes, give life in the shadow-realmTo what is lost to thee in thine own self.From out thy spirit’s light pour light on himSo that he will not have to suffer pain.Johannes:The shadow-being in me I have stunnedBut not o’erthrown: wherefore he must remainA shade enchanted amongst the other shadesTill I can re-unite myself with him.The Double:Then give to me that which thou owest him:The power of love, that drives thee forth to him,The heart’s hope, that was first begot by him,The fresh life, that lies hidden deep in him,The fruits of earth-lives in the distant past,Which with his being now are lost to thee;Oh, give them me; I’ll bring them safe to him.Johannes:Thou knowest the way to him?—Oh, show it me.The Double:I could get to him in the shadow-realmWhen thou didst raise thyself to spirit-spheres;But since, desire-powers tempting thee, thou didstAvert thy mind to follow after him,When now I seek him my strength ever fails.But if thou wilt abide by my adviceMy strength can then create itself anew.Johannes:I vowed to thee that I would follow thee—And now, O spirit-counsellor, againWith all my soul’s strength I renew that vow.But if thou canst thus find the way to him,Then show it to me in this hour of fate.The Double:I find it now but cannot lead the way.I can alone show to thine inward eyeThe being whom thy longing now doth seek.(The spirit of Johannes’ Youth appears.)The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:Thanks to that spirit I shall ever oweWho was allowed thy soul sight to unseal,So that when I appear by spirit-lawThou wilt henceforth behold me open-eyed.But thou must first this spirit truly know,At whose side thou art now beholding me.(The spirit of Johannes’ Youth disappears: only now does Johannes recognise the Double.)Johannes:That spirit-counsellor—mine other self?The Double:Now follow me—thou hast so vowed to me—For I must now conduct thee to my lord.(The Guardian of the Threshold appears and stands beside the Double.)The Guardian:Johannes, wouldst thou tear this shade awayFrom those enchanted regions of the soul,Then slay desire, which leads thee aye astray.The trace which thou dost follow disappearsSo long as thou dost seek it with desire.It leads thee to my threshold and beyond.But here, obeying lofty Being’s will,I do confuse the inward sight of thoseWithin whose spirit-glance lives vain desire;All these must meet me ere they are allowedTo penetrate to Truth’s pure radiant light.I hold thyself fast prisoned in thy sightSo long as thou approachest with desire.Myself too as illusion dost thou see,So long as vain desire is joined with sightAnd spirit-peacefulness of soul hath notBecome as yet thy being’s vehicle.Make strong those words of power which thou dost know,Their spirit-power will conquer fantasy.Then recognise me, free from all desire,And thou shalt see me as I really am.And then I need no longer hinder theeFrom gazing freely on the spirit-realm.Johannes:But as illusion dost thou too appear?Thou too … whom I must ever see the first,Of all the beings in the spirit-land.How shall I know the truth when I must findOne truth alone confront mine onward steps—That ever denser grows illusion’s veil.Ahriman:Let not thyself be quite confused by him.He guards the threshold faithfully indeedE’en if today thou see’st him wear the clothesWhich for thyself thou didst patch up beforeWithin thy spirit from old odds and ends.And least of all shouldst thou behold in himAn actor in a poor dramatic show.But thou wilt make it better later on.Yet e’en this clownish form can serve thy soul.It doth not have to spend much energyIn showing thee that which it now still is.Pay close attention to the Guardian’s speech:Its tone is mournful and its pathos marked,Allow not this: for then he will discloseFrom whomtodayhe borrows to excess.Johannes:Then e’en the content of his speech deceives?The Double:Ask not of Ahriman, since he doth findIn contradictions aye his chief delight.Johannes:Of whom then shall I ask?The Double:Of whom then shall I ask?Why, ask thyself.With my power will I fortify thee wellSo that awake thou mayst find the placeWhence thou canst gaze untramelled by desire.Increase thy power.Johannes:‘The magical webThat forms their own life.’O magical web that forms mine own lifeMake known to me where desire doth not burn.(The Guardian disappears: in his place appear Benedictus and Maria.)Maria:Myself too as illusion dost thou seeSince vain desire is still allied with sight.Benedictus:And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath notBecome as yet thy being’s vehicle.(The Double, Benedictus, and Maria disappear.)Johannes:Maria, Benedictus,—Guardians!How can they as the Guardian come to me?’Tis true I have spent many years with theeAnd this forbids me now to seek thine aid—The magical web that forms mine own self.(Exit, right.)(Enter Strader, Benedictus, and Maria, left.)Strader:Thou gav’st, when joined in spirit unto meBefore the dark abyss of mine own self,Wise counsel to direct mine inward sight,Which at that time I could not understand,But which will work such changes in my soulAs certainly will solve life’s problems, whenThey seek to hinder what I strive to do.I feel in me the power which thou dost giveTo thy disciples on the spirit-path.And so I shall be able to performThe service thou dost ask for in this workThat Hilary to mankind will devote;We shall, however, lack Capesius.Whatever strength the rest bring to the workWill not replace his keen activity;But that which must will surely come to pass.Benedictus:Yea, that which must will surely come to pass.This phrase expresseth thine own stage of growth.But it awakes no answering responseIn souls of all our other spirit-friends.Thomasius is not as yet preparedTo carry spirit-power to worlds of sense,So he too will withdraw from this same work.Through him doth destiny give us a signThat we must all now seek another planStrader:Will not Maria and thyself be there?Benedictus:Maria must Johannes take with herIf she would ever find in truth the road,Which leads from spirit to the world of sense.Thus wills the Guardian who with earnest eyeUnceasing guards the borders of both realms.She cannot lend her aid to thee as yet.And this may serve thee as a certain signThat thou canst not at this time truly findThe way into the realm of earthly things.Strader:So I and all my aims are left alone!O loneliness, didst thou then seek me outWhen I did stand at Felix Balde’s side?Benedictus:The thing which hath just happened in our groupHath taught me, as I look on thy career,To read a certain word in spirit-lightWhich hitherto hath hid itself from me.I saw that thou wast bound to certain kindsOf beings, who, if they should take a partCreatively in mankind’s life today,Would surely work for evil; now they liveAs germs in certain souls, and will grow ripeIn future days to work upon the earth.Such germs have I seen living in thy soul.That thou dost know them not is for thy good.Through thee they will first learn to know themselves.But now the road is still close barred for themWhich leads into the realm of earthly things.Strader:Whatever else thy words may say to me,They show me that my lot is loneliness.And this it is must truly forge my sword.Maria told me this at mine abyss.(Benedictus and Maria retire a little way; Strader remains alone; the soul of Theodora appears.)Theodora’s Soul:And Theodora in the worlds of lightWill make warmth for thee that thy spirit-swordMay keenly smite the foes of thine own soul.(Disappears. Exit Strader. Benedictus and Maria come to the front of stage.)Maria:My learned teacher, ne’er yet did I hearThee tell disciples, who had reached the stageOf Strader, in such tones the words of fate.Will his soul run its course so speedilyThat these words’ power will prove of use to him?Benedictus:Fate gave the order, and it was fulfilled.Maria:And if the power should prove no use to him,Will not its evils also fall on thee?Benedictus:’Twill not be evil; yet I do not knowIn what way it will manifest in him.My gaze at present penetrates to realmsWhere such advice illuminates my soul;But I see not the scene of its result.And if I try to see, my vision dies.Maria:Thy vision dies,—my guide and leader, thine?—Who stays for thee thy seership’s certain gaze?Benedictus:Johannes flees therewith to cosmic space;We must pursue;—for I can hear him call.Maria:He calls,—from spirit-space his call rings out;There sounds within his tone a distant fear.Benedictus:So from the ever empty fields of iceOur mystic friend’s call sounds in cosmic space.Maria:The ice’s cold is burning in my self,And kindling tongues of flame in my soul-depths;The flames are scorching all my power of thought.Benedictus:In thy soul-depths the fire doth blaze, which nowJohannes kindles in the cosmic frost.Maria:The flames fly off,—they fly off with my thought.And there on distant cosmic shore of soulsA furious fight—my power of thought doth fight—In stormy chaos—and cold spirit-light—My thought-power reels;—the cold light—hammers outHot waves of darkness from my failing thought.What now emergeth from this darkling heat?Clad in red flames my self storms—to the light;—To the cold light—of cosmic fields of ice.Curtain

The Same.

(Enter left, Magnus Bellicosus, Romanus, Torquatus, and Hilary, in deep conversation, and pausing in their walk.)

Bellicosus:And if his headstrong mood will not be changed,How can prosperity attend the workWhich Hilary is fain to dedicateIn loving service to his fellowmen?

Bellicosus:

And if his headstrong mood will not be changed,

How can prosperity attend the work

Which Hilary is fain to dedicate

In loving service to his fellowmen?

Romanus:What our friend’s true companion in his workDid give as reason why he did object,Hath weight not only amongst men who formOpinions based on outer facts of life.Are not these arguments advanced by himAlso in harmony with mystic views?

Romanus:

What our friend’s true companion in his work

Did give as reason why he did object,

Hath weight not only amongst men who form

Opinions based on outer facts of life.

Are not these arguments advanced by him

Also in harmony with mystic views?

Bellicosus:Yet it lies not within the spirit groupWhich holds our projects in its firm embrace.Those who succeeded to our mystic taskWere Benedictus’ pupils;—’tis for themThat Hilary would make a field of workIn which their spirit-fruitage can mature.The wise powers ruling over destinyHave, in the temple, joined them to ourselves;Our friend, however, represents aloneThe wisdom which to us within the shrineAs spirit-law and duty was revealed.

Bellicosus:

Yet it lies not within the spirit group

Which holds our projects in its firm embrace.

Those who succeeded to our mystic task

Were Benedictus’ pupils;—’tis for them

That Hilary would make a field of work

In which their spirit-fruitage can mature.

The wise powers ruling over destiny

Have, in the temple, joined them to ourselves;

Our friend, however, represents alone

The wisdom which to us within the shrine

As spirit-law and duty was revealed.

Romanus:But art thou sure that thou dost understandThis spirit-law? More simply it might meanThat Benedictus and his pupils too,Whom in his way he to the spirit led,Should still remain within the temple’s shrineAnd not at this time tread the hard rough roadTo which friend Hilary would lead them on.For but too easily can spirit-sightBe turned, upon that road, to soul’s dream-sleep.

Romanus:

But art thou sure that thou dost understand

This spirit-law? More simply it might mean

That Benedictus and his pupils too,

Whom in his way he to the spirit led,

Should still remain within the temple’s shrine

And not at this time tread the hard rough road

To which friend Hilary would lead them on.

For but too easily can spirit-sight

Be turned, upon that road, to soul’s dream-sleep.

Bellicosus:I did not hope to hear such words from theeTo Hilary’s companion in his work.We must indeed allow that knowledge gainedFrom books alone is but of little worth.But thou art bound to recognize the signsWhich are begotten on the mystic way.How Benedictus’ pupils were impelledTo come to us, speaks clearly to our souls.They are joined with us that we may obeyWhat their clairvoyance doth to them reveal.

Bellicosus:

I did not hope to hear such words from thee

To Hilary’s companion in his work.

We must indeed allow that knowledge gained

From books alone is but of little worth.

But thou art bound to recognize the signs

Which are begotten on the mystic way.

How Benedictus’ pupils were impelled

To come to us, speaks clearly to our souls.

They are joined with us that we may obey

What their clairvoyance doth to them reveal.

Torquatus:Another sign doth still make manifestThat full rich blessing from the spirit-powersUpon that project hath not been outpouredWhich in the temple showed itself to us.Capesius hath now withdrawn himselfFrom Benedictus and his pupils’ group.That he should not yet in its fullness feelThe wakefulness of soul which now in himDoth Benedictus seek, doth cast sad doubtE’en on our teacher’s personal competence.

Torquatus:

Another sign doth still make manifest

That full rich blessing from the spirit-powers

Upon that project hath not been outpoured

Which in the temple showed itself to us.

Capesius hath now withdrawn himself

From Benedictus and his pupils’ group.

That he should not yet in its fullness feel

The wakefulness of soul which now in him

Doth Benedictus seek, doth cast sad doubt

E’en on our teacher’s personal competence.

Bellicosus:The gift of seership lies still far from me:Yet intuition often doth revealWithin my soul the meaning of events.When for the first time in our sacred faneI saw Capesius within our groupThe thought oppressed me, that fate set him thereTo be both near to us and yet far off.

Bellicosus:

The gift of seership lies still far from me:

Yet intuition often doth reveal

Within my soul the meaning of events.

When for the first time in our sacred fane

I saw Capesius within our group

The thought oppressed me, that fate set him there

To be both near to us and yet far off.

Romanus:Thine intuition I can fully grasp.But at that very moment none amongstOur new-found mystic friends so closely knitBy fate to us as Strader, could I find.Such intuition is to me a signTo show my soul the road, where I may thenWith reason search; and when I come to actI must destroy that intuition firstWhich gave strength and direction to my thought.Thus mysticism’s strict decrees ordain.In spirit-realms I find myself in truthWith Benedictus’ pupils close allied;Yet, if I leave my inner mystic groupAnd find my way back into life on earth,By Strader’s side alone dare I do this.

Romanus:

Thine intuition I can fully grasp.

But at that very moment none amongst

Our new-found mystic friends so closely knit

By fate to us as Strader, could I find.

Such intuition is to me a sign

To show my soul the road, where I may then

With reason search; and when I come to act

I must destroy that intuition first

Which gave strength and direction to my thought.

Thus mysticism’s strict decrees ordain.

In spirit-realms I find myself in truth

With Benedictus’ pupils close allied;

Yet, if I leave my inner mystic group

And find my way back into life on earth,

By Strader’s side alone dare I do this.

Torquatus:But Hilary’s companion in his workFinds not in Strader’s soul true spirit-strengthSuch as can prove of use in outer life.And if myself I heed my inner voiceIt is revealed that he entirely lacksThe rightful mood to tread the mystic path.What outward signs can show him of these thingsAnd what his reason grasps of spirit-life,Arouse the explorer’s zeal in him;From inward spirit-life he stands far off.What can the spirit products of this manBe but obscurely woven mystic dreams?

Torquatus:

But Hilary’s companion in his work

Finds not in Strader’s soul true spirit-strength

Such as can prove of use in outer life.

And if myself I heed my inner voice

It is revealed that he entirely lacks

The rightful mood to tread the mystic path.

What outward signs can show him of these things

And what his reason grasps of spirit-life,

Arouse the explorer’s zeal in him;

From inward spirit-life he stands far off.

What can the spirit products of this man

Be but obscurely woven mystic dreams?

Romanus:Upon the spirit path his friends have trod;He hath not made sufficient progress yetTo join himself to foes of his own soul,Who bring to many mystics danger greatWhen they pursue him into life on earth.

Romanus:

Upon the spirit path his friends have trod;

He hath not made sufficient progress yet

To join himself to foes of his own soul,

Who bring to many mystics danger great

When they pursue him into life on earth.

Bellicosus:If thou dost think him safe from such attacksNought hinders thee from working for him thereSo that this great scheme may be brought to passWhich Hilary would carry out through him.For when our friend’s companion comes to knowHow highly thou dost rate the man whom heDares think of little worth, he will in truthMisdoubt his own opinion. Thou aloneCanst win him over to the cause we serve.For well he knows that in thine outer lifeThou hast invariably achieved successIn all thou hast essayed with forethought wise.

Bellicosus:

If thou dost think him safe from such attacks

Nought hinders thee from working for him there

So that this great scheme may be brought to pass

Which Hilary would carry out through him.

For when our friend’s companion comes to know

How highly thou dost rate the man whom he

Dares think of little worth, he will in truth

Misdoubt his own opinion. Thou alone

Canst win him over to the cause we serve.

For well he knows that in thine outer life

Thou hast invariably achieved success

In all thou hast essayed with forethought wise.

Romanus:If thou wilt Strader take, dear Hilary,As thy companion, and, from this thy workKeep Benedictus’ other followersOn spirit paths from all illusion free,Thou shalt not stand alone;—I offer theeNot only what now Bellicosus asksAs my assistance; but will also helpWith all the worldly goods at my commandIn making Strader’s plan a real success.

Romanus:

If thou wilt Strader take, dear Hilary,

As thy companion, and, from this thy work

Keep Benedictus’ other followers

On spirit paths from all illusion free,

Thou shalt not stand alone;—I offer thee

Not only what now Bellicosus asks

As my assistance; but will also help

With all the worldly goods at my command

In making Strader’s plan a real success.

Hilary:How canst thou think that Strader at this timeFrom Benedictus’ pupils would depart?To follow his own spirit-aims alone?The others are as near him as himself.

Hilary:

How canst thou think that Strader at this time

From Benedictus’ pupils would depart?

To follow his own spirit-aims alone?

The others are as near him as himself.

Romanus:In human life they well may stand so close.But only that part of his soul can holdThat they in spirit too are one with him,Which still is deeply sunk in spirit-sleepBut soon, methinks, it will be evidentHow that part can grow ripe to waking life.

Romanus:

In human life they well may stand so close.

But only that part of his soul can hold

That they in spirit too are one with him,

Which still is deeply sunk in spirit-sleep

But soon, methinks, it will be evident

How that part can grow ripe to waking life.

(Exeunt right.)

(Enter left—Capesius, Strader, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde; as if coming to a standstill during their talk because of the importance to them of the following dialogue.)

Capesius:To seek the spirit in mine inmost soulIs all that I can do at such a time.Were I to load myself with outward work,That spirit might be brought to realms of sense,With rashness should I strive to grasp the causeOf being in those worlds whose essence trueI have not fully grasped within myself.Of cosmic being I can see no moreThan hath already shaped itself in me.How shall my work do good to other menIf in creating I but please myself?

Capesius:

To seek the spirit in mine inmost soul

Is all that I can do at such a time.

Were I to load myself with outward work,

That spirit might be brought to realms of sense,

With rashness should I strive to grasp the cause

Of being in those worlds whose essence true

I have not fully grasped within myself.

Of cosmic being I can see no more

Than hath already shaped itself in me.

How shall my work do good to other men

If in creating I but please myself?

Strader:Thy meaning is, I take it, that thy workWill only carry thine own being’s stamp;And in that work, thou dost but manifestTo outward cosmic life thy personal self?

Strader:

Thy meaning is, I take it, that thy work

Will only carry thine own being’s stamp;

And in that work, thou dost but manifest

To outward cosmic life thy personal self?

Capesius:Till I encounter with mine inner worldA being strange to me, ’tis even so.How far I now can pierce another’s soulI realized with pain, when for a whileI was awake and could with clearness judge.

Capesius:

Till I encounter with mine inner world

A being strange to me, ’tis even so.

How far I now can pierce another’s soul

I realized with pain, when for a while

I was awake and could with clearness judge.

Felix Balde:Thou speak’st as I have never heard thee speak—But ne’er could I so understand thy mindAs I do now, when naught speaks but thyself.In all thy words there rings the mystic moodWhich I have sought unwearied many years;And which alone can recognise the lightIn which the human spirit feels itselfA part of cosmic spirit through clear sight.

Felix Balde:

Thou speak’st as I have never heard thee speak—

But ne’er could I so understand thy mind

As I do now, when naught speaks but thyself.

In all thy words there rings the mystic mood

Which I have sought unwearied many years;

And which alone can recognise the light

In which the human spirit feels itself

A part of cosmic spirit through clear sight.

Capesius:Because I felt how near I’d drawn to theeI sought thee, fleeing from the kind of lifeThat was about to slay mine inner world.

Capesius:

Because I felt how near I’d drawn to thee

I sought thee, fleeing from the kind of life

That was about to slay mine inner world.

Strader:I often understood thy present speech;—And then I thought it wisdom;—but no wordIn all thy speech can I now understand.Capesius and father Felix bothConceal dark meanings in transparent words.…

Strader:

I often understood thy present speech;—

And then I thought it wisdom;—but no word

In all thy speech can I now understand.

Capesius and father Felix both

Conceal dark meanings in transparent words.…

Do I not feel these words of thine are butThe cloak of forces: forces of the soulThat exile me from thee unto those wordsWhich lie remote from all thy spirit-paths?Worlds I have no desire for,—since I mustDeep in my soul adore that world of thine.The opposition I can lightly bearWhich from without now menaceth my work;Yea, e’en if all my plans were broken upUpon this opposition;—I could bear.But I cannot forego these worlds of thine.

Do I not feel these words of thine are but

The cloak of forces: forces of the soul

That exile me from thee unto those words

Which lie remote from all thy spirit-paths?

Worlds I have no desire for,—since I must

Deep in my soul adore that world of thine.

The opposition I can lightly bear

Which from without now menaceth my work;

Yea, e’en if all my plans were broken up

Upon this opposition;—I could bear.

But I cannot forego these worlds of thine.

Felix Balde:A man cannot attain the spirit-worldBy seeking to unlock the gates himself.Once didst thou give me pleasure, when of oldOf thine invention thou wast wont to speak—Then, when enlightenment was granted theeBy what thou didst not strive to understand.Thou wast far nearer to the mystic mood.

Felix Balde:

A man cannot attain the spirit-world

By seeking to unlock the gates himself.

Once didst thou give me pleasure, when of old

Of thine invention thou wast wont to speak—

Then, when enlightenment was granted thee

By what thou didst not strive to understand.

Thou wast far nearer to the mystic mood.

To strive for nought,—but just to live in peace,Expectancy the soul’s whole inner life:—That is the mystic mood. When waked in manIt leads his inmost soul to realms of light.Our outward tasks do not endure such mood.If them thou wouldst through mysticism seek,Mystic illusion will destroy thy life.

To strive for nought,—but just to live in peace,

Expectancy the soul’s whole inner life:—

That is the mystic mood. When waked in man

It leads his inmost soul to realms of light.

Our outward tasks do not endure such mood.

If them thou wouldst through mysticism seek,

Mystic illusion will destroy thy life.

Strader:I need thee sorely;—yet I find thee not—The being that unites us thou dost scorn.Yet how can men be found to undertakeTrue cosmic work if mystics all declineTo leave their individuality?

Strader:

I need thee sorely;—yet I find thee not—

The being that unites us thou dost scorn.

Yet how can men be found to undertake

True cosmic work if mystics all decline

To leave their individuality?

Felix Balde:Into thy world of active daily lifeThe tender being of clairvoyant sightCannot be introduced, for it will fadeE’en as its welcome border line appears.In faith devout, revering spirit-swayWith spirit-sight reposing in the heart:—Thus mystics should draw nigh the world of deeds.

Felix Balde:

Into thy world of active daily life

The tender being of clairvoyant sight

Cannot be introduced, for it will fade

E’en as its welcome border line appears.

In faith devout, revering spirit-sway

With spirit-sight reposing in the heart:—

Thus mystics should draw nigh the world of deeds.

Capesius:And if they strive to tread it otherwiseThe work of error they will then behold;But wisdom’s radiance they will never see.I once saw clearly through another’s soul.I knew that I saw truly what I saw.Yet only that soul’s error could I see.This was my fate for spoiling spirit-sightBy my desire for outer deeds on earth.

Capesius:

And if they strive to tread it otherwise

The work of error they will then behold;

But wisdom’s radiance they will never see.

I once saw clearly through another’s soul.

I knew that I saw truly what I saw.

Yet only that soul’s error could I see.

This was my fate for spoiling spirit-sight

By my desire for outer deeds on earth.

Strader:Thus speaks Capesius who hath advancedBeyond me far upon the path of souls.And yet my spirit-vision only wakesWhen thoughts of action wholly fill my soul;And it is flooded with a living hopeThat for the spirit it may build a shrineAnd kindle there on earth the light that shinesSo warmly through the spirit-worlds on highAnd seeks, through human sense-activities,A new home in the daily life of earth.

Strader:

Thus speaks Capesius who hath advanced

Beyond me far upon the path of souls.

And yet my spirit-vision only wakes

When thoughts of action wholly fill my soul;

And it is flooded with a living hope

That for the spirit it may build a shrine

And kindle there on earth the light that shines

So warmly through the spirit-worlds on high

And seeks, through human sense-activities,

A new home in the daily life of earth.

Am I a son of error?—not thy son,Ye wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells?

Am I a son of error?—not thy son,

Ye wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells?

(Strader turns away, for a moment, from the companions with whom he has been conversing; and now he has the following spirit-vision—Benedictus, Maria, Ahriman appear—in the guise of his thought-forms but nevertheless in real spirit-intercourse; first Benedictus and Ahriman, then Maria.)

Benedictus:In wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwellsThou seekest aid to still thy questioning doubt,Which makes the secret of thine inner lifeLie like a burden on thine earthly thought.And thou shalt have an answer, such an oneAs spirit-spaces out of their soul-depthsAre willing to reveal through this my voice.But learn to understand what thou hast guessedAnd what thou often hast made bold to say,But in thine inner being only dreamst.Give to thy dreams the life, which I am boundTo offer thee from out the spirit-world;But turn to dreams whatever thou canst drawBy thought from all thy sense-experience.Capesius and Felix cast thee forthFrom out the spirit-light which they behold;Thy place th’ abyss betwixt themselves and thee—Do not complain that they have done this thing,But gaze in thine abyss.

Benedictus:

In wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells

Thou seekest aid to still thy questioning doubt,

Which makes the secret of thine inner life

Lie like a burden on thine earthly thought.

And thou shalt have an answer, such an one

As spirit-spaces out of their soul-depths

Are willing to reveal through this my voice.

But learn to understand what thou hast guessed

And what thou often hast made bold to say,

But in thine inner being only dreamst.

Give to thy dreams the life, which I am bound

To offer thee from out the spirit-world;

But turn to dreams whatever thou canst draw

By thought from all thy sense-experience.

Capesius and Felix cast thee forth

From out the spirit-light which they behold;

Thy place th’ abyss betwixt themselves and thee—

Do not complain that they have done this thing,

But gaze in thine abyss.

Ahriman:But gaze in thine abyss.Aye, gaze therein!Thou shalt behold there what to thee seems meetFor human spirits on their cosmic path.’Twere well for thee, if other spirit-powersDid tell thee when thy soul is sunk in sleep;But Benedictus tells thee when awake,So dost thou slay, beholding, thy response.Aye, gaze therein.

Ahriman:

But gaze in thine abyss.Aye, gaze therein!

Thou shalt behold there what to thee seems meet

For human spirits on their cosmic path.

’Twere well for thee, if other spirit-powers

Did tell thee when thy soul is sunk in sleep;

But Benedictus tells thee when awake,

So dost thou slay, beholding, thy response.

Aye, gaze therein.

Strader:Aye, gaze therein.I will. What do I see?Two forms confused? They change, yea, and they tear,One at the other tears—a battle now—The phantoms fight each other furiously,—Destruction reigns, and from it gloom is born;—From out the gloom now issue other shadesWith ether’s light around them,—flick’ring red;One of the forms quite clearly leaves the rest;And comes to me;—sent from the dark abyss.

Strader:

Aye, gaze therein.I will. What do I see?

Two forms confused? They change, yea, and they tear,

One at the other tears—a battle now—

The phantoms fight each other furiously,—

Destruction reigns, and from it gloom is born;—

From out the gloom now issue other shades

With ether’s light around them,—flick’ring red;

One of the forms quite clearly leaves the rest;

And comes to me;—sent from the dark abyss.

(Maria steps forth from the abyss.)

Maria:Thou seest demons;—summon up thy strength,They are not thus,—before thee they appearWhat they are not. If thou canst hold them fastUntil their phantom nature shall becomeIllumined to the being of thy soulThou wilt behold what value they possessIn evolution of the cosmic scheme.Thy power of sight doth fade ere they unfoldThe forces which will make them luminous.Illuminate them with thine own self’s light.Where is thy light? Thou rayest darkness out—Perceive thy darkness all around thyself—’Midst light thou dost create the baffling gloom;And feelst it when created by thyself.Yet then thou ne’er canst feel thyself create.Thou wouldst forget thy longing to create,Which reigns unconsciously within thy soul.Because thou art afraid to ray out light.Thou wouldst enjoy this light that is thine own.Thou wouldst enjoy therein thyself alone.Thou seekst thyself, and seekest to forget.Thou let’st thyself sink dreaming in thyself.

Maria:

Thou seest demons;—summon up thy strength,

They are not thus,—before thee they appear

What they are not. If thou canst hold them fast

Until their phantom nature shall become

Illumined to the being of thy soul

Thou wilt behold what value they possess

In evolution of the cosmic scheme.

Thy power of sight doth fade ere they unfold

The forces which will make them luminous.

Illuminate them with thine own self’s light.

Where is thy light? Thou rayest darkness out—

Perceive thy darkness all around thyself—

’Midst light thou dost create the baffling gloom;

And feelst it when created by thyself.

Yet then thou ne’er canst feel thyself create.

Thou wouldst forget thy longing to create,

Which reigns unconsciously within thy soul.

Because thou art afraid to ray out light.

Thou wouldst enjoy this light that is thine own.

Thou wouldst enjoy therein thyself alone.

Thou seekst thyself, and seekest to forget.

Thou let’st thyself sink dreaming in thyself.

Ahriman:Aye, list to her; thy riddles she can solveBut her solution solves them not for thee.She gives thee wisdom—so that with its aidThou canst direct thy steps to foolishness.Wisdom were good for thee—at other times,When on thee spirit-day doth brightly shine.But when Maria speaks thus in thy dreamsShe slays thy riddle’s answer by her words.Aye, list to her.

Ahriman:

Aye, list to her; thy riddles she can solve

But her solution solves them not for thee.

She gives thee wisdom—so that with its aid

Thou canst direct thy steps to foolishness.

Wisdom were good for thee—at other times,

When on thee spirit-day doth brightly shine.

But when Maria speaks thus in thy dreams

She slays thy riddle’s answer by her words.

Aye, list to her.

Strader:Aye, list to her.What mean such words as these?Maria, are they born from out the light?From out my light? Or is my darkness thatFrom which they sound? O Benedictus, speak;Who brought me counsel from the dark abyss?

Strader:

Aye, list to her.What mean such words as these?

Maria, are they born from out the light?

From out my light? Or is my darkness that

From which they sound? O Benedictus, speak;

Who brought me counsel from the dark abyss?

Benedictus:At thine abyss’s edge she sought thee out.Thus spirits seek out men to shelter them,From those who fashion phantoms for men’s soulsAnd so conceal the cosmic-spirit’s swayWith mazy darkness, that they only knowThemselves in truth in their own being’s net.Look further yet within thy dark abyss.

Benedictus:

At thine abyss’s edge she sought thee out.

Thus spirits seek out men to shelter them,

From those who fashion phantoms for men’s souls

And so conceal the cosmic-spirit’s sway

With mazy darkness, that they only know

Themselves in truth in their own being’s net.

Look further yet within thy dark abyss.

Strader:What now lives in the depths of mine abyss?

Strader:

What now lives in the depths of mine abyss?

Benedictus:Gaze on these shades; upon the right, blue-redEnticing Felix—and the others see—There on the left—where red with yellow blends;Who are intent to reach Capesius.They both do feel the might of these same shades;—And each in loneliness creates the lightWhich foils the shades who would deceive men’s souls.

Benedictus:

Gaze on these shades; upon the right, blue-red

Enticing Felix—and the others see—

There on the left—where red with yellow blends;

Who are intent to reach Capesius.

They both do feel the might of these same shades;—

And each in loneliness creates the light

Which foils the shades who would deceive men’s souls.

Ahriman:He would do better did he show to theeThy shades—yet this thing could he scarcely do;—He hath the best intentions certainly.He only sees not where to seek those shades.They stand behind thee, critically near,—Yet thou thyself dost hide them now from him.

Ahriman:

He would do better did he show to thee

Thy shades—yet this thing could he scarcely do;—

He hath the best intentions certainly.

He only sees not where to seek those shades.

They stand behind thee, critically near,—

Yet thou thyself dost hide them now from him.

Strader:So now I hear in mine abyss these wordsWhich once I thought the prating of a fool,When Hilary’s adviser uttered them.…

Strader:

So now I hear in mine abyss these words

Which once I thought the prating of a fool,

When Hilary’s adviser uttered them.…

Maria:Sire Felix tempers for himself the bladeThat rids him of his danger; one who treadsThe path thy soul takes needs another kind.The sword Capesius doth fashion here,And bravely wields in battle with his foes,Would be for Strader but a shadow swordShould he commence therewith the spirit-fightWhich powers of destiny ordain for soulsWho must change spirit-being, ripe for deedsWith mighty power, to earth activity.Thou canst not use their weapons in thy fight;Yet thou must know them, so that thou mayst forgeThine own from out soul-substance thoughtfully.

Maria:

Sire Felix tempers for himself the blade

That rids him of his danger; one who treads

The path thy soul takes needs another kind.

The sword Capesius doth fashion here,

And bravely wields in battle with his foes,

Would be for Strader but a shadow sword

Should he commence therewith the spirit-fight

Which powers of destiny ordain for souls

Who must change spirit-being, ripe for deeds

With mighty power, to earth activity.

Thou canst not use their weapons in thy fight;

Yet thou must know them, so that thou mayst forge

Thine own from out soul-substance thoughtfully.

(The figures of Benedictus, Ahriman, and Maria disappear; i.e., from outward sight; Strader wakes up from his spirit-vision; he looks round for Capesius, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde, who again approach him; he has seated himself upon a rock.)

Felix Balde:Dear Strader, even now the spirit droveThee far from us—thus it appeared to me.

Felix Balde:

Dear Strader, even now the spirit drove

Thee far from us—thus it appeared to me.

(He pauses a while in the expectation that Strader will say something, but since the latter remains silent Felix continues.)

I would not seem to cast thee coldly forthFrom out our group to other paths of life.I only wish to check thy further stepsIn that illusion which confuseth thee.What spirit sees in spirit must by soulsIn spirit also be received and lived.How foolish were it if FeliciaShould take the fairies living in her soul,Who also fain would only live in souls,And make them dance upon a puppet’s stage.Their magic charm would be completely lost.

I would not seem to cast thee coldly forth

From out our group to other paths of life.

I only wish to check thy further steps

In that illusion which confuseth thee.

What spirit sees in spirit must by souls

In spirit also be received and lived.

How foolish were it if Felicia

Should take the fairies living in her soul,

Who also fain would only live in souls,

And make them dance upon a puppet’s stage.

Their magic charm would be completely lost.

Dame Balde:I surely have been silent long enough.But speak I will, if thou art going to castThy mystic mood upon my fairy sprites.They would indeed enjoy to have their powerDrawn out of them, that they might be brought upAnd suckled fresh with mysticism’s milk.I honour mysticism; but I fainWould keep it distant from my fairy realms.

Dame Balde:

I surely have been silent long enough.

But speak I will, if thou art going to cast

Thy mystic mood upon my fairy sprites.

They would indeed enjoy to have their power

Drawn out of them, that they might be brought up

And suckled fresh with mysticism’s milk.

I honour mysticism; but I fain

Would keep it distant from my fairy realms.

Capesius:Felicia, was it not thy fairy-talesThat set my feet first on the spirit-path?Those stories of the air and water-sprites,Called up so oft before my thirsting soul,Were messengers to me from yonder worldWhereto I now the mystic entrance seek.

Capesius:

Felicia, was it not thy fairy-tales

That set my feet first on the spirit-path?

Those stories of the air and water-sprites,

Called up so oft before my thirsting soul,

Were messengers to me from yonder world

Whereto I now the mystic entrance seek.

Dame Balde:But since thou cam’st with this new mystic artInto our house thou hast but seldom askedWhat my fair magic beings are about.More often thou hast only thought of worthWhat wears a solemn air of dignity;While those who caper out of sheer delightAre uncongenial to thy mystic ways.

Dame Balde:

But since thou cam’st with this new mystic art

Into our house thou hast but seldom asked

What my fair magic beings are about.

More often thou hast only thought of worth

What wears a solemn air of dignity;

While those who caper out of sheer delight

Are uncongenial to thy mystic ways.

Capesius:I do not doubt, Felicia, that IShall one day comprehend the meaning hidDeep in the being of those wondrous elvesWho show their wisdom through a merry mask.Yet now my power hath not advanced so far.

Capesius:

I do not doubt, Felicia, that I

Shall one day comprehend the meaning hid

Deep in the being of those wondrous elves

Who show their wisdom through a merry mask.

Yet now my power hath not advanced so far.

Felix Balde:Felicia, thou knowest how I loveThose fairy beings who do visit thee;But to conceive them as mechanicalEmbodied dolls—this goes against the grain.

Felix Balde:

Felicia, thou knowest how I love

Those fairy beings who do visit thee;

But to conceive them as mechanical

Embodied dolls—this goes against the grain.

Dame Balde:As yet I have not brought them to thee thus;Thy fancy flies—too high; but I was gladWhen Strader’s plan was told me, and, I heard,Thomasius also strives to representThe spirit cased in matter visible.I saw in spirit dancing merrilyMy fairy princes and my souls of fireIn thousand doll-games, beautified by art;And there I left them, happy in the thought,To find their own way to the nurseries.

Dame Balde:

As yet I have not brought them to thee thus;

Thy fancy flies—too high; but I was glad

When Strader’s plan was told me, and, I heard,

Thomasius also strives to represent

The spirit cased in matter visible.

I saw in spirit dancing merrily

My fairy princes and my souls of fire

In thousand doll-games, beautified by art;

And there I left them, happy in the thought,

To find their own way to the nurseries.

Curtain

Scene 4The Same.(The Manager and Romanus, pausing in their walk, speak as follows.)Manager:Thou know’st the mystic friends of Hilary,And I perceive in thee a clever manWith power to give at all times judgment sureBoth in life’s work and in the mystic arts:And so I value thy considered thought.But how shall I make sense of what thou sayst?That Strader’s friends should stay in spirit-realmsAnd not as yet use their clairvoyant powersUpon the fashioning of things of senseSeems right to thee. But will the selfsame pathFor Strader not be just as dangerous?His spirit methods seem to prove to meThat nature-spirits always blind his eyesAs soon as strong desire for personal deedsDrives him to seek some outer work in life.Within oneself, as all true mystics know,Those forces must develop in their strengthIn order to oppose these enemies;But Strader’s sight, it seems, is not yet ripeTo see such foes upon his spirit-path.Romanus:Yet those good spirits who conduct such men,As stand outside the spirit-realms entire,Have not yet left his side, but guide his steps.These spirits ever pass those mystics byWho make a pact with beings to secureTheir service for their personal spirit mood.In Strader’s methods I can plainly feelHow nature-spirits still give to his selfThe fruits of their benign activity.Manager:So ’tis by feeling only thou art ledTo think good spirits work in Strader’s case;Thou off’rest little and dost ask full much.These are the spirits I must henceforth askIf I continue active in this placeWhere for so long I have been privilegedTo serve the work-plans and that spirit trueWhich Hilary’s own father ever loved;And which I still hear speaking from his grave,E’en if his son hath no more ears for it.What saith this spirit of that brave strong manWhen he perceives these crazy spirits nowWhich his son tries to bring within his house?I know that spirit who for ninety yearsLived in his body. He it was who taughtTo me the truest secrets of my workIn those old days when he could work himself,The while his son crept off to mystic fanes.Romanus:My friend, canst thou indeed be unawareHow highly this same spirit I revere?His servant certainly was that old manWhom for a pattern thou didst rightly choose.And I myself have striv’n to serve him tooFrom childhood’s days up to the present time.But I too crept away to mystic fanes.I planted truly deep within my soulWhat they were willing to bestow on me.But reason swept aside the temple moodWhen at the door it entered into life.I knew that in this way I best could bringThis mood’s strong forces into earthly life.From out the temple none the less I broughtMy soul into my work. And it is wellThat soul by reason should not be disturbed.Manager:And dost thou find that Strader’s spirit-wayIs even distantly akin to thine?I find myself at thy side ever freeFrom spirit-beings Strader brings to me.I clearly feel, e’en in his random speech,How elemental spirits, quick with life,By word and nature pour themselves through himRevealing things the senses cannot grasp.It is just this that keeps me off from him.Romanus:This speech, my friend, doth strike me to the heart.Since I drew nigh to Strader I have feltThose very thoughts which come to me through himTo be endowed with quite peculiar power.They cleft me just as if they were mine own.And one day I reflected: What if IOwe to his soul not to myself the powerWhich let me ripen to maturity!Hard on this feeling came a second one;What if for all that makes me of some useIn life and work and service for mankindI am indebted to some past earth-life?Manager:I feel precisely thus about him too.When one draws near to him, the spirit whichDoth work through him moves powerfully one’s soul.And if thy strong soul must succumb to him,How shall I manage to protect mine ownIf I unite with him in this his work?Romanus:It will depend on thee alone to findThe right relation ’twixt thyself and him.I think that Strader’s power will not harm meSince in my thought I have conceived a wayIn which he may have made that power his own.Manager:Have made—his own—such power—and over thee—A dreamer—over the—the man of deeds!Romanus:If one might dare to make a guess that nowSome spirit lives its life in Strader’s frameWho in some earlier earth-life had attainedTo most unusual altitude of soul;Who knew much which the men of his own timeWere still too undeveloped to conceive.Then it were possible that in those daysThoughts in his spirit did originateWhich by degrees could make their way to earthAnd mingle in the common life of men;And that from this source people like myselfHave drawn their capability for work—The thoughts which in my youth I seized upon,And which I found in my environment,Might well have been this spirit’s progeny!Manager:And dost thou think it justifiableTo trace back thoughts to Strader and none elseThat hold a value for mankind’s whole life?Romanus:I were a dreamer if I acted thus.I spin no dreams about mankind’s whole lifeWith eyes fast closed. I ne’er had use for thoughtsThat show themselves and forthwith fade away.I look at Strader with wide-open eyes;And see what this man’s nature proves to be,What qualities he hath and how he acts,And that wherein he fails;—and then I knowI have no option left me but to judgeOf his endowments as I have just done.As if this man had stood before mine eyesAlready many hundred years ago,So do I feel him in my spirit now.And that I am awake—I know full well.I shall lend my support to Hilary;For that which must will surely come to pass.So think his project over once again.Manager:It will be of more benefit to meIf I think over that which thou hast said.(Exeunt Manager and Romanus. Johannes comes from another direction, deep in thought, and sits down on a boulder. Johannes is at first alone, afterwards appear his Double, the Spirit of Johannes’ youth, and finally the Guardian of the Threshold, and Ahriman.)Johannes:I was astonished when CapesiusMade known to me how my soul’s inner selfRevealed itself unto his spirit’s eye.I could so utterly forget a factWhich years ago was clear as day to me:—That all that lives within the human soulWorks further in the outer spirit-realms;Long have I known it, yet I could forget.When Benedictus was directing meTo my first spirit-vision, I beheldCapesius and Strader by this means,Clear as a picture, in another age.I saw the potent pictures of their thoughtsSend circling ripples through the world’s expanse.Well do I know all this—and knew it notWhen I beheld it through Capesius.The part of me which knows was not awake;That in an earth-life of the distant pastCapesius and I were closely knit:That also for a long time have I known,—Yet at that instant I did know it not.How can I keep my knowledge all the time?(A voice from the distance, that of Johannes’ Double.)‘The magical webThat forms their own life.’Johannes:‘And clairvoyant dreamsMake clear unto soulsThe magical webThat forms their own life.’(While Johannes is speaking these lines his Double approaches him. Johannes does not recognize him, but thinks “the other Philia” is coming towards him.)O spirit-counsellor, thou com’st once more;True counsel didst thou bring unto my soul.The Double:Johannes, thine awakening is but falseUntil thou shalt thyself set free the shadeWhom thine offence doth lend a magic life.Johannes:This is the second time thou speakest thus.I will obey thee. Point me out the way.The Double:Johannes, give life in the shadow-realmTo what is lost to thee in thine own self.From out thy spirit’s light pour light on himSo that he will not have to suffer pain.Johannes:The shadow-being in me I have stunnedBut not o’erthrown: wherefore he must remainA shade enchanted amongst the other shadesTill I can re-unite myself with him.The Double:Then give to me that which thou owest him:The power of love, that drives thee forth to him,The heart’s hope, that was first begot by him,The fresh life, that lies hidden deep in him,The fruits of earth-lives in the distant past,Which with his being now are lost to thee;Oh, give them me; I’ll bring them safe to him.Johannes:Thou knowest the way to him?—Oh, show it me.The Double:I could get to him in the shadow-realmWhen thou didst raise thyself to spirit-spheres;But since, desire-powers tempting thee, thou didstAvert thy mind to follow after him,When now I seek him my strength ever fails.But if thou wilt abide by my adviceMy strength can then create itself anew.Johannes:I vowed to thee that I would follow thee—And now, O spirit-counsellor, againWith all my soul’s strength I renew that vow.But if thou canst thus find the way to him,Then show it to me in this hour of fate.The Double:I find it now but cannot lead the way.I can alone show to thine inward eyeThe being whom thy longing now doth seek.(The spirit of Johannes’ Youth appears.)The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:Thanks to that spirit I shall ever oweWho was allowed thy soul sight to unseal,So that when I appear by spirit-lawThou wilt henceforth behold me open-eyed.But thou must first this spirit truly know,At whose side thou art now beholding me.(The spirit of Johannes’ Youth disappears: only now does Johannes recognise the Double.)Johannes:That spirit-counsellor—mine other self?The Double:Now follow me—thou hast so vowed to me—For I must now conduct thee to my lord.(The Guardian of the Threshold appears and stands beside the Double.)The Guardian:Johannes, wouldst thou tear this shade awayFrom those enchanted regions of the soul,Then slay desire, which leads thee aye astray.The trace which thou dost follow disappearsSo long as thou dost seek it with desire.It leads thee to my threshold and beyond.But here, obeying lofty Being’s will,I do confuse the inward sight of thoseWithin whose spirit-glance lives vain desire;All these must meet me ere they are allowedTo penetrate to Truth’s pure radiant light.I hold thyself fast prisoned in thy sightSo long as thou approachest with desire.Myself too as illusion dost thou see,So long as vain desire is joined with sightAnd spirit-peacefulness of soul hath notBecome as yet thy being’s vehicle.Make strong those words of power which thou dost know,Their spirit-power will conquer fantasy.Then recognise me, free from all desire,And thou shalt see me as I really am.And then I need no longer hinder theeFrom gazing freely on the spirit-realm.Johannes:But as illusion dost thou too appear?Thou too … whom I must ever see the first,Of all the beings in the spirit-land.How shall I know the truth when I must findOne truth alone confront mine onward steps—That ever denser grows illusion’s veil.Ahriman:Let not thyself be quite confused by him.He guards the threshold faithfully indeedE’en if today thou see’st him wear the clothesWhich for thyself thou didst patch up beforeWithin thy spirit from old odds and ends.And least of all shouldst thou behold in himAn actor in a poor dramatic show.But thou wilt make it better later on.Yet e’en this clownish form can serve thy soul.It doth not have to spend much energyIn showing thee that which it now still is.Pay close attention to the Guardian’s speech:Its tone is mournful and its pathos marked,Allow not this: for then he will discloseFrom whomtodayhe borrows to excess.Johannes:Then e’en the content of his speech deceives?The Double:Ask not of Ahriman, since he doth findIn contradictions aye his chief delight.Johannes:Of whom then shall I ask?The Double:Of whom then shall I ask?Why, ask thyself.With my power will I fortify thee wellSo that awake thou mayst find the placeWhence thou canst gaze untramelled by desire.Increase thy power.Johannes:‘The magical webThat forms their own life.’O magical web that forms mine own lifeMake known to me where desire doth not burn.(The Guardian disappears: in his place appear Benedictus and Maria.)Maria:Myself too as illusion dost thou seeSince vain desire is still allied with sight.Benedictus:And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath notBecome as yet thy being’s vehicle.(The Double, Benedictus, and Maria disappear.)Johannes:Maria, Benedictus,—Guardians!How can they as the Guardian come to me?’Tis true I have spent many years with theeAnd this forbids me now to seek thine aid—The magical web that forms mine own self.(Exit, right.)(Enter Strader, Benedictus, and Maria, left.)Strader:Thou gav’st, when joined in spirit unto meBefore the dark abyss of mine own self,Wise counsel to direct mine inward sight,Which at that time I could not understand,But which will work such changes in my soulAs certainly will solve life’s problems, whenThey seek to hinder what I strive to do.I feel in me the power which thou dost giveTo thy disciples on the spirit-path.And so I shall be able to performThe service thou dost ask for in this workThat Hilary to mankind will devote;We shall, however, lack Capesius.Whatever strength the rest bring to the workWill not replace his keen activity;But that which must will surely come to pass.Benedictus:Yea, that which must will surely come to pass.This phrase expresseth thine own stage of growth.But it awakes no answering responseIn souls of all our other spirit-friends.Thomasius is not as yet preparedTo carry spirit-power to worlds of sense,So he too will withdraw from this same work.Through him doth destiny give us a signThat we must all now seek another planStrader:Will not Maria and thyself be there?Benedictus:Maria must Johannes take with herIf she would ever find in truth the road,Which leads from spirit to the world of sense.Thus wills the Guardian who with earnest eyeUnceasing guards the borders of both realms.She cannot lend her aid to thee as yet.And this may serve thee as a certain signThat thou canst not at this time truly findThe way into the realm of earthly things.Strader:So I and all my aims are left alone!O loneliness, didst thou then seek me outWhen I did stand at Felix Balde’s side?Benedictus:The thing which hath just happened in our groupHath taught me, as I look on thy career,To read a certain word in spirit-lightWhich hitherto hath hid itself from me.I saw that thou wast bound to certain kindsOf beings, who, if they should take a partCreatively in mankind’s life today,Would surely work for evil; now they liveAs germs in certain souls, and will grow ripeIn future days to work upon the earth.Such germs have I seen living in thy soul.That thou dost know them not is for thy good.Through thee they will first learn to know themselves.But now the road is still close barred for themWhich leads into the realm of earthly things.Strader:Whatever else thy words may say to me,They show me that my lot is loneliness.And this it is must truly forge my sword.Maria told me this at mine abyss.(Benedictus and Maria retire a little way; Strader remains alone; the soul of Theodora appears.)Theodora’s Soul:And Theodora in the worlds of lightWill make warmth for thee that thy spirit-swordMay keenly smite the foes of thine own soul.(Disappears. Exit Strader. Benedictus and Maria come to the front of stage.)Maria:My learned teacher, ne’er yet did I hearThee tell disciples, who had reached the stageOf Strader, in such tones the words of fate.Will his soul run its course so speedilyThat these words’ power will prove of use to him?Benedictus:Fate gave the order, and it was fulfilled.Maria:And if the power should prove no use to him,Will not its evils also fall on thee?Benedictus:’Twill not be evil; yet I do not knowIn what way it will manifest in him.My gaze at present penetrates to realmsWhere such advice illuminates my soul;But I see not the scene of its result.And if I try to see, my vision dies.Maria:Thy vision dies,—my guide and leader, thine?—Who stays for thee thy seership’s certain gaze?Benedictus:Johannes flees therewith to cosmic space;We must pursue;—for I can hear him call.Maria:He calls,—from spirit-space his call rings out;There sounds within his tone a distant fear.Benedictus:So from the ever empty fields of iceOur mystic friend’s call sounds in cosmic space.Maria:The ice’s cold is burning in my self,And kindling tongues of flame in my soul-depths;The flames are scorching all my power of thought.Benedictus:In thy soul-depths the fire doth blaze, which nowJohannes kindles in the cosmic frost.Maria:The flames fly off,—they fly off with my thought.And there on distant cosmic shore of soulsA furious fight—my power of thought doth fight—In stormy chaos—and cold spirit-light—My thought-power reels;—the cold light—hammers outHot waves of darkness from my failing thought.What now emergeth from this darkling heat?Clad in red flames my self storms—to the light;—To the cold light—of cosmic fields of ice.Curtain

The Same.

(The Manager and Romanus, pausing in their walk, speak as follows.)

Manager:Thou know’st the mystic friends of Hilary,And I perceive in thee a clever manWith power to give at all times judgment sureBoth in life’s work and in the mystic arts:And so I value thy considered thought.But how shall I make sense of what thou sayst?That Strader’s friends should stay in spirit-realmsAnd not as yet use their clairvoyant powersUpon the fashioning of things of senseSeems right to thee. But will the selfsame pathFor Strader not be just as dangerous?His spirit methods seem to prove to meThat nature-spirits always blind his eyesAs soon as strong desire for personal deedsDrives him to seek some outer work in life.Within oneself, as all true mystics know,Those forces must develop in their strengthIn order to oppose these enemies;But Strader’s sight, it seems, is not yet ripeTo see such foes upon his spirit-path.

Manager:

Thou know’st the mystic friends of Hilary,

And I perceive in thee a clever man

With power to give at all times judgment sure

Both in life’s work and in the mystic arts:

And so I value thy considered thought.

But how shall I make sense of what thou sayst?

That Strader’s friends should stay in spirit-realms

And not as yet use their clairvoyant powers

Upon the fashioning of things of sense

Seems right to thee. But will the selfsame path

For Strader not be just as dangerous?

His spirit methods seem to prove to me

That nature-spirits always blind his eyes

As soon as strong desire for personal deeds

Drives him to seek some outer work in life.

Within oneself, as all true mystics know,

Those forces must develop in their strength

In order to oppose these enemies;

But Strader’s sight, it seems, is not yet ripe

To see such foes upon his spirit-path.

Romanus:Yet those good spirits who conduct such men,As stand outside the spirit-realms entire,Have not yet left his side, but guide his steps.These spirits ever pass those mystics byWho make a pact with beings to secureTheir service for their personal spirit mood.In Strader’s methods I can plainly feelHow nature-spirits still give to his selfThe fruits of their benign activity.

Romanus:

Yet those good spirits who conduct such men,

As stand outside the spirit-realms entire,

Have not yet left his side, but guide his steps.

These spirits ever pass those mystics by

Who make a pact with beings to secure

Their service for their personal spirit mood.

In Strader’s methods I can plainly feel

How nature-spirits still give to his self

The fruits of their benign activity.

Manager:So ’tis by feeling only thou art ledTo think good spirits work in Strader’s case;Thou off’rest little and dost ask full much.

Manager:

So ’tis by feeling only thou art led

To think good spirits work in Strader’s case;

Thou off’rest little and dost ask full much.

These are the spirits I must henceforth askIf I continue active in this placeWhere for so long I have been privilegedTo serve the work-plans and that spirit trueWhich Hilary’s own father ever loved;And which I still hear speaking from his grave,E’en if his son hath no more ears for it.What saith this spirit of that brave strong manWhen he perceives these crazy spirits nowWhich his son tries to bring within his house?I know that spirit who for ninety yearsLived in his body. He it was who taughtTo me the truest secrets of my workIn those old days when he could work himself,The while his son crept off to mystic fanes.

These are the spirits I must henceforth ask

If I continue active in this place

Where for so long I have been privileged

To serve the work-plans and that spirit true

Which Hilary’s own father ever loved;

And which I still hear speaking from his grave,

E’en if his son hath no more ears for it.

What saith this spirit of that brave strong man

When he perceives these crazy spirits now

Which his son tries to bring within his house?

I know that spirit who for ninety years

Lived in his body. He it was who taught

To me the truest secrets of my work

In those old days when he could work himself,

The while his son crept off to mystic fanes.

Romanus:My friend, canst thou indeed be unawareHow highly this same spirit I revere?His servant certainly was that old manWhom for a pattern thou didst rightly choose.And I myself have striv’n to serve him tooFrom childhood’s days up to the present time.But I too crept away to mystic fanes.I planted truly deep within my soulWhat they were willing to bestow on me.But reason swept aside the temple moodWhen at the door it entered into life.I knew that in this way I best could bringThis mood’s strong forces into earthly life.From out the temple none the less I broughtMy soul into my work. And it is wellThat soul by reason should not be disturbed.

Romanus:

My friend, canst thou indeed be unaware

How highly this same spirit I revere?

His servant certainly was that old man

Whom for a pattern thou didst rightly choose.

And I myself have striv’n to serve him too

From childhood’s days up to the present time.

But I too crept away to mystic fanes.

I planted truly deep within my soul

What they were willing to bestow on me.

But reason swept aside the temple mood

When at the door it entered into life.

I knew that in this way I best could bring

This mood’s strong forces into earthly life.

From out the temple none the less I brought

My soul into my work. And it is well

That soul by reason should not be disturbed.

Manager:And dost thou find that Strader’s spirit-wayIs even distantly akin to thine?I find myself at thy side ever freeFrom spirit-beings Strader brings to me.I clearly feel, e’en in his random speech,How elemental spirits, quick with life,By word and nature pour themselves through himRevealing things the senses cannot grasp.It is just this that keeps me off from him.

Manager:

And dost thou find that Strader’s spirit-way

Is even distantly akin to thine?

I find myself at thy side ever free

From spirit-beings Strader brings to me.

I clearly feel, e’en in his random speech,

How elemental spirits, quick with life,

By word and nature pour themselves through him

Revealing things the senses cannot grasp.

It is just this that keeps me off from him.

Romanus:This speech, my friend, doth strike me to the heart.Since I drew nigh to Strader I have feltThose very thoughts which come to me through himTo be endowed with quite peculiar power.They cleft me just as if they were mine own.And one day I reflected: What if IOwe to his soul not to myself the powerWhich let me ripen to maturity!Hard on this feeling came a second one;What if for all that makes me of some useIn life and work and service for mankindI am indebted to some past earth-life?

Romanus:

This speech, my friend, doth strike me to the heart.

Since I drew nigh to Strader I have felt

Those very thoughts which come to me through him

To be endowed with quite peculiar power.

They cleft me just as if they were mine own.

And one day I reflected: What if I

Owe to his soul not to myself the power

Which let me ripen to maturity!

Hard on this feeling came a second one;

What if for all that makes me of some use

In life and work and service for mankind

I am indebted to some past earth-life?

Manager:I feel precisely thus about him too.When one draws near to him, the spirit whichDoth work through him moves powerfully one’s soul.And if thy strong soul must succumb to him,How shall I manage to protect mine ownIf I unite with him in this his work?

Manager:

I feel precisely thus about him too.

When one draws near to him, the spirit which

Doth work through him moves powerfully one’s soul.

And if thy strong soul must succumb to him,

How shall I manage to protect mine own

If I unite with him in this his work?

Romanus:It will depend on thee alone to findThe right relation ’twixt thyself and him.I think that Strader’s power will not harm meSince in my thought I have conceived a wayIn which he may have made that power his own.

Romanus:

It will depend on thee alone to find

The right relation ’twixt thyself and him.

I think that Strader’s power will not harm me

Since in my thought I have conceived a way

In which he may have made that power his own.

Manager:Have made—his own—such power—and over thee—A dreamer—over the—the man of deeds!

Manager:

Have made—his own—such power—and over thee—

A dreamer—over the—the man of deeds!

Romanus:If one might dare to make a guess that nowSome spirit lives its life in Strader’s frameWho in some earlier earth-life had attainedTo most unusual altitude of soul;Who knew much which the men of his own timeWere still too undeveloped to conceive.Then it were possible that in those daysThoughts in his spirit did originateWhich by degrees could make their way to earthAnd mingle in the common life of men;And that from this source people like myselfHave drawn their capability for work—The thoughts which in my youth I seized upon,And which I found in my environment,Might well have been this spirit’s progeny!

Romanus:

If one might dare to make a guess that now

Some spirit lives its life in Strader’s frame

Who in some earlier earth-life had attained

To most unusual altitude of soul;

Who knew much which the men of his own time

Were still too undeveloped to conceive.

Then it were possible that in those days

Thoughts in his spirit did originate

Which by degrees could make their way to earth

And mingle in the common life of men;

And that from this source people like myself

Have drawn their capability for work—

The thoughts which in my youth I seized upon,

And which I found in my environment,

Might well have been this spirit’s progeny!

Manager:And dost thou think it justifiableTo trace back thoughts to Strader and none elseThat hold a value for mankind’s whole life?

Manager:

And dost thou think it justifiable

To trace back thoughts to Strader and none else

That hold a value for mankind’s whole life?

Romanus:I were a dreamer if I acted thus.I spin no dreams about mankind’s whole lifeWith eyes fast closed. I ne’er had use for thoughtsThat show themselves and forthwith fade away.I look at Strader with wide-open eyes;And see what this man’s nature proves to be,What qualities he hath and how he acts,And that wherein he fails;—and then I knowI have no option left me but to judgeOf his endowments as I have just done.As if this man had stood before mine eyesAlready many hundred years ago,So do I feel him in my spirit now.And that I am awake—I know full well.I shall lend my support to Hilary;For that which must will surely come to pass.So think his project over once again.

Romanus:

I were a dreamer if I acted thus.

I spin no dreams about mankind’s whole life

With eyes fast closed. I ne’er had use for thoughts

That show themselves and forthwith fade away.

I look at Strader with wide-open eyes;

And see what this man’s nature proves to be,

What qualities he hath and how he acts,

And that wherein he fails;—and then I know

I have no option left me but to judge

Of his endowments as I have just done.

As if this man had stood before mine eyes

Already many hundred years ago,

So do I feel him in my spirit now.

And that I am awake—I know full well.

I shall lend my support to Hilary;

For that which must will surely come to pass.

So think his project over once again.

Manager:It will be of more benefit to meIf I think over that which thou hast said.

Manager:

It will be of more benefit to me

If I think over that which thou hast said.

(Exeunt Manager and Romanus. Johannes comes from another direction, deep in thought, and sits down on a boulder. Johannes is at first alone, afterwards appear his Double, the Spirit of Johannes’ youth, and finally the Guardian of the Threshold, and Ahriman.)

Johannes:I was astonished when CapesiusMade known to me how my soul’s inner selfRevealed itself unto his spirit’s eye.I could so utterly forget a factWhich years ago was clear as day to me:—That all that lives within the human soulWorks further in the outer spirit-realms;Long have I known it, yet I could forget.When Benedictus was directing meTo my first spirit-vision, I beheldCapesius and Strader by this means,Clear as a picture, in another age.I saw the potent pictures of their thoughtsSend circling ripples through the world’s expanse.Well do I know all this—and knew it notWhen I beheld it through Capesius.The part of me which knows was not awake;That in an earth-life of the distant pastCapesius and I were closely knit:That also for a long time have I known,—Yet at that instant I did know it not.How can I keep my knowledge all the time?

Johannes:

I was astonished when Capesius

Made known to me how my soul’s inner self

Revealed itself unto his spirit’s eye.

I could so utterly forget a fact

Which years ago was clear as day to me:—

That all that lives within the human soul

Works further in the outer spirit-realms;

Long have I known it, yet I could forget.

When Benedictus was directing me

To my first spirit-vision, I beheld

Capesius and Strader by this means,

Clear as a picture, in another age.

I saw the potent pictures of their thoughts

Send circling ripples through the world’s expanse.

Well do I know all this—and knew it not

When I beheld it through Capesius.

The part of me which knows was not awake;

That in an earth-life of the distant past

Capesius and I were closely knit:

That also for a long time have I known,—

Yet at that instant I did know it not.

How can I keep my knowledge all the time?

(A voice from the distance, that of Johannes’ Double.)‘The magical webThat forms their own life.’

(A voice from the distance, that of Johannes’ Double.)

‘The magical web

That forms their own life.’

Johannes:‘And clairvoyant dreamsMake clear unto soulsThe magical webThat forms their own life.’

Johannes:

‘And clairvoyant dreams

Make clear unto souls

The magical web

That forms their own life.’

(While Johannes is speaking these lines his Double approaches him. Johannes does not recognize him, but thinks “the other Philia” is coming towards him.)

O spirit-counsellor, thou com’st once more;True counsel didst thou bring unto my soul.

O spirit-counsellor, thou com’st once more;

True counsel didst thou bring unto my soul.

The Double:Johannes, thine awakening is but falseUntil thou shalt thyself set free the shadeWhom thine offence doth lend a magic life.

The Double:

Johannes, thine awakening is but false

Until thou shalt thyself set free the shade

Whom thine offence doth lend a magic life.

Johannes:This is the second time thou speakest thus.I will obey thee. Point me out the way.

Johannes:

This is the second time thou speakest thus.

I will obey thee. Point me out the way.

The Double:Johannes, give life in the shadow-realmTo what is lost to thee in thine own self.From out thy spirit’s light pour light on himSo that he will not have to suffer pain.

The Double:

Johannes, give life in the shadow-realm

To what is lost to thee in thine own self.

From out thy spirit’s light pour light on him

So that he will not have to suffer pain.

Johannes:The shadow-being in me I have stunnedBut not o’erthrown: wherefore he must remainA shade enchanted amongst the other shadesTill I can re-unite myself with him.

Johannes:

The shadow-being in me I have stunned

But not o’erthrown: wherefore he must remain

A shade enchanted amongst the other shades

Till I can re-unite myself with him.

The Double:Then give to me that which thou owest him:The power of love, that drives thee forth to him,The heart’s hope, that was first begot by him,The fresh life, that lies hidden deep in him,The fruits of earth-lives in the distant past,Which with his being now are lost to thee;Oh, give them me; I’ll bring them safe to him.

The Double:

Then give to me that which thou owest him:

The power of love, that drives thee forth to him,

The heart’s hope, that was first begot by him,

The fresh life, that lies hidden deep in him,

The fruits of earth-lives in the distant past,

Which with his being now are lost to thee;

Oh, give them me; I’ll bring them safe to him.

Johannes:Thou knowest the way to him?—Oh, show it me.

Johannes:

Thou knowest the way to him?—Oh, show it me.

The Double:I could get to him in the shadow-realmWhen thou didst raise thyself to spirit-spheres;But since, desire-powers tempting thee, thou didstAvert thy mind to follow after him,When now I seek him my strength ever fails.But if thou wilt abide by my adviceMy strength can then create itself anew.

The Double:

I could get to him in the shadow-realm

When thou didst raise thyself to spirit-spheres;

But since, desire-powers tempting thee, thou didst

Avert thy mind to follow after him,

When now I seek him my strength ever fails.

But if thou wilt abide by my advice

My strength can then create itself anew.

Johannes:I vowed to thee that I would follow thee—And now, O spirit-counsellor, againWith all my soul’s strength I renew that vow.But if thou canst thus find the way to him,Then show it to me in this hour of fate.

Johannes:

I vowed to thee that I would follow thee—

And now, O spirit-counsellor, again

With all my soul’s strength I renew that vow.

But if thou canst thus find the way to him,

Then show it to me in this hour of fate.

The Double:I find it now but cannot lead the way.I can alone show to thine inward eyeThe being whom thy longing now doth seek.

The Double:

I find it now but cannot lead the way.

I can alone show to thine inward eye

The being whom thy longing now doth seek.

(The spirit of Johannes’ Youth appears.)

The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:Thanks to that spirit I shall ever oweWho was allowed thy soul sight to unseal,So that when I appear by spirit-lawThou wilt henceforth behold me open-eyed.But thou must first this spirit truly know,At whose side thou art now beholding me.

The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:

Thanks to that spirit I shall ever owe

Who was allowed thy soul sight to unseal,

So that when I appear by spirit-law

Thou wilt henceforth behold me open-eyed.

But thou must first this spirit truly know,

At whose side thou art now beholding me.

(The spirit of Johannes’ Youth disappears: only now does Johannes recognise the Double.)

Johannes:That spirit-counsellor—mine other self?

Johannes:

That spirit-counsellor—mine other self?

The Double:Now follow me—thou hast so vowed to me—For I must now conduct thee to my lord.

The Double:

Now follow me—thou hast so vowed to me—

For I must now conduct thee to my lord.

(The Guardian of the Threshold appears and stands beside the Double.)

The Guardian:Johannes, wouldst thou tear this shade awayFrom those enchanted regions of the soul,Then slay desire, which leads thee aye astray.The trace which thou dost follow disappearsSo long as thou dost seek it with desire.It leads thee to my threshold and beyond.But here, obeying lofty Being’s will,I do confuse the inward sight of thoseWithin whose spirit-glance lives vain desire;All these must meet me ere they are allowedTo penetrate to Truth’s pure radiant light.I hold thyself fast prisoned in thy sightSo long as thou approachest with desire.Myself too as illusion dost thou see,So long as vain desire is joined with sightAnd spirit-peacefulness of soul hath notBecome as yet thy being’s vehicle.Make strong those words of power which thou dost know,Their spirit-power will conquer fantasy.Then recognise me, free from all desire,And thou shalt see me as I really am.And then I need no longer hinder theeFrom gazing freely on the spirit-realm.

The Guardian:

Johannes, wouldst thou tear this shade away

From those enchanted regions of the soul,

Then slay desire, which leads thee aye astray.

The trace which thou dost follow disappears

So long as thou dost seek it with desire.

It leads thee to my threshold and beyond.

But here, obeying lofty Being’s will,

I do confuse the inward sight of those

Within whose spirit-glance lives vain desire;

All these must meet me ere they are allowed

To penetrate to Truth’s pure radiant light.

I hold thyself fast prisoned in thy sight

So long as thou approachest with desire.

Myself too as illusion dost thou see,

So long as vain desire is joined with sight

And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath not

Become as yet thy being’s vehicle.

Make strong those words of power which thou dost know,

Their spirit-power will conquer fantasy.

Then recognise me, free from all desire,

And thou shalt see me as I really am.

And then I need no longer hinder thee

From gazing freely on the spirit-realm.

Johannes:But as illusion dost thou too appear?Thou too … whom I must ever see the first,Of all the beings in the spirit-land.How shall I know the truth when I must findOne truth alone confront mine onward steps—That ever denser grows illusion’s veil.

Johannes:

But as illusion dost thou too appear?

Thou too … whom I must ever see the first,

Of all the beings in the spirit-land.

How shall I know the truth when I must find

One truth alone confront mine onward steps—

That ever denser grows illusion’s veil.

Ahriman:Let not thyself be quite confused by him.He guards the threshold faithfully indeedE’en if today thou see’st him wear the clothesWhich for thyself thou didst patch up beforeWithin thy spirit from old odds and ends.And least of all shouldst thou behold in himAn actor in a poor dramatic show.But thou wilt make it better later on.Yet e’en this clownish form can serve thy soul.It doth not have to spend much energyIn showing thee that which it now still is.Pay close attention to the Guardian’s speech:Its tone is mournful and its pathos marked,Allow not this: for then he will discloseFrom whomtodayhe borrows to excess.

Ahriman:

Let not thyself be quite confused by him.

He guards the threshold faithfully indeed

E’en if today thou see’st him wear the clothes

Which for thyself thou didst patch up before

Within thy spirit from old odds and ends.

And least of all shouldst thou behold in him

An actor in a poor dramatic show.

But thou wilt make it better later on.

Yet e’en this clownish form can serve thy soul.

It doth not have to spend much energy

In showing thee that which it now still is.

Pay close attention to the Guardian’s speech:

Its tone is mournful and its pathos marked,

Allow not this: for then he will disclose

From whomtodayhe borrows to excess.

Johannes:Then e’en the content of his speech deceives?

Johannes:

Then e’en the content of his speech deceives?

The Double:Ask not of Ahriman, since he doth findIn contradictions aye his chief delight.

The Double:

Ask not of Ahriman, since he doth find

In contradictions aye his chief delight.

Johannes:Of whom then shall I ask?

Johannes:

Of whom then shall I ask?

The Double:Of whom then shall I ask?Why, ask thyself.With my power will I fortify thee wellSo that awake thou mayst find the placeWhence thou canst gaze untramelled by desire.Increase thy power.

The Double:

Of whom then shall I ask?Why, ask thyself.

With my power will I fortify thee well

So that awake thou mayst find the place

Whence thou canst gaze untramelled by desire.

Increase thy power.

Johannes:‘The magical webThat forms their own life.’O magical web that forms mine own lifeMake known to me where desire doth not burn.

Johannes:

‘The magical web

That forms their own life.’

O magical web that forms mine own life

Make known to me where desire doth not burn.

(The Guardian disappears: in his place appear Benedictus and Maria.)

Maria:Myself too as illusion dost thou seeSince vain desire is still allied with sight.

Maria:

Myself too as illusion dost thou see

Since vain desire is still allied with sight.

Benedictus:And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath notBecome as yet thy being’s vehicle.

Benedictus:

And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath not

Become as yet thy being’s vehicle.

(The Double, Benedictus, and Maria disappear.)

Johannes:Maria, Benedictus,—Guardians!How can they as the Guardian come to me?

Johannes:

Maria, Benedictus,—Guardians!

How can they as the Guardian come to me?

’Tis true I have spent many years with theeAnd this forbids me now to seek thine aid—The magical web that forms mine own self.

’Tis true I have spent many years with thee

And this forbids me now to seek thine aid—

The magical web that forms mine own self.

(Exit, right.)

(Enter Strader, Benedictus, and Maria, left.)

Strader:Thou gav’st, when joined in spirit unto meBefore the dark abyss of mine own self,Wise counsel to direct mine inward sight,Which at that time I could not understand,But which will work such changes in my soulAs certainly will solve life’s problems, whenThey seek to hinder what I strive to do.I feel in me the power which thou dost giveTo thy disciples on the spirit-path.And so I shall be able to performThe service thou dost ask for in this workThat Hilary to mankind will devote;We shall, however, lack Capesius.Whatever strength the rest bring to the workWill not replace his keen activity;But that which must will surely come to pass.

Strader:

Thou gav’st, when joined in spirit unto me

Before the dark abyss of mine own self,

Wise counsel to direct mine inward sight,

Which at that time I could not understand,

But which will work such changes in my soul

As certainly will solve life’s problems, when

They seek to hinder what I strive to do.

I feel in me the power which thou dost give

To thy disciples on the spirit-path.

And so I shall be able to perform

The service thou dost ask for in this work

That Hilary to mankind will devote;

We shall, however, lack Capesius.

Whatever strength the rest bring to the work

Will not replace his keen activity;

But that which must will surely come to pass.

Benedictus:Yea, that which must will surely come to pass.This phrase expresseth thine own stage of growth.But it awakes no answering responseIn souls of all our other spirit-friends.Thomasius is not as yet preparedTo carry spirit-power to worlds of sense,So he too will withdraw from this same work.Through him doth destiny give us a signThat we must all now seek another plan

Benedictus:

Yea, that which must will surely come to pass.

This phrase expresseth thine own stage of growth.

But it awakes no answering response

In souls of all our other spirit-friends.

Thomasius is not as yet prepared

To carry spirit-power to worlds of sense,

So he too will withdraw from this same work.

Through him doth destiny give us a sign

That we must all now seek another plan

Strader:Will not Maria and thyself be there?

Strader:

Will not Maria and thyself be there?

Benedictus:Maria must Johannes take with herIf she would ever find in truth the road,Which leads from spirit to the world of sense.Thus wills the Guardian who with earnest eyeUnceasing guards the borders of both realms.She cannot lend her aid to thee as yet.And this may serve thee as a certain signThat thou canst not at this time truly findThe way into the realm of earthly things.

Benedictus:

Maria must Johannes take with her

If she would ever find in truth the road,

Which leads from spirit to the world of sense.

Thus wills the Guardian who with earnest eye

Unceasing guards the borders of both realms.

She cannot lend her aid to thee as yet.

And this may serve thee as a certain sign

That thou canst not at this time truly find

The way into the realm of earthly things.

Strader:So I and all my aims are left alone!O loneliness, didst thou then seek me outWhen I did stand at Felix Balde’s side?

Strader:

So I and all my aims are left alone!

O loneliness, didst thou then seek me out

When I did stand at Felix Balde’s side?

Benedictus:The thing which hath just happened in our groupHath taught me, as I look on thy career,To read a certain word in spirit-lightWhich hitherto hath hid itself from me.I saw that thou wast bound to certain kindsOf beings, who, if they should take a partCreatively in mankind’s life today,Would surely work for evil; now they liveAs germs in certain souls, and will grow ripeIn future days to work upon the earth.Such germs have I seen living in thy soul.That thou dost know them not is for thy good.Through thee they will first learn to know themselves.But now the road is still close barred for themWhich leads into the realm of earthly things.

Benedictus:

The thing which hath just happened in our group

Hath taught me, as I look on thy career,

To read a certain word in spirit-light

Which hitherto hath hid itself from me.

I saw that thou wast bound to certain kinds

Of beings, who, if they should take a part

Creatively in mankind’s life today,

Would surely work for evil; now they live

As germs in certain souls, and will grow ripe

In future days to work upon the earth.

Such germs have I seen living in thy soul.

That thou dost know them not is for thy good.

Through thee they will first learn to know themselves.

But now the road is still close barred for them

Which leads into the realm of earthly things.

Strader:Whatever else thy words may say to me,They show me that my lot is loneliness.And this it is must truly forge my sword.Maria told me this at mine abyss.

Strader:

Whatever else thy words may say to me,

They show me that my lot is loneliness.

And this it is must truly forge my sword.

Maria told me this at mine abyss.

(Benedictus and Maria retire a little way; Strader remains alone; the soul of Theodora appears.)

Theodora’s Soul:And Theodora in the worlds of lightWill make warmth for thee that thy spirit-swordMay keenly smite the foes of thine own soul.

Theodora’s Soul:

And Theodora in the worlds of light

Will make warmth for thee that thy spirit-sword

May keenly smite the foes of thine own soul.

(Disappears. Exit Strader. Benedictus and Maria come to the front of stage.)

Maria:My learned teacher, ne’er yet did I hearThee tell disciples, who had reached the stageOf Strader, in such tones the words of fate.Will his soul run its course so speedilyThat these words’ power will prove of use to him?

Maria:

My learned teacher, ne’er yet did I hear

Thee tell disciples, who had reached the stage

Of Strader, in such tones the words of fate.

Will his soul run its course so speedily

That these words’ power will prove of use to him?

Benedictus:Fate gave the order, and it was fulfilled.

Benedictus:

Fate gave the order, and it was fulfilled.

Maria:And if the power should prove no use to him,Will not its evils also fall on thee?

Maria:

And if the power should prove no use to him,

Will not its evils also fall on thee?

Benedictus:’Twill not be evil; yet I do not knowIn what way it will manifest in him.My gaze at present penetrates to realmsWhere such advice illuminates my soul;But I see not the scene of its result.And if I try to see, my vision dies.

Benedictus:

’Twill not be evil; yet I do not know

In what way it will manifest in him.

My gaze at present penetrates to realms

Where such advice illuminates my soul;

But I see not the scene of its result.

And if I try to see, my vision dies.

Maria:Thy vision dies,—my guide and leader, thine?—Who stays for thee thy seership’s certain gaze?

Maria:

Thy vision dies,—my guide and leader, thine?—

Who stays for thee thy seership’s certain gaze?

Benedictus:Johannes flees therewith to cosmic space;We must pursue;—for I can hear him call.

Benedictus:

Johannes flees therewith to cosmic space;

We must pursue;—for I can hear him call.

Maria:He calls,—from spirit-space his call rings out;There sounds within his tone a distant fear.

Maria:

He calls,—from spirit-space his call rings out;

There sounds within his tone a distant fear.

Benedictus:So from the ever empty fields of iceOur mystic friend’s call sounds in cosmic space.

Benedictus:

So from the ever empty fields of ice

Our mystic friend’s call sounds in cosmic space.

Maria:The ice’s cold is burning in my self,And kindling tongues of flame in my soul-depths;The flames are scorching all my power of thought.

Maria:

The ice’s cold is burning in my self,

And kindling tongues of flame in my soul-depths;

The flames are scorching all my power of thought.

Benedictus:In thy soul-depths the fire doth blaze, which nowJohannes kindles in the cosmic frost.

Benedictus:

In thy soul-depths the fire doth blaze, which now

Johannes kindles in the cosmic frost.

Maria:The flames fly off,—they fly off with my thought.

Maria:

The flames fly off,—they fly off with my thought.

And there on distant cosmic shore of soulsA furious fight—my power of thought doth fight—In stormy chaos—and cold spirit-light—My thought-power reels;—the cold light—hammers outHot waves of darkness from my failing thought.What now emergeth from this darkling heat?Clad in red flames my self storms—to the light;—To the cold light—of cosmic fields of ice.

And there on distant cosmic shore of souls

A furious fight—my power of thought doth fight—

In stormy chaos—and cold spirit-light—

My thought-power reels;—the cold light—hammers out

Hot waves of darkness from my failing thought.

What now emergeth from this darkling heat?

Clad in red flames my self storms—to the light;—

To the cold light—of cosmic fields of ice.

Curtain

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