Scene 5

Scene 5The Spirit Realm. The scene is set in floods of significant colour, reddish deepening into fiery red above, blue merging into dark blue and violet below. In the lower part there is an earth-globe which has the effect of being a symbol. The figures that appear seem to blend into a complete whole with the colours. On the left of the stage the group of gnomes as in Scene 2, in front of them Hilary, and in the immediate foreground the soul-forces.Felix Balde’s Soul:(Seated at the extreme right of stage, having the form of a penitent, but arrayed in a light violet robe girdled with gold.)I thank thee, Spirit, wise to govern worlds,My saviour from my gloomy loneliness;Thy word awakens unto work and life.I will make use of what thou giv’st to worldsAbout which I can meditate, whilst thouDost let mine own become insensible.For then thou bearest to them on thy raysThat which in pictures fashioneth powers for me.Lucifer:(Bluish-green glittering under-garment, reddish outer-garment, shaped like a mantle and gleaming brightly, which extends into wing-like outlines; his upper part is not an aura but he wears a mitreof deep red bordered with wings; on his right wing a blue shape having the appearance of a sword; a yellow shape, like the ball of a planet, is supported by his left wing. He stands somewhat behind and to the right, towering over Felix Balde’s soul.)My servant, such activity as thineThe sun-time needs, in which we find ourselves.The earth-star now receives a faded light;It is the time when souls like thine can workUnto the bestadvantageon themselves.On thee I ray forth from my fount of lightThe germs that tend to raise self-consciousness.Go, gather them to make thine ego strong.In later earth-life they will come to flower.There shall the blossoms by thy soul be sought;In its own nature it will take delightWhen it can joy in planning its desires.Felix Balde’s Soul:(gazing at the group of gnomes. From this moment, the gnomes becoming conscious, keep swaying up and down, slightly raising and lowering themselves, as if the group was breathing from above.)There far away, bright being disappears;It floats in shadow-pictures through the depths;And, floating, strives to gain some steadying weight.Hilary’s Soul:(With the figure of a steel-blue-grey elemental spirit changed to resemble a man’s; the head less bowed, and the limbs more human.)The mist of wishes doth reflect the lightThrown on the realm of spirit by earth’s star,The star for which in this world thou dost formFrom soul-material a thinking self.For thee ’tis but a fleeting web of mist,But to themselves they seem like solid souls.On earth they work, by cosmic reason led,In old fire forces, thirsting after form.Felix Balde’s Soul:I will that their weight shall not burden me,Nor shall oppose the tendency to float.(The gnomes cease their movement.)Ahriman:Thy speech is good. Swift will I seize thy wordsThat I may keep them for myself unharmed.Thou canst not yet develop them thyself.But on the earth they would fill thee with hate.Strader’s Soul:(Toward the left of stage; only his head is visible; it is in a yellowish-green aura with red and orange stars. At this moment on Strader’s immediate left appears the Soul of Capesius. Similarly only his head is to be seen. It is in a blue aura with red and yellow stars.)I hear a word which sounds and sounds again.It seems significant, and yet the soundDoth vanish, and the lust for life doth seizeIts echoed answer. Which road would it take?The Other Philia:(Arrayed like a copy of Lucifer, though the radiance is lacking. Instead of thesword she has a sort of dagger, and in place of the planet a red ball like a fruit.)It travels onward in its search for weightUnto the place where radiant being fadesAnd misty pictures surge into the depths.If thou dost keep its meaning in thy realmI’ll bring its power to thee within the mist;Then thou wilt re-discover it on earth.Philia:(Figure like an angel, yellow merging into a sort of white, with wings of a bright violet, a lighter shade than Maria has later on.—All three soul-figures are near Strader’s soul and stand in the centre of the stage.)The mist-creations I will tend for theeThat they may not when conscious guide thy will;That will I unto cosmic light entrustWherein they form the heat thy nature needs.Astrid:(Figure like an angel, robed in bright violet, with blue wings.)I beam forth clear and wondrous life of starsTo beings, that they may make forms therefrom.They to thine earthly body shall give strength,From knowledge far, but near to heart’s intent.Luna:(Figure like an angel, robe of blue and red, with orange wings.)The weighty being, they with toil create,In thy sense-body will I later hide;That thou mayst not in thought turn it to illAnd thus stir up a storm in earthly life.Strader’s Soul:The three were speaking to me sunshine’s words,They work for me where I can see them work.Full many figures are they fashioning;I feel an impulse by soul-power to changeThem with design, and make them one with me.Awake in me, O royal solar powerThat by resistance I may dim thy might;Desire brought from moon ages moves me thus.A golden glow now stirs, I feel its warmth,And silver sheen, forth-spraying though yet cold;Awake, Mercurial longing, once againAnd wed my severed cosmic self to me.Well do I feel that once again a partIs formed from out that picture, which I hereFrom cosmic spirit forces must create.Capesius’ Soul:On that far shore of souls I see emergeA picture that ne’er touched my being yetSince I escaped the clutch of earthly life.It rays out grace and soothes with soft appeal.The warming glow of wisdom streams therefrom,And clarifying light gives to my soul.Could I but make this picture one with meI should attain what I am thirsting for.Yet know I not the power which could availTo make this picture active in my sphere.Luna:That which two earth-lives gave thee thou must feel.One, many years ago, slid gently byIn earnest effort; later on thou hadstOne by ambition soiled; which must be fedWith strengthening grace descending from the first,That Jupiter’s fire-souls may be revealedWithin the circle of thy spirit-sight.Then shalt thou feel that wisdom strengthens thee.Then will the picture, which thou see’st afarUpon the borders of thy soul’s expanse,Be set at liberty to come to thee.Capesius’ Soul:I needs must be indebted to the soulThat now prepares for being, since it showsA warning picture in my soul’s expanse.Astrid:Thou art indeed; but not as yet doth itDemand a payment in thy next earth-life.This picture serves to give thee powers of thoughtThat thou as man mayst recognize the manWho shows his earthly future to thee here.The Other Philia:The picture may indeed come closer yetBut cannot penetrate thy very self.And so restrain its longing for thyself,That thou mayst find thyself on earth againEre it can flow into thine inmost self.Capesius’ Soul:I feel before what I shall owe to itWhen I shall will to bring it near to me,Yet can assert that I am free therefrom.From Philia’s domain I now beholdIn picture-sequences the energyWhich I shall gather from its near approach.Philia:When Saturn soon his many-coloured lightShall ray on thee, use well the favour’d hour.Then through his power in thy soul’s vehicleThat which in spirit is akin to theeWill plant the roots of thought, which will discloseThe meaning of the cyclic life of earthWhen thou dost tread again this star thyself.Capesius:Thy counsel shall become my monitorAs soon as Saturn pours his light on me.Lucifer:One more thing will I waken in these souls;The view of worlds whose light will cause them pain,Ere they can leave this sun-time fortifiedWith powers for later life upon the earth.Pain must through doubt mature their fruit in them,So will I summon up those spheres of soulWhich they have not the strength to look upon.(The souls of Benedictus and Maria appear in the middle of the region. Benedictus as a figure reproducing in miniature the configurationof the entire scenery. Below, his robe, becoming broader, shades into blue-green; around his head is an aura of red, yellow and blue; the blue blends into the blue-green of the entire robe. Maria on his right as an angelic figure; yellow shading into gold, without feet and with bright violet wings.)Benedictus’ Soul:Thou dost weigh heavy on my cosmic taskWith these opaque earth-laden spheres of thine.If thou dost give thine own self further powerThen wilt thou find that in this spirit-lifeMine own sun-nature will not shine on thee.Maria:He was unknown to thee, when thou didst lastA robe, of earthly matter woven, wear;Yet doth it still bear fruit in thy soul sheath—The sunshine’s word of power, with which he fedThee kindly in far distant times on earth.Search out thy nature’s deepest impulsesAnd thou shalt feel him near thee then with power.Felix Balde’s Soul:Words issue out of circles strange to me,And yet their tones illuminate me not:And so they are not fully real to me.Strader’s Soul:On spirit-shores illumination works,Yet howsoe’er I strive to understandThe sense of these light-forces, they are dumb.Dame Balde’s Soul:(Figure of a penitent with white coif, like that of a nun; robe yellow-orange, with silver girdle; she appears quite close to Maria; on her right and near Felix Balde.)Ye souls now summoned up by Lucifer!The penitent doth hear your voices’ tone,But only sunshine’s voice doth give him light;Its super-splendour doth destroy your voice.The other can behold your starry light,But starry writing is to himunknown.Capesius’ Soul:The starry writing! this word wakens thoughts,And bears them on the waves of soul to me.Thoughts which in earth-lives in the distant pastWere to my being wondrously revealedThey lighten still, yet—as they grow, they fade;Oblivion sheds its gloomy shade around.The Guardian:(Enter the Guardian of the Threshold, like an angel, symbolically arrayed and steps to the side of the souls of Maria and Benedictus.)Ye souls who now at Lucifer’s demandHave drawn near the bounds of other souls,In this domain ye are within my power.The souls whom ye are seeking seek you too.Within this cosmic age ’tis not ordainedTheir beings shall touch yours within their spheresNot e’en in thought;—and so do ye bewareLest to their orbits ye should force your way.Should ye do this, ’twould harm both them and you.I should be bound to take away from youThe starry light, and banish you from themFor cosmic ages into other spheres.Curtain falls slowlyScene 6A similar sceneThe same characters are still in their places. The lighting is full of warm shades, but not too bright. Toward the right of stage the sylphs keep swaying to and fro. In front Philia, Astrid, and Luna.Capesius’ Soul:(Standing on the left of stage near the middle.)The picture, that in sunshine’s hour I saw,Beamed grace and worked with gentle kindliness;E’en now within my being it holds sway,When other wisdom-light illuminatesThis spirit-realm with many-coloured rays,Yet now the picture’s influence doth grow.It bids me draw therefrom, for future timesOn earth, that which the soul who stands revealedWithin the picture and hath mighty weightIn mine own sphere, once gave to my sense-life,Yet doth no powerful current of desire.Direct me to this soul.Romanus’ Soul:(A figure showing all the upper part of the body down to the hips; it has mighty red wings which extend round its head in such a way as tochange into a red aura, running into blue on the outer edge; it stands on the left of Capesius’ soul, whilst close are the souls of Bellicosus and Torquatus further still to left of stage, facing audience.)Direct me to this soul.Wake in thyselfThe picture of the Jew who heard naught elseBut hate and ridicule on every side,Yet truly served the mystic brotherhoodOf which thou wast a member once on earth.Capesius’ Soul:Thought-pictures now begin to dawn in me,And seek to seize me in their powerful grasp.See Simon’s image rise from my soul-waves—And see, another joins him—some soul-shape—A penitent;—would I might keep him far!(Referring to Balde, or Joseph Keane in the previous play.)Romanus’ Soul:That which he here must do can but be doneIn cosmic sunshine-time; in solitudeAnd robed in darkness he must wend his wayWhilst Saturn doth light up this spirit-realm.Capesius’ Soul:How doth this penitent bewilder me!His soul’s irradiations burn and boreTheir way into mine own Soul’s inmost core—So work these souls who have attained the powerTo see the inmost depths of other souls.Felix Balde’s Soul:(From the extreme right of stage with hollow veiled voice.)‘Dear Keane, thou hast been ever true to me’—Capesius’ Soul:Myself—my very words—from out his mouthRe-echoed—ringing out—in spirit-realms!Here is a soul that I must try to meet.It knows me well,—through it I’ll find myself.(Capesius’ soul disappears; the ‘other Philia’ comes into view on the right of stage with Theodora’s soul; behind her Dame Balde’s soul.)Romanus’ Soul:Two souls do there draw nigh the penitent;The spirit whom through love souls ever chooseTo be their leader goes ahead of them.The light of meekness pours from one of themAnd flows into the other, who appearsTo us as penitent. The picture glowsWith beauty’s light, which here as wisdom lives.Torquatus’ Soul:(Figure visible as far as the breast, blue aura, green wings.)Desire’s reflection dost them but beholdWhich I allow to shine from my soul’s sheathInto thy sphere in loyal spirit-troth.Fate’s primal forces have appointed meTo be the means to give thee meekness here.Thus souls in spirit do serve other souls.Thy cold hard reason never could attainLife’s gift of sympathy without mine aid.Bellicosus’ Soul:(Figure visible like that of Torquatus’ soul, but with blue-violet aura and blue-green wings.)Make strong thy spirit-ear to understandWhat says the soul who rays out meekness’ light.’Neath Saturn’s beam souls can be brought to showThis gleam of noble spirit-blessedness.Theodora’s Soul:(Angelic figure; white with yellow wings and blue-yellow aura.)My loyal spirit-comrade, pour on himIn softening glow the love that permeatesThine own soul-sheath, for it will soothe for himThe all-consuming fire of solitude—And do thou unto him direct thought-raysFrom yonder shadow-souls who at this timeDo gather forces in the spirit-worldsThat their soul-bodies may thus gleam with life,That so their gleaming, glowing life may serveTo strengthen in forthcoming lives on earthClairvoyant consciousness in human souls.Dame Balde’s Soul:(To Felix.)Feel me, thou spirit garbed as penitent.O thou sun-soul, receive the power of stars.Until thy spirit-sheath doth free itselfFrom Lucifer’s dominion, I shall beBeside thee in thy solitude to bringThee powers which I shall roam o’er cosmic spaceFrom star to star to gather up for thee.Theodora’s Soul:Past thoughts of earth arise in glowing lightOn yonder shore of souls. A human form.I saw it when on earth; it follows here;What once I heard is now re-echoed here;(Lucifer appears with the soul of Johannes, who has the appearance of an angel. His robes rose-coloured with lilac rose-coloured wings. No feet.)‘From out God’s being rose the human soul;It can in death dive down to nature’s depths;In time it will set spirit free from death.’The Other Philia:This sounding living picture-being bringsThe force of noble brother-love to usWhich thou didst faithfully display on earth.I’ll change it into soul-power for thy use.The message I direct unto thy soulAbsorbs the glimm’ring light of shadow-souls,Who, during earth-life will arouse in theeThe thoughts they brood on through eternity.And thou, the penitent of spirit-realms,Direct thy soul-steps onward to the stars;There nature-spirits long to use thy workWherefrom they will beam fantasy to soulsAnd so will fashion wings for life on earth.Dame Balde’s Soul:I follow thee, dear sister of my soul,My Philia, who dost weave love from starTo star and from one spirit to the next.I follow thee aloft to starry worlds,I take thy words to many cosmic spheres,And thus by spirit-work build up myselfFor mine own future wanderings on earth.(Felix Balde’s soul disappears slowly, led by Dame Balde’s soul; Theodora stands motionless looking at Johannes’ soul, then she also disappears, as does Lucifer with the soul of Johannes.)Romanus’ Soul:That which we just have witnessed in this place,How love’s word works with the creative wordIn closest union, doth arouse in usGerms we shall need in future lives on earth.(The souls of Romanus, Torquatus, and Bellicosus disappear—Benedictus’ soul and Maria’s soul appear by the side of the Guardian of the Threshold, who now enters.)The Guardian:Behold the cosmic midnight of yourselves!I hold you ’neath the spell of ripened lightWhich pours on you from Saturn, till your sheaths,More strongly waking through this same light’s powerBecome self-luminous, with living hues.Maria’s Soul:Doth cosmic midnight come when souls awake?It was the moon-time, when the sun declaredThe earnest word of Fate, that human souls,Who see their cosmic midnight hour awake,See lightnings, which with instantaneous flashLight up the things that are to be, but passAgain so quickly that the spirit-sightDies at the very moment of its birth—And death becomes a seal of destinyFor ever stamped upon the souls who saw.Such souls hear too the words of thunder clearWhich dully roll through cosmic fundamentsAnd threaten soul-illusion as they roll.(Lucifer reappears with the Soul of Johannes.)Benedictus’ Soul:From ever empty fields of ice fate’s cryDoth reach to us from our dear mystic friend.When we the cosmic midnight can perceive,We reach the spirit-circle of the soul.Maria’s Soul:The flames draw nigh, they draw nigh with my thoughtThere from my distant cosmic shore of souls;A fierce strife doth draw nigh;—’tis mine own thoughtWhich battles with the thoughts of Lucifer;—Mine own thought battles in another’s soul,—The hot light issues—out of gloomy cold—Like lightning flashes. Is this hot soul-light—This soul-light—in the cosmic fields of ice?Lucifer:The light thou seest—’tis my hot cosmic light—See too the lightning flashes of thy thoughtStrike from the bounds of Lucifer’s domain.I bring within the focus of thy gazeThe soul so long and closely bound to theeWhen thou dost feel thy cosmic midnight hour.Henceforth thy search must find another wayTo come into communion with this soul.O soul, who to this place hast followed me,Display and use the forces of the lightWhich Saturn on her cosmic midnight pours.Johannes’ Soul:I can feel souls, but have not yet the powerTo make their light grow visible in me.However close they are they generateThoughts which but serve to light me from afar.How can I raise them to mine inner sight?Philia:Thou wilt see them if thou dost swiftly graspWhat they illumine in the cosmic light;Shouldst thou behold, use well that moment’s space;Light such as this is quickly gone again.Johannes’ Soul:What yonder guide’s soul to his pupil speaks,—That pupil’s soul so near and dear to me,—Should now illuminate my soul’s domain.Benedictus’ Soul:Bring forth within this spirit-midnight hourThe will that thou desir’st to feel againWhen earthly forces once more clothe thy form.Thy words shall prove a light to thy friend’s soul.Maria’s Soul:Let then my words grow strong in cosmic light,Which at this cosmic midnight I confideUnto the soul brought me by Lucifer.Whatever in mine inmost soul is dearI will behold it and, beholding, speak,That it may form itself into a tone,To which this soul shall answer when on earth,And, loving it, shall live as it commands.What now do I see in mine inmost soul?A lofty counsel in flame-letters writ.My love for that dear guiding-soul flames out,Who in mine earth—as in my spirit-lifeHath led me on through each successive age;Who ever found me when mine instant prayerSought help in danger, even when it dweltOn spirit-heights itself; in dazzling lightThis love appears to me; sound out from me,Thou word of love, unto this other soul.What flames are those this word of love doth wake?They glow so gently, yet their gentle lightPours forth a sense of lofty dignity;By wisdom’s lightnings, whence a blessing flows,The cosmic ether is lit up around—And bliss comes pouring with attendant joyO’er all the compass of my soul’s domain.Of thee, Duration, would I crave a boon;Pour out thyself into this blessedness,And let my guide and let that other soulNow dwell therein with me in peacefulness.The Guardian:Now let the lightnings vanish into naughtWhose sharp flash brings to view necessitiesWhen souls awake and feel the Cosmic North.Let thunder also lose its roar, which rollsIn warning at the cosmic midnight hour.Astrid, to thee I give a strict command:Keep close watch o’er this thunder-storm of soulsTill in the course of time the soul awakesTo find its cosmic midnight once again,Then shall it see itself in other guise,E’en in a picture of an olden time,And know how strength for lofty spirit-flightE’en from disaster may the soul’s wings gain.A soul may never wish itself to fall;Yet, when it falls it must a lesson learn.Astrid:The lightning’s power and thunder’s will I guardAnd keep them safe within the cosmic life,Till Saturn turns toward the soul once more.Maria:I feel the blessedness of stars endure,And in the stream of time I enter it.I’ll live and work within its kindly swayWith this soul-being long since knit to mine.Luna:I will protect thy work in spirit here,That thou mayst reap the fruits in life on earth.Johannes’ Soul:Within my soul’s domain—I see this star!It pours forth kindness—beams forth blessedness—In cosmic ether floating—this soul star—But there—in yon faint light—another star—Its note is faint,—yet will I list thereto.(With the last words appears the spirit of Johannes’ youth. Figure like an angel’s; silvery sheen.)The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:I feed with life the being of thy wish,My breath will pour into thy youthful aimsEnlightening strength, when worlds are tempting theeWithin which I can guide thee joyfully.If thou shouldst lose me in thyself, I mustThen offer up myself as sacrifice,A being reft of being, to the shades.O blossom of my being,—leave me not.Lucifer:He never will forsake thee—I beholdDeep in his nature longings after lightWhich do not follow up the other soul.And when the radiance, which is born of them,Takes root and grows deep down within his soul,It must bear fruit; nor will he be contentTo throw this fruit away in yonder realmWhere love, divorced from beauty, reigns alone.Slow curtainScene 7A temple somewhat Egyptian in appearance. A place of initiation in the far-distant past in this Earth’s third stage of post-Atlantean civilisation. A conversation between the hierophant, otherwise Capesius, the keeper of the temple, otherwise Felix Balde or Joseph Keane and a mystic, otherwise Dame Balde or Dame Keane.Hierophant:Are all the preparations duly made,My keeper of the temple, to the endOur holy rite may serve both gods and men?Keeper:So far as human forethought can provideAll hath been well prepared; a holy breathHath filled the temple now for many days.Hierophant:My mystic, as the royal counsellor,A priest hath been selected unto whomThis very day our secret wisdom’s storeIs with all holiness to be revealed.Hast thou then so prepared him by thy testsThat he is now entirely given o’erTo wisdom set apart from earthly cares,And shuts his ear to all but spirit-lore?A different counsellor would do us harm.Mystic:The tests were given as the law ordains,The masters found them adequate; I thinkOur mystic hath but little natural tasteFor earthly cares; his soul is set uponHis spirit-progress and developmentOf self; in spirit trance he oft is seen.’Tis not too much to say he revels inThe union of the spirit with his soul.Hierophant:Has thou then often seen him in this state?Mystic:In truth he may thus frequently be seen.His nature doubtless is inclined towardThe temple’s service rather than the state’s.Hierophant:It is enough. Now go to thine own placeAnd see our holy rite is well performed;(Exit Mystic.)To thee, my keeper, I have more to say.Thou knowest how I prize thy mystic gifts:To me thou bearest wisdom far beyondThat which befits thy status in this shrine.Oft to thy seership have I had recourseTo prove what mine own spirit-sight hath seen.And so I ask, what confidence hast thouThat this new mystic is for spirit ripe?Keeper:Who asks for my opinion? Is my voiceOf any worth?Hierophant:Of any worth?It aye hath worth for me.Today again thou shalt stand by my side;We must most closely watch this holy riteWith inward sight; and, should the ‘mystic’ proveE’en in the slightest way unripe as yetFor its high meaning in the spirit life,I shall refuse him rank as ‘counsellor.’Keeper:What is it then that now may be revealedIn this new ‘mystic’ at our holy rite.Hierophant:I know he is not worthy of the trustThe temple servants seek to give to him.His human nature is well known to me.His mystic-sense is not that heartfelt urgeWhich stirs in men when light from spirit realmsIn kindness draws souls upwards to itself.Strong passion surges in his being yet;The craving of his senses is not stilled.Indeed I would not blame the will divine,Which e’en in craving and in passion poursIts wisdom-light o’er evolution’s stream.But when the craving doth conceal itself,And revel ’neath devotion’s mystic mask,It causeth thought to lie, and makes will false.The light that weaves the web of spirit-worldsCan never penetrate unto such souls,Since passion spreads a mystic fog between.Keeper:My hierophant, thy judgment is severeIn dealing with a man who still is youngAnd inexperienced, who can neither knowHimself nor take another course than thatWhich priestly guides and mystic leaders sayDoth reach the goal along the soul’s true path.Hierophant:I do not judge the man, I judge the deedThat will be wrought here in this holy place.This holy mystic rite, which we perform,Hath not importance for ourselves alone.Fate’s stream of cosmic evolution poursThrough word and deed of sacred priestly rites.What happens here in pictures comes to passIn everlasting life in spirit-worlds.But now, good keeper, get thee to thy task;Thou wilt thyself discover how to lendAssistance to me in this holy rite.(Exit Keeper, right.)Hierophant.(alone)This youthful mystic will not be to blame,Who hopes this day to dedicate himselfUnto the wisdom, if in these next hoursA wrong emotion, such as may gush outUnheeded from his heart, should throw its raysUpon our sacred rite, and in this actShould through our symbols draw nigh spirit-spheresWhence ill results in consequence must flowInto the current of our human life.The guides and leaders are themselves to blame.Have they not learned to know the mystic forceWhich penetrates in some mysterious wayWith spirit every word and sigh of ours;And ceases not from action even whenThe contents of a soul are poured thereinWhich hinders cosmic evolution’s course?Instead of this young mystic consciouslyHere to the spirit off’ring up himself,His teachers drag him like a sacrificeInto the holy precincts, where his soulUnconsciously he to the spirit yields.For verily he would not take this roadIf he were conscious master of his soul.Within the circle of our mysteriesThe highest hierophant alone doth knowWhat mystic truths lurk in our sacred forms.But he is dumb as solitude itself.Such silence his high dignity commands.The others gaze uncomprehendinglyWhen of our ritual’s real intent I speak.So am I left to bear my cares alone;Well-nigh unbearable their burden seemsWhen all the meaning of our ritualAnd of our temple is borne in on me.One thing especially I deeply feel—The solitude of this stern spirit-shrine.Why do I feel so lonely in this place?The soul must ask this question. When, ah, whenWill to my soul the spirit make reply?Curtain falls slowly

The Spirit Realm. The scene is set in floods of significant colour, reddish deepening into fiery red above, blue merging into dark blue and violet below. In the lower part there is an earth-globe which has the effect of being a symbol. The figures that appear seem to blend into a complete whole with the colours. On the left of the stage the group of gnomes as in Scene 2, in front of them Hilary, and in the immediate foreground the soul-forces.

Felix Balde’s Soul:(Seated at the extreme right of stage, having the form of a penitent, but arrayed in a light violet robe girdled with gold.)I thank thee, Spirit, wise to govern worlds,My saviour from my gloomy loneliness;Thy word awakens unto work and life.I will make use of what thou giv’st to worldsAbout which I can meditate, whilst thouDost let mine own become insensible.For then thou bearest to them on thy raysThat which in pictures fashioneth powers for me.

Felix Balde’s Soul:(Seated at the extreme right of stage, having the form of a penitent, but arrayed in a light violet robe girdled with gold.)

I thank thee, Spirit, wise to govern worlds,

My saviour from my gloomy loneliness;

Thy word awakens unto work and life.

I will make use of what thou giv’st to worlds

About which I can meditate, whilst thou

Dost let mine own become insensible.

For then thou bearest to them on thy rays

That which in pictures fashioneth powers for me.

Lucifer:(Bluish-green glittering under-garment, reddish outer-garment, shaped like a mantle and gleaming brightly, which extends into wing-like outlines; his upper part is not an aura but he wears a mitreof deep red bordered with wings; on his right wing a blue shape having the appearance of a sword; a yellow shape, like the ball of a planet, is supported by his left wing. He stands somewhat behind and to the right, towering over Felix Balde’s soul.)My servant, such activity as thineThe sun-time needs, in which we find ourselves.The earth-star now receives a faded light;It is the time when souls like thine can workUnto the bestadvantageon themselves.On thee I ray forth from my fount of lightThe germs that tend to raise self-consciousness.Go, gather them to make thine ego strong.In later earth-life they will come to flower.There shall the blossoms by thy soul be sought;In its own nature it will take delightWhen it can joy in planning its desires.

My servant, such activity as thine

The sun-time needs, in which we find ourselves.

The earth-star now receives a faded light;

It is the time when souls like thine can work

Unto the bestadvantageon themselves.

On thee I ray forth from my fount of light

The germs that tend to raise self-consciousness.

Go, gather them to make thine ego strong.

In later earth-life they will come to flower.

There shall the blossoms by thy soul be sought;

In its own nature it will take delight

When it can joy in planning its desires.

Felix Balde’s Soul:(gazing at the group of gnomes. From this moment, the gnomes becoming conscious, keep swaying up and down, slightly raising and lowering themselves, as if the group was breathing from above.)There far away, bright being disappears;It floats in shadow-pictures through the depths;And, floating, strives to gain some steadying weight.

There far away, bright being disappears;

It floats in shadow-pictures through the depths;

And, floating, strives to gain some steadying weight.

Hilary’s Soul:(With the figure of a steel-blue-grey elemental spirit changed to resemble a man’s; the head less bowed, and the limbs more human.)The mist of wishes doth reflect the lightThrown on the realm of spirit by earth’s star,The star for which in this world thou dost formFrom soul-material a thinking self.For thee ’tis but a fleeting web of mist,But to themselves they seem like solid souls.On earth they work, by cosmic reason led,In old fire forces, thirsting after form.

Hilary’s Soul:(With the figure of a steel-blue-grey elemental spirit changed to resemble a man’s; the head less bowed, and the limbs more human.)

The mist of wishes doth reflect the light

Thrown on the realm of spirit by earth’s star,

The star for which in this world thou dost form

From soul-material a thinking self.

For thee ’tis but a fleeting web of mist,

But to themselves they seem like solid souls.

On earth they work, by cosmic reason led,

In old fire forces, thirsting after form.

Felix Balde’s Soul:I will that their weight shall not burden me,Nor shall oppose the tendency to float.

Felix Balde’s Soul:

I will that their weight shall not burden me,

Nor shall oppose the tendency to float.

(The gnomes cease their movement.)

Ahriman:Thy speech is good. Swift will I seize thy wordsThat I may keep them for myself unharmed.Thou canst not yet develop them thyself.But on the earth they would fill thee with hate.

Ahriman:

Thy speech is good. Swift will I seize thy words

That I may keep them for myself unharmed.

Thou canst not yet develop them thyself.

But on the earth they would fill thee with hate.

Strader’s Soul:(Toward the left of stage; only his head is visible; it is in a yellowish-green aura with red and orange stars. At this moment on Strader’s immediate left appears the Soul of Capesius. Similarly only his head is to be seen. It is in a blue aura with red and yellow stars.)I hear a word which sounds and sounds again.It seems significant, and yet the soundDoth vanish, and the lust for life doth seizeIts echoed answer. Which road would it take?

I hear a word which sounds and sounds again.

It seems significant, and yet the sound

Doth vanish, and the lust for life doth seize

Its echoed answer. Which road would it take?

The Other Philia:(Arrayed like a copy of Lucifer, though the radiance is lacking. Instead of thesword she has a sort of dagger, and in place of the planet a red ball like a fruit.)It travels onward in its search for weightUnto the place where radiant being fadesAnd misty pictures surge into the depths.If thou dost keep its meaning in thy realmI’ll bring its power to thee within the mist;Then thou wilt re-discover it on earth.

The Other Philia:(Arrayed like a copy of Lucifer, though the radiance is lacking. Instead of thesword she has a sort of dagger, and in place of the planet a red ball like a fruit.)

It travels onward in its search for weight

Unto the place where radiant being fades

And misty pictures surge into the depths.

If thou dost keep its meaning in thy realm

I’ll bring its power to thee within the mist;

Then thou wilt re-discover it on earth.

Philia:(Figure like an angel, yellow merging into a sort of white, with wings of a bright violet, a lighter shade than Maria has later on.—All three soul-figures are near Strader’s soul and stand in the centre of the stage.)The mist-creations I will tend for theeThat they may not when conscious guide thy will;That will I unto cosmic light entrustWherein they form the heat thy nature needs.

The mist-creations I will tend for thee

That they may not when conscious guide thy will;

That will I unto cosmic light entrust

Wherein they form the heat thy nature needs.

Astrid:(Figure like an angel, robed in bright violet, with blue wings.)I beam forth clear and wondrous life of starsTo beings, that they may make forms therefrom.They to thine earthly body shall give strength,From knowledge far, but near to heart’s intent.

Astrid:(Figure like an angel, robed in bright violet, with blue wings.)

I beam forth clear and wondrous life of stars

To beings, that they may make forms therefrom.

They to thine earthly body shall give strength,

From knowledge far, but near to heart’s intent.

Luna:(Figure like an angel, robe of blue and red, with orange wings.)The weighty being, they with toil create,In thy sense-body will I later hide;That thou mayst not in thought turn it to illAnd thus stir up a storm in earthly life.

Luna:(Figure like an angel, robe of blue and red, with orange wings.)

The weighty being, they with toil create,

In thy sense-body will I later hide;

That thou mayst not in thought turn it to ill

And thus stir up a storm in earthly life.

Strader’s Soul:The three were speaking to me sunshine’s words,They work for me where I can see them work.Full many figures are they fashioning;I feel an impulse by soul-power to changeThem with design, and make them one with me.Awake in me, O royal solar powerThat by resistance I may dim thy might;Desire brought from moon ages moves me thus.A golden glow now stirs, I feel its warmth,And silver sheen, forth-spraying though yet cold;Awake, Mercurial longing, once againAnd wed my severed cosmic self to me.

Strader’s Soul:

The three were speaking to me sunshine’s words,

They work for me where I can see them work.

Full many figures are they fashioning;

I feel an impulse by soul-power to change

Them with design, and make them one with me.

Awake in me, O royal solar power

That by resistance I may dim thy might;

Desire brought from moon ages moves me thus.

A golden glow now stirs, I feel its warmth,

And silver sheen, forth-spraying though yet cold;

Awake, Mercurial longing, once again

And wed my severed cosmic self to me.

Well do I feel that once again a partIs formed from out that picture, which I hereFrom cosmic spirit forces must create.

Well do I feel that once again a part

Is formed from out that picture, which I here

From cosmic spirit forces must create.

Capesius’ Soul:On that far shore of souls I see emergeA picture that ne’er touched my being yetSince I escaped the clutch of earthly life.It rays out grace and soothes with soft appeal.The warming glow of wisdom streams therefrom,And clarifying light gives to my soul.Could I but make this picture one with meI should attain what I am thirsting for.Yet know I not the power which could availTo make this picture active in my sphere.

Capesius’ Soul:

On that far shore of souls I see emerge

A picture that ne’er touched my being yet

Since I escaped the clutch of earthly life.

It rays out grace and soothes with soft appeal.

The warming glow of wisdom streams therefrom,

And clarifying light gives to my soul.

Could I but make this picture one with me

I should attain what I am thirsting for.

Yet know I not the power which could avail

To make this picture active in my sphere.

Luna:That which two earth-lives gave thee thou must feel.One, many years ago, slid gently byIn earnest effort; later on thou hadstOne by ambition soiled; which must be fedWith strengthening grace descending from the first,That Jupiter’s fire-souls may be revealedWithin the circle of thy spirit-sight.Then shalt thou feel that wisdom strengthens thee.Then will the picture, which thou see’st afarUpon the borders of thy soul’s expanse,Be set at liberty to come to thee.

Luna:

That which two earth-lives gave thee thou must feel.

One, many years ago, slid gently by

In earnest effort; later on thou hadst

One by ambition soiled; which must be fed

With strengthening grace descending from the first,

That Jupiter’s fire-souls may be revealed

Within the circle of thy spirit-sight.

Then shalt thou feel that wisdom strengthens thee.

Then will the picture, which thou see’st afar

Upon the borders of thy soul’s expanse,

Be set at liberty to come to thee.

Capesius’ Soul:I needs must be indebted to the soulThat now prepares for being, since it showsA warning picture in my soul’s expanse.

Capesius’ Soul:

I needs must be indebted to the soul

That now prepares for being, since it shows

A warning picture in my soul’s expanse.

Astrid:Thou art indeed; but not as yet doth itDemand a payment in thy next earth-life.This picture serves to give thee powers of thoughtThat thou as man mayst recognize the manWho shows his earthly future to thee here.

Astrid:

Thou art indeed; but not as yet doth it

Demand a payment in thy next earth-life.

This picture serves to give thee powers of thought

That thou as man mayst recognize the man

Who shows his earthly future to thee here.

The Other Philia:The picture may indeed come closer yetBut cannot penetrate thy very self.And so restrain its longing for thyself,That thou mayst find thyself on earth againEre it can flow into thine inmost self.

The Other Philia:

The picture may indeed come closer yet

But cannot penetrate thy very self.

And so restrain its longing for thyself,

That thou mayst find thyself on earth again

Ere it can flow into thine inmost self.

Capesius’ Soul:I feel before what I shall owe to itWhen I shall will to bring it near to me,Yet can assert that I am free therefrom.From Philia’s domain I now beholdIn picture-sequences the energyWhich I shall gather from its near approach.

Capesius’ Soul:

I feel before what I shall owe to it

When I shall will to bring it near to me,

Yet can assert that I am free therefrom.

From Philia’s domain I now behold

In picture-sequences the energy

Which I shall gather from its near approach.

Philia:When Saturn soon his many-coloured lightShall ray on thee, use well the favour’d hour.Then through his power in thy soul’s vehicleThat which in spirit is akin to theeWill plant the roots of thought, which will discloseThe meaning of the cyclic life of earthWhen thou dost tread again this star thyself.

Philia:

When Saturn soon his many-coloured light

Shall ray on thee, use well the favour’d hour.

Then through his power in thy soul’s vehicle

That which in spirit is akin to thee

Will plant the roots of thought, which will disclose

The meaning of the cyclic life of earth

When thou dost tread again this star thyself.

Capesius:Thy counsel shall become my monitorAs soon as Saturn pours his light on me.

Capesius:

Thy counsel shall become my monitor

As soon as Saturn pours his light on me.

Lucifer:One more thing will I waken in these souls;The view of worlds whose light will cause them pain,Ere they can leave this sun-time fortifiedWith powers for later life upon the earth.Pain must through doubt mature their fruit in them,So will I summon up those spheres of soulWhich they have not the strength to look upon.

Lucifer:

One more thing will I waken in these souls;

The view of worlds whose light will cause them pain,

Ere they can leave this sun-time fortified

With powers for later life upon the earth.

Pain must through doubt mature their fruit in them,

So will I summon up those spheres of soul

Which they have not the strength to look upon.

(The souls of Benedictus and Maria appear in the middle of the region. Benedictus as a figure reproducing in miniature the configurationof the entire scenery. Below, his robe, becoming broader, shades into blue-green; around his head is an aura of red, yellow and blue; the blue blends into the blue-green of the entire robe. Maria on his right as an angelic figure; yellow shading into gold, without feet and with bright violet wings.)

Benedictus’ Soul:Thou dost weigh heavy on my cosmic taskWith these opaque earth-laden spheres of thine.If thou dost give thine own self further powerThen wilt thou find that in this spirit-lifeMine own sun-nature will not shine on thee.

Benedictus’ Soul:

Thou dost weigh heavy on my cosmic task

With these opaque earth-laden spheres of thine.

If thou dost give thine own self further power

Then wilt thou find that in this spirit-life

Mine own sun-nature will not shine on thee.

Maria:He was unknown to thee, when thou didst lastA robe, of earthly matter woven, wear;Yet doth it still bear fruit in thy soul sheath—The sunshine’s word of power, with which he fedThee kindly in far distant times on earth.Search out thy nature’s deepest impulsesAnd thou shalt feel him near thee then with power.

Maria:

He was unknown to thee, when thou didst last

A robe, of earthly matter woven, wear;

Yet doth it still bear fruit in thy soul sheath—

The sunshine’s word of power, with which he fed

Thee kindly in far distant times on earth.

Search out thy nature’s deepest impulses

And thou shalt feel him near thee then with power.

Felix Balde’s Soul:Words issue out of circles strange to me,And yet their tones illuminate me not:And so they are not fully real to me.

Felix Balde’s Soul:

Words issue out of circles strange to me,

And yet their tones illuminate me not:

And so they are not fully real to me.

Strader’s Soul:On spirit-shores illumination works,Yet howsoe’er I strive to understandThe sense of these light-forces, they are dumb.

Strader’s Soul:

On spirit-shores illumination works,

Yet howsoe’er I strive to understand

The sense of these light-forces, they are dumb.

Dame Balde’s Soul:(Figure of a penitent with white coif, like that of a nun; robe yellow-orange, with silver girdle; she appears quite close to Maria; on her right and near Felix Balde.)Ye souls now summoned up by Lucifer!The penitent doth hear your voices’ tone,But only sunshine’s voice doth give him light;Its super-splendour doth destroy your voice.The other can behold your starry light,But starry writing is to himunknown.

Dame Balde’s Soul:(Figure of a penitent with white coif, like that of a nun; robe yellow-orange, with silver girdle; she appears quite close to Maria; on her right and near Felix Balde.)

Ye souls now summoned up by Lucifer!

The penitent doth hear your voices’ tone,

But only sunshine’s voice doth give him light;

Its super-splendour doth destroy your voice.

The other can behold your starry light,

But starry writing is to himunknown.

Capesius’ Soul:The starry writing! this word wakens thoughts,And bears them on the waves of soul to me.Thoughts which in earth-lives in the distant pastWere to my being wondrously revealed

Capesius’ Soul:

The starry writing! this word wakens thoughts,

And bears them on the waves of soul to me.

Thoughts which in earth-lives in the distant past

Were to my being wondrously revealed

They lighten still, yet—as they grow, they fade;Oblivion sheds its gloomy shade around.

They lighten still, yet—as they grow, they fade;

Oblivion sheds its gloomy shade around.

The Guardian:(Enter the Guardian of the Threshold, like an angel, symbolically arrayed and steps to the side of the souls of Maria and Benedictus.)Ye souls who now at Lucifer’s demandHave drawn near the bounds of other souls,In this domain ye are within my power.The souls whom ye are seeking seek you too.Within this cosmic age ’tis not ordainedTheir beings shall touch yours within their spheresNot e’en in thought;—and so do ye bewareLest to their orbits ye should force your way.Should ye do this, ’twould harm both them and you.I should be bound to take away from youThe starry light, and banish you from themFor cosmic ages into other spheres.

The Guardian:(Enter the Guardian of the Threshold, like an angel, symbolically arrayed and steps to the side of the souls of Maria and Benedictus.)

Ye souls who now at Lucifer’s demand

Have drawn near the bounds of other souls,

In this domain ye are within my power.

The souls whom ye are seeking seek you too.

Within this cosmic age ’tis not ordained

Their beings shall touch yours within their spheres

Not e’en in thought;—and so do ye beware

Lest to their orbits ye should force your way.

Should ye do this, ’twould harm both them and you.

I should be bound to take away from you

The starry light, and banish you from them

For cosmic ages into other spheres.

Curtain falls slowly

Scene 6A similar sceneThe same characters are still in their places. The lighting is full of warm shades, but not too bright. Toward the right of stage the sylphs keep swaying to and fro. In front Philia, Astrid, and Luna.Capesius’ Soul:(Standing on the left of stage near the middle.)The picture, that in sunshine’s hour I saw,Beamed grace and worked with gentle kindliness;E’en now within my being it holds sway,When other wisdom-light illuminatesThis spirit-realm with many-coloured rays,Yet now the picture’s influence doth grow.It bids me draw therefrom, for future timesOn earth, that which the soul who stands revealedWithin the picture and hath mighty weightIn mine own sphere, once gave to my sense-life,Yet doth no powerful current of desire.Direct me to this soul.Romanus’ Soul:(A figure showing all the upper part of the body down to the hips; it has mighty red wings which extend round its head in such a way as tochange into a red aura, running into blue on the outer edge; it stands on the left of Capesius’ soul, whilst close are the souls of Bellicosus and Torquatus further still to left of stage, facing audience.)Direct me to this soul.Wake in thyselfThe picture of the Jew who heard naught elseBut hate and ridicule on every side,Yet truly served the mystic brotherhoodOf which thou wast a member once on earth.Capesius’ Soul:Thought-pictures now begin to dawn in me,And seek to seize me in their powerful grasp.See Simon’s image rise from my soul-waves—And see, another joins him—some soul-shape—A penitent;—would I might keep him far!(Referring to Balde, or Joseph Keane in the previous play.)Romanus’ Soul:That which he here must do can but be doneIn cosmic sunshine-time; in solitudeAnd robed in darkness he must wend his wayWhilst Saturn doth light up this spirit-realm.Capesius’ Soul:How doth this penitent bewilder me!His soul’s irradiations burn and boreTheir way into mine own Soul’s inmost core—So work these souls who have attained the powerTo see the inmost depths of other souls.Felix Balde’s Soul:(From the extreme right of stage with hollow veiled voice.)‘Dear Keane, thou hast been ever true to me’—Capesius’ Soul:Myself—my very words—from out his mouthRe-echoed—ringing out—in spirit-realms!Here is a soul that I must try to meet.It knows me well,—through it I’ll find myself.(Capesius’ soul disappears; the ‘other Philia’ comes into view on the right of stage with Theodora’s soul; behind her Dame Balde’s soul.)Romanus’ Soul:Two souls do there draw nigh the penitent;The spirit whom through love souls ever chooseTo be their leader goes ahead of them.The light of meekness pours from one of themAnd flows into the other, who appearsTo us as penitent. The picture glowsWith beauty’s light, which here as wisdom lives.Torquatus’ Soul:(Figure visible as far as the breast, blue aura, green wings.)Desire’s reflection dost them but beholdWhich I allow to shine from my soul’s sheathInto thy sphere in loyal spirit-troth.Fate’s primal forces have appointed meTo be the means to give thee meekness here.Thus souls in spirit do serve other souls.Thy cold hard reason never could attainLife’s gift of sympathy without mine aid.Bellicosus’ Soul:(Figure visible like that of Torquatus’ soul, but with blue-violet aura and blue-green wings.)Make strong thy spirit-ear to understandWhat says the soul who rays out meekness’ light.’Neath Saturn’s beam souls can be brought to showThis gleam of noble spirit-blessedness.Theodora’s Soul:(Angelic figure; white with yellow wings and blue-yellow aura.)My loyal spirit-comrade, pour on himIn softening glow the love that permeatesThine own soul-sheath, for it will soothe for himThe all-consuming fire of solitude—And do thou unto him direct thought-raysFrom yonder shadow-souls who at this timeDo gather forces in the spirit-worldsThat their soul-bodies may thus gleam with life,That so their gleaming, glowing life may serveTo strengthen in forthcoming lives on earthClairvoyant consciousness in human souls.Dame Balde’s Soul:(To Felix.)Feel me, thou spirit garbed as penitent.O thou sun-soul, receive the power of stars.Until thy spirit-sheath doth free itselfFrom Lucifer’s dominion, I shall beBeside thee in thy solitude to bringThee powers which I shall roam o’er cosmic spaceFrom star to star to gather up for thee.Theodora’s Soul:Past thoughts of earth arise in glowing lightOn yonder shore of souls. A human form.I saw it when on earth; it follows here;What once I heard is now re-echoed here;(Lucifer appears with the soul of Johannes, who has the appearance of an angel. His robes rose-coloured with lilac rose-coloured wings. No feet.)‘From out God’s being rose the human soul;It can in death dive down to nature’s depths;In time it will set spirit free from death.’The Other Philia:This sounding living picture-being bringsThe force of noble brother-love to usWhich thou didst faithfully display on earth.I’ll change it into soul-power for thy use.The message I direct unto thy soulAbsorbs the glimm’ring light of shadow-souls,Who, during earth-life will arouse in theeThe thoughts they brood on through eternity.And thou, the penitent of spirit-realms,Direct thy soul-steps onward to the stars;There nature-spirits long to use thy workWherefrom they will beam fantasy to soulsAnd so will fashion wings for life on earth.Dame Balde’s Soul:I follow thee, dear sister of my soul,My Philia, who dost weave love from starTo star and from one spirit to the next.I follow thee aloft to starry worlds,I take thy words to many cosmic spheres,And thus by spirit-work build up myselfFor mine own future wanderings on earth.(Felix Balde’s soul disappears slowly, led by Dame Balde’s soul; Theodora stands motionless looking at Johannes’ soul, then she also disappears, as does Lucifer with the soul of Johannes.)Romanus’ Soul:That which we just have witnessed in this place,How love’s word works with the creative wordIn closest union, doth arouse in usGerms we shall need in future lives on earth.(The souls of Romanus, Torquatus, and Bellicosus disappear—Benedictus’ soul and Maria’s soul appear by the side of the Guardian of the Threshold, who now enters.)The Guardian:Behold the cosmic midnight of yourselves!I hold you ’neath the spell of ripened lightWhich pours on you from Saturn, till your sheaths,More strongly waking through this same light’s powerBecome self-luminous, with living hues.Maria’s Soul:Doth cosmic midnight come when souls awake?It was the moon-time, when the sun declaredThe earnest word of Fate, that human souls,Who see their cosmic midnight hour awake,See lightnings, which with instantaneous flashLight up the things that are to be, but passAgain so quickly that the spirit-sightDies at the very moment of its birth—And death becomes a seal of destinyFor ever stamped upon the souls who saw.Such souls hear too the words of thunder clearWhich dully roll through cosmic fundamentsAnd threaten soul-illusion as they roll.(Lucifer reappears with the Soul of Johannes.)Benedictus’ Soul:From ever empty fields of ice fate’s cryDoth reach to us from our dear mystic friend.When we the cosmic midnight can perceive,We reach the spirit-circle of the soul.Maria’s Soul:The flames draw nigh, they draw nigh with my thoughtThere from my distant cosmic shore of souls;A fierce strife doth draw nigh;—’tis mine own thoughtWhich battles with the thoughts of Lucifer;—Mine own thought battles in another’s soul,—The hot light issues—out of gloomy cold—Like lightning flashes. Is this hot soul-light—This soul-light—in the cosmic fields of ice?Lucifer:The light thou seest—’tis my hot cosmic light—See too the lightning flashes of thy thoughtStrike from the bounds of Lucifer’s domain.I bring within the focus of thy gazeThe soul so long and closely bound to theeWhen thou dost feel thy cosmic midnight hour.Henceforth thy search must find another wayTo come into communion with this soul.O soul, who to this place hast followed me,Display and use the forces of the lightWhich Saturn on her cosmic midnight pours.Johannes’ Soul:I can feel souls, but have not yet the powerTo make their light grow visible in me.However close they are they generateThoughts which but serve to light me from afar.How can I raise them to mine inner sight?Philia:Thou wilt see them if thou dost swiftly graspWhat they illumine in the cosmic light;Shouldst thou behold, use well that moment’s space;Light such as this is quickly gone again.Johannes’ Soul:What yonder guide’s soul to his pupil speaks,—That pupil’s soul so near and dear to me,—Should now illuminate my soul’s domain.Benedictus’ Soul:Bring forth within this spirit-midnight hourThe will that thou desir’st to feel againWhen earthly forces once more clothe thy form.Thy words shall prove a light to thy friend’s soul.Maria’s Soul:Let then my words grow strong in cosmic light,Which at this cosmic midnight I confideUnto the soul brought me by Lucifer.Whatever in mine inmost soul is dearI will behold it and, beholding, speak,That it may form itself into a tone,To which this soul shall answer when on earth,And, loving it, shall live as it commands.What now do I see in mine inmost soul?A lofty counsel in flame-letters writ.My love for that dear guiding-soul flames out,Who in mine earth—as in my spirit-lifeHath led me on through each successive age;Who ever found me when mine instant prayerSought help in danger, even when it dweltOn spirit-heights itself; in dazzling lightThis love appears to me; sound out from me,Thou word of love, unto this other soul.What flames are those this word of love doth wake?They glow so gently, yet their gentle lightPours forth a sense of lofty dignity;By wisdom’s lightnings, whence a blessing flows,The cosmic ether is lit up around—And bliss comes pouring with attendant joyO’er all the compass of my soul’s domain.Of thee, Duration, would I crave a boon;Pour out thyself into this blessedness,And let my guide and let that other soulNow dwell therein with me in peacefulness.The Guardian:Now let the lightnings vanish into naughtWhose sharp flash brings to view necessitiesWhen souls awake and feel the Cosmic North.Let thunder also lose its roar, which rollsIn warning at the cosmic midnight hour.Astrid, to thee I give a strict command:Keep close watch o’er this thunder-storm of soulsTill in the course of time the soul awakesTo find its cosmic midnight once again,Then shall it see itself in other guise,E’en in a picture of an olden time,And know how strength for lofty spirit-flightE’en from disaster may the soul’s wings gain.A soul may never wish itself to fall;Yet, when it falls it must a lesson learn.Astrid:The lightning’s power and thunder’s will I guardAnd keep them safe within the cosmic life,Till Saturn turns toward the soul once more.Maria:I feel the blessedness of stars endure,And in the stream of time I enter it.I’ll live and work within its kindly swayWith this soul-being long since knit to mine.Luna:I will protect thy work in spirit here,That thou mayst reap the fruits in life on earth.Johannes’ Soul:Within my soul’s domain—I see this star!It pours forth kindness—beams forth blessedness—In cosmic ether floating—this soul star—But there—in yon faint light—another star—Its note is faint,—yet will I list thereto.(With the last words appears the spirit of Johannes’ youth. Figure like an angel’s; silvery sheen.)The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:I feed with life the being of thy wish,My breath will pour into thy youthful aimsEnlightening strength, when worlds are tempting theeWithin which I can guide thee joyfully.If thou shouldst lose me in thyself, I mustThen offer up myself as sacrifice,A being reft of being, to the shades.O blossom of my being,—leave me not.Lucifer:He never will forsake thee—I beholdDeep in his nature longings after lightWhich do not follow up the other soul.And when the radiance, which is born of them,Takes root and grows deep down within his soul,It must bear fruit; nor will he be contentTo throw this fruit away in yonder realmWhere love, divorced from beauty, reigns alone.Slow curtain

A similar scene

The same characters are still in their places. The lighting is full of warm shades, but not too bright. Toward the right of stage the sylphs keep swaying to and fro. In front Philia, Astrid, and Luna.

Capesius’ Soul:(Standing on the left of stage near the middle.)The picture, that in sunshine’s hour I saw,Beamed grace and worked with gentle kindliness;E’en now within my being it holds sway,When other wisdom-light illuminatesThis spirit-realm with many-coloured rays,Yet now the picture’s influence doth grow.It bids me draw therefrom, for future timesOn earth, that which the soul who stands revealedWithin the picture and hath mighty weightIn mine own sphere, once gave to my sense-life,Yet doth no powerful current of desire.Direct me to this soul.

Capesius’ Soul:(Standing on the left of stage near the middle.)

The picture, that in sunshine’s hour I saw,

Beamed grace and worked with gentle kindliness;

E’en now within my being it holds sway,

When other wisdom-light illuminates

This spirit-realm with many-coloured rays,

Yet now the picture’s influence doth grow.

It bids me draw therefrom, for future times

On earth, that which the soul who stands revealed

Within the picture and hath mighty weight

In mine own sphere, once gave to my sense-life,

Yet doth no powerful current of desire.

Direct me to this soul.

Romanus’ Soul:(A figure showing all the upper part of the body down to the hips; it has mighty red wings which extend round its head in such a way as tochange into a red aura, running into blue on the outer edge; it stands on the left of Capesius’ soul, whilst close are the souls of Bellicosus and Torquatus further still to left of stage, facing audience.)Direct me to this soul.Wake in thyselfThe picture of the Jew who heard naught elseBut hate and ridicule on every side,Yet truly served the mystic brotherhoodOf which thou wast a member once on earth.

Direct me to this soul.Wake in thyself

The picture of the Jew who heard naught else

But hate and ridicule on every side,

Yet truly served the mystic brotherhood

Of which thou wast a member once on earth.

Capesius’ Soul:Thought-pictures now begin to dawn in me,And seek to seize me in their powerful grasp.See Simon’s image rise from my soul-waves—And see, another joins him—some soul-shape—A penitent;—would I might keep him far!

Capesius’ Soul:

Thought-pictures now begin to dawn in me,

And seek to seize me in their powerful grasp.

See Simon’s image rise from my soul-waves—

And see, another joins him—some soul-shape—

A penitent;—would I might keep him far!

(Referring to Balde, or Joseph Keane in the previous play.)

Romanus’ Soul:That which he here must do can but be doneIn cosmic sunshine-time; in solitudeAnd robed in darkness he must wend his wayWhilst Saturn doth light up this spirit-realm.

Romanus’ Soul:

That which he here must do can but be done

In cosmic sunshine-time; in solitude

And robed in darkness he must wend his way

Whilst Saturn doth light up this spirit-realm.

Capesius’ Soul:How doth this penitent bewilder me!His soul’s irradiations burn and boreTheir way into mine own Soul’s inmost core—So work these souls who have attained the powerTo see the inmost depths of other souls.

Capesius’ Soul:

How doth this penitent bewilder me!

His soul’s irradiations burn and bore

Their way into mine own Soul’s inmost core—

So work these souls who have attained the power

To see the inmost depths of other souls.

Felix Balde’s Soul:(From the extreme right of stage with hollow veiled voice.)‘Dear Keane, thou hast been ever true to me’—

Felix Balde’s Soul:(From the extreme right of stage with hollow veiled voice.)

‘Dear Keane, thou hast been ever true to me’—

Capesius’ Soul:Myself—my very words—from out his mouthRe-echoed—ringing out—in spirit-realms!Here is a soul that I must try to meet.It knows me well,—through it I’ll find myself.

Capesius’ Soul:

Myself—my very words—from out his mouth

Re-echoed—ringing out—in spirit-realms!

Here is a soul that I must try to meet.

It knows me well,—through it I’ll find myself.

(Capesius’ soul disappears; the ‘other Philia’ comes into view on the right of stage with Theodora’s soul; behind her Dame Balde’s soul.)

Romanus’ Soul:Two souls do there draw nigh the penitent;The spirit whom through love souls ever chooseTo be their leader goes ahead of them.The light of meekness pours from one of themAnd flows into the other, who appearsTo us as penitent. The picture glowsWith beauty’s light, which here as wisdom lives.

Romanus’ Soul:

Two souls do there draw nigh the penitent;

The spirit whom through love souls ever choose

To be their leader goes ahead of them.

The light of meekness pours from one of them

And flows into the other, who appears

To us as penitent. The picture glows

With beauty’s light, which here as wisdom lives.

Torquatus’ Soul:(Figure visible as far as the breast, blue aura, green wings.)Desire’s reflection dost them but beholdWhich I allow to shine from my soul’s sheathInto thy sphere in loyal spirit-troth.Fate’s primal forces have appointed meTo be the means to give thee meekness here.Thus souls in spirit do serve other souls.Thy cold hard reason never could attainLife’s gift of sympathy without mine aid.

Torquatus’ Soul:(Figure visible as far as the breast, blue aura, green wings.)

Desire’s reflection dost them but behold

Which I allow to shine from my soul’s sheath

Into thy sphere in loyal spirit-troth.

Fate’s primal forces have appointed me

To be the means to give thee meekness here.

Thus souls in spirit do serve other souls.

Thy cold hard reason never could attain

Life’s gift of sympathy without mine aid.

Bellicosus’ Soul:(Figure visible like that of Torquatus’ soul, but with blue-violet aura and blue-green wings.)Make strong thy spirit-ear to understandWhat says the soul who rays out meekness’ light.’Neath Saturn’s beam souls can be brought to showThis gleam of noble spirit-blessedness.

Bellicosus’ Soul:(Figure visible like that of Torquatus’ soul, but with blue-violet aura and blue-green wings.)

Make strong thy spirit-ear to understand

What says the soul who rays out meekness’ light.

’Neath Saturn’s beam souls can be brought to show

This gleam of noble spirit-blessedness.

Theodora’s Soul:(Angelic figure; white with yellow wings and blue-yellow aura.)My loyal spirit-comrade, pour on himIn softening glow the love that permeatesThine own soul-sheath, for it will soothe for himThe all-consuming fire of solitude—And do thou unto him direct thought-raysFrom yonder shadow-souls who at this timeDo gather forces in the spirit-worldsThat their soul-bodies may thus gleam with life,That so their gleaming, glowing life may serveTo strengthen in forthcoming lives on earthClairvoyant consciousness in human souls.

Theodora’s Soul:(Angelic figure; white with yellow wings and blue-yellow aura.)

My loyal spirit-comrade, pour on him

In softening glow the love that permeates

Thine own soul-sheath, for it will soothe for him

The all-consuming fire of solitude—

And do thou unto him direct thought-rays

From yonder shadow-souls who at this time

Do gather forces in the spirit-worlds

That their soul-bodies may thus gleam with life,

That so their gleaming, glowing life may serve

To strengthen in forthcoming lives on earth

Clairvoyant consciousness in human souls.

Dame Balde’s Soul:(To Felix.)Feel me, thou spirit garbed as penitent.O thou sun-soul, receive the power of stars.Until thy spirit-sheath doth free itselfFrom Lucifer’s dominion, I shall beBeside thee in thy solitude to bringThee powers which I shall roam o’er cosmic spaceFrom star to star to gather up for thee.

Dame Balde’s Soul:(To Felix.)

Feel me, thou spirit garbed as penitent.

O thou sun-soul, receive the power of stars.

Until thy spirit-sheath doth free itself

From Lucifer’s dominion, I shall be

Beside thee in thy solitude to bring

Thee powers which I shall roam o’er cosmic space

From star to star to gather up for thee.

Theodora’s Soul:Past thoughts of earth arise in glowing lightOn yonder shore of souls. A human form.I saw it when on earth; it follows here;What once I heard is now re-echoed here;

Theodora’s Soul:

Past thoughts of earth arise in glowing light

On yonder shore of souls. A human form.

I saw it when on earth; it follows here;

What once I heard is now re-echoed here;

(Lucifer appears with the soul of Johannes, who has the appearance of an angel. His robes rose-coloured with lilac rose-coloured wings. No feet.)

‘From out God’s being rose the human soul;It can in death dive down to nature’s depths;In time it will set spirit free from death.’

‘From out God’s being rose the human soul;

It can in death dive down to nature’s depths;

In time it will set spirit free from death.’

The Other Philia:This sounding living picture-being bringsThe force of noble brother-love to usWhich thou didst faithfully display on earth.I’ll change it into soul-power for thy use.The message I direct unto thy soulAbsorbs the glimm’ring light of shadow-souls,Who, during earth-life will arouse in theeThe thoughts they brood on through eternity.And thou, the penitent of spirit-realms,Direct thy soul-steps onward to the stars;There nature-spirits long to use thy workWherefrom they will beam fantasy to soulsAnd so will fashion wings for life on earth.

The Other Philia:

This sounding living picture-being brings

The force of noble brother-love to us

Which thou didst faithfully display on earth.

I’ll change it into soul-power for thy use.

The message I direct unto thy soul

Absorbs the glimm’ring light of shadow-souls,

Who, during earth-life will arouse in thee

The thoughts they brood on through eternity.

And thou, the penitent of spirit-realms,

Direct thy soul-steps onward to the stars;

There nature-spirits long to use thy work

Wherefrom they will beam fantasy to souls

And so will fashion wings for life on earth.

Dame Balde’s Soul:I follow thee, dear sister of my soul,My Philia, who dost weave love from starTo star and from one spirit to the next.I follow thee aloft to starry worlds,I take thy words to many cosmic spheres,And thus by spirit-work build up myselfFor mine own future wanderings on earth.

Dame Balde’s Soul:

I follow thee, dear sister of my soul,

My Philia, who dost weave love from star

To star and from one spirit to the next.

I follow thee aloft to starry worlds,

I take thy words to many cosmic spheres,

And thus by spirit-work build up myself

For mine own future wanderings on earth.

(Felix Balde’s soul disappears slowly, led by Dame Balde’s soul; Theodora stands motionless looking at Johannes’ soul, then she also disappears, as does Lucifer with the soul of Johannes.)

Romanus’ Soul:That which we just have witnessed in this place,How love’s word works with the creative wordIn closest union, doth arouse in usGerms we shall need in future lives on earth.

Romanus’ Soul:

That which we just have witnessed in this place,

How love’s word works with the creative word

In closest union, doth arouse in us

Germs we shall need in future lives on earth.

(The souls of Romanus, Torquatus, and Bellicosus disappear—Benedictus’ soul and Maria’s soul appear by the side of the Guardian of the Threshold, who now enters.)

The Guardian:Behold the cosmic midnight of yourselves!I hold you ’neath the spell of ripened lightWhich pours on you from Saturn, till your sheaths,More strongly waking through this same light’s powerBecome self-luminous, with living hues.

The Guardian:

Behold the cosmic midnight of yourselves!

I hold you ’neath the spell of ripened light

Which pours on you from Saturn, till your sheaths,

More strongly waking through this same light’s power

Become self-luminous, with living hues.

Maria’s Soul:Doth cosmic midnight come when souls awake?It was the moon-time, when the sun declaredThe earnest word of Fate, that human souls,Who see their cosmic midnight hour awake,See lightnings, which with instantaneous flashLight up the things that are to be, but passAgain so quickly that the spirit-sightDies at the very moment of its birth—And death becomes a seal of destinyFor ever stamped upon the souls who saw.Such souls hear too the words of thunder clearWhich dully roll through cosmic fundamentsAnd threaten soul-illusion as they roll.

Maria’s Soul:

Doth cosmic midnight come when souls awake?

It was the moon-time, when the sun declared

The earnest word of Fate, that human souls,

Who see their cosmic midnight hour awake,

See lightnings, which with instantaneous flash

Light up the things that are to be, but pass

Again so quickly that the spirit-sight

Dies at the very moment of its birth—

And death becomes a seal of destiny

For ever stamped upon the souls who saw.

Such souls hear too the words of thunder clear

Which dully roll through cosmic fundaments

And threaten soul-illusion as they roll.

(Lucifer reappears with the Soul of Johannes.)

Benedictus’ Soul:From ever empty fields of ice fate’s cryDoth reach to us from our dear mystic friend.When we the cosmic midnight can perceive,We reach the spirit-circle of the soul.

Benedictus’ Soul:

From ever empty fields of ice fate’s cry

Doth reach to us from our dear mystic friend.

When we the cosmic midnight can perceive,

We reach the spirit-circle of the soul.

Maria’s Soul:The flames draw nigh, they draw nigh with my thoughtThere from my distant cosmic shore of souls;A fierce strife doth draw nigh;—’tis mine own thoughtWhich battles with the thoughts of Lucifer;—Mine own thought battles in another’s soul,—The hot light issues—out of gloomy cold—Like lightning flashes. Is this hot soul-light—This soul-light—in the cosmic fields of ice?

Maria’s Soul:

The flames draw nigh, they draw nigh with my thought

There from my distant cosmic shore of souls;

A fierce strife doth draw nigh;—’tis mine own thought

Which battles with the thoughts of Lucifer;—

Mine own thought battles in another’s soul,—

The hot light issues—out of gloomy cold—

Like lightning flashes. Is this hot soul-light—

This soul-light—in the cosmic fields of ice?

Lucifer:The light thou seest—’tis my hot cosmic light—See too the lightning flashes of thy thoughtStrike from the bounds of Lucifer’s domain.I bring within the focus of thy gazeThe soul so long and closely bound to theeWhen thou dost feel thy cosmic midnight hour.Henceforth thy search must find another wayTo come into communion with this soul.O soul, who to this place hast followed me,Display and use the forces of the lightWhich Saturn on her cosmic midnight pours.

Lucifer:

The light thou seest—’tis my hot cosmic light—

See too the lightning flashes of thy thought

Strike from the bounds of Lucifer’s domain.

I bring within the focus of thy gaze

The soul so long and closely bound to thee

When thou dost feel thy cosmic midnight hour.

Henceforth thy search must find another way

To come into communion with this soul.

O soul, who to this place hast followed me,

Display and use the forces of the light

Which Saturn on her cosmic midnight pours.

Johannes’ Soul:I can feel souls, but have not yet the powerTo make their light grow visible in me.However close they are they generateThoughts which but serve to light me from afar.How can I raise them to mine inner sight?

Johannes’ Soul:

I can feel souls, but have not yet the power

To make their light grow visible in me.

However close they are they generate

Thoughts which but serve to light me from afar.

How can I raise them to mine inner sight?

Philia:Thou wilt see them if thou dost swiftly graspWhat they illumine in the cosmic light;Shouldst thou behold, use well that moment’s space;Light such as this is quickly gone again.

Philia:

Thou wilt see them if thou dost swiftly grasp

What they illumine in the cosmic light;

Shouldst thou behold, use well that moment’s space;

Light such as this is quickly gone again.

Johannes’ Soul:What yonder guide’s soul to his pupil speaks,—That pupil’s soul so near and dear to me,—Should now illuminate my soul’s domain.

Johannes’ Soul:

What yonder guide’s soul to his pupil speaks,—

That pupil’s soul so near and dear to me,—

Should now illuminate my soul’s domain.

Benedictus’ Soul:Bring forth within this spirit-midnight hourThe will that thou desir’st to feel againWhen earthly forces once more clothe thy form.Thy words shall prove a light to thy friend’s soul.

Benedictus’ Soul:

Bring forth within this spirit-midnight hour

The will that thou desir’st to feel again

When earthly forces once more clothe thy form.

Thy words shall prove a light to thy friend’s soul.

Maria’s Soul:Let then my words grow strong in cosmic light,Which at this cosmic midnight I confideUnto the soul brought me by Lucifer.Whatever in mine inmost soul is dearI will behold it and, beholding, speak,That it may form itself into a tone,To which this soul shall answer when on earth,And, loving it, shall live as it commands.What now do I see in mine inmost soul?A lofty counsel in flame-letters writ.My love for that dear guiding-soul flames out,Who in mine earth—as in my spirit-lifeHath led me on through each successive age;Who ever found me when mine instant prayerSought help in danger, even when it dweltOn spirit-heights itself; in dazzling lightThis love appears to me; sound out from me,Thou word of love, unto this other soul.

Maria’s Soul:

Let then my words grow strong in cosmic light,

Which at this cosmic midnight I confide

Unto the soul brought me by Lucifer.

Whatever in mine inmost soul is dear

I will behold it and, beholding, speak,

That it may form itself into a tone,

To which this soul shall answer when on earth,

And, loving it, shall live as it commands.

What now do I see in mine inmost soul?

A lofty counsel in flame-letters writ.

My love for that dear guiding-soul flames out,

Who in mine earth—as in my spirit-life

Hath led me on through each successive age;

Who ever found me when mine instant prayer

Sought help in danger, even when it dwelt

On spirit-heights itself; in dazzling light

This love appears to me; sound out from me,

Thou word of love, unto this other soul.

What flames are those this word of love doth wake?They glow so gently, yet their gentle lightPours forth a sense of lofty dignity;By wisdom’s lightnings, whence a blessing flows,The cosmic ether is lit up around—And bliss comes pouring with attendant joyO’er all the compass of my soul’s domain.Of thee, Duration, would I crave a boon;Pour out thyself into this blessedness,And let my guide and let that other soulNow dwell therein with me in peacefulness.

What flames are those this word of love doth wake?

They glow so gently, yet their gentle light

Pours forth a sense of lofty dignity;

By wisdom’s lightnings, whence a blessing flows,

The cosmic ether is lit up around—

And bliss comes pouring with attendant joy

O’er all the compass of my soul’s domain.

Of thee, Duration, would I crave a boon;

Pour out thyself into this blessedness,

And let my guide and let that other soul

Now dwell therein with me in peacefulness.

The Guardian:Now let the lightnings vanish into naughtWhose sharp flash brings to view necessitiesWhen souls awake and feel the Cosmic North.Let thunder also lose its roar, which rollsIn warning at the cosmic midnight hour.Astrid, to thee I give a strict command:Keep close watch o’er this thunder-storm of soulsTill in the course of time the soul awakesTo find its cosmic midnight once again,Then shall it see itself in other guise,E’en in a picture of an olden time,And know how strength for lofty spirit-flightE’en from disaster may the soul’s wings gain.A soul may never wish itself to fall;Yet, when it falls it must a lesson learn.

The Guardian:

Now let the lightnings vanish into naught

Whose sharp flash brings to view necessities

When souls awake and feel the Cosmic North.

Let thunder also lose its roar, which rolls

In warning at the cosmic midnight hour.

Astrid, to thee I give a strict command:

Keep close watch o’er this thunder-storm of souls

Till in the course of time the soul awakes

To find its cosmic midnight once again,

Then shall it see itself in other guise,

E’en in a picture of an olden time,

And know how strength for lofty spirit-flight

E’en from disaster may the soul’s wings gain.

A soul may never wish itself to fall;

Yet, when it falls it must a lesson learn.

Astrid:The lightning’s power and thunder’s will I guardAnd keep them safe within the cosmic life,Till Saturn turns toward the soul once more.

Astrid:

The lightning’s power and thunder’s will I guard

And keep them safe within the cosmic life,

Till Saturn turns toward the soul once more.

Maria:I feel the blessedness of stars endure,And in the stream of time I enter it.I’ll live and work within its kindly swayWith this soul-being long since knit to mine.

Maria:

I feel the blessedness of stars endure,

And in the stream of time I enter it.

I’ll live and work within its kindly sway

With this soul-being long since knit to mine.

Luna:I will protect thy work in spirit here,That thou mayst reap the fruits in life on earth.

Luna:

I will protect thy work in spirit here,

That thou mayst reap the fruits in life on earth.

Johannes’ Soul:Within my soul’s domain—I see this star!It pours forth kindness—beams forth blessedness—In cosmic ether floating—this soul star—

Johannes’ Soul:

Within my soul’s domain—I see this star!

It pours forth kindness—beams forth blessedness—

In cosmic ether floating—this soul star—

But there—in yon faint light—another star—Its note is faint,—yet will I list thereto.

But there—in yon faint light—another star—

Its note is faint,—yet will I list thereto.

(With the last words appears the spirit of Johannes’ youth. Figure like an angel’s; silvery sheen.)

The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:I feed with life the being of thy wish,My breath will pour into thy youthful aimsEnlightening strength, when worlds are tempting theeWithin which I can guide thee joyfully.If thou shouldst lose me in thyself, I mustThen offer up myself as sacrifice,A being reft of being, to the shades.O blossom of my being,—leave me not.

The Spirit of Johannes’ Youth:

I feed with life the being of thy wish,

My breath will pour into thy youthful aims

Enlightening strength, when worlds are tempting thee

Within which I can guide thee joyfully.

If thou shouldst lose me in thyself, I must

Then offer up myself as sacrifice,

A being reft of being, to the shades.

O blossom of my being,—leave me not.

Lucifer:He never will forsake thee—I beholdDeep in his nature longings after lightWhich do not follow up the other soul.And when the radiance, which is born of them,Takes root and grows deep down within his soul,It must bear fruit; nor will he be contentTo throw this fruit away in yonder realmWhere love, divorced from beauty, reigns alone.

Lucifer:

He never will forsake thee—I behold

Deep in his nature longings after light

Which do not follow up the other soul.

And when the radiance, which is born of them,

Takes root and grows deep down within his soul,

It must bear fruit; nor will he be content

To throw this fruit away in yonder realm

Where love, divorced from beauty, reigns alone.

Slow curtain

Scene 7A temple somewhat Egyptian in appearance. A place of initiation in the far-distant past in this Earth’s third stage of post-Atlantean civilisation. A conversation between the hierophant, otherwise Capesius, the keeper of the temple, otherwise Felix Balde or Joseph Keane and a mystic, otherwise Dame Balde or Dame Keane.Hierophant:Are all the preparations duly made,My keeper of the temple, to the endOur holy rite may serve both gods and men?Keeper:So far as human forethought can provideAll hath been well prepared; a holy breathHath filled the temple now for many days.Hierophant:My mystic, as the royal counsellor,A priest hath been selected unto whomThis very day our secret wisdom’s storeIs with all holiness to be revealed.Hast thou then so prepared him by thy testsThat he is now entirely given o’erTo wisdom set apart from earthly cares,And shuts his ear to all but spirit-lore?A different counsellor would do us harm.Mystic:The tests were given as the law ordains,The masters found them adequate; I thinkOur mystic hath but little natural tasteFor earthly cares; his soul is set uponHis spirit-progress and developmentOf self; in spirit trance he oft is seen.’Tis not too much to say he revels inThe union of the spirit with his soul.Hierophant:Has thou then often seen him in this state?Mystic:In truth he may thus frequently be seen.His nature doubtless is inclined towardThe temple’s service rather than the state’s.Hierophant:It is enough. Now go to thine own placeAnd see our holy rite is well performed;(Exit Mystic.)To thee, my keeper, I have more to say.Thou knowest how I prize thy mystic gifts:To me thou bearest wisdom far beyondThat which befits thy status in this shrine.Oft to thy seership have I had recourseTo prove what mine own spirit-sight hath seen.And so I ask, what confidence hast thouThat this new mystic is for spirit ripe?Keeper:Who asks for my opinion? Is my voiceOf any worth?Hierophant:Of any worth?It aye hath worth for me.Today again thou shalt stand by my side;We must most closely watch this holy riteWith inward sight; and, should the ‘mystic’ proveE’en in the slightest way unripe as yetFor its high meaning in the spirit life,I shall refuse him rank as ‘counsellor.’Keeper:What is it then that now may be revealedIn this new ‘mystic’ at our holy rite.Hierophant:I know he is not worthy of the trustThe temple servants seek to give to him.His human nature is well known to me.His mystic-sense is not that heartfelt urgeWhich stirs in men when light from spirit realmsIn kindness draws souls upwards to itself.Strong passion surges in his being yet;The craving of his senses is not stilled.Indeed I would not blame the will divine,Which e’en in craving and in passion poursIts wisdom-light o’er evolution’s stream.But when the craving doth conceal itself,And revel ’neath devotion’s mystic mask,It causeth thought to lie, and makes will false.The light that weaves the web of spirit-worldsCan never penetrate unto such souls,Since passion spreads a mystic fog between.Keeper:My hierophant, thy judgment is severeIn dealing with a man who still is youngAnd inexperienced, who can neither knowHimself nor take another course than thatWhich priestly guides and mystic leaders sayDoth reach the goal along the soul’s true path.Hierophant:I do not judge the man, I judge the deedThat will be wrought here in this holy place.This holy mystic rite, which we perform,Hath not importance for ourselves alone.Fate’s stream of cosmic evolution poursThrough word and deed of sacred priestly rites.What happens here in pictures comes to passIn everlasting life in spirit-worlds.But now, good keeper, get thee to thy task;Thou wilt thyself discover how to lendAssistance to me in this holy rite.(Exit Keeper, right.)Hierophant.(alone)This youthful mystic will not be to blame,Who hopes this day to dedicate himselfUnto the wisdom, if in these next hoursA wrong emotion, such as may gush outUnheeded from his heart, should throw its raysUpon our sacred rite, and in this actShould through our symbols draw nigh spirit-spheresWhence ill results in consequence must flowInto the current of our human life.The guides and leaders are themselves to blame.Have they not learned to know the mystic forceWhich penetrates in some mysterious wayWith spirit every word and sigh of ours;And ceases not from action even whenThe contents of a soul are poured thereinWhich hinders cosmic evolution’s course?Instead of this young mystic consciouslyHere to the spirit off’ring up himself,His teachers drag him like a sacrificeInto the holy precincts, where his soulUnconsciously he to the spirit yields.For verily he would not take this roadIf he were conscious master of his soul.Within the circle of our mysteriesThe highest hierophant alone doth knowWhat mystic truths lurk in our sacred forms.But he is dumb as solitude itself.Such silence his high dignity commands.The others gaze uncomprehendinglyWhen of our ritual’s real intent I speak.So am I left to bear my cares alone;Well-nigh unbearable their burden seemsWhen all the meaning of our ritualAnd of our temple is borne in on me.One thing especially I deeply feel—The solitude of this stern spirit-shrine.Why do I feel so lonely in this place?The soul must ask this question. When, ah, whenWill to my soul the spirit make reply?Curtain falls slowly

A temple somewhat Egyptian in appearance. A place of initiation in the far-distant past in this Earth’s third stage of post-Atlantean civilisation. A conversation between the hierophant, otherwise Capesius, the keeper of the temple, otherwise Felix Balde or Joseph Keane and a mystic, otherwise Dame Balde or Dame Keane.

Hierophant:Are all the preparations duly made,My keeper of the temple, to the endOur holy rite may serve both gods and men?

Hierophant:

Are all the preparations duly made,

My keeper of the temple, to the end

Our holy rite may serve both gods and men?

Keeper:So far as human forethought can provideAll hath been well prepared; a holy breathHath filled the temple now for many days.

Keeper:

So far as human forethought can provide

All hath been well prepared; a holy breath

Hath filled the temple now for many days.

Hierophant:My mystic, as the royal counsellor,A priest hath been selected unto whomThis very day our secret wisdom’s storeIs with all holiness to be revealed.Hast thou then so prepared him by thy testsThat he is now entirely given o’erTo wisdom set apart from earthly cares,And shuts his ear to all but spirit-lore?A different counsellor would do us harm.

Hierophant:

My mystic, as the royal counsellor,

A priest hath been selected unto whom

This very day our secret wisdom’s store

Is with all holiness to be revealed.

Hast thou then so prepared him by thy tests

That he is now entirely given o’er

To wisdom set apart from earthly cares,

And shuts his ear to all but spirit-lore?

A different counsellor would do us harm.

Mystic:The tests were given as the law ordains,The masters found them adequate; I thinkOur mystic hath but little natural tasteFor earthly cares; his soul is set uponHis spirit-progress and developmentOf self; in spirit trance he oft is seen.’Tis not too much to say he revels inThe union of the spirit with his soul.

Mystic:

The tests were given as the law ordains,

The masters found them adequate; I think

Our mystic hath but little natural taste

For earthly cares; his soul is set upon

His spirit-progress and development

Of self; in spirit trance he oft is seen.

’Tis not too much to say he revels in

The union of the spirit with his soul.

Hierophant:Has thou then often seen him in this state?

Hierophant:

Has thou then often seen him in this state?

Mystic:In truth he may thus frequently be seen.His nature doubtless is inclined towardThe temple’s service rather than the state’s.

Mystic:

In truth he may thus frequently be seen.

His nature doubtless is inclined toward

The temple’s service rather than the state’s.

Hierophant:It is enough. Now go to thine own placeAnd see our holy rite is well performed;

Hierophant:

It is enough. Now go to thine own place

And see our holy rite is well performed;

(Exit Mystic.)

To thee, my keeper, I have more to say.Thou knowest how I prize thy mystic gifts:To me thou bearest wisdom far beyondThat which befits thy status in this shrine.Oft to thy seership have I had recourseTo prove what mine own spirit-sight hath seen.And so I ask, what confidence hast thouThat this new mystic is for spirit ripe?

To thee, my keeper, I have more to say.

Thou knowest how I prize thy mystic gifts:

To me thou bearest wisdom far beyond

That which befits thy status in this shrine.

Oft to thy seership have I had recourse

To prove what mine own spirit-sight hath seen.

And so I ask, what confidence hast thou

That this new mystic is for spirit ripe?

Keeper:Who asks for my opinion? Is my voiceOf any worth?

Keeper:

Who asks for my opinion? Is my voice

Of any worth?

Hierophant:Of any worth?It aye hath worth for me.Today again thou shalt stand by my side;We must most closely watch this holy riteWith inward sight; and, should the ‘mystic’ proveE’en in the slightest way unripe as yetFor its high meaning in the spirit life,I shall refuse him rank as ‘counsellor.’

Hierophant:

Of any worth?It aye hath worth for me.

Today again thou shalt stand by my side;

We must most closely watch this holy rite

With inward sight; and, should the ‘mystic’ prove

E’en in the slightest way unripe as yet

For its high meaning in the spirit life,

I shall refuse him rank as ‘counsellor.’

Keeper:What is it then that now may be revealedIn this new ‘mystic’ at our holy rite.

Keeper:

What is it then that now may be revealed

In this new ‘mystic’ at our holy rite.

Hierophant:I know he is not worthy of the trustThe temple servants seek to give to him.His human nature is well known to me.His mystic-sense is not that heartfelt urgeWhich stirs in men when light from spirit realmsIn kindness draws souls upwards to itself.Strong passion surges in his being yet;The craving of his senses is not stilled.Indeed I would not blame the will divine,Which e’en in craving and in passion poursIts wisdom-light o’er evolution’s stream.But when the craving doth conceal itself,And revel ’neath devotion’s mystic mask,It causeth thought to lie, and makes will false.The light that weaves the web of spirit-worldsCan never penetrate unto such souls,Since passion spreads a mystic fog between.

Hierophant:

I know he is not worthy of the trust

The temple servants seek to give to him.

His human nature is well known to me.

His mystic-sense is not that heartfelt urge

Which stirs in men when light from spirit realms

In kindness draws souls upwards to itself.

Strong passion surges in his being yet;

The craving of his senses is not stilled.

Indeed I would not blame the will divine,

Which e’en in craving and in passion pours

Its wisdom-light o’er evolution’s stream.

But when the craving doth conceal itself,

And revel ’neath devotion’s mystic mask,

It causeth thought to lie, and makes will false.

The light that weaves the web of spirit-worlds

Can never penetrate unto such souls,

Since passion spreads a mystic fog between.

Keeper:My hierophant, thy judgment is severeIn dealing with a man who still is youngAnd inexperienced, who can neither knowHimself nor take another course than thatWhich priestly guides and mystic leaders sayDoth reach the goal along the soul’s true path.

Keeper:

My hierophant, thy judgment is severe

In dealing with a man who still is young

And inexperienced, who can neither know

Himself nor take another course than that

Which priestly guides and mystic leaders say

Doth reach the goal along the soul’s true path.

Hierophant:I do not judge the man, I judge the deedThat will be wrought here in this holy place.This holy mystic rite, which we perform,Hath not importance for ourselves alone.Fate’s stream of cosmic evolution poursThrough word and deed of sacred priestly rites.What happens here in pictures comes to passIn everlasting life in spirit-worlds.But now, good keeper, get thee to thy task;Thou wilt thyself discover how to lendAssistance to me in this holy rite.

Hierophant:

I do not judge the man, I judge the deed

That will be wrought here in this holy place.

This holy mystic rite, which we perform,

Hath not importance for ourselves alone.

Fate’s stream of cosmic evolution pours

Through word and deed of sacred priestly rites.

What happens here in pictures comes to pass

In everlasting life in spirit-worlds.

But now, good keeper, get thee to thy task;

Thou wilt thyself discover how to lend

Assistance to me in this holy rite.

(Exit Keeper, right.)

Hierophant.(alone)This youthful mystic will not be to blame,Who hopes this day to dedicate himselfUnto the wisdom, if in these next hoursA wrong emotion, such as may gush outUnheeded from his heart, should throw its raysUpon our sacred rite, and in this actShould through our symbols draw nigh spirit-spheresWhence ill results in consequence must flowInto the current of our human life.The guides and leaders are themselves to blame.Have they not learned to know the mystic forceWhich penetrates in some mysterious wayWith spirit every word and sigh of ours;And ceases not from action even whenThe contents of a soul are poured thereinWhich hinders cosmic evolution’s course?Instead of this young mystic consciouslyHere to the spirit off’ring up himself,His teachers drag him like a sacrificeInto the holy precincts, where his soulUnconsciously he to the spirit yields.For verily he would not take this roadIf he were conscious master of his soul.Within the circle of our mysteriesThe highest hierophant alone doth knowWhat mystic truths lurk in our sacred forms.But he is dumb as solitude itself.Such silence his high dignity commands.The others gaze uncomprehendinglyWhen of our ritual’s real intent I speak.

Hierophant.(alone)

This youthful mystic will not be to blame,

Who hopes this day to dedicate himself

Unto the wisdom, if in these next hours

A wrong emotion, such as may gush out

Unheeded from his heart, should throw its rays

Upon our sacred rite, and in this act

Should through our symbols draw nigh spirit-spheres

Whence ill results in consequence must flow

Into the current of our human life.

The guides and leaders are themselves to blame.

Have they not learned to know the mystic force

Which penetrates in some mysterious way

With spirit every word and sigh of ours;

And ceases not from action even when

The contents of a soul are poured therein

Which hinders cosmic evolution’s course?

Instead of this young mystic consciously

Here to the spirit off’ring up himself,

His teachers drag him like a sacrifice

Into the holy precincts, where his soul

Unconsciously he to the spirit yields.

For verily he would not take this road

If he were conscious master of his soul.

Within the circle of our mysteries

The highest hierophant alone doth know

What mystic truths lurk in our sacred forms.

But he is dumb as solitude itself.

Such silence his high dignity commands.

The others gaze uncomprehendingly

When of our ritual’s real intent I speak.

So am I left to bear my cares alone;Well-nigh unbearable their burden seemsWhen all the meaning of our ritualAnd of our temple is borne in on me.One thing especially I deeply feel—The solitude of this stern spirit-shrine.Why do I feel so lonely in this place?The soul must ask this question. When, ah, whenWill to my soul the spirit make reply?

So am I left to bear my cares alone;

Well-nigh unbearable their burden seems

When all the meaning of our ritual

And of our temple is borne in on me.

One thing especially I deeply feel—

The solitude of this stern spirit-shrine.

Why do I feel so lonely in this place?

The soul must ask this question. When, ah, when

Will to my soul the spirit make reply?

Curtain falls slowly

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