Scene 7

Scene 7A chamber in the castle whose exterior was shown in the preceding scene. Decorated throughout with symbols of a Mystic Brotherhood. (For costumes, see note on page 145.) Columns, arches, and vaulted roof with the mystic symbols shown in the Author’s ‘Occult Symbols.’ First the Knights assemble; then the Monk and one of the Knights; later appears the spirit of Benedictus who has passed away about fifty years earlier. Then Lucifer and Ahriman. The Grand Master seated with four Brothers at a long table.Grand Master:Ye who are joined with me in comradeshipTo seek the goal appointed unto man,And bring that knowledge from the spirit-realmInto the scope of earth’s activities,As is appointed to our brotherhood,Must also truly help me in this hourWhen heavy trials impend. Then, know ye allThat since our venerated master fell,A victim by the Powers of Darkness claimed,Who draw their strength from Evil, helping onThe plan of Wisdom by their natural means,That is by means of Opposition’s strength,Since Wisdom turneth Evil into Good:Since that sad loss we strive on earth in vain,For many a castle of our brotherhoodHath by our enemies been overwhelmed,And many brothers dear to us have fallenIn fight, and followed our great Master homeInto the realm of everlasting light.For us too doth the hour approach apaceWhen these stout walls that shelter us shall fall.Our foes already spy the country roundTo find a pretext under which they mayRob us of our possessions, ne’er acquiredFor our own use, but as a means to drawAround us individuals, in whose soulsWe could implant the germs of things to come.These germs shall ripen when those men themselvesFind their way back from out the spirit-landTo live anew in future days on earth.First Master of Ceremonies:That this our brotherhood should be o’erthrownBy some obscure design of destiny,Is something nowise inconceivable.But that the fall of our communityShould doom so many brothers’ single lives,Would seem to contravene the cosmic law.I do not wish my words to make complaint,Since willingly our brothers suffer death.But still my soul desires to comprehendThe sacrifice demanded from these menWho have allied themselves unto a whole,Because the powers of destiny decreeThe overthrow and ruin of that whole.Grand Master:The separate life of individual menIs linked most wisely to the world’s design.Amongst our brothers there will surely beSome who have given proof of competenceTo serve our brotherhood with their soul’s powerAnd yet whose nature still shows many a stain.The errors and misdeeds of such a heartMust find their expiation in the painSuffered by it in service for the wholeAnd he who, blameless both in act and deed,Must none the less walk in the thorny wayTraced by the Karma of the brotherhood,Will find his pain requited by the powerTo mount aloft unto the higher life.First Master of Ceremonies:So then the brotherhood may tolerateWithin its ranks souls not yet purifiedWho vow themselves to its exalted aims?Grand Master:He who to lofty works is dedicateDoth mark alone the goodness in men’s souls;He lets the evil work its ransom outAs cosmic justice in its course decides.My brothers, I have bid you meet me hereIn order to remind you with grave wordsThat we have duties in our days of grief.We must be ready to lay down our livesFor those high purposes to which we sworeLifelong allegiance. Ye then are indeedMy brothers, if undauntedly your soulsRepeat the motto of our brotherhood:‘Both separateness and life must be forswornBy those who would set eyes on spirit-goalsThrough occult senses unto them revealed;Who dare to let the spirit’s will pour downAnd flood their individual purposes.’First Preceptor:Exalted Master, shouldst thou deign to testThe heart of each man in our brotherhood,It would repeat that motto loud and clear!—Yet do we beg thee to explain to usWhy, not content with robbing us of lifeAnd our possessions, now our enemiesWould rob us also of those humble soulsWhom we have tended with unselfish love.For every day affords new evidenceThat not alone compulsion makes our folkSubmit themselves unto our conquerors;But that indeed they too have learned to hateThe spirit-path which we had shown to them.Grand Master:That which we have implanted in men’s soulsMay die indeed today; but these same men,Who once have breathed our spirit-radiance,Will come again to earth, and then bestowUpon the world the fruitage of our work.Thus speaks unto my spirit oftentimesOur mighty leader from the realm of death,When in my quiet hours, I do sink downInto my soul’s deep places, and arouseStrength to abide awhile in spirit-lands.Then may I feel the master’s presence nearAnd hear his words, as in the life of senseI often heard them. Never doth he speakAbout our work as drawing to a close;But only of fulfilment of our aimsIn later days that are to come on earth.(Exeunt the Grand Master and two Brothers.)First Preceptor:He speaks of spirit-worlds in just such wordsAs men may speak of villages or towns.…The way in which our loftiest brothers speakOf other states of life oppresseth me.And yet I am devoted ferventlyUnto the progress of our earthly aims.Second Master of Ceremonies:My firm reliance is our master’s words.The man who cannot hear with perfect faithThe tale of spirit and of spirit-worlds,—Is nowise lacking in the facultiesTo grasp a revelation of this kind.The things he lacks are of a different mould.He may well guess, unwilling to admit,That he is conscious of unworthinessTo be a member of the higher worlds.A soul must be defiled by secret stainAnd eager to deny that they are there,That will not bow before the spirit-lore.(Exeunt.)(Enter the Monk; the Second Preceptor enters and steps up to him.)Second Preceptor:What errand bringeth thee to this our houseWhich is for thee the home of enemies?Monk:I must include amongst my friends all thoseWho bear the form of men. This is our rule.But hostile thou mayst well esteem the claimWhich I, by duty bound, must here present.Those who are over me have sent me here.And their desire is that the propertyBelonging to the Church, as by old deedsIs well attested, should be given backTo them without dispute. Yon tract of groundUpon which ye have sunk your mine, belongsIn law and equity unto the Church.The manner in which ye possessed yourselvesOf this estate confers no legal rights.Second Preceptor:Whether in law we have a right to callIt ours or no, would constitute a caseFor legal disputation long drawn out.But certain ’tis that it belongs to usIf we refer it to a higher law.Yon tract of ground was lying lost and wasteWhen it was purchased by our brotherhood:Not e’en an inkling had ye of the factThat far below rich treasure lay concealed.This have we won for human industry.Its treasures travel far and wide todayTo distant lands, to further human weal.And many honest souls are now at workIn shaft and tunnel underneath the groundWhich in your hands lay waste and desolate.Monk:Then it doth not seem fair and right to theeTo urge upon thy brotherhood the needOf peaceably accepting our demandThat so we may regain our property?Second Preceptor:Since we are not aware of any guilt,But are convinced our cause is wholly just,We can but wait in quiet confidenceTo see if ye are really bent on strife,When as before, yourselves are in the wrong.Monk:Then will ye have to thank your headstrong willIf we are driven to a sterner course.Second Preceptor:The honour of our brotherhood demandsThat only when defeated, sword in hand,Do we allow ourselves to be despoiled.Monk:So be it! Now my mission is fulfilled.Between us there is no more need of words.Will it be possible for me to haveAn audience with thy lord, who here commands?Second Preceptor:The master doubtless will concede thee this;Yet wait, I pray three, for a little while.He cannot at this moment come to thee.(Exit.)Monk:O, that mine office forceth me to treadThe halls of this detested brotherhood.Turn where they may, my eyes must contemplateSinful devices and satanic spells.Almost a horror seizeth hold on me;A crackling and a rumbling fill the air;I feel the powers of ill are gathered round.(Noises heard.)But as my conscience is entirely clearI will defy the enemy.(Noises heard.)I will defy the enemy.Oh, thisIs terrible.…(The spirit of Benedictus appears.)Is terrible....Defend me, Saints in Heaven!Benedictus:Collect thyself, my son. I often cameTo meet thee, when the fervour of thy prayersTransported thee unto the spirit-world.Take therefore courage in this present hourAnd learn a truth which thou must realizeIf spirit clearness is to hold its swayAnd drive away the darkness from thy soul.Monk:When in my trials I prayed to Heaven for light,And when my supplication winged its wayTo realms celestial, and won response,Thou, venerated master, didst appear.Thou, who wast aye our Order’s ornament,The while thou wert amongst us here on earth,And out of higher realms didst speak to me,Enlightening my mind and strengthening me.My soul beheld thee with its inner eye,My spirit ear was open to thy words.In this hour also then, will I receiveThe revelation with humilityWhich thou shalt cause to flow into my soul.Benedictus:Thou art within that brotherhood’s abodeWhom thou dost charge with wicked heresies.They seem to hate what we are taught to loveAnd hold in honour what we count as sin.Our brethren feel themselves in duty boundTo haste the spirit-brethren’s overthrow,And think their action sanctioned by the wordsI spake myself whilst I was still on earth.Yet do they not imagine that these wordsCan only hold the living truth so longAs they are rightly acted on by thoseWho have been my successors in my work.So let those thoughts which I once held on earthRise up afresh and live within thy soulIn harmony with needs of newer times.And thus behold this Order, which doth seekIts goal in mystic realms, as I should judgeAnd look on it, if it had been my lotTo dwell on earth and work with thee today.This brotherhood is vowed to lofty aims.These individuals who have joined its ranksHave premonitions of the days to come;Their leaders see with a prophetic eyeThe fruits that shall grow ripe in future times;Science and daily life shall undergoA change of form and seek ideals new;And what this brotherhood doth now achieve,Whom thou hast lent a hand to persecute,Are deeds which serve to bring this change about.Alone by peaceful union of the aimsSought by our brethren and these hereticsCan good be made to blossom on this earth.Monk:This warning, of which I am worthy found,How can I act upon it? It departsAmazingly from all that I have held,Up to this moment, to be right and good.(Ahriman and Lucifer appear.)But other beings now are drawing nigh!Why do they come and stand beside thee now?Ahriman:This further message comes from other realms.It cannot seem an easy thing for theeThy predecessor’s bidding to obey.Reflect—he dwells in everlasting bliss.And actions by decree and duty thereDesirable, may well upon the earthLead to confusion at the present time.Lift up thine eyes to where he dwells on highIf thou wouldst seek for comfort from the blissThat, when the latter days of earth draw near,By cosmic spirits is to be bestowed.But if at present thou wouldst act aright,Be guided only, in the choice of paths,By that which reason and the senses teach.Thou hast been able clearly to discernThe sinful ways of yonder brotherhoodWhich they would fain keep secret from the world;Thus hast thou learned that laws for future lifeCan well be framed by souls now steeped in sin!How canst thou wish, now that thou knowst these things,To live in friendship with the brotherhood?For error is a poor and sterile soilWhere good fruit cannot come to ripening.Lucifer:Thy pious mind hath shown the road to thee.It is most true that times and objects change;But none the less ’tis not for hereticsTo trace the paths on which mankind must tread.The error of this spirit-brotherhoodIs dangerous, because it speaks the truth,And yet expresses it in such a wayAs makes the truth more deadly than a lie.A man who openly avowed he liedWould have to be bereft of common sense’Ere he could bring himself to such beliefThat men would gladly follow where he led.The spirit-knights indeed are shrewd of mind;They do not fail to speak about the ChristBecause this name can open every doorThat gives admission to the souls of men.But ever can men easiest be ledInto the service of the AntichristWhen in the name of Christ he is proclaimed.Monk:Conflicting voices from the world of soulsAssail mine ears, as often heretofore,And always with an aim to counteractThe pious promptings of a mind devout.How shall I find the paths that lead to goodIf by the Powers of Evil they be praised?Almost it seems to me as if indeed …;But no, such words shall not be thought by me—,The wisdom of my master shall revealThe meaning of his words, so dark to me.Benedictus:I can direct thee to the proper path,If thou wilt let the words which once I spakeOn earth possess thee in thine inmost soul.And if thou art resolved to find the lifeThat lives within those words upon those planesOn which thou now canst see me face to face,The proper path shall be made plain to thee.Curtain, while the Monk, the Spirit of Benedictus, Lucifer, and Ahriman are still on the stageScene 8The same. The First Preceptor; Joseph Keane; then the Grand Master with Simon; later the First and the Second Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Keane is there first; the Preceptor approaches him.First Preceptor:Thou didst send word thou wouldst have speech with me.What is the news that thou art come to bring?Joseph Keane:Most weighty matters both to thee and me.Thou knowst the master miner Thomas here,Who renders service to thee?First Preceptor:Who renders service to thee?Well I knowThe worthy man; we prize him for his skill,And his subordinates hold him in love.Keane:And dost thou know my child, Cecilia, too?First Preceptor(moved):It hath so chanced that I have seen the maidWhen I have met thee with thy family.Keane:It happened that soon after Thomas cameHe paid us frequent visits in our home.They grew more frequent; it was evidentThat to Cecilia his whole heart went out.We did not marvel that this should be so.But, knowing our girl’s nature, it was longEre we could think that she returned his love.Her life was well nigh one continuous prayer,And almost all society she shunned.Yet ever doth it now appear more clearThat to this stranger she hath giv’n her heart.And as things are, we feel ourselves compelledNot to oppose the wishes of our child;Thomas she loves, and she would marry him.First Preceptor(with faltering movements):Why runs this marriage counter to thy will?Keane:My lord, there is no need for me to tellOf my devotion to the brotherhood.My heart would have to bear a heavy loadIf my child’s love, in its entirety,Were cast upon the side of those who sayThat you and I alike are heretics.The monk who now o’er yonder abbey rulesClose by our home, and who doth ever seekTo thwart the mission of the brotherhood,Hath won dominion o’er our daughter’s soul.As long as she is still beneath my roofSo long shall I too not abandon hopeThat she may yet again retrace the pathWhich leads from spirit-darkness unto light.But I shall have to give her up for lostWhen she shall have become the wife of oneWho, like herself, works for the weal of manAccording to the precepts of that monk.His Reverence hath had complete successIn foisting such opinions as he holdsOn Thomas, who receives them in full faith.A thrill of terror would run over meTo hear the curses pour from Thomas’ lipsWhene’er we spake about the brotherhood.First Preceptor:Our enemies are many; if one moreIs added it cannot affect us much.Thy words have not yet made it clear to meWhat my concern is with this tale of love.Keane:My lord, thou seest this packet in mine hand.Its contents warrant me to come to thee.My wife and I alone have read the lines:None else in these parts knows a word of them.Now must they be made known to thee as well—The maid who passeth for our flesh and bloodIs not the offspring of my wife and me.We undertook the training of the childWhen her own mother died. What I have stillTo say will make it seem unnecessary,To tell at length how all this came to pass.For long we knew not who her father was;The girl today knows not her parentage.Father and mother she beholds in us.And such a state of things might have gone onSince we do love her as our very own.But some years later than her mother’s deathThe papers that I hold were brought to us;They make it plain who our child’s father is.I cannot tell if he is known to thee.(The Preceptor loses control over himself.)But now I know—am sure …But now I know—am sure… that thou art he.There is no need for me to tell thee more.But since it is thy child who is concernedI beg thee to extend to me thine aid.United our endeavours may succeedTo save her from the darkness that impends.First Preceptor:Dear Keane. Thou hast been ever true to me,And I would fain still further count on thee.Neither within nor yet without these wallsMust any in this country ever knowThe truth of my relation to this girl.Keane:My word thereon. I mean no harm to thee;I only beg that thou wilt lend thine aid.First Preceptor:Thou dost perceive that at the present timeI cannot talk with thee at greater length.I pray thee come tomorrow.Keane:I pray thee come tomorrow.I will come.(Exit.)First Preceptor:How cruelly my fate fulfils itself.I left my wife and child in misery,Since they seemed hindrances upon the pathAlong which vanity did beckon me.It led me on to join this brotherhood.In words of solemn import I then vowedMy service to the cause of human loveAlbeit I was laden with the guiltArising from the opposite of love.The brotherhood’s clear vision, as appliedTo acts and men, is manifest in me.It welcomed me a brother in its ranksAnd forthwith laid on me its rules severe.To self-examination was I ledAnd knowledge of myself, which otherwiseIn other walks of life I had not found.And then when, under Fate’s decree, my sonCame and dwelt near me, I was fain to thinkThat mighty Powers were merciful to meIn showing how to expiate my sin.I knew long since that this Keane’s foster-childWas none else than the daughter whom I left.The brotherhood is near its overthrow,Each brother resolute to meet his death,Convinced that those high purposes will liveFor which he makes his life the sacrifice.But I, alas, have felt for many daysI was not worthy of this glorious end.My purpose ever ripened to make knownMy case unto the master, and to cravePermission to forsake the brotherhood.I had in mind thenceforward to devoteMy days unto my children, and so farAs in this earth-life yet is possibleTo offer penance. But I clearly see,That ’twas not filial longing brought my sonTo this same spot to seek his father out,Although his good heart made him thus believe.But he was led by forces in the bloodWhich drew him to his sister. Other ties,Blood-born, were loosened by a father’s guilt,Or else yon monk had never had the powerTo rob me so entirely of my son.Indeed the robbery is so complete,That with the brother will the sister tooFrom my paternal longings be estranged.And so nought else remains for me but this,To take immediate measures to ensureThat they shall know the truth about themselves,And then with resignation to awaitThe penance laid upon me by those powersWho keep the reckoning of our misdeeds.(Exit.)(After an interval the Grand Master and Simon enter.)Grand Master:Henceforward Simon, in the castle wallsThou must abide, for since that lying taleWas published that thou art a sorcerer,Peril awaits thine every step outside.Simon:My heart is sore indeed to find that menIn ignorance assail a proffered aidWhose only object is to do them good.Grand Master:Those who, by grace of lofty spirit-powers,Can turn their gaze upon the souls of men,Will see the enemies therein arrayedWhich fight against the nature of the soul.The battle which our mortal foes prepareIs but an emblem of that greater strifeWaged in the heart incessantly by powersWhich are at enmity amongst themselves.Simon:My lord, in very truth these words of thineArouse an echo in my deepest soul.Indeed my nature is not prone to dreams;Yet when I walk alone through wood and fieldA picture often riseth in my soulWhich with my will I can no more controlThan any object which mine eye beholds.A human form appears in front of meWhich fain would grasp my hand in fellowship.Such suffering on his features is expressedAs never yet I saw in any face.The greatness and the beauty of this manSeize firmly hold of all my powers of soul;I fain would sink to earth and humbly bowBefore this messenger from other worlds.Next moment like a raging flame, there comesThe wildest anger searing through my heart,Nor can I gain the mastery o’er the powerThat fans the opposition of my soul,And I am forced to thrust aside the handWhich is so lovingly held out to me.So soon as to my senses I returnThe radiant form hath vanished from my sight.And thereupon, when I recall in thoughtThat which my spirit hath so often seen,Before my soul this thought presents itselfWhich moves me to the bottom of my heart.I feel myself attracted by thy lore,In which a Spirit-being is revealedDescending from the Kingdom of the Sun,To take a human form upon Himself,In order to disclose Himself to men.I cannot keep the glowing beauty outThat pours upon me from thy noble lore,And yet my soul will not assent thereto.The primal form of our humanityIn thy great Spirit-being I admit;But still my individual self rebelsWhen I would turn to him in faith and love.So must I ever wage an inward warThe archetype of every outer strife.In sore distress, I seek in vain a clueTo solve the riddle of my life and fate:How comes it that I understand so wellAnd yet that I in no wise can believeThe things thy noble teachings do reveal?I follow thine example faithfully,Yet find myself opposed at every pointTo this example’s goal and origin.And when I must thus recognize myself,A flood of doubt o’erwhelms my falt’ring faithThat in this life I may yet find myself.Nay, worse than this, the dread doth haunt me oftThat this bewilderment of doubt may runThrough all the lives that I shall live on earth.Grand Master:The picture, which thou sawest, my good friend,Before my spirit stood out strong and clearWhilst thou didst paint it in those vivid words;And as thou didst speak further, then it grewIn breadth before mine eyes until I sawHow cosmic aims are linked to human fate.(Exeunt.)(After an interval, the two Masters of Ceremonies enter.)First Master of Ceremonies:Dear brother, I must openly confessThat our Grand Master’s clemency exceedsMy comprehension, when I needs must seeWhat bitter wrong our foes inflict on us.Although they will not study what we teachThey scruple not to paint us in men’s eyesAs heretics and messengers from hell.Second Master of Ceremonies:His clemency from our own teaching flows.Can we proclaim life’s highest aim to beTo understand the soul of every man,And then misunderstand our foes ourselves?There are amongst them many men indeedWho follow in the footsteps of the Christ.Yet even from the souls of such as theseThe essence of our teachings must be veiled,Though they should hear them with the outer ear.Remember, brother, how reluctantly,And with what inner conflict, thou wast ledTo grant admission to the spirit-voice.We know, from what the master hath revealed,That future men will see in Spirit-lightThe lofty Being of the Sun, who trodThis Earth once only in a human frame.This revelation we with joy believeAnd gladly follow where our leaders tread.Yet but a short time since these weighty wordsWere said by him whom we acclaim as Head:‘Your souls must ripen slowly, if indeedWith eyes prophetic ye would see todayThat which the men of later days shall seeAnd ye must not imagine,’ said our chief,‘That after passing one initial testYe can have sight of things that are to be.When ye shall have attained to certaintyThat all mankind must needs be born again,Ye then will have to meet the second testWhich sets your personal illusions freeTo dim the radiance of the Spirit-light.’This solemn warning, too, the master gave:‘Ofttimes reflect, in meditation’s hour,How psychic monsters, of illusion born,Beset the path of those who seek the light.Who falls their victim may see even thereHuman existence where the Spirit seeksTo be revealed to Spirit-light alone.If ye would worthily prepare yourselvesTo recognize, by help of inner sight,The Light of Wisdom streaming from the Christ,Over yourselves ye must keep watch and wardLest personal illusion blind you thenWhen your souls think that it is furthest off.’With this injunction clearly held in viewWe soon shall rid us of the vain beliefThat in these times we can transmit these truths,Whose beauty we confess within our souls,In easy manner to posterity.Rather must we take comfort from the fact,That we today can meet so many soulsIn whom the seed, although they know it not,Already hath been sown for future lives.This seed can only manifest itselfIn man, by opposition to those PowersWith which it later will ally itself.In all this hatred which pursues us nowI do but see the seed of future love.First Master of Ceremonies:Certain it is that highest truth’s intentCan only in such manner be disclosed;Yet hard it seems in this our present ageTo shape our lives to follow out its aim.Second Master of Ceremonies:Here too I follow out our master’s words:‘It is not granted unto all mankindTo live Earth’s future stages in advance.But individuals there must ever beWho can foresee what later days will bring,And who devote their feeling to those PowersWhich loose all being from its present tiesTo guard it safe for all Eternity.’The curtain falls, while the two Masters of Ceremonies are still in the hallScene 9The woodland meadow, as in Scene 6. Joseph Keane, Dame Keane, their daughter Bertha; afterwards, Countryfolk, later the Monk; finally Keane’s foster-daughter Cecilia and Thomas.Bertha:Dear mother, I so long to hear the taleCecilia often spake of years ago.Thou dost know all those fairy-tales to tellWhich father brings back with him from the knightsWhen he comes home, and which with greatest joySo many friends are always glad to hear.Keane:The soul can find real treasure in those tales.The gifts which on the spirit they conferDecay not with the body in the graveBut bear their fruits in later lives on earth.Darkly, as through a glass, we glimpse their truth;And from such darkened sight, our souls can winKnowledge to serve our needs in daily life.If only folk could realize the storeOf precious gifts our knights have to bestow!Cecilia and Thomas have, alas,Deaf ears at present for such things as these;Since they draw wisdom from another source.Bertha:Today I fain would listen to that taleWhich tells about the Evil and the Good.Dame Keane:Right gladly will I tell it thee. Attend.Once on a time there lived a man who spentMuch time in puzzling over cosmic truths.That which tormented his poor brain the mostWas, how to learn of Evil’s origin.And to that question he could not reply.The world was made by God, so he would say,And God can only have in him the Good.How then doth Evil spring from out the Good?Time and again he puzzled over this,But could not find the answer that he sought.Now it befell that on a certain dayThis seeker on his travels passed a treeThat was engaged in converse with an axe.Unto the tree the axe did speak these words:‘That which thou canst not do I can achieve,I can fell thee; but thou canst not fell me.’Unto the vain axe thus the tree replied:‘’Twas but a year ago a man did cleaveThe very wood of which thine haft is madeOut of my body with another axe.’And when the man had listened to these wordsA thought was straightway born within his soulWhich he could not set clearly down in words,But which completely answered his demand:How Evil could originate from Good.Keane:Think on this story, daughter and thou’lt see,How contemplating nature’s mysteriesMay form fresh knowledge in a human head.I know how many things I can make clearUnto myself by spinning out in thoughtThe tales by which the knights enlighten us.Bertha:I know I am a simple little thing,Without ability to understandThe learned words which clever people useIn setting forth the science they profess.I have no taste for matters of that kind.Whenever Thomas tells us of his workI nearly fall asleep. But I could spendUnnumbered hours in listening to the talesWhich father brings back home on his returnFrom visiting the castle, and wherewithHe often weaves a story of his ownAs he recounts them to us hour on hour.(Exeunt.)(After an interval, the Countryfolk come across the meadow.)First Countryman:My uncle yesterday came home again.He dwelt a long time in Bohemia,And earned an honest living in the mines.Full many a bit of news he hath to tellPicked up by him upon his journeyings.Excitement and unrest are everywhere.Attacks are made upon the Spirit-Knights.Our local brotherhood can not escape;Already preparations have been madeAnd ere long will this castle be besieged.Second Countryman:I hope ’twill not be long ’ere they attack.Many amongst us will most certainlyGladly enlist among the fighting-men;I mean to be among the first myself.First Countrywoman:Thou wilt but hurry headlong to thy doom!How can a man be such a witless fool!Hast thou forgot how strongly fortifiedThe castle is? The battle will be grim.Second Countrywoman:It is no business of the countryfolkTo mix with things they do not understand.Yet there are many hereabouts todayWho do naught else but go from place to placeAnd fan the embers of revolt and strife.Things have already come to such a passThat sick folk have to cry in vain for aid.The good man who in former days was wontTo help so many in sore need, can nowNo more pass out beyond the castle gates,So cruelly have folk belaboured him.Third Countrywoman:Of course! for many people were enragedOn hearing from what source the sickness cameThat broke out, all at once, among our cows.The Jew brought this upon them by his spells.He only seems to make sick people wellIn order, by the use of hellish arts,Better to serve the ends of evil powers.Third Countryman:This fuss about vile heresy is nought,And matters not. The fact is that these folkHad all they needed, and nought else to doBut spend their leisure in abusive talk.A clever judge of human nature thenDevised this silly tale about the Jew,How he had laid a spell upon our stock.And so from this alone the storm arose.Fourth Countryman:I think that every one of you might knowWhat wars do mean, with all their misery.Have not our fathers told us all that theyMust needs endure, when all the countrysideWas overrun by bands of soldiery?Fourth Countrywoman:I always said that it would come to pass:Their lordships’ rule must shortly fade away.Already hath a dream revealed to meHow we can be of service to the troopsWhen they arrive to carry out the siege,And take good care of all their creature needs.Fifth Countryman:If dreams today are still to be believed,That is a matter we need not discuss.The knights have tried to make us clevererThan were our fathers. Now they have to learnHow much our cleverness hath been increased.Our fathers let them in; in our turn weShall drive them out. I know the secret tracksThat yield an entrance to the fortalice.I used to work within it until rageDrove me away; now will I show the knightsHow we can make their science serve our ends.Fifth Countrywoman:He surely hath no good thought in his heart;I trembled as I listened to his words.Sixth Countryman:In spirit-vision I have lately seenA traitor leading hostile soldieryBy secret ways into the castle’s keep.Sixth Countrywoman:Such visions are destructive, I should say.No one who thinks as Christians ought to thinkBut is aware that honesty alone,Not treason, can from evil set us free.Sixth Countryman:I let folk talk, and help as best I can.How often do we hear a thing called wrongBy those who lack the courage in themselvesTo do that very thing. Let’s go our ways;I see the father coming down the road;We will not interrupt his train of thought.I found no difficulty up till nowIn understanding everything he taught;But in the sermon which he preached todayHe said much that one could not understand.(The Countryfolk go away towards the forest.)(After an interval the Monk comes along the meadow path.)Monk:It must be that a soul is led astrayIn striving to pursue her natural course.The weakness of my heart alone allowedSuch visions to appear before mine eyesAs those which I beheld within those walls.That they must show themselves to me in strifeIs proof enough how little yet in meThe psychic forces work in harmony.Therefore will I address myself anewTo kindle in myself those potent wordsWhich bring me light from out the Spirit-heights.That man alone prefers another road,Whom personal illusions have made blind.The soul can only triumph over liesBy proving herself worthy of the graceWhich Spirit-light, outpoured from founts of love,In words of wisdom doth reveal to her.I know that I shall find the greatest strengthWhich can throw light on what the Fatherstaught.When from the gloom of self’s imaginingsWith lowly heart submissive I can flee.(Exit.)(After an interval there appear on the meadow Cecilia and Thomas.)Cecilia:Dear brother, when in fervent ecstasyOf silent prayer my soul did bow herselfUnto the Fountain of the World, and yearnWhole-heartedly to be made one therewith,A light before my spirit would appear—With gentle warmth and radiancy aglow;This then transformed itself into a manWho looked into my face with tender eyes,And spoke to me. These were the vision’s words:‘Human delusion left thee once forlorn,And now thou art upborne by human love;Wait therefore until longing finds a wayTo bring the seeker safely to thy side.’Thus spake this human figure oft to me;Nor could I fathom what the words might mean;And yet a dim foreboding made me glad,That some time they should be fulfilled for me.And then, beloved brother, thou didst come,And when I first set eyes upon thy face,I felt my senses leave me; for thou wastThat human figure’s very counterpart.Thomas:Dream and foreboding told thee but the truth,Indeed ’twas longing guided me to thee.Cecilia:And when thou didst request me as thy wifeI thought the Spirit had ordained it so.Thomas:That in good truth the Spirit’s purpose wasTo re-unite us, clearly may be seen,Although we read it not aright at first.As wife and helpmeet, sent me from above,So didst thou seem to me, when first we met.And then my long-lost sister did I find.Cecilia:And henceforth nothing shall divide us twain.Thomas:Yet many obstacles between us rise.Thy foster-parents by close ties are boundUnto the brotherhood which I must spurn.Cecilia:They are incarnate love and kindness both;And loyal friendship will they give to thee.Thomas:My creed will separate me from their love.Cecilia:Through me you will find out the way to them.Thomas:Keane, the dear fellow, is so obstinate;He never will see aught but darkness thereWhere I perceive the very fount of light.In riper years it was first granted meTo turn my steps toward this light of truth,Since all I learned of it in childhood’s daysUpon my spirit made but little mark;Whilst later on, my every thought was bentOn scientific knowledge as a meansTo gain a livelihood. When I came hereAt last I found the teacher and the guideWho had the power to liberate my soul.The teaching he hath let me listen toDoth bear the very stamp of truth itself.Such is his speech that heart and head alikeMust yield themselves as captives to his words,So full at once of gentleness and good.I took the greatest trouble heretoforeTo understand the other spirit type;And found it could but unto error lead.Since it clings only to those spirit-powersWhich may be faithful guides in earthly waysBut cannot lift one up to higher worlds.How shall I therefore ever find the wayInto the hearts of people who believeThat from this error all salvation springs?Cecilia:I hear thy words, dear brother, and they seemThe product of no peaceful frame of mind.Yet ’tis a peaceful scene of former daysWhich they have reawakened in my soul.’Twas one Good Friday, many years ago,I saw the scene of which I speak to thee.It happened that upon that day the manWho wore my brother’s features, said to me:‘From source divine hath sprung the human soul;It can in death dive down to nature’s depths,In time it will set spirit free from death.’Not until afterwards was I awareThat these words are the motto of our knights.Thomas:Alas! my sister, that thy lips should speakThose evil words, which our opponents takeAs revelation of the highest truth.Cecilia:I have at heart no sympathy at allWith outward acts committed by the knights;I truly serve the creed that nourished thee.But never could I make myself believeThat men who guide the footsteps of the soulBy such instruction toward so high a goalWalk not themselves the path that Christ hath trod.The Spirit’s pupil am I, staunch and true,And I confess that it is my beliefThat on that day, my brother’s spirit stroveTo speak of aims that lead the soul to peace.Thomas:The powers of destiny have not ordainedPeace for the soul, it seems, for thee and me;They take our father from us that same hourThat sees him once again restored to us.Cecilia:My faculties are clouded o’er with painWhen of our father thus I hear thee speak.Thy heart would draw thee to his side in love,And yet thou tremblest at the very thoughtOf union with him whilst he is alive.Thou followest our leader in good faith,Yet canst not hear the messages of loveWhich his commands so tenderly convey.A dark enigma faceth me; I seeThe goodness of thy heart, thy steadfast faith,And yet must shudder at the deep abyssThat yawns so horribly betwixt you twain.And did not hope live on to comfort me,And tell me love is never overcomeI should lack courage to endure this pain.Thomas:Dear sister, thou hast yet to learn the powerOf thought, once it hath gripped a human soul.This is no case of son opposing sire;But one thought from another turns away.Thought is the sovereign whom my soul obeys;Did I refuse her homage I should beIn very truth my spirit’s murderer.Curtain; Thomas and Cecilia still standing in the meadow(This closes the vision into the XIVth Century and the following is the sequel of the events described in the first five scenes.)

A chamber in the castle whose exterior was shown in the preceding scene. Decorated throughout with symbols of a Mystic Brotherhood. (For costumes, see note on page 145.) Columns, arches, and vaulted roof with the mystic symbols shown in the Author’s ‘Occult Symbols.’ First the Knights assemble; then the Monk and one of the Knights; later appears the spirit of Benedictus who has passed away about fifty years earlier. Then Lucifer and Ahriman. The Grand Master seated with four Brothers at a long table.

Grand Master:Ye who are joined with me in comradeshipTo seek the goal appointed unto man,And bring that knowledge from the spirit-realmInto the scope of earth’s activities,As is appointed to our brotherhood,Must also truly help me in this hourWhen heavy trials impend. Then, know ye allThat since our venerated master fell,A victim by the Powers of Darkness claimed,Who draw their strength from Evil, helping onThe plan of Wisdom by their natural means,That is by means of Opposition’s strength,Since Wisdom turneth Evil into Good:Since that sad loss we strive on earth in vain,For many a castle of our brotherhoodHath by our enemies been overwhelmed,And many brothers dear to us have fallenIn fight, and followed our great Master homeInto the realm of everlasting light.For us too doth the hour approach apaceWhen these stout walls that shelter us shall fall.Our foes already spy the country roundTo find a pretext under which they mayRob us of our possessions, ne’er acquiredFor our own use, but as a means to drawAround us individuals, in whose soulsWe could implant the germs of things to come.These germs shall ripen when those men themselvesFind their way back from out the spirit-landTo live anew in future days on earth.

Grand Master:

Ye who are joined with me in comradeship

To seek the goal appointed unto man,

And bring that knowledge from the spirit-realm

Into the scope of earth’s activities,

As is appointed to our brotherhood,

Must also truly help me in this hour

When heavy trials impend. Then, know ye all

That since our venerated master fell,

A victim by the Powers of Darkness claimed,

Who draw their strength from Evil, helping on

The plan of Wisdom by their natural means,

That is by means of Opposition’s strength,

Since Wisdom turneth Evil into Good:

Since that sad loss we strive on earth in vain,

For many a castle of our brotherhood

Hath by our enemies been overwhelmed,

And many brothers dear to us have fallen

In fight, and followed our great Master home

Into the realm of everlasting light.

For us too doth the hour approach apace

When these stout walls that shelter us shall fall.

Our foes already spy the country round

To find a pretext under which they may

Rob us of our possessions, ne’er acquired

For our own use, but as a means to draw

Around us individuals, in whose souls

We could implant the germs of things to come.

These germs shall ripen when those men themselves

Find their way back from out the spirit-land

To live anew in future days on earth.

First Master of Ceremonies:That this our brotherhood should be o’erthrownBy some obscure design of destiny,Is something nowise inconceivable.But that the fall of our communityShould doom so many brothers’ single lives,Would seem to contravene the cosmic law.I do not wish my words to make complaint,Since willingly our brothers suffer death.But still my soul desires to comprehendThe sacrifice demanded from these menWho have allied themselves unto a whole,Because the powers of destiny decreeThe overthrow and ruin of that whole.

First Master of Ceremonies:

That this our brotherhood should be o’erthrown

By some obscure design of destiny,

Is something nowise inconceivable.

But that the fall of our community

Should doom so many brothers’ single lives,

Would seem to contravene the cosmic law.

I do not wish my words to make complaint,

Since willingly our brothers suffer death.

But still my soul desires to comprehend

The sacrifice demanded from these men

Who have allied themselves unto a whole,

Because the powers of destiny decree

The overthrow and ruin of that whole.

Grand Master:The separate life of individual menIs linked most wisely to the world’s design.Amongst our brothers there will surely beSome who have given proof of competenceTo serve our brotherhood with their soul’s powerAnd yet whose nature still shows many a stain.The errors and misdeeds of such a heartMust find their expiation in the painSuffered by it in service for the wholeAnd he who, blameless both in act and deed,Must none the less walk in the thorny wayTraced by the Karma of the brotherhood,Will find his pain requited by the powerTo mount aloft unto the higher life.

Grand Master:

The separate life of individual men

Is linked most wisely to the world’s design.

Amongst our brothers there will surely be

Some who have given proof of competence

To serve our brotherhood with their soul’s power

And yet whose nature still shows many a stain.

The errors and misdeeds of such a heart

Must find their expiation in the pain

Suffered by it in service for the whole

And he who, blameless both in act and deed,

Must none the less walk in the thorny way

Traced by the Karma of the brotherhood,

Will find his pain requited by the power

To mount aloft unto the higher life.

First Master of Ceremonies:So then the brotherhood may tolerateWithin its ranks souls not yet purifiedWho vow themselves to its exalted aims?

First Master of Ceremonies:

So then the brotherhood may tolerate

Within its ranks souls not yet purified

Who vow themselves to its exalted aims?

Grand Master:He who to lofty works is dedicateDoth mark alone the goodness in men’s souls;He lets the evil work its ransom outAs cosmic justice in its course decides.My brothers, I have bid you meet me hereIn order to remind you with grave wordsThat we have duties in our days of grief.We must be ready to lay down our livesFor those high purposes to which we sworeLifelong allegiance. Ye then are indeedMy brothers, if undauntedly your soulsRepeat the motto of our brotherhood:‘Both separateness and life must be forswornBy those who would set eyes on spirit-goalsThrough occult senses unto them revealed;Who dare to let the spirit’s will pour downAnd flood their individual purposes.’

Grand Master:

He who to lofty works is dedicate

Doth mark alone the goodness in men’s souls;

He lets the evil work its ransom out

As cosmic justice in its course decides.

My brothers, I have bid you meet me here

In order to remind you with grave words

That we have duties in our days of grief.

We must be ready to lay down our lives

For those high purposes to which we swore

Lifelong allegiance. Ye then are indeed

My brothers, if undauntedly your souls

Repeat the motto of our brotherhood:

‘Both separateness and life must be forsworn

By those who would set eyes on spirit-goals

Through occult senses unto them revealed;

Who dare to let the spirit’s will pour down

And flood their individual purposes.’

First Preceptor:Exalted Master, shouldst thou deign to testThe heart of each man in our brotherhood,It would repeat that motto loud and clear!—Yet do we beg thee to explain to usWhy, not content with robbing us of lifeAnd our possessions, now our enemiesWould rob us also of those humble soulsWhom we have tended with unselfish love.For every day affords new evidenceThat not alone compulsion makes our folkSubmit themselves unto our conquerors;But that indeed they too have learned to hateThe spirit-path which we had shown to them.

First Preceptor:

Exalted Master, shouldst thou deign to test

The heart of each man in our brotherhood,

It would repeat that motto loud and clear!—

Yet do we beg thee to explain to us

Why, not content with robbing us of life

And our possessions, now our enemies

Would rob us also of those humble souls

Whom we have tended with unselfish love.

For every day affords new evidence

That not alone compulsion makes our folk

Submit themselves unto our conquerors;

But that indeed they too have learned to hate

The spirit-path which we had shown to them.

Grand Master:That which we have implanted in men’s soulsMay die indeed today; but these same men,Who once have breathed our spirit-radiance,Will come again to earth, and then bestowUpon the world the fruitage of our work.Thus speaks unto my spirit oftentimesOur mighty leader from the realm of death,When in my quiet hours, I do sink downInto my soul’s deep places, and arouseStrength to abide awhile in spirit-lands.Then may I feel the master’s presence nearAnd hear his words, as in the life of senseI often heard them. Never doth he speakAbout our work as drawing to a close;But only of fulfilment of our aimsIn later days that are to come on earth.

Grand Master:

That which we have implanted in men’s souls

May die indeed today; but these same men,

Who once have breathed our spirit-radiance,

Will come again to earth, and then bestow

Upon the world the fruitage of our work.

Thus speaks unto my spirit oftentimes

Our mighty leader from the realm of death,

When in my quiet hours, I do sink down

Into my soul’s deep places, and arouse

Strength to abide awhile in spirit-lands.

Then may I feel the master’s presence near

And hear his words, as in the life of sense

I often heard them. Never doth he speak

About our work as drawing to a close;

But only of fulfilment of our aims

In later days that are to come on earth.

(Exeunt the Grand Master and two Brothers.)

First Preceptor:He speaks of spirit-worlds in just such wordsAs men may speak of villages or towns.…The way in which our loftiest brothers speakOf other states of life oppresseth me.And yet I am devoted ferventlyUnto the progress of our earthly aims.

First Preceptor:

He speaks of spirit-worlds in just such words

As men may speak of villages or towns.…

The way in which our loftiest brothers speak

Of other states of life oppresseth me.

And yet I am devoted fervently

Unto the progress of our earthly aims.

Second Master of Ceremonies:My firm reliance is our master’s words.The man who cannot hear with perfect faithThe tale of spirit and of spirit-worlds,—Is nowise lacking in the facultiesTo grasp a revelation of this kind.The things he lacks are of a different mould.He may well guess, unwilling to admit,That he is conscious of unworthinessTo be a member of the higher worlds.A soul must be defiled by secret stainAnd eager to deny that they are there,That will not bow before the spirit-lore.

Second Master of Ceremonies:

My firm reliance is our master’s words.

The man who cannot hear with perfect faith

The tale of spirit and of spirit-worlds,—

Is nowise lacking in the faculties

To grasp a revelation of this kind.

The things he lacks are of a different mould.

He may well guess, unwilling to admit,

That he is conscious of unworthiness

To be a member of the higher worlds.

A soul must be defiled by secret stain

And eager to deny that they are there,

That will not bow before the spirit-lore.

(Exeunt.)

(Enter the Monk; the Second Preceptor enters and steps up to him.)

Second Preceptor:What errand bringeth thee to this our houseWhich is for thee the home of enemies?

Second Preceptor:

What errand bringeth thee to this our house

Which is for thee the home of enemies?

Monk:I must include amongst my friends all thoseWho bear the form of men. This is our rule.But hostile thou mayst well esteem the claimWhich I, by duty bound, must here present.Those who are over me have sent me here.And their desire is that the propertyBelonging to the Church, as by old deedsIs well attested, should be given backTo them without dispute. Yon tract of groundUpon which ye have sunk your mine, belongsIn law and equity unto the Church.The manner in which ye possessed yourselvesOf this estate confers no legal rights.

Monk:

I must include amongst my friends all those

Who bear the form of men. This is our rule.

But hostile thou mayst well esteem the claim

Which I, by duty bound, must here present.

Those who are over me have sent me here.

And their desire is that the property

Belonging to the Church, as by old deeds

Is well attested, should be given back

To them without dispute. Yon tract of ground

Upon which ye have sunk your mine, belongs

In law and equity unto the Church.

The manner in which ye possessed yourselves

Of this estate confers no legal rights.

Second Preceptor:Whether in law we have a right to callIt ours or no, would constitute a caseFor legal disputation long drawn out.But certain ’tis that it belongs to usIf we refer it to a higher law.Yon tract of ground was lying lost and wasteWhen it was purchased by our brotherhood:Not e’en an inkling had ye of the factThat far below rich treasure lay concealed.This have we won for human industry.Its treasures travel far and wide todayTo distant lands, to further human weal.And many honest souls are now at workIn shaft and tunnel underneath the groundWhich in your hands lay waste and desolate.

Second Preceptor:

Whether in law we have a right to call

It ours or no, would constitute a case

For legal disputation long drawn out.

But certain ’tis that it belongs to us

If we refer it to a higher law.

Yon tract of ground was lying lost and waste

When it was purchased by our brotherhood:

Not e’en an inkling had ye of the fact

That far below rich treasure lay concealed.

This have we won for human industry.

Its treasures travel far and wide today

To distant lands, to further human weal.

And many honest souls are now at work

In shaft and tunnel underneath the ground

Which in your hands lay waste and desolate.

Monk:Then it doth not seem fair and right to theeTo urge upon thy brotherhood the needOf peaceably accepting our demandThat so we may regain our property?

Monk:

Then it doth not seem fair and right to thee

To urge upon thy brotherhood the need

Of peaceably accepting our demand

That so we may regain our property?

Second Preceptor:Since we are not aware of any guilt,But are convinced our cause is wholly just,We can but wait in quiet confidenceTo see if ye are really bent on strife,When as before, yourselves are in the wrong.

Second Preceptor:

Since we are not aware of any guilt,

But are convinced our cause is wholly just,

We can but wait in quiet confidence

To see if ye are really bent on strife,

When as before, yourselves are in the wrong.

Monk:Then will ye have to thank your headstrong willIf we are driven to a sterner course.

Monk:

Then will ye have to thank your headstrong will

If we are driven to a sterner course.

Second Preceptor:The honour of our brotherhood demandsThat only when defeated, sword in hand,Do we allow ourselves to be despoiled.

Second Preceptor:

The honour of our brotherhood demands

That only when defeated, sword in hand,

Do we allow ourselves to be despoiled.

Monk:So be it! Now my mission is fulfilled.Between us there is no more need of words.Will it be possible for me to haveAn audience with thy lord, who here commands?

Monk:

So be it! Now my mission is fulfilled.

Between us there is no more need of words.

Will it be possible for me to have

An audience with thy lord, who here commands?

Second Preceptor:The master doubtless will concede thee this;Yet wait, I pray three, for a little while.He cannot at this moment come to thee.

Second Preceptor:

The master doubtless will concede thee this;

Yet wait, I pray three, for a little while.

He cannot at this moment come to thee.

(Exit.)

Monk:O, that mine office forceth me to treadThe halls of this detested brotherhood.Turn where they may, my eyes must contemplateSinful devices and satanic spells.Almost a horror seizeth hold on me;A crackling and a rumbling fill the air;I feel the powers of ill are gathered round.

Monk:

O, that mine office forceth me to tread

The halls of this detested brotherhood.

Turn where they may, my eyes must contemplate

Sinful devices and satanic spells.

Almost a horror seizeth hold on me;

A crackling and a rumbling fill the air;

I feel the powers of ill are gathered round.

(Noises heard.)

But as my conscience is entirely clearI will defy the enemy.

But as my conscience is entirely clear

I will defy the enemy.

(Noises heard.)

I will defy the enemy.Oh, thisIs terrible.…

I will defy the enemy.Oh, this

Is terrible.…

(The spirit of Benedictus appears.)

Is terrible....Defend me, Saints in Heaven!

Benedictus:Collect thyself, my son. I often cameTo meet thee, when the fervour of thy prayersTransported thee unto the spirit-world.Take therefore courage in this present hourAnd learn a truth which thou must realizeIf spirit clearness is to hold its swayAnd drive away the darkness from thy soul.

Benedictus:

Collect thyself, my son. I often came

To meet thee, when the fervour of thy prayers

Transported thee unto the spirit-world.

Take therefore courage in this present hour

And learn a truth which thou must realize

If spirit clearness is to hold its sway

And drive away the darkness from thy soul.

Monk:When in my trials I prayed to Heaven for light,And when my supplication winged its wayTo realms celestial, and won response,Thou, venerated master, didst appear.Thou, who wast aye our Order’s ornament,The while thou wert amongst us here on earth,And out of higher realms didst speak to me,Enlightening my mind and strengthening me.My soul beheld thee with its inner eye,My spirit ear was open to thy words.In this hour also then, will I receiveThe revelation with humilityWhich thou shalt cause to flow into my soul.

Monk:

When in my trials I prayed to Heaven for light,

And when my supplication winged its way

To realms celestial, and won response,

Thou, venerated master, didst appear.

Thou, who wast aye our Order’s ornament,

The while thou wert amongst us here on earth,

And out of higher realms didst speak to me,

Enlightening my mind and strengthening me.

My soul beheld thee with its inner eye,

My spirit ear was open to thy words.

In this hour also then, will I receive

The revelation with humility

Which thou shalt cause to flow into my soul.

Benedictus:Thou art within that brotherhood’s abodeWhom thou dost charge with wicked heresies.They seem to hate what we are taught to loveAnd hold in honour what we count as sin.Our brethren feel themselves in duty boundTo haste the spirit-brethren’s overthrow,And think their action sanctioned by the wordsI spake myself whilst I was still on earth.Yet do they not imagine that these wordsCan only hold the living truth so longAs they are rightly acted on by thoseWho have been my successors in my work.So let those thoughts which I once held on earthRise up afresh and live within thy soulIn harmony with needs of newer times.And thus behold this Order, which doth seekIts goal in mystic realms, as I should judgeAnd look on it, if it had been my lotTo dwell on earth and work with thee today.This brotherhood is vowed to lofty aims.These individuals who have joined its ranksHave premonitions of the days to come;Their leaders see with a prophetic eyeThe fruits that shall grow ripe in future times;Science and daily life shall undergoA change of form and seek ideals new;And what this brotherhood doth now achieve,Whom thou hast lent a hand to persecute,Are deeds which serve to bring this change about.Alone by peaceful union of the aimsSought by our brethren and these hereticsCan good be made to blossom on this earth.

Benedictus:

Thou art within that brotherhood’s abode

Whom thou dost charge with wicked heresies.

They seem to hate what we are taught to love

And hold in honour what we count as sin.

Our brethren feel themselves in duty bound

To haste the spirit-brethren’s overthrow,

And think their action sanctioned by the words

I spake myself whilst I was still on earth.

Yet do they not imagine that these words

Can only hold the living truth so long

As they are rightly acted on by those

Who have been my successors in my work.

So let those thoughts which I once held on earth

Rise up afresh and live within thy soul

In harmony with needs of newer times.

And thus behold this Order, which doth seek

Its goal in mystic realms, as I should judge

And look on it, if it had been my lot

To dwell on earth and work with thee today.

This brotherhood is vowed to lofty aims.

These individuals who have joined its ranks

Have premonitions of the days to come;

Their leaders see with a prophetic eye

The fruits that shall grow ripe in future times;

Science and daily life shall undergo

A change of form and seek ideals new;

And what this brotherhood doth now achieve,

Whom thou hast lent a hand to persecute,

Are deeds which serve to bring this change about.

Alone by peaceful union of the aims

Sought by our brethren and these heretics

Can good be made to blossom on this earth.

Monk:This warning, of which I am worthy found,How can I act upon it? It departsAmazingly from all that I have held,Up to this moment, to be right and good.

Monk:

This warning, of which I am worthy found,

How can I act upon it? It departs

Amazingly from all that I have held,

Up to this moment, to be right and good.

(Ahriman and Lucifer appear.)

But other beings now are drawing nigh!Why do they come and stand beside thee now?

But other beings now are drawing nigh!

Why do they come and stand beside thee now?

Ahriman:This further message comes from other realms.It cannot seem an easy thing for theeThy predecessor’s bidding to obey.Reflect—he dwells in everlasting bliss.And actions by decree and duty thereDesirable, may well upon the earthLead to confusion at the present time.Lift up thine eyes to where he dwells on highIf thou wouldst seek for comfort from the blissThat, when the latter days of earth draw near,By cosmic spirits is to be bestowed.But if at present thou wouldst act aright,Be guided only, in the choice of paths,By that which reason and the senses teach.Thou hast been able clearly to discernThe sinful ways of yonder brotherhoodWhich they would fain keep secret from the world;Thus hast thou learned that laws for future lifeCan well be framed by souls now steeped in sin!How canst thou wish, now that thou knowst these things,To live in friendship with the brotherhood?For error is a poor and sterile soilWhere good fruit cannot come to ripening.

Ahriman:

This further message comes from other realms.

It cannot seem an easy thing for thee

Thy predecessor’s bidding to obey.

Reflect—he dwells in everlasting bliss.

And actions by decree and duty there

Desirable, may well upon the earth

Lead to confusion at the present time.

Lift up thine eyes to where he dwells on high

If thou wouldst seek for comfort from the bliss

That, when the latter days of earth draw near,

By cosmic spirits is to be bestowed.

But if at present thou wouldst act aright,

Be guided only, in the choice of paths,

By that which reason and the senses teach.

Thou hast been able clearly to discern

The sinful ways of yonder brotherhood

Which they would fain keep secret from the world;

Thus hast thou learned that laws for future life

Can well be framed by souls now steeped in sin!

How canst thou wish, now that thou knowst these things,

To live in friendship with the brotherhood?

For error is a poor and sterile soil

Where good fruit cannot come to ripening.

Lucifer:Thy pious mind hath shown the road to thee.It is most true that times and objects change;But none the less ’tis not for hereticsTo trace the paths on which mankind must tread.The error of this spirit-brotherhoodIs dangerous, because it speaks the truth,And yet expresses it in such a wayAs makes the truth more deadly than a lie.A man who openly avowed he liedWould have to be bereft of common sense’Ere he could bring himself to such beliefThat men would gladly follow where he led.The spirit-knights indeed are shrewd of mind;They do not fail to speak about the ChristBecause this name can open every doorThat gives admission to the souls of men.But ever can men easiest be ledInto the service of the AntichristWhen in the name of Christ he is proclaimed.

Lucifer:

Thy pious mind hath shown the road to thee.

It is most true that times and objects change;

But none the less ’tis not for heretics

To trace the paths on which mankind must tread.

The error of this spirit-brotherhood

Is dangerous, because it speaks the truth,

And yet expresses it in such a way

As makes the truth more deadly than a lie.

A man who openly avowed he lied

Would have to be bereft of common sense

’Ere he could bring himself to such belief

That men would gladly follow where he led.

The spirit-knights indeed are shrewd of mind;

They do not fail to speak about the Christ

Because this name can open every door

That gives admission to the souls of men.

But ever can men easiest be led

Into the service of the Antichrist

When in the name of Christ he is proclaimed.

Monk:Conflicting voices from the world of soulsAssail mine ears, as often heretofore,And always with an aim to counteractThe pious promptings of a mind devout.How shall I find the paths that lead to goodIf by the Powers of Evil they be praised?Almost it seems to me as if indeed …;But no, such words shall not be thought by me—,The wisdom of my master shall revealThe meaning of his words, so dark to me.

Monk:

Conflicting voices from the world of souls

Assail mine ears, as often heretofore,

And always with an aim to counteract

The pious promptings of a mind devout.

How shall I find the paths that lead to good

If by the Powers of Evil they be praised?

Almost it seems to me as if indeed …;

But no, such words shall not be thought by me—,

The wisdom of my master shall reveal

The meaning of his words, so dark to me.

Benedictus:I can direct thee to the proper path,If thou wilt let the words which once I spakeOn earth possess thee in thine inmost soul.And if thou art resolved to find the lifeThat lives within those words upon those planesOn which thou now canst see me face to face,The proper path shall be made plain to thee.

Benedictus:

I can direct thee to the proper path,

If thou wilt let the words which once I spake

On earth possess thee in thine inmost soul.

And if thou art resolved to find the life

That lives within those words upon those planes

On which thou now canst see me face to face,

The proper path shall be made plain to thee.

Curtain, while the Monk, the Spirit of Benedictus, Lucifer, and Ahriman are still on the stage

Scene 8The same. The First Preceptor; Joseph Keane; then the Grand Master with Simon; later the First and the Second Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Keane is there first; the Preceptor approaches him.First Preceptor:Thou didst send word thou wouldst have speech with me.What is the news that thou art come to bring?Joseph Keane:Most weighty matters both to thee and me.Thou knowst the master miner Thomas here,Who renders service to thee?First Preceptor:Who renders service to thee?Well I knowThe worthy man; we prize him for his skill,And his subordinates hold him in love.Keane:And dost thou know my child, Cecilia, too?First Preceptor(moved):It hath so chanced that I have seen the maidWhen I have met thee with thy family.Keane:It happened that soon after Thomas cameHe paid us frequent visits in our home.They grew more frequent; it was evidentThat to Cecilia his whole heart went out.We did not marvel that this should be so.But, knowing our girl’s nature, it was longEre we could think that she returned his love.Her life was well nigh one continuous prayer,And almost all society she shunned.Yet ever doth it now appear more clearThat to this stranger she hath giv’n her heart.And as things are, we feel ourselves compelledNot to oppose the wishes of our child;Thomas she loves, and she would marry him.First Preceptor(with faltering movements):Why runs this marriage counter to thy will?Keane:My lord, there is no need for me to tellOf my devotion to the brotherhood.My heart would have to bear a heavy loadIf my child’s love, in its entirety,Were cast upon the side of those who sayThat you and I alike are heretics.The monk who now o’er yonder abbey rulesClose by our home, and who doth ever seekTo thwart the mission of the brotherhood,Hath won dominion o’er our daughter’s soul.As long as she is still beneath my roofSo long shall I too not abandon hopeThat she may yet again retrace the pathWhich leads from spirit-darkness unto light.But I shall have to give her up for lostWhen she shall have become the wife of oneWho, like herself, works for the weal of manAccording to the precepts of that monk.His Reverence hath had complete successIn foisting such opinions as he holdsOn Thomas, who receives them in full faith.A thrill of terror would run over meTo hear the curses pour from Thomas’ lipsWhene’er we spake about the brotherhood.First Preceptor:Our enemies are many; if one moreIs added it cannot affect us much.Thy words have not yet made it clear to meWhat my concern is with this tale of love.Keane:My lord, thou seest this packet in mine hand.Its contents warrant me to come to thee.My wife and I alone have read the lines:None else in these parts knows a word of them.Now must they be made known to thee as well—The maid who passeth for our flesh and bloodIs not the offspring of my wife and me.We undertook the training of the childWhen her own mother died. What I have stillTo say will make it seem unnecessary,To tell at length how all this came to pass.For long we knew not who her father was;The girl today knows not her parentage.Father and mother she beholds in us.And such a state of things might have gone onSince we do love her as our very own.But some years later than her mother’s deathThe papers that I hold were brought to us;They make it plain who our child’s father is.I cannot tell if he is known to thee.(The Preceptor loses control over himself.)But now I know—am sure …But now I know—am sure… that thou art he.There is no need for me to tell thee more.But since it is thy child who is concernedI beg thee to extend to me thine aid.United our endeavours may succeedTo save her from the darkness that impends.First Preceptor:Dear Keane. Thou hast been ever true to me,And I would fain still further count on thee.Neither within nor yet without these wallsMust any in this country ever knowThe truth of my relation to this girl.Keane:My word thereon. I mean no harm to thee;I only beg that thou wilt lend thine aid.First Preceptor:Thou dost perceive that at the present timeI cannot talk with thee at greater length.I pray thee come tomorrow.Keane:I pray thee come tomorrow.I will come.(Exit.)First Preceptor:How cruelly my fate fulfils itself.I left my wife and child in misery,Since they seemed hindrances upon the pathAlong which vanity did beckon me.It led me on to join this brotherhood.In words of solemn import I then vowedMy service to the cause of human loveAlbeit I was laden with the guiltArising from the opposite of love.The brotherhood’s clear vision, as appliedTo acts and men, is manifest in me.It welcomed me a brother in its ranksAnd forthwith laid on me its rules severe.To self-examination was I ledAnd knowledge of myself, which otherwiseIn other walks of life I had not found.And then when, under Fate’s decree, my sonCame and dwelt near me, I was fain to thinkThat mighty Powers were merciful to meIn showing how to expiate my sin.I knew long since that this Keane’s foster-childWas none else than the daughter whom I left.The brotherhood is near its overthrow,Each brother resolute to meet his death,Convinced that those high purposes will liveFor which he makes his life the sacrifice.But I, alas, have felt for many daysI was not worthy of this glorious end.My purpose ever ripened to make knownMy case unto the master, and to cravePermission to forsake the brotherhood.I had in mind thenceforward to devoteMy days unto my children, and so farAs in this earth-life yet is possibleTo offer penance. But I clearly see,That ’twas not filial longing brought my sonTo this same spot to seek his father out,Although his good heart made him thus believe.But he was led by forces in the bloodWhich drew him to his sister. Other ties,Blood-born, were loosened by a father’s guilt,Or else yon monk had never had the powerTo rob me so entirely of my son.Indeed the robbery is so complete,That with the brother will the sister tooFrom my paternal longings be estranged.And so nought else remains for me but this,To take immediate measures to ensureThat they shall know the truth about themselves,And then with resignation to awaitThe penance laid upon me by those powersWho keep the reckoning of our misdeeds.(Exit.)(After an interval the Grand Master and Simon enter.)Grand Master:Henceforward Simon, in the castle wallsThou must abide, for since that lying taleWas published that thou art a sorcerer,Peril awaits thine every step outside.Simon:My heart is sore indeed to find that menIn ignorance assail a proffered aidWhose only object is to do them good.Grand Master:Those who, by grace of lofty spirit-powers,Can turn their gaze upon the souls of men,Will see the enemies therein arrayedWhich fight against the nature of the soul.The battle which our mortal foes prepareIs but an emblem of that greater strifeWaged in the heart incessantly by powersWhich are at enmity amongst themselves.Simon:My lord, in very truth these words of thineArouse an echo in my deepest soul.Indeed my nature is not prone to dreams;Yet when I walk alone through wood and fieldA picture often riseth in my soulWhich with my will I can no more controlThan any object which mine eye beholds.A human form appears in front of meWhich fain would grasp my hand in fellowship.Such suffering on his features is expressedAs never yet I saw in any face.The greatness and the beauty of this manSeize firmly hold of all my powers of soul;I fain would sink to earth and humbly bowBefore this messenger from other worlds.Next moment like a raging flame, there comesThe wildest anger searing through my heart,Nor can I gain the mastery o’er the powerThat fans the opposition of my soul,And I am forced to thrust aside the handWhich is so lovingly held out to me.So soon as to my senses I returnThe radiant form hath vanished from my sight.And thereupon, when I recall in thoughtThat which my spirit hath so often seen,Before my soul this thought presents itselfWhich moves me to the bottom of my heart.I feel myself attracted by thy lore,In which a Spirit-being is revealedDescending from the Kingdom of the Sun,To take a human form upon Himself,In order to disclose Himself to men.I cannot keep the glowing beauty outThat pours upon me from thy noble lore,And yet my soul will not assent thereto.The primal form of our humanityIn thy great Spirit-being I admit;But still my individual self rebelsWhen I would turn to him in faith and love.So must I ever wage an inward warThe archetype of every outer strife.In sore distress, I seek in vain a clueTo solve the riddle of my life and fate:How comes it that I understand so wellAnd yet that I in no wise can believeThe things thy noble teachings do reveal?I follow thine example faithfully,Yet find myself opposed at every pointTo this example’s goal and origin.And when I must thus recognize myself,A flood of doubt o’erwhelms my falt’ring faithThat in this life I may yet find myself.Nay, worse than this, the dread doth haunt me oftThat this bewilderment of doubt may runThrough all the lives that I shall live on earth.Grand Master:The picture, which thou sawest, my good friend,Before my spirit stood out strong and clearWhilst thou didst paint it in those vivid words;And as thou didst speak further, then it grewIn breadth before mine eyes until I sawHow cosmic aims are linked to human fate.(Exeunt.)(After an interval, the two Masters of Ceremonies enter.)First Master of Ceremonies:Dear brother, I must openly confessThat our Grand Master’s clemency exceedsMy comprehension, when I needs must seeWhat bitter wrong our foes inflict on us.Although they will not study what we teachThey scruple not to paint us in men’s eyesAs heretics and messengers from hell.Second Master of Ceremonies:His clemency from our own teaching flows.Can we proclaim life’s highest aim to beTo understand the soul of every man,And then misunderstand our foes ourselves?There are amongst them many men indeedWho follow in the footsteps of the Christ.Yet even from the souls of such as theseThe essence of our teachings must be veiled,Though they should hear them with the outer ear.Remember, brother, how reluctantly,And with what inner conflict, thou wast ledTo grant admission to the spirit-voice.We know, from what the master hath revealed,That future men will see in Spirit-lightThe lofty Being of the Sun, who trodThis Earth once only in a human frame.This revelation we with joy believeAnd gladly follow where our leaders tread.Yet but a short time since these weighty wordsWere said by him whom we acclaim as Head:‘Your souls must ripen slowly, if indeedWith eyes prophetic ye would see todayThat which the men of later days shall seeAnd ye must not imagine,’ said our chief,‘That after passing one initial testYe can have sight of things that are to be.When ye shall have attained to certaintyThat all mankind must needs be born again,Ye then will have to meet the second testWhich sets your personal illusions freeTo dim the radiance of the Spirit-light.’This solemn warning, too, the master gave:‘Ofttimes reflect, in meditation’s hour,How psychic monsters, of illusion born,Beset the path of those who seek the light.Who falls their victim may see even thereHuman existence where the Spirit seeksTo be revealed to Spirit-light alone.If ye would worthily prepare yourselvesTo recognize, by help of inner sight,The Light of Wisdom streaming from the Christ,Over yourselves ye must keep watch and wardLest personal illusion blind you thenWhen your souls think that it is furthest off.’With this injunction clearly held in viewWe soon shall rid us of the vain beliefThat in these times we can transmit these truths,Whose beauty we confess within our souls,In easy manner to posterity.Rather must we take comfort from the fact,That we today can meet so many soulsIn whom the seed, although they know it not,Already hath been sown for future lives.This seed can only manifest itselfIn man, by opposition to those PowersWith which it later will ally itself.In all this hatred which pursues us nowI do but see the seed of future love.First Master of Ceremonies:Certain it is that highest truth’s intentCan only in such manner be disclosed;Yet hard it seems in this our present ageTo shape our lives to follow out its aim.Second Master of Ceremonies:Here too I follow out our master’s words:‘It is not granted unto all mankindTo live Earth’s future stages in advance.But individuals there must ever beWho can foresee what later days will bring,And who devote their feeling to those PowersWhich loose all being from its present tiesTo guard it safe for all Eternity.’The curtain falls, while the two Masters of Ceremonies are still in the hall

The same. The First Preceptor; Joseph Keane; then the Grand Master with Simon; later the First and the Second Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Keane is there first; the Preceptor approaches him.

First Preceptor:Thou didst send word thou wouldst have speech with me.What is the news that thou art come to bring?

First Preceptor:

Thou didst send word thou wouldst have speech with me.

What is the news that thou art come to bring?

Joseph Keane:Most weighty matters both to thee and me.Thou knowst the master miner Thomas here,Who renders service to thee?

Joseph Keane:

Most weighty matters both to thee and me.

Thou knowst the master miner Thomas here,

Who renders service to thee?

First Preceptor:Who renders service to thee?Well I knowThe worthy man; we prize him for his skill,And his subordinates hold him in love.

First Preceptor:

Who renders service to thee?Well I know

The worthy man; we prize him for his skill,

And his subordinates hold him in love.

Keane:And dost thou know my child, Cecilia, too?

Keane:

And dost thou know my child, Cecilia, too?

First Preceptor(moved):It hath so chanced that I have seen the maidWhen I have met thee with thy family.

First Preceptor(moved):

It hath so chanced that I have seen the maid

When I have met thee with thy family.

Keane:It happened that soon after Thomas cameHe paid us frequent visits in our home.They grew more frequent; it was evidentThat to Cecilia his whole heart went out.We did not marvel that this should be so.But, knowing our girl’s nature, it was longEre we could think that she returned his love.Her life was well nigh one continuous prayer,And almost all society she shunned.Yet ever doth it now appear more clearThat to this stranger she hath giv’n her heart.And as things are, we feel ourselves compelledNot to oppose the wishes of our child;Thomas she loves, and she would marry him.

Keane:

It happened that soon after Thomas came

He paid us frequent visits in our home.

They grew more frequent; it was evident

That to Cecilia his whole heart went out.

We did not marvel that this should be so.

But, knowing our girl’s nature, it was long

Ere we could think that she returned his love.

Her life was well nigh one continuous prayer,

And almost all society she shunned.

Yet ever doth it now appear more clear

That to this stranger she hath giv’n her heart.

And as things are, we feel ourselves compelled

Not to oppose the wishes of our child;

Thomas she loves, and she would marry him.

First Preceptor(with faltering movements):Why runs this marriage counter to thy will?

First Preceptor(with faltering movements):

Why runs this marriage counter to thy will?

Keane:My lord, there is no need for me to tellOf my devotion to the brotherhood.My heart would have to bear a heavy loadIf my child’s love, in its entirety,Were cast upon the side of those who sayThat you and I alike are heretics.The monk who now o’er yonder abbey rulesClose by our home, and who doth ever seekTo thwart the mission of the brotherhood,Hath won dominion o’er our daughter’s soul.As long as she is still beneath my roofSo long shall I too not abandon hopeThat she may yet again retrace the pathWhich leads from spirit-darkness unto light.But I shall have to give her up for lostWhen she shall have become the wife of oneWho, like herself, works for the weal of manAccording to the precepts of that monk.His Reverence hath had complete successIn foisting such opinions as he holdsOn Thomas, who receives them in full faith.A thrill of terror would run over meTo hear the curses pour from Thomas’ lipsWhene’er we spake about the brotherhood.

Keane:

My lord, there is no need for me to tell

Of my devotion to the brotherhood.

My heart would have to bear a heavy load

If my child’s love, in its entirety,

Were cast upon the side of those who say

That you and I alike are heretics.

The monk who now o’er yonder abbey rules

Close by our home, and who doth ever seek

To thwart the mission of the brotherhood,

Hath won dominion o’er our daughter’s soul.

As long as she is still beneath my roof

So long shall I too not abandon hope

That she may yet again retrace the path

Which leads from spirit-darkness unto light.

But I shall have to give her up for lost

When she shall have become the wife of one

Who, like herself, works for the weal of man

According to the precepts of that monk.

His Reverence hath had complete success

In foisting such opinions as he holds

On Thomas, who receives them in full faith.

A thrill of terror would run over me

To hear the curses pour from Thomas’ lips

Whene’er we spake about the brotherhood.

First Preceptor:Our enemies are many; if one moreIs added it cannot affect us much.Thy words have not yet made it clear to meWhat my concern is with this tale of love.

First Preceptor:

Our enemies are many; if one more

Is added it cannot affect us much.

Thy words have not yet made it clear to me

What my concern is with this tale of love.

Keane:My lord, thou seest this packet in mine hand.Its contents warrant me to come to thee.My wife and I alone have read the lines:None else in these parts knows a word of them.Now must they be made known to thee as well—The maid who passeth for our flesh and bloodIs not the offspring of my wife and me.We undertook the training of the childWhen her own mother died. What I have stillTo say will make it seem unnecessary,To tell at length how all this came to pass.For long we knew not who her father was;The girl today knows not her parentage.Father and mother she beholds in us.And such a state of things might have gone onSince we do love her as our very own.But some years later than her mother’s deathThe papers that I hold were brought to us;They make it plain who our child’s father is.I cannot tell if he is known to thee.

Keane:

My lord, thou seest this packet in mine hand.

Its contents warrant me to come to thee.

My wife and I alone have read the lines:

None else in these parts knows a word of them.

Now must they be made known to thee as well—

The maid who passeth for our flesh and blood

Is not the offspring of my wife and me.

We undertook the training of the child

When her own mother died. What I have still

To say will make it seem unnecessary,

To tell at length how all this came to pass.

For long we knew not who her father was;

The girl today knows not her parentage.

Father and mother she beholds in us.

And such a state of things might have gone on

Since we do love her as our very own.

But some years later than her mother’s death

The papers that I hold were brought to us;

They make it plain who our child’s father is.

I cannot tell if he is known to thee.

(The Preceptor loses control over himself.)

But now I know—am sure …But now I know—am sure… that thou art he.There is no need for me to tell thee more.But since it is thy child who is concernedI beg thee to extend to me thine aid.United our endeavours may succeedTo save her from the darkness that impends.

But now I know—am sure …

But now I know—am sure… that thou art he.

There is no need for me to tell thee more.

But since it is thy child who is concerned

I beg thee to extend to me thine aid.

United our endeavours may succeed

To save her from the darkness that impends.

First Preceptor:Dear Keane. Thou hast been ever true to me,And I would fain still further count on thee.Neither within nor yet without these wallsMust any in this country ever knowThe truth of my relation to this girl.

First Preceptor:

Dear Keane. Thou hast been ever true to me,

And I would fain still further count on thee.

Neither within nor yet without these walls

Must any in this country ever know

The truth of my relation to this girl.

Keane:My word thereon. I mean no harm to thee;I only beg that thou wilt lend thine aid.

Keane:

My word thereon. I mean no harm to thee;

I only beg that thou wilt lend thine aid.

First Preceptor:Thou dost perceive that at the present timeI cannot talk with thee at greater length.I pray thee come tomorrow.

First Preceptor:

Thou dost perceive that at the present time

I cannot talk with thee at greater length.

I pray thee come tomorrow.

Keane:I pray thee come tomorrow.I will come.

Keane:

I pray thee come tomorrow.I will come.

(Exit.)

First Preceptor:How cruelly my fate fulfils itself.I left my wife and child in misery,Since they seemed hindrances upon the pathAlong which vanity did beckon me.It led me on to join this brotherhood.In words of solemn import I then vowedMy service to the cause of human loveAlbeit I was laden with the guiltArising from the opposite of love.The brotherhood’s clear vision, as appliedTo acts and men, is manifest in me.It welcomed me a brother in its ranksAnd forthwith laid on me its rules severe.To self-examination was I ledAnd knowledge of myself, which otherwiseIn other walks of life I had not found.And then when, under Fate’s decree, my sonCame and dwelt near me, I was fain to thinkThat mighty Powers were merciful to meIn showing how to expiate my sin.I knew long since that this Keane’s foster-childWas none else than the daughter whom I left.

First Preceptor:

How cruelly my fate fulfils itself.

I left my wife and child in misery,

Since they seemed hindrances upon the path

Along which vanity did beckon me.

It led me on to join this brotherhood.

In words of solemn import I then vowed

My service to the cause of human love

Albeit I was laden with the guilt

Arising from the opposite of love.

The brotherhood’s clear vision, as applied

To acts and men, is manifest in me.

It welcomed me a brother in its ranks

And forthwith laid on me its rules severe.

To self-examination was I led

And knowledge of myself, which otherwise

In other walks of life I had not found.

And then when, under Fate’s decree, my son

Came and dwelt near me, I was fain to think

That mighty Powers were merciful to me

In showing how to expiate my sin.

I knew long since that this Keane’s foster-child

Was none else than the daughter whom I left.

The brotherhood is near its overthrow,Each brother resolute to meet his death,Convinced that those high purposes will liveFor which he makes his life the sacrifice.But I, alas, have felt for many daysI was not worthy of this glorious end.My purpose ever ripened to make knownMy case unto the master, and to cravePermission to forsake the brotherhood.I had in mind thenceforward to devoteMy days unto my children, and so farAs in this earth-life yet is possibleTo offer penance. But I clearly see,That ’twas not filial longing brought my sonTo this same spot to seek his father out,Although his good heart made him thus believe.But he was led by forces in the bloodWhich drew him to his sister. Other ties,Blood-born, were loosened by a father’s guilt,Or else yon monk had never had the powerTo rob me so entirely of my son.Indeed the robbery is so complete,That with the brother will the sister tooFrom my paternal longings be estranged.And so nought else remains for me but this,To take immediate measures to ensureThat they shall know the truth about themselves,And then with resignation to awaitThe penance laid upon me by those powersWho keep the reckoning of our misdeeds.

The brotherhood is near its overthrow,

Each brother resolute to meet his death,

Convinced that those high purposes will live

For which he makes his life the sacrifice.

But I, alas, have felt for many days

I was not worthy of this glorious end.

My purpose ever ripened to make known

My case unto the master, and to crave

Permission to forsake the brotherhood.

I had in mind thenceforward to devote

My days unto my children, and so far

As in this earth-life yet is possible

To offer penance. But I clearly see,

That ’twas not filial longing brought my son

To this same spot to seek his father out,

Although his good heart made him thus believe.

But he was led by forces in the blood

Which drew him to his sister. Other ties,

Blood-born, were loosened by a father’s guilt,

Or else yon monk had never had the power

To rob me so entirely of my son.

Indeed the robbery is so complete,

That with the brother will the sister too

From my paternal longings be estranged.

And so nought else remains for me but this,

To take immediate measures to ensure

That they shall know the truth about themselves,

And then with resignation to await

The penance laid upon me by those powers

Who keep the reckoning of our misdeeds.

(Exit.)

(After an interval the Grand Master and Simon enter.)

Grand Master:Henceforward Simon, in the castle wallsThou must abide, for since that lying taleWas published that thou art a sorcerer,Peril awaits thine every step outside.

Grand Master:

Henceforward Simon, in the castle walls

Thou must abide, for since that lying tale

Was published that thou art a sorcerer,

Peril awaits thine every step outside.

Simon:My heart is sore indeed to find that menIn ignorance assail a proffered aidWhose only object is to do them good.

Simon:

My heart is sore indeed to find that men

In ignorance assail a proffered aid

Whose only object is to do them good.

Grand Master:Those who, by grace of lofty spirit-powers,Can turn their gaze upon the souls of men,Will see the enemies therein arrayedWhich fight against the nature of the soul.The battle which our mortal foes prepareIs but an emblem of that greater strifeWaged in the heart incessantly by powersWhich are at enmity amongst themselves.

Grand Master:

Those who, by grace of lofty spirit-powers,

Can turn their gaze upon the souls of men,

Will see the enemies therein arrayed

Which fight against the nature of the soul.

The battle which our mortal foes prepare

Is but an emblem of that greater strife

Waged in the heart incessantly by powers

Which are at enmity amongst themselves.

Simon:My lord, in very truth these words of thineArouse an echo in my deepest soul.Indeed my nature is not prone to dreams;Yet when I walk alone through wood and fieldA picture often riseth in my soulWhich with my will I can no more controlThan any object which mine eye beholds.A human form appears in front of meWhich fain would grasp my hand in fellowship.Such suffering on his features is expressedAs never yet I saw in any face.The greatness and the beauty of this manSeize firmly hold of all my powers of soul;I fain would sink to earth and humbly bowBefore this messenger from other worlds.Next moment like a raging flame, there comesThe wildest anger searing through my heart,Nor can I gain the mastery o’er the powerThat fans the opposition of my soul,And I am forced to thrust aside the handWhich is so lovingly held out to me.So soon as to my senses I returnThe radiant form hath vanished from my sight.And thereupon, when I recall in thoughtThat which my spirit hath so often seen,Before my soul this thought presents itselfWhich moves me to the bottom of my heart.I feel myself attracted by thy lore,In which a Spirit-being is revealedDescending from the Kingdom of the Sun,To take a human form upon Himself,In order to disclose Himself to men.I cannot keep the glowing beauty outThat pours upon me from thy noble lore,And yet my soul will not assent thereto.The primal form of our humanityIn thy great Spirit-being I admit;But still my individual self rebelsWhen I would turn to him in faith and love.So must I ever wage an inward warThe archetype of every outer strife.In sore distress, I seek in vain a clueTo solve the riddle of my life and fate:How comes it that I understand so wellAnd yet that I in no wise can believeThe things thy noble teachings do reveal?I follow thine example faithfully,Yet find myself opposed at every pointTo this example’s goal and origin.And when I must thus recognize myself,A flood of doubt o’erwhelms my falt’ring faithThat in this life I may yet find myself.Nay, worse than this, the dread doth haunt me oftThat this bewilderment of doubt may runThrough all the lives that I shall live on earth.

Simon:

My lord, in very truth these words of thine

Arouse an echo in my deepest soul.

Indeed my nature is not prone to dreams;

Yet when I walk alone through wood and field

A picture often riseth in my soul

Which with my will I can no more control

Than any object which mine eye beholds.

A human form appears in front of me

Which fain would grasp my hand in fellowship.

Such suffering on his features is expressed

As never yet I saw in any face.

The greatness and the beauty of this man

Seize firmly hold of all my powers of soul;

I fain would sink to earth and humbly bow

Before this messenger from other worlds.

Next moment like a raging flame, there comes

The wildest anger searing through my heart,

Nor can I gain the mastery o’er the power

That fans the opposition of my soul,

And I am forced to thrust aside the hand

Which is so lovingly held out to me.

So soon as to my senses I return

The radiant form hath vanished from my sight.

And thereupon, when I recall in thought

That which my spirit hath so often seen,

Before my soul this thought presents itself

Which moves me to the bottom of my heart.

I feel myself attracted by thy lore,

In which a Spirit-being is revealed

Descending from the Kingdom of the Sun,

To take a human form upon Himself,

In order to disclose Himself to men.

I cannot keep the glowing beauty out

That pours upon me from thy noble lore,

And yet my soul will not assent thereto.

The primal form of our humanity

In thy great Spirit-being I admit;

But still my individual self rebels

When I would turn to him in faith and love.

So must I ever wage an inward war

The archetype of every outer strife.

In sore distress, I seek in vain a clue

To solve the riddle of my life and fate:

How comes it that I understand so well

And yet that I in no wise can believe

The things thy noble teachings do reveal?

I follow thine example faithfully,

Yet find myself opposed at every point

To this example’s goal and origin.

And when I must thus recognize myself,

A flood of doubt o’erwhelms my falt’ring faith

That in this life I may yet find myself.

Nay, worse than this, the dread doth haunt me oft

That this bewilderment of doubt may run

Through all the lives that I shall live on earth.

Grand Master:The picture, which thou sawest, my good friend,Before my spirit stood out strong and clearWhilst thou didst paint it in those vivid words;And as thou didst speak further, then it grewIn breadth before mine eyes until I sawHow cosmic aims are linked to human fate.

Grand Master:

The picture, which thou sawest, my good friend,

Before my spirit stood out strong and clear

Whilst thou didst paint it in those vivid words;

And as thou didst speak further, then it grew

In breadth before mine eyes until I saw

How cosmic aims are linked to human fate.

(Exeunt.)

(After an interval, the two Masters of Ceremonies enter.)

First Master of Ceremonies:Dear brother, I must openly confessThat our Grand Master’s clemency exceedsMy comprehension, when I needs must seeWhat bitter wrong our foes inflict on us.Although they will not study what we teachThey scruple not to paint us in men’s eyesAs heretics and messengers from hell.

First Master of Ceremonies:

Dear brother, I must openly confess

That our Grand Master’s clemency exceeds

My comprehension, when I needs must see

What bitter wrong our foes inflict on us.

Although they will not study what we teach

They scruple not to paint us in men’s eyes

As heretics and messengers from hell.

Second Master of Ceremonies:His clemency from our own teaching flows.Can we proclaim life’s highest aim to beTo understand the soul of every man,And then misunderstand our foes ourselves?There are amongst them many men indeedWho follow in the footsteps of the Christ.Yet even from the souls of such as theseThe essence of our teachings must be veiled,Though they should hear them with the outer ear.Remember, brother, how reluctantly,And with what inner conflict, thou wast ledTo grant admission to the spirit-voice.We know, from what the master hath revealed,That future men will see in Spirit-lightThe lofty Being of the Sun, who trodThis Earth once only in a human frame.This revelation we with joy believeAnd gladly follow where our leaders tread.Yet but a short time since these weighty wordsWere said by him whom we acclaim as Head:‘Your souls must ripen slowly, if indeedWith eyes prophetic ye would see todayThat which the men of later days shall seeAnd ye must not imagine,’ said our chief,‘That after passing one initial testYe can have sight of things that are to be.When ye shall have attained to certaintyThat all mankind must needs be born again,Ye then will have to meet the second testWhich sets your personal illusions freeTo dim the radiance of the Spirit-light.’This solemn warning, too, the master gave:‘Ofttimes reflect, in meditation’s hour,How psychic monsters, of illusion born,Beset the path of those who seek the light.Who falls their victim may see even thereHuman existence where the Spirit seeksTo be revealed to Spirit-light alone.If ye would worthily prepare yourselvesTo recognize, by help of inner sight,The Light of Wisdom streaming from the Christ,Over yourselves ye must keep watch and wardLest personal illusion blind you thenWhen your souls think that it is furthest off.’With this injunction clearly held in viewWe soon shall rid us of the vain beliefThat in these times we can transmit these truths,Whose beauty we confess within our souls,In easy manner to posterity.Rather must we take comfort from the fact,That we today can meet so many soulsIn whom the seed, although they know it not,Already hath been sown for future lives.This seed can only manifest itselfIn man, by opposition to those PowersWith which it later will ally itself.In all this hatred which pursues us nowI do but see the seed of future love.

Second Master of Ceremonies:

His clemency from our own teaching flows.

Can we proclaim life’s highest aim to be

To understand the soul of every man,

And then misunderstand our foes ourselves?

There are amongst them many men indeed

Who follow in the footsteps of the Christ.

Yet even from the souls of such as these

The essence of our teachings must be veiled,

Though they should hear them with the outer ear.

Remember, brother, how reluctantly,

And with what inner conflict, thou wast led

To grant admission to the spirit-voice.

We know, from what the master hath revealed,

That future men will see in Spirit-light

The lofty Being of the Sun, who trod

This Earth once only in a human frame.

This revelation we with joy believe

And gladly follow where our leaders tread.

Yet but a short time since these weighty words

Were said by him whom we acclaim as Head:

‘Your souls must ripen slowly, if indeed

With eyes prophetic ye would see today

That which the men of later days shall see

And ye must not imagine,’ said our chief,

‘That after passing one initial test

Ye can have sight of things that are to be.

When ye shall have attained to certainty

That all mankind must needs be born again,

Ye then will have to meet the second test

Which sets your personal illusions free

To dim the radiance of the Spirit-light.’

This solemn warning, too, the master gave:

‘Ofttimes reflect, in meditation’s hour,

How psychic monsters, of illusion born,

Beset the path of those who seek the light.

Who falls their victim may see even there

Human existence where the Spirit seeks

To be revealed to Spirit-light alone.

If ye would worthily prepare yourselves

To recognize, by help of inner sight,

The Light of Wisdom streaming from the Christ,

Over yourselves ye must keep watch and ward

Lest personal illusion blind you then

When your souls think that it is furthest off.’

With this injunction clearly held in view

We soon shall rid us of the vain belief

That in these times we can transmit these truths,

Whose beauty we confess within our souls,

In easy manner to posterity.

Rather must we take comfort from the fact,

That we today can meet so many souls

In whom the seed, although they know it not,

Already hath been sown for future lives.

This seed can only manifest itself

In man, by opposition to those Powers

With which it later will ally itself.

In all this hatred which pursues us now

I do but see the seed of future love.

First Master of Ceremonies:Certain it is that highest truth’s intentCan only in such manner be disclosed;Yet hard it seems in this our present ageTo shape our lives to follow out its aim.

First Master of Ceremonies:

Certain it is that highest truth’s intent

Can only in such manner be disclosed;

Yet hard it seems in this our present age

To shape our lives to follow out its aim.

Second Master of Ceremonies:Here too I follow out our master’s words:‘It is not granted unto all mankindTo live Earth’s future stages in advance.But individuals there must ever beWho can foresee what later days will bring,And who devote their feeling to those PowersWhich loose all being from its present tiesTo guard it safe for all Eternity.’

Second Master of Ceremonies:

Here too I follow out our master’s words:

‘It is not granted unto all mankind

To live Earth’s future stages in advance.

But individuals there must ever be

Who can foresee what later days will bring,

And who devote their feeling to those Powers

Which loose all being from its present ties

To guard it safe for all Eternity.’

The curtain falls, while the two Masters of Ceremonies are still in the hall

Scene 9The woodland meadow, as in Scene 6. Joseph Keane, Dame Keane, their daughter Bertha; afterwards, Countryfolk, later the Monk; finally Keane’s foster-daughter Cecilia and Thomas.Bertha:Dear mother, I so long to hear the taleCecilia often spake of years ago.Thou dost know all those fairy-tales to tellWhich father brings back with him from the knightsWhen he comes home, and which with greatest joySo many friends are always glad to hear.Keane:The soul can find real treasure in those tales.The gifts which on the spirit they conferDecay not with the body in the graveBut bear their fruits in later lives on earth.Darkly, as through a glass, we glimpse their truth;And from such darkened sight, our souls can winKnowledge to serve our needs in daily life.If only folk could realize the storeOf precious gifts our knights have to bestow!Cecilia and Thomas have, alas,Deaf ears at present for such things as these;Since they draw wisdom from another source.Bertha:Today I fain would listen to that taleWhich tells about the Evil and the Good.Dame Keane:Right gladly will I tell it thee. Attend.Once on a time there lived a man who spentMuch time in puzzling over cosmic truths.That which tormented his poor brain the mostWas, how to learn of Evil’s origin.And to that question he could not reply.The world was made by God, so he would say,And God can only have in him the Good.How then doth Evil spring from out the Good?Time and again he puzzled over this,But could not find the answer that he sought.Now it befell that on a certain dayThis seeker on his travels passed a treeThat was engaged in converse with an axe.Unto the tree the axe did speak these words:‘That which thou canst not do I can achieve,I can fell thee; but thou canst not fell me.’Unto the vain axe thus the tree replied:‘’Twas but a year ago a man did cleaveThe very wood of which thine haft is madeOut of my body with another axe.’And when the man had listened to these wordsA thought was straightway born within his soulWhich he could not set clearly down in words,But which completely answered his demand:How Evil could originate from Good.Keane:Think on this story, daughter and thou’lt see,How contemplating nature’s mysteriesMay form fresh knowledge in a human head.I know how many things I can make clearUnto myself by spinning out in thoughtThe tales by which the knights enlighten us.Bertha:I know I am a simple little thing,Without ability to understandThe learned words which clever people useIn setting forth the science they profess.I have no taste for matters of that kind.Whenever Thomas tells us of his workI nearly fall asleep. But I could spendUnnumbered hours in listening to the talesWhich father brings back home on his returnFrom visiting the castle, and wherewithHe often weaves a story of his ownAs he recounts them to us hour on hour.(Exeunt.)(After an interval, the Countryfolk come across the meadow.)First Countryman:My uncle yesterday came home again.He dwelt a long time in Bohemia,And earned an honest living in the mines.Full many a bit of news he hath to tellPicked up by him upon his journeyings.Excitement and unrest are everywhere.Attacks are made upon the Spirit-Knights.Our local brotherhood can not escape;Already preparations have been madeAnd ere long will this castle be besieged.Second Countryman:I hope ’twill not be long ’ere they attack.Many amongst us will most certainlyGladly enlist among the fighting-men;I mean to be among the first myself.First Countrywoman:Thou wilt but hurry headlong to thy doom!How can a man be such a witless fool!Hast thou forgot how strongly fortifiedThe castle is? The battle will be grim.Second Countrywoman:It is no business of the countryfolkTo mix with things they do not understand.Yet there are many hereabouts todayWho do naught else but go from place to placeAnd fan the embers of revolt and strife.Things have already come to such a passThat sick folk have to cry in vain for aid.The good man who in former days was wontTo help so many in sore need, can nowNo more pass out beyond the castle gates,So cruelly have folk belaboured him.Third Countrywoman:Of course! for many people were enragedOn hearing from what source the sickness cameThat broke out, all at once, among our cows.The Jew brought this upon them by his spells.He only seems to make sick people wellIn order, by the use of hellish arts,Better to serve the ends of evil powers.Third Countryman:This fuss about vile heresy is nought,And matters not. The fact is that these folkHad all they needed, and nought else to doBut spend their leisure in abusive talk.A clever judge of human nature thenDevised this silly tale about the Jew,How he had laid a spell upon our stock.And so from this alone the storm arose.Fourth Countryman:I think that every one of you might knowWhat wars do mean, with all their misery.Have not our fathers told us all that theyMust needs endure, when all the countrysideWas overrun by bands of soldiery?Fourth Countrywoman:I always said that it would come to pass:Their lordships’ rule must shortly fade away.Already hath a dream revealed to meHow we can be of service to the troopsWhen they arrive to carry out the siege,And take good care of all their creature needs.Fifth Countryman:If dreams today are still to be believed,That is a matter we need not discuss.The knights have tried to make us clevererThan were our fathers. Now they have to learnHow much our cleverness hath been increased.Our fathers let them in; in our turn weShall drive them out. I know the secret tracksThat yield an entrance to the fortalice.I used to work within it until rageDrove me away; now will I show the knightsHow we can make their science serve our ends.Fifth Countrywoman:He surely hath no good thought in his heart;I trembled as I listened to his words.Sixth Countryman:In spirit-vision I have lately seenA traitor leading hostile soldieryBy secret ways into the castle’s keep.Sixth Countrywoman:Such visions are destructive, I should say.No one who thinks as Christians ought to thinkBut is aware that honesty alone,Not treason, can from evil set us free.Sixth Countryman:I let folk talk, and help as best I can.How often do we hear a thing called wrongBy those who lack the courage in themselvesTo do that very thing. Let’s go our ways;I see the father coming down the road;We will not interrupt his train of thought.I found no difficulty up till nowIn understanding everything he taught;But in the sermon which he preached todayHe said much that one could not understand.(The Countryfolk go away towards the forest.)(After an interval the Monk comes along the meadow path.)Monk:It must be that a soul is led astrayIn striving to pursue her natural course.The weakness of my heart alone allowedSuch visions to appear before mine eyesAs those which I beheld within those walls.That they must show themselves to me in strifeIs proof enough how little yet in meThe psychic forces work in harmony.Therefore will I address myself anewTo kindle in myself those potent wordsWhich bring me light from out the Spirit-heights.That man alone prefers another road,Whom personal illusions have made blind.The soul can only triumph over liesBy proving herself worthy of the graceWhich Spirit-light, outpoured from founts of love,In words of wisdom doth reveal to her.I know that I shall find the greatest strengthWhich can throw light on what the Fatherstaught.When from the gloom of self’s imaginingsWith lowly heart submissive I can flee.(Exit.)(After an interval there appear on the meadow Cecilia and Thomas.)Cecilia:Dear brother, when in fervent ecstasyOf silent prayer my soul did bow herselfUnto the Fountain of the World, and yearnWhole-heartedly to be made one therewith,A light before my spirit would appear—With gentle warmth and radiancy aglow;This then transformed itself into a manWho looked into my face with tender eyes,And spoke to me. These were the vision’s words:‘Human delusion left thee once forlorn,And now thou art upborne by human love;Wait therefore until longing finds a wayTo bring the seeker safely to thy side.’Thus spake this human figure oft to me;Nor could I fathom what the words might mean;And yet a dim foreboding made me glad,That some time they should be fulfilled for me.And then, beloved brother, thou didst come,And when I first set eyes upon thy face,I felt my senses leave me; for thou wastThat human figure’s very counterpart.Thomas:Dream and foreboding told thee but the truth,Indeed ’twas longing guided me to thee.Cecilia:And when thou didst request me as thy wifeI thought the Spirit had ordained it so.Thomas:That in good truth the Spirit’s purpose wasTo re-unite us, clearly may be seen,Although we read it not aright at first.As wife and helpmeet, sent me from above,So didst thou seem to me, when first we met.And then my long-lost sister did I find.Cecilia:And henceforth nothing shall divide us twain.Thomas:Yet many obstacles between us rise.Thy foster-parents by close ties are boundUnto the brotherhood which I must spurn.Cecilia:They are incarnate love and kindness both;And loyal friendship will they give to thee.Thomas:My creed will separate me from their love.Cecilia:Through me you will find out the way to them.Thomas:Keane, the dear fellow, is so obstinate;He never will see aught but darkness thereWhere I perceive the very fount of light.In riper years it was first granted meTo turn my steps toward this light of truth,Since all I learned of it in childhood’s daysUpon my spirit made but little mark;Whilst later on, my every thought was bentOn scientific knowledge as a meansTo gain a livelihood. When I came hereAt last I found the teacher and the guideWho had the power to liberate my soul.The teaching he hath let me listen toDoth bear the very stamp of truth itself.Such is his speech that heart and head alikeMust yield themselves as captives to his words,So full at once of gentleness and good.I took the greatest trouble heretoforeTo understand the other spirit type;And found it could but unto error lead.Since it clings only to those spirit-powersWhich may be faithful guides in earthly waysBut cannot lift one up to higher worlds.How shall I therefore ever find the wayInto the hearts of people who believeThat from this error all salvation springs?Cecilia:I hear thy words, dear brother, and they seemThe product of no peaceful frame of mind.Yet ’tis a peaceful scene of former daysWhich they have reawakened in my soul.’Twas one Good Friday, many years ago,I saw the scene of which I speak to thee.It happened that upon that day the manWho wore my brother’s features, said to me:‘From source divine hath sprung the human soul;It can in death dive down to nature’s depths,In time it will set spirit free from death.’Not until afterwards was I awareThat these words are the motto of our knights.Thomas:Alas! my sister, that thy lips should speakThose evil words, which our opponents takeAs revelation of the highest truth.Cecilia:I have at heart no sympathy at allWith outward acts committed by the knights;I truly serve the creed that nourished thee.But never could I make myself believeThat men who guide the footsteps of the soulBy such instruction toward so high a goalWalk not themselves the path that Christ hath trod.The Spirit’s pupil am I, staunch and true,And I confess that it is my beliefThat on that day, my brother’s spirit stroveTo speak of aims that lead the soul to peace.Thomas:The powers of destiny have not ordainedPeace for the soul, it seems, for thee and me;They take our father from us that same hourThat sees him once again restored to us.Cecilia:My faculties are clouded o’er with painWhen of our father thus I hear thee speak.Thy heart would draw thee to his side in love,And yet thou tremblest at the very thoughtOf union with him whilst he is alive.Thou followest our leader in good faith,Yet canst not hear the messages of loveWhich his commands so tenderly convey.A dark enigma faceth me; I seeThe goodness of thy heart, thy steadfast faith,And yet must shudder at the deep abyssThat yawns so horribly betwixt you twain.And did not hope live on to comfort me,And tell me love is never overcomeI should lack courage to endure this pain.Thomas:Dear sister, thou hast yet to learn the powerOf thought, once it hath gripped a human soul.This is no case of son opposing sire;But one thought from another turns away.Thought is the sovereign whom my soul obeys;Did I refuse her homage I should beIn very truth my spirit’s murderer.Curtain; Thomas and Cecilia still standing in the meadow(This closes the vision into the XIVth Century and the following is the sequel of the events described in the first five scenes.)

The woodland meadow, as in Scene 6. Joseph Keane, Dame Keane, their daughter Bertha; afterwards, Countryfolk, later the Monk; finally Keane’s foster-daughter Cecilia and Thomas.

Bertha:Dear mother, I so long to hear the taleCecilia often spake of years ago.Thou dost know all those fairy-tales to tellWhich father brings back with him from the knightsWhen he comes home, and which with greatest joySo many friends are always glad to hear.

Bertha:

Dear mother, I so long to hear the tale

Cecilia often spake of years ago.

Thou dost know all those fairy-tales to tell

Which father brings back with him from the knights

When he comes home, and which with greatest joy

So many friends are always glad to hear.

Keane:The soul can find real treasure in those tales.The gifts which on the spirit they conferDecay not with the body in the graveBut bear their fruits in later lives on earth.Darkly, as through a glass, we glimpse their truth;And from such darkened sight, our souls can winKnowledge to serve our needs in daily life.If only folk could realize the storeOf precious gifts our knights have to bestow!Cecilia and Thomas have, alas,Deaf ears at present for such things as these;Since they draw wisdom from another source.

Keane:

The soul can find real treasure in those tales.

The gifts which on the spirit they confer

Decay not with the body in the grave

But bear their fruits in later lives on earth.

Darkly, as through a glass, we glimpse their truth;

And from such darkened sight, our souls can win

Knowledge to serve our needs in daily life.

If only folk could realize the store

Of precious gifts our knights have to bestow!

Cecilia and Thomas have, alas,

Deaf ears at present for such things as these;

Since they draw wisdom from another source.

Bertha:Today I fain would listen to that taleWhich tells about the Evil and the Good.

Bertha:

Today I fain would listen to that tale

Which tells about the Evil and the Good.

Dame Keane:Right gladly will I tell it thee. Attend.Once on a time there lived a man who spentMuch time in puzzling over cosmic truths.That which tormented his poor brain the mostWas, how to learn of Evil’s origin.And to that question he could not reply.The world was made by God, so he would say,And God can only have in him the Good.How then doth Evil spring from out the Good?Time and again he puzzled over this,But could not find the answer that he sought.Now it befell that on a certain dayThis seeker on his travels passed a treeThat was engaged in converse with an axe.Unto the tree the axe did speak these words:‘That which thou canst not do I can achieve,I can fell thee; but thou canst not fell me.’Unto the vain axe thus the tree replied:‘’Twas but a year ago a man did cleaveThe very wood of which thine haft is madeOut of my body with another axe.’And when the man had listened to these wordsA thought was straightway born within his soulWhich he could not set clearly down in words,But which completely answered his demand:How Evil could originate from Good.

Dame Keane:

Right gladly will I tell it thee. Attend.

Once on a time there lived a man who spent

Much time in puzzling over cosmic truths.

That which tormented his poor brain the most

Was, how to learn of Evil’s origin.

And to that question he could not reply.

The world was made by God, so he would say,

And God can only have in him the Good.

How then doth Evil spring from out the Good?

Time and again he puzzled over this,

But could not find the answer that he sought.

Now it befell that on a certain day

This seeker on his travels passed a tree

That was engaged in converse with an axe.

Unto the tree the axe did speak these words:

‘That which thou canst not do I can achieve,

I can fell thee; but thou canst not fell me.’

Unto the vain axe thus the tree replied:

‘’Twas but a year ago a man did cleave

The very wood of which thine haft is made

Out of my body with another axe.’

And when the man had listened to these words

A thought was straightway born within his soul

Which he could not set clearly down in words,

But which completely answered his demand:

How Evil could originate from Good.

Keane:Think on this story, daughter and thou’lt see,How contemplating nature’s mysteriesMay form fresh knowledge in a human head.I know how many things I can make clearUnto myself by spinning out in thoughtThe tales by which the knights enlighten us.

Keane:

Think on this story, daughter and thou’lt see,

How contemplating nature’s mysteries

May form fresh knowledge in a human head.

I know how many things I can make clear

Unto myself by spinning out in thought

The tales by which the knights enlighten us.

Bertha:I know I am a simple little thing,Without ability to understandThe learned words which clever people useIn setting forth the science they profess.I have no taste for matters of that kind.Whenever Thomas tells us of his workI nearly fall asleep. But I could spendUnnumbered hours in listening to the talesWhich father brings back home on his returnFrom visiting the castle, and wherewithHe often weaves a story of his ownAs he recounts them to us hour on hour.

Bertha:

I know I am a simple little thing,

Without ability to understand

The learned words which clever people use

In setting forth the science they profess.

I have no taste for matters of that kind.

Whenever Thomas tells us of his work

I nearly fall asleep. But I could spend

Unnumbered hours in listening to the tales

Which father brings back home on his return

From visiting the castle, and wherewith

He often weaves a story of his own

As he recounts them to us hour on hour.

(Exeunt.)

(After an interval, the Countryfolk come across the meadow.)

First Countryman:My uncle yesterday came home again.He dwelt a long time in Bohemia,And earned an honest living in the mines.Full many a bit of news he hath to tellPicked up by him upon his journeyings.Excitement and unrest are everywhere.Attacks are made upon the Spirit-Knights.Our local brotherhood can not escape;Already preparations have been madeAnd ere long will this castle be besieged.

First Countryman:

My uncle yesterday came home again.

He dwelt a long time in Bohemia,

And earned an honest living in the mines.

Full many a bit of news he hath to tell

Picked up by him upon his journeyings.

Excitement and unrest are everywhere.

Attacks are made upon the Spirit-Knights.

Our local brotherhood can not escape;

Already preparations have been made

And ere long will this castle be besieged.

Second Countryman:I hope ’twill not be long ’ere they attack.Many amongst us will most certainlyGladly enlist among the fighting-men;I mean to be among the first myself.

Second Countryman:

I hope ’twill not be long ’ere they attack.

Many amongst us will most certainly

Gladly enlist among the fighting-men;

I mean to be among the first myself.

First Countrywoman:Thou wilt but hurry headlong to thy doom!How can a man be such a witless fool!Hast thou forgot how strongly fortifiedThe castle is? The battle will be grim.

First Countrywoman:

Thou wilt but hurry headlong to thy doom!

How can a man be such a witless fool!

Hast thou forgot how strongly fortified

The castle is? The battle will be grim.

Second Countrywoman:It is no business of the countryfolkTo mix with things they do not understand.Yet there are many hereabouts todayWho do naught else but go from place to placeAnd fan the embers of revolt and strife.Things have already come to such a passThat sick folk have to cry in vain for aid.The good man who in former days was wontTo help so many in sore need, can nowNo more pass out beyond the castle gates,So cruelly have folk belaboured him.

Second Countrywoman:

It is no business of the countryfolk

To mix with things they do not understand.

Yet there are many hereabouts today

Who do naught else but go from place to place

And fan the embers of revolt and strife.

Things have already come to such a pass

That sick folk have to cry in vain for aid.

The good man who in former days was wont

To help so many in sore need, can now

No more pass out beyond the castle gates,

So cruelly have folk belaboured him.

Third Countrywoman:Of course! for many people were enragedOn hearing from what source the sickness cameThat broke out, all at once, among our cows.The Jew brought this upon them by his spells.He only seems to make sick people wellIn order, by the use of hellish arts,Better to serve the ends of evil powers.

Third Countrywoman:

Of course! for many people were enraged

On hearing from what source the sickness came

That broke out, all at once, among our cows.

The Jew brought this upon them by his spells.

He only seems to make sick people well

In order, by the use of hellish arts,

Better to serve the ends of evil powers.

Third Countryman:This fuss about vile heresy is nought,And matters not. The fact is that these folkHad all they needed, and nought else to doBut spend their leisure in abusive talk.A clever judge of human nature thenDevised this silly tale about the Jew,How he had laid a spell upon our stock.And so from this alone the storm arose.

Third Countryman:

This fuss about vile heresy is nought,

And matters not. The fact is that these folk

Had all they needed, and nought else to do

But spend their leisure in abusive talk.

A clever judge of human nature then

Devised this silly tale about the Jew,

How he had laid a spell upon our stock.

And so from this alone the storm arose.

Fourth Countryman:I think that every one of you might knowWhat wars do mean, with all their misery.Have not our fathers told us all that theyMust needs endure, when all the countrysideWas overrun by bands of soldiery?

Fourth Countryman:

I think that every one of you might know

What wars do mean, with all their misery.

Have not our fathers told us all that they

Must needs endure, when all the countryside

Was overrun by bands of soldiery?

Fourth Countrywoman:I always said that it would come to pass:Their lordships’ rule must shortly fade away.Already hath a dream revealed to meHow we can be of service to the troopsWhen they arrive to carry out the siege,And take good care of all their creature needs.

Fourth Countrywoman:

I always said that it would come to pass:

Their lordships’ rule must shortly fade away.

Already hath a dream revealed to me

How we can be of service to the troops

When they arrive to carry out the siege,

And take good care of all their creature needs.

Fifth Countryman:If dreams today are still to be believed,That is a matter we need not discuss.The knights have tried to make us clevererThan were our fathers. Now they have to learnHow much our cleverness hath been increased.Our fathers let them in; in our turn weShall drive them out. I know the secret tracksThat yield an entrance to the fortalice.I used to work within it until rageDrove me away; now will I show the knightsHow we can make their science serve our ends.

Fifth Countryman:

If dreams today are still to be believed,

That is a matter we need not discuss.

The knights have tried to make us cleverer

Than were our fathers. Now they have to learn

How much our cleverness hath been increased.

Our fathers let them in; in our turn we

Shall drive them out. I know the secret tracks

That yield an entrance to the fortalice.

I used to work within it until rage

Drove me away; now will I show the knights

How we can make their science serve our ends.

Fifth Countrywoman:He surely hath no good thought in his heart;I trembled as I listened to his words.

Fifth Countrywoman:

He surely hath no good thought in his heart;

I trembled as I listened to his words.

Sixth Countryman:In spirit-vision I have lately seenA traitor leading hostile soldieryBy secret ways into the castle’s keep.

Sixth Countryman:

In spirit-vision I have lately seen

A traitor leading hostile soldiery

By secret ways into the castle’s keep.

Sixth Countrywoman:Such visions are destructive, I should say.No one who thinks as Christians ought to thinkBut is aware that honesty alone,Not treason, can from evil set us free.

Sixth Countrywoman:

Such visions are destructive, I should say.

No one who thinks as Christians ought to think

But is aware that honesty alone,

Not treason, can from evil set us free.

Sixth Countryman:I let folk talk, and help as best I can.How often do we hear a thing called wrongBy those who lack the courage in themselvesTo do that very thing. Let’s go our ways;I see the father coming down the road;We will not interrupt his train of thought.I found no difficulty up till nowIn understanding everything he taught;But in the sermon which he preached todayHe said much that one could not understand.

Sixth Countryman:

I let folk talk, and help as best I can.

How often do we hear a thing called wrong

By those who lack the courage in themselves

To do that very thing. Let’s go our ways;

I see the father coming down the road;

We will not interrupt his train of thought.

I found no difficulty up till now

In understanding everything he taught;

But in the sermon which he preached today

He said much that one could not understand.

(The Countryfolk go away towards the forest.)

(After an interval the Monk comes along the meadow path.)

Monk:It must be that a soul is led astrayIn striving to pursue her natural course.The weakness of my heart alone allowedSuch visions to appear before mine eyesAs those which I beheld within those walls.That they must show themselves to me in strifeIs proof enough how little yet in meThe psychic forces work in harmony.Therefore will I address myself anewTo kindle in myself those potent wordsWhich bring me light from out the Spirit-heights.That man alone prefers another road,Whom personal illusions have made blind.The soul can only triumph over liesBy proving herself worthy of the graceWhich Spirit-light, outpoured from founts of love,In words of wisdom doth reveal to her.I know that I shall find the greatest strengthWhich can throw light on what the Fatherstaught.When from the gloom of self’s imaginingsWith lowly heart submissive I can flee.

Monk:

It must be that a soul is led astray

In striving to pursue her natural course.

The weakness of my heart alone allowed

Such visions to appear before mine eyes

As those which I beheld within those walls.

That they must show themselves to me in strife

Is proof enough how little yet in me

The psychic forces work in harmony.

Therefore will I address myself anew

To kindle in myself those potent words

Which bring me light from out the Spirit-heights.

That man alone prefers another road,

Whom personal illusions have made blind.

The soul can only triumph over lies

By proving herself worthy of the grace

Which Spirit-light, outpoured from founts of love,

In words of wisdom doth reveal to her.

I know that I shall find the greatest strength

Which can throw light on what the Fatherstaught.

When from the gloom of self’s imaginings

With lowly heart submissive I can flee.

(Exit.)

(After an interval there appear on the meadow Cecilia and Thomas.)

Cecilia:Dear brother, when in fervent ecstasyOf silent prayer my soul did bow herselfUnto the Fountain of the World, and yearnWhole-heartedly to be made one therewith,A light before my spirit would appear—With gentle warmth and radiancy aglow;This then transformed itself into a manWho looked into my face with tender eyes,And spoke to me. These were the vision’s words:‘Human delusion left thee once forlorn,And now thou art upborne by human love;Wait therefore until longing finds a wayTo bring the seeker safely to thy side.’Thus spake this human figure oft to me;Nor could I fathom what the words might mean;And yet a dim foreboding made me glad,That some time they should be fulfilled for me.And then, beloved brother, thou didst come,And when I first set eyes upon thy face,I felt my senses leave me; for thou wastThat human figure’s very counterpart.

Cecilia:

Dear brother, when in fervent ecstasy

Of silent prayer my soul did bow herself

Unto the Fountain of the World, and yearn

Whole-heartedly to be made one therewith,

A light before my spirit would appear—

With gentle warmth and radiancy aglow;

This then transformed itself into a man

Who looked into my face with tender eyes,

And spoke to me. These were the vision’s words:

‘Human delusion left thee once forlorn,

And now thou art upborne by human love;

Wait therefore until longing finds a way

To bring the seeker safely to thy side.’

Thus spake this human figure oft to me;

Nor could I fathom what the words might mean;

And yet a dim foreboding made me glad,

That some time they should be fulfilled for me.

And then, beloved brother, thou didst come,

And when I first set eyes upon thy face,

I felt my senses leave me; for thou wast

That human figure’s very counterpart.

Thomas:Dream and foreboding told thee but the truth,Indeed ’twas longing guided me to thee.

Thomas:

Dream and foreboding told thee but the truth,

Indeed ’twas longing guided me to thee.

Cecilia:And when thou didst request me as thy wifeI thought the Spirit had ordained it so.

Cecilia:

And when thou didst request me as thy wife

I thought the Spirit had ordained it so.

Thomas:That in good truth the Spirit’s purpose wasTo re-unite us, clearly may be seen,Although we read it not aright at first.As wife and helpmeet, sent me from above,So didst thou seem to me, when first we met.And then my long-lost sister did I find.

Thomas:

That in good truth the Spirit’s purpose was

To re-unite us, clearly may be seen,

Although we read it not aright at first.

As wife and helpmeet, sent me from above,

So didst thou seem to me, when first we met.

And then my long-lost sister did I find.

Cecilia:And henceforth nothing shall divide us twain.

Cecilia:

And henceforth nothing shall divide us twain.

Thomas:Yet many obstacles between us rise.Thy foster-parents by close ties are boundUnto the brotherhood which I must spurn.

Thomas:

Yet many obstacles between us rise.

Thy foster-parents by close ties are bound

Unto the brotherhood which I must spurn.

Cecilia:They are incarnate love and kindness both;And loyal friendship will they give to thee.

Cecilia:

They are incarnate love and kindness both;

And loyal friendship will they give to thee.

Thomas:My creed will separate me from their love.

Thomas:

My creed will separate me from their love.

Cecilia:Through me you will find out the way to them.

Cecilia:

Through me you will find out the way to them.

Thomas:Keane, the dear fellow, is so obstinate;He never will see aught but darkness thereWhere I perceive the very fount of light.In riper years it was first granted meTo turn my steps toward this light of truth,Since all I learned of it in childhood’s daysUpon my spirit made but little mark;Whilst later on, my every thought was bentOn scientific knowledge as a meansTo gain a livelihood. When I came hereAt last I found the teacher and the guideWho had the power to liberate my soul.The teaching he hath let me listen toDoth bear the very stamp of truth itself.Such is his speech that heart and head alikeMust yield themselves as captives to his words,So full at once of gentleness and good.I took the greatest trouble heretoforeTo understand the other spirit type;And found it could but unto error lead.Since it clings only to those spirit-powersWhich may be faithful guides in earthly waysBut cannot lift one up to higher worlds.How shall I therefore ever find the wayInto the hearts of people who believeThat from this error all salvation springs?

Thomas:

Keane, the dear fellow, is so obstinate;

He never will see aught but darkness there

Where I perceive the very fount of light.

In riper years it was first granted me

To turn my steps toward this light of truth,

Since all I learned of it in childhood’s days

Upon my spirit made but little mark;

Whilst later on, my every thought was bent

On scientific knowledge as a means

To gain a livelihood. When I came here

At last I found the teacher and the guide

Who had the power to liberate my soul.

The teaching he hath let me listen to

Doth bear the very stamp of truth itself.

Such is his speech that heart and head alike

Must yield themselves as captives to his words,

So full at once of gentleness and good.

I took the greatest trouble heretofore

To understand the other spirit type;

And found it could but unto error lead.

Since it clings only to those spirit-powers

Which may be faithful guides in earthly ways

But cannot lift one up to higher worlds.

How shall I therefore ever find the way

Into the hearts of people who believe

That from this error all salvation springs?

Cecilia:I hear thy words, dear brother, and they seemThe product of no peaceful frame of mind.Yet ’tis a peaceful scene of former daysWhich they have reawakened in my soul.’Twas one Good Friday, many years ago,I saw the scene of which I speak to thee.It happened that upon that day the manWho wore my brother’s features, said to me:‘From source divine hath sprung the human soul;It can in death dive down to nature’s depths,In time it will set spirit free from death.’Not until afterwards was I awareThat these words are the motto of our knights.

Cecilia:

I hear thy words, dear brother, and they seem

The product of no peaceful frame of mind.

Yet ’tis a peaceful scene of former days

Which they have reawakened in my soul.

’Twas one Good Friday, many years ago,

I saw the scene of which I speak to thee.

It happened that upon that day the man

Who wore my brother’s features, said to me:

‘From source divine hath sprung the human soul;

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

In time it will set spirit free from death.’

Not until afterwards was I aware

That these words are the motto of our knights.

Thomas:Alas! my sister, that thy lips should speakThose evil words, which our opponents takeAs revelation of the highest truth.

Thomas:

Alas! my sister, that thy lips should speak

Those evil words, which our opponents take

As revelation of the highest truth.

Cecilia:I have at heart no sympathy at allWith outward acts committed by the knights;I truly serve the creed that nourished thee.But never could I make myself believeThat men who guide the footsteps of the soulBy such instruction toward so high a goalWalk not themselves the path that Christ hath trod.The Spirit’s pupil am I, staunch and true,And I confess that it is my beliefThat on that day, my brother’s spirit stroveTo speak of aims that lead the soul to peace.

Cecilia:

I have at heart no sympathy at all

With outward acts committed by the knights;

I truly serve the creed that nourished thee.

But never could I make myself believe

That men who guide the footsteps of the soul

By such instruction toward so high a goal

Walk not themselves the path that Christ hath trod.

The Spirit’s pupil am I, staunch and true,

And I confess that it is my belief

That on that day, my brother’s spirit strove

To speak of aims that lead the soul to peace.

Thomas:The powers of destiny have not ordainedPeace for the soul, it seems, for thee and me;They take our father from us that same hourThat sees him once again restored to us.

Thomas:

The powers of destiny have not ordained

Peace for the soul, it seems, for thee and me;

They take our father from us that same hour

That sees him once again restored to us.

Cecilia:My faculties are clouded o’er with painWhen of our father thus I hear thee speak.Thy heart would draw thee to his side in love,And yet thou tremblest at the very thoughtOf union with him whilst he is alive.Thou followest our leader in good faith,Yet canst not hear the messages of loveWhich his commands so tenderly convey.A dark enigma faceth me; I seeThe goodness of thy heart, thy steadfast faith,And yet must shudder at the deep abyssThat yawns so horribly betwixt you twain.And did not hope live on to comfort me,And tell me love is never overcomeI should lack courage to endure this pain.

Cecilia:

My faculties are clouded o’er with pain

When of our father thus I hear thee speak.

Thy heart would draw thee to his side in love,

And yet thou tremblest at the very thought

Of union with him whilst he is alive.

Thou followest our leader in good faith,

Yet canst not hear the messages of love

Which his commands so tenderly convey.

A dark enigma faceth me; I see

The goodness of thy heart, thy steadfast faith,

And yet must shudder at the deep abyss

That yawns so horribly betwixt you twain.

And did not hope live on to comfort me,

And tell me love is never overcome

I should lack courage to endure this pain.

Thomas:Dear sister, thou hast yet to learn the powerOf thought, once it hath gripped a human soul.This is no case of son opposing sire;But one thought from another turns away.Thought is the sovereign whom my soul obeys;Did I refuse her homage I should beIn very truth my spirit’s murderer.

Thomas:

Dear sister, thou hast yet to learn the power

Of thought, once it hath gripped a human soul.

This is no case of son opposing sire;

But one thought from another turns away.

Thought is the sovereign whom my soul obeys;

Did I refuse her homage I should be

In very truth my spirit’s murderer.

Curtain; Thomas and Cecilia still standing in the meadow

(This closes the vision into the XIVth Century and the following is the sequel of the events described in the first five scenes.)

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