I now can see into his very soul,

Things full of meaning lie within its depths

And memory of something he's just heard.

Before his eyes there stands a teacher wise.

He lets the words which he hath heard from him

Pass through his soul; it is from him he comes.

His thinking scans the very source of life;

As once mankind in olden times on Earth

Might stand quite near and view the spirit-scenes,

Although their soul-life was but like a dream;

The old man's soul doth trace that line of thought

Which from his honoured teacher he hath learned.

And now he disappears from my soul's sight;

Ah, if I could but watch his further steps.

I see men speaking with each other now

Among the crowd; and I can hear their words.

They speak of that old man with reverence deep.

In his young days he was a soldier brave;

Ambition, and desire to be renowned

Were burning in his soul; he wished to count

As foremost warrior within his ranks.

In battle's service he did perpetrate

Unnumbered gruesome deeds through thirst for fame.

And in his life full many a time it chanced

He caused much blood to flow upon the earth.

At last there came a day when suddenly

The luck of battle turned its back on him.

He left the battlefield in bitter shame

To enter his own home, a man disgraced;

Scorn and derision were his lot in life,

And from that time wild hatred filled his soul

Which had not lost its pride and love of fame.

He looked upon his boon-companions now

Only as enemies to be destroyed

As soon as opportunity occurred.

But since the man's proud soul was soon compelled

To recognize that vengeance on his foes

Would not be possible for him in life,

He learned the victory o'er his own self

And vanquished all his pride and love of fame.

He even made resolve in his old age

A circle small of pupils to attend

Which had arisen then within his town.

The man who was the teacher of this band

Was in his soul possessed of all the lore

Which by the masters in much older days

Had been delivered to initiates--

All this I hear from men within the crowd.

It fills me with warm love when I behold

With my soul's sight, this agèd man, who thus

After the victories which love of fame

Had won for him could even then achieve

The greatest human task--to conquer self--

Therefore do I perceive within this place

The man to whom I wholly give myself,

Although I see him but in pictured form.

This feeling howsoe'er it comes to me

Is not a moment's work. Through lives long past

I must have been in closest union joined

Unto a soul I love as I love him.

I have not in this moment roused in me

A love so strong as that which now I feel;

It is a recollection from past times;

Nor can I grasp it with my thought as yet,--

Though memory calls these feelings back to me.

Surely I once was pupil of this man

And full of awe and wonder gazed on him?

Oh, how I long once more in this same hour

To meet the earthly soul which formerly

Could speak about this body as its own,

No matter if on Earth or otherwhere.

Then would I prove the strength with which I love;

What noble human ties did once create

This can good powers alone renew in me.

MARIA:

Art thou quite sure, Johannes, that this soul

If it approached thee now would show itself

Upon the same bright height whereon it stood

In those old days just pictured 'fore thy soul?

Perchance it now is chained a prisoner

By feelings all unworthy of its past.

Many a man now walks upon the Earth

Who would be filled with shame, if he could see

How little in his present mode of life

Doth correspond with that which once he was.

Perchance this man hath wallowed in the mire

Of lust and passion, and thou saw'st him now

Oppressed by consternation and remorse.

THOMASIUS:

Maria, why dost thou suggest such words?

I cannot see what leads thee so to speak.

For thoughts have here quite other influence,

Than in the places where that man hath lived.

THE GUARDIAN:

Johannes, that which here within this place

Reveals itself is proving of thy soul.

Gaze on the groundwork of thy self, and see

What thou, unknowing, willst and canst perform.

All that was hidden in thine inmost depths

While thou wert living with thy soul still blind.

(Lucifer appears.)

Will now appear and rob thee of the dark

In whose protection thou wast living then.

So now perceive what human soul it is

To whom thou dost bow down in ardent love,

And who indwelt the body thou didst see.

Perceive to whom thy strongest love is given.

LUCIFER:

Sink thyself deep in depths of thine own self;

Perceive the strongest powers of thine own soul;

And learn to know how this strong love of thine

Can hold thee upright in the cosmic life.

THOMASIUS:

Yea, now I feel the soul that wished to show

Itself to me--'tis Theodora's self--

'Twas she who wished to be revealed to me.

She stood before me since 'tis her I'll see

When I have gained an entrance through this gate.

'Tis right to love her, for her soul did stand

Before me in that other body-form

Which showed me how 'tis her that I must love.

Through thee alone will I now find myself

And win the future, fighting in thy strength.

THE GUARDIAN:

I cannot keep thee back from what must be.

In pictured form thou hast already seen

The soul thou lovest best; her shalt thou see

When thou hast crossed the threshold of this realm.

Perceive, and let experience decide

If it shall prove so healing as thou dream'st.

THE OTHER PHILIA:

Ah, heed thou not the guardian strict

Who leadeth thee to wastes of life

And robs thee of thy warmth of soul;

He can but see the spirit-forms,

And knoweth naught of human woe

Which souls can only then endure

When earthly love doth guard them safe

From chilling cosmic space.

Strictness to him belongs,

From him doth kindness flee,

And power to wish

He hath abhorred

Since first the Earth began.

Curtain

SCENE 8

Ahriman's Kingdom. No sky is visible. A dark enclosure like a mountain

gorge whose black masses of rock tower up in fantastic forms, divided

by streams of fire. Skeletons are visible everywhere; they appear to

be crystallized out of the mountain, but are white. Their attitude

suggests the habitual egoism of their last life. Prominent on one

side is a miser and on the other a massive glutton etc., etc. Ahriman

is seated on a rock. Hilary, Frederick Trustworthy, then the Twelve

who were gathered together in the first scene; then Strader; later

on Thomasius and Maria; last of all Thomasius' Double.

TRUSTWORTHY:

How often have I trod this realm before.--

And yet how horrible it seems to me

That e'en from here we must so often fetch

The wise direction for full many a plan

Which is important for us and our league

And points significantly to our aims.

HILARY:

The grain of corn must fall to earth and die

Before the life within it can return.

All that in earthly life hath run to waste

Shall here unto new being be transformed.

And when our league desires to plant the seeds

Of human acts, to ripen in due course,

'Tis from the dead that we must fetch the grain.

TRUSTWORTHY:

Uncanny is the lord who here bears rule;

And if it were not written in our books,

Which are the greatest treasures of our shrine,

That he whom here we often meet, is good,

One would indeed as evil reckon him.

HILARY:

Not only books, but e'en my spirit-sight

Declares that what is here revealed is good.

AHRIMAN (in a feigned voice, sardonically):

I know why ye are gathered here again.

Ye would discover from me how 'twere best

To guide the soul of him who oft before

Hath stood upon the threshold of your shrine.

Because ye think Thomasius is lost

Ye now believe that Strader is the man

To do you service in the mystic league.

What he hath won for progress of mankind

By use of powers which follow nature's laws,

For this he oweth thanks to me, since I

Hold sway where powers mechanical obtain

Strength for themselves from their creative founts.

So all that he may do to help mankind

It needs must turn itself unto my realm.

But this time I myself will see to it

That what I wish shall happen to this man

In future, since ye lost Thomasius

By your own work through leaving me aside.

If ye desire to serve the spirit-powers

Ye first must conquer for yourselves those powers

Which in this case ye tried to cast aside.

(Ahriman becomes invisible.)

TRUSTWORTHY (after a pause, during which he has withdrawn into

himself):

Exalted Master, care oppresseth me

Though I have striven long to banish it,

For this is laid upon me by strict rules

Which have been ordered for us by our league.

But much that shows the life of this same league

Hath made the struggle in my soul severe;

Yet would I ever thankfully submit

My darkness to the spirit-light, which thou

Art capable of giving through thy powers.

But when I must full often clearly see

Thou wert a victim of delusion's snare

And how thy words, e'en as events fell out,

Did often prove so grievously at fault,

Then have I felt as though some wicked elf

Were resting painfully upon my soul.

And this time also are thy words at fault.

Thou couldst have reckoned that we certainly

Should hear good tidings from this spirit here.

HILARY:

'Tis hard to understand the cosmic ways.

My brother, we are well-advised to wait

Until the spirit indicates the way

Which is ordained for that which we create.

(Exeunt Hilary and Trustworthy.)

AHRIMAN (who has re-appeared):

They see, but do not recognize me yet;

For had they known who rules within this place

They certainly would not have ventured here

To seek direction; and they would condemn

To age-long pains of hell that human soul

Of whom, they heard, that it did visit me.

(All the persons who at the beginning of the play were assembled

in the ante-room of the mystic league now appear on the scene;

they are blindfolded to show their ignorance of the fact that they

are in Ahriman's kingdom. The words they speak live in their souls,

but they know nothing of them. They are experiencing during sleep

unconscious dreams which are audible in Ahriman's kingdom. Strader,

who also appears, is however semi-conscious with regard to all that

he experiences, so that later on he will be able to recollect it.)

STRADER:

The hint that Benedictus gave to me

That I should cultivate my power of thought,

Hath led me to this kingdom of the dead.

Although I hoped that raised to spirit-realms

I should find truth on wisdom's sun-clad heights.

AHRIMAN:

What thou canst learn of wisdom in this place

Thou wilt find all-sufficient for long time,

If here thou dost comport thyself aright.

STRADER:

Before what spirit doth my soul then stand?

AHRIMAN:

That shalt thou know when memory presently

Can call again to thee what here thou see'st.

STRADER:

And all these folk, why do I find them here

Within thy darksome realm?

AHRIMAN:

'Tis but as souls

That they are in this place: they do not know

Aught of themselves when here, since in their homes

Sunk now in deepest sleep they would be found.

But here quite clearly all will be revealed

That lives within their souls, though they would scarce

On waking think such thoughts could be their own.

So too, they cannot hear us when we speak.

LOUISA FEAR-GOD:

The soul should not in blind devotion think

That it can raise itself in haughty pride

Up to the light, or that it can unfold

Unto its full extent its own true self.

I will but recognize what I do know.

AHRIMAN (only audible to Strader):

And dost not know how bluntly thou dost lead

In haughty pride thyself into the dark.

She too will serve thee, Strader, in the work

That thou hast wrung so boldly from my powers.

She doth not need for that the spirit-faith

Which seems so ill-accorded with her pride.

FREDERICK CLEAR-MIND:

Entrancing are indeed these mystic paths;

Nor will I henceforth fail in diligence,

But give myself completely to the lore

That I can gather from the Temple's words.

MICHAEL NOBLEMAN:

The impulse after truth within my soul

Is drawing me toward the spirit-light;

The noble teaching which now shines so clear

In human life, will surely find that I

Am the best pupil that it ever had.

GEORGE CANDID:

I ever have been deeply moved by all

That hath revealed itself from many a source

Of noble mystic spirit-treasuries.

With all my heart would I yet further strive.

AHRIMAN (audible only to Strader):

Such men mean well: yet doth their striving stay

But in the upper layers of their souls.

And so can I make use for many years

Of all these mighty treasures which lie hid

Unconsciously within their spirits' depths.

They too seem useful to my constant aim

That Strader's work in mankind's life on earth

Shall with proud brilliance unfold itself.

MARY STEADFAST:

A healthy view of life will of itself

Bring to the soul the fruits of spirit-realms

When men join reverence for the universe

To a clear view of sense-reality.

AHRIMAN (audible only to Strader):

She speaks in dreams of this reality;

She'll dream so much the better when she wakes.

Yet she will be of little service now.

Perchance in her next life she'll help me more,

For then she will appear as occultist

And as need may arise will teach mankind

About their life since first the Earth began.

And yet she scarce will treasure truth aright;

In former lives she oft did Strader chide

And now she praiseth him: so doth she change,

And Lucifer will be more glad of her.

FRANCESCA HUMBLE:

The solemn mystic kingdom will one day

Be pictured by mankind as one great whole,

When thought through feeling shall express itself

And feeling let itself be led by thought.

KATHARINE COUNSEL:

Mankind, 'tis true, doth strive to see the light;

But strange indeed the methods he pursues.

For first he quencheth it, and is surprised

That he can find it nowhere in the dark.

AHRIMAN (audible only to Strader):

So too with souls: they find it good to talk

As voicing the well-being of their mind,

But underneath they fail in constancy.

Such are for me quite unapproachable,

And yet they will in future much achieve

From which I'll reap a harvest of good fruit.

They are by no means what they think themselves.

BERNARD STRAIGHT:

If knowledge is not gained through cautious search

Then fantasy brings nought but airy forms

To solve the riddle of the universe,

Which only can be mastered by strict thought.

ERMINIA STAY-AT-HOME:

The cosmic substance must for ever change

That all existence may unfold itself;

And he who fain would keep all things the same

Will lack the power to understand life's aims.

GASPER HOTSPUR:

To live in fantasy, doth only mean

To rob men's souls of every power in life

Through which they can grow strong to serve themselves

And do true service to their fellow men.

MARY DAUNTLESS:

The soul that would but burden its own self

Should form itself through outside powers alone;

True men will only seek development

From out their hidden personalities.

AHRIMAN (audible only to Strader):

It is but human what these souls conceal.

One cannot tell what they may yet achieve;

For Lucifer may try his power on them,

And make them think they are but working out

Each his own powers of soul with steadfast aim;

And so perchance he hath not lost them yet.

FOX:

He who would cosmic riddles rightly read

Must wait till understanding and right thought

Reveal themselves through powers within his life,

And he who fain would find his way aright

Must seize all he can use that gives him joy.

Above all else the search for wisdom's lore

To give high aims to weak humanity--

This leads to nothing on this Earth of ours.

AHRIMAN (audible only to Strader):

He hath been chosen as philosopher,

And such he will appear in his next life--

With him I do but balance my account.

Seven of twelve I ever need myself

And five I give to Brother Lucifer.

From time to time I take account of men

And see both what they are and what they do.

And when I once have chosen out my twelve

I do not need to search for any more.

For if I come in number to thirteen

The last is just exactly like the first.

When I have got these twelve within my realm

And can through their soul-nature fashion them,

Then others too must ever follow them.

(To himself; holding his hands over Strader's ears so that he shall

not hear.)

True, none of this have I achieved as yet,

Since Earth refused to give herself to me.

But I shall strive throughout eternity,

[1] Until--perchance--I gain the victory.

One must make use of what is not yet lost.

(The following so that it is again audible to Strader):

Thou seest I do not flatter with fine words,

Indeed I do not wish to please mankind.

He who would inspiration seek for lofty aims

In speech well-regulated and arranged,

Needs must betake himself to other worlds.

But, who with reason and a sense for truth

Perceives the things which here I bring to pass,

He can acknowledge that it is with me

The powers are found, without which human souls

Must lose themselves whilst living on the Earth.

The very worlds of gods make use of me,

And only seek to draw souls from my grasp

When I grow active in their own domain.

And then if my opponent doth succeed

In leading men astray with this belief

That my existence hath been proved to be

Unnecessary for the universe,

Then souls may dream indeed of higher worlds,

But strength and power decay in earthly life.

STRADER:

Thou seest in me one who would follow thee

And give his powers to thee to use at will.

What I have witnessed here doth seem to show

That all that makes mankind thine enemy

Is lack of reason's power and strength of mind.

In truth thou didst not flatter with fine words;

For thou didst well-nigh mock these poor weak men

When it did please thee to portray their fate.

I must confess that it seems good to me

What thou wouldst give unto the souls of men,

For they will only be enriched with strength

For what is good through thee, and will but gain

That which is bad, if they were bad before.

If only men did better know themselves

They must for certain feel with all their hearts

The bitter scorn that thou dost cast on them.

But what is here wrung forth from out my soul?

I speak such words as would destroy my life

If on the Earth I found that they were true.

Thou must so think; I cannot otherwise

Than find that what thou hast just said is true;

Yet 'tis but truth when in this realm of thine:

It would be error for the world of Earth

If it prove there to be what it seems here.

I must no further trace my human thoughts

Within this place--they now must have an end.

In thy rough words there soundeth pain for thee,

And they are painful too in mine own soul.

I can--whilst facing thee--but weep--and cry----

(Exit quickly.)

(Enter Maria and Thomasius both fully conscious, so that they can

hear and understand all that goes on, and speak about it.)

THOMASIUS:

Maria, terror reigns on every side,

It closeth in and presseth on my soul;

Whence shall come inward strength to conquer it?

MARIA:

My holy, earnest vow doth ray out power:

And thou canst bear this pressure on thy soul

If thou wilt feel the healing power it gives.

AHRIMAN (to himself):

'Tis Benedictus who hath sent them here;

He guided them that they might recognize

And know me, when they feel me in my realm.

(He speaks the rest so that Thomasius and Maria can hear.)

Thomasius, the Guardian did direct

Thy footsteps first of all toward my realm

Since they will lead thee to the very light

Thou seekest in the depths of thine own self.

Here I can give thee truth although with pain,

As I have suffered many thousand years,

For though the truth can penetrate to me,

It must first separate itself from joy

Before it dares to venture though my porch.

THOMASIUS:

So must I joylessly behold the soul

Whom I so ardently desire to see?

AHRIMAN:

A wish doth only lead to happiness

When warmth of soul can cherish it; but here

All wishes freeze, and needs must live in cold.

MARIA:

E'en in the ever empty fields of ice

I may go with my friend, where he will be

Encircled by the light which spirits bring

When darkness wounds and maims the powers of life.

Thomasius, feel now thy soul's full strength.

(The Guardian appears upon the Threshold.)

AHRIMAN:

The Guardian himself must bring the light

That thou dost now so ardently desire.

THOMASIUS:

'Tis Theodora whom I wish to see.

THE GUARDIAN:

The soul that on my threshold clothed itself

In that same veil which many years ago

It wore on earth, hath kindled in the depths

Of thine own soul in solemn hours of life

The strongest love which was concealed in thee.

While thou wert standing yet outside this realm

And first didst beg from me an entrance here,

It stood before thee in a pictured form,

And, being thus conceived by inward wish,

Can only show delusion's vain conceits.

But now thou shalt in very truth behold

The soul that in a life of long ago

Was dwelling in that old man whom thou saw'st.

THOMASIUS:

I see him now again in his long cloak,

That worthy ancient with his earnest brow;

O soul, who dwelt within this covering

Why dost thou hide thyself so long from me?

It must--it can--but Theodora be.

Ah, see--now from the covered picture, comes

Reality: 'tis Theo ... 'tis myself----

(As Thomasius begins the name 'Theodora,' his Double appears.)

HIS DOUBLE (coming close up to Thomasius):

Perceive me--and then know thyself in me.

MARIA:

And I may follow thee to cosmic depths

Where souls can win perception e'en as gods

By conquest that destroyeth, yet acquires

By bold persistence life from seeming death.

(Peals of thunder, and increasing darkness.)

Curtain

SCENE 9

A pleasant, sunny morning landscape, in a terraced garden overlooking

a town with many factories.

Benedictus, Capesius, Maria, Thomasius, and Strader are discovered

walking up and down and engaged in leisurely conversation. Benedictus

wears a white biretta and is in his white robe, but without the

golden stole.

CAPESIUS:

Here is the place, where Benedictus oft

In soft warm sunlight of a summer morn

Gave himself to his pupils that they might

In reverent mood receive his wisdom's words.

Out yonder lies what ever must divide

With pitiless intent the souls of men

From all the wondrous beauty of the earth,

That nature's God doth shower so bounteous here.

In yon waste sea of houses in the town

Doth Benedictus ever nobly strive

To heal this human woe by deeds of love.

And when with human words so wise and true

He tells his pupils of the spirit-world,

He seeks for hearts, which free creative power

That here reveals itself in wakening souls,

Hath filled with sunshine and with love for men.

I, too, may now behold the happiness

Which through his words doth reach the heart of man.

Since he in love hath underta'en the task

Of guiding me within the spirit-world:

And now when I may feel that he is near

I shall again discover mine own self.

BENEDICTUS:

Within the circle of my pupils here

Through free-will acts of others and thyself

A knot shall one day loosen in the threads

Which Karma spins in lives of men on earth.

Thy life itself will help to loose this knot.

In hearts of men who give themselves in truth

To follow wisdom, which I serve myself,

Thou canst by thine own power discover those

Joined unto whom thou wilt complete the work

For which in spirit thou hast been prepared.

CAPESIUS:

Thee have I known, and I will follow thee.

As I held converse with mine inmost soul,

When I had been allowed to hear thy words

Within the spirit-realm in their true form,

And thou hadst brought me to myself again,

Then could I see portrayed in spirit-light

The aims which in the progress of the earth

I was to follow in my future lives.

And now I know that thou didst choose for me

The one right way for this to be revealed.

BENEDICTUS:

Thomasius and Strader will henceforth

United with thyself accomplish much

That best may serve to further human health.

They have prepared the soul-powers which are theirs

With such intent since first the Earth began

That they can join to form a trinity

With thine own spirit in the cosmic course.

CAPESIUS:

So I must thank my fate's unbending powers

Which seemed at first incomprehensible,

That when the rightful moment came at last

My life's aim suddenly revealed itself.

(He pauses meditatively.)

How wonderfully hast thou led me on:

It seemed at first as if I strove in vain

To enter with my spirit consciously

Into those worlds which by thy words are placed

So thoughtfully before the souls of men.

For many years I could find nought but thoughts

When in thy writings I absorbed myself.

And then, quite suddenly, around me flowed

The spirit-world in its reality;

I scarce knew how to find myself aright

Within my former more accustomed world.

BENEDICTUS:

That would have hid the spirit-life from thee

For ever by its strong effective power

Unless the stronger forces of this life

Had first reduced it to a shadow dim.

And so thou too, with thy full spirit-sight

Must on that threshold learn to know thyself,

Where others first can gain their spirit-sight.

(During the last words Strader walks up to Capesius and the three go

away together: after a short time Benedictus returns with Strader.)

STRADER:

It gave deep pain, within mine inmost self

And weighed with heavy pressure on my soul

When on awaking to myself I found

I was again within my body pent

From which thy words had given me release.

My deadened soul-life first tormented me

On my return, yet 'twas not only pain;

For it brought forth in me the memory

Of all I lived through ere I saw with dread

What I could learn from Ahriman himself,

That every thought must cease its progress there.

I had to ask myself why I was set

By Benedictus' word within this realm

Where souls alone are taken into count

And only those are valued which can help

Toward the objects, which that power desires

To make his own through deeds that I have done.

He, in his wisdom, wanted to select

Twelve helpers from the number of mankind.

BENEDICTUS:

Yet 'tis well known to thee why all these souls,

Which Ahriman showed forth, drew near to thee,

When he would force himself upon their fates.

STRADER:

That also bitter pain revealed to me:

It showed how in a former life on Earth

I was united to a brotherhood

Which now hath formed again its mystic league,

And how those people stood towards myself,

Who were in their true nature then revealed.

And I could feel quite sure that Ahriman

Will use the bond, which e'en in future lives

Must ever surely bind their souls to mine.

BENEDICTUS:

The cosmic powers do so direct their deeds

That these with cosmic progress may unite

By following in wisdom number's laws.

The sign how this direction is fulfilled

Shows itself clearly to the outer sense;

If it doth watch the Sun upon the course

He takes throughout the constellations twelve.

It is his place amongst those very signs

Which shows how on the Earth things come to pass

In strict succession in long course of time.

So Ahriman desired to mould the souls

Of those who are united thus to thee

To powers from whence thy work might shine afar.

He also wished to follow number's laws

In binding their soul-nature unto thine.

STRADER:

Since I have learned the sense of number's law,

So shall I too succeed in rescuing

My work from out the realm of Ahriman

And offering it to the gods of Earth.

BENEDICTUS:

It was through Ahriman thou hadst to learn

The sense of number in the universe;

So was it needful for thine own soul's good.

'Twas spirit-pupilship that guided thee

Into that realm, which thou didst need to know

If thy creative power should bloom aright.

(Exeunt Benedictus and Strader. Maria and Thomasius appear from the

other side.)

MARIA:

Johannes, knowledge hath thy soul acquired

From truth's cold realms. No longer wilt thou now

Weave only in thy pictures that which souls,

Still pent within the body, live in dreams,

For far from cosmic progress are those thoughts

Which but as self-begotten show themselves.

THOMASIUS:

'Tis love of self--although they may pretend

'Tis thirst for knowledge maketh them do this.

MARIA:

Whoe'er desires to dedicate himself

To human progress and perform such work

As shall in course of time prove living force

Must first entrust himself unto those powers

Who work in deep realities and bring,

Where order with confusion aye doth fight,

The rhythmic law of number and its power.

For knowledge only hath true active life,

That can reveal itself within the soul

When it can bring to men, still clothed in flesh,

The memory of life in spirit-realms.

THOMASIUS:

My course of life is thus made clear to me.

I had to feel myself a twofold man.

Through Benedictus' help and through thine own

I am a being standing by myself;

And all the forces that within me stir

Do not belong at all to mine own self.

Ye now have given me a manhood new

Who must be willing to give other men

What he hath gained by spirit-pupilship.

He must devote himself unto the world

As best he can: naught from that other man

Must mingle and disturb what now at last

He hath as true self-knowledge recognized.

Contained in his own world he will go on,

If his own strength and help from both his friends

Shall in the future serve to form his fate.

MARIA:

Whether thou walk'st in error or in truth

Thou canst keep ever clear the view ahead;

Which lets thy soul press farther on its path,

If thou dost bravely bear necessities

Imposed upon thee by the spirit-realm.

Curtain

SCENE 10

The Temple of the mystic League mentioned in the first and second

pictures. Here Benedictus, Torquatus, and Trustworthy have the robes

and insignia of their office of Hierophant as described in the 'Portal

of Initiation.' The Eastern altar supports a golden sphere; a blue

sphere rests upon the Southern altar; whilst the sphere upon the

altar of the West is red. As the scene opens Benedictus and Hilary

are standing at the altar in the East; Bellicosus and Torquatus

at the altar in the South; Trustworthy at the altar in the West;

then enter Thomasius, Capesius, Strader; then Maria, Felix Balde,

and Dame Balde; and later on the Soul of Theodora; and last of all

the four Soul-Forces.

BENEDICTUS:

The souls of all my pupils have received

The spirit-light, each in that special form

Which was appointed for him by his fate.

What they have now achieved each for himself

Each now must render fruitful for mankind.

But this can only happen, if their powers

According unto number's rhythmic law

Desire to join within the holy place

To form the higher unity, which first

Can waken to true life what otherwise

Could only stay in solitary state.

They stand upon the threshold of the shrine,

Whose souls must first unite, and then shall sound

In unison according to the rules

Imprinted in the cosmic book of fate.

That what it could not bring to pass itself

The spirit harmony may thus achieve.

'Twill bring fresh inspiration to the old

Which here hath nobly reigned since time was not.

To you, ye brethren, I these pupils bring

Who found their way here through the spirit-worlds

And through the strictest proving of their souls.

The holy customs will they treat with awe.

And treasure ancient sacred mystic ways

Which here are seen as powers of spirit-light.

Ye too, who have fulfilled in truest wise

Your lofty spirit-service for so long,

Henceforth will be entrusted with new tasks.

The cosmic plan doth call the sons of men

But for a time unto the sacred shrine,

And when in service they exhaust their strength

It guideth them to other fields of work.

Even this temple had to stand its trial;

And one man's error had to guard it once,

The guardian of the light--from darkness deep,

One cosmic hour big with the fate of worlds.

Thomasius perceived through inward light

Which rules unconscious in the souls of men,

That o'er its threshold he must not pursue

His way unto the holy mystic shrine

Ere he had crossed that other threshold o'er,

Of which this only is the outward sign.

So of himself he shut the door again

Which you would fain have opened wide in love.

He will now as another come again

Worthy of your initiation's gift.

HILARY:

Our souls here humbly offer sacrifice

Unto the spirit by whose power alone

The inner soul of man is fructified.

And we would strive that our own wills may be

A revelation of the spirit-will.

By cosmic wisdom is the temple led

Which unconfused doth guide to future times.

Thou showest us directions which thyself

Hast read within the cosmic book of fate,

What time thy pupils passed their proof severe.

So lead them now within our sacred shrine,

That they may join their work unto our own.

(Hilary knocks within the Temple; then enter Thomasius, Capesius,

Maria, Felix Balde, Dame Balde, and Strader. Trustworthy and Torquatus

so guide their entrance that when they come to the middle of the

Temple, Thomasius is standing in front of Benedictus and Hilary,

Capesius in front of Bellicosus and Torquatus, Strader in front of

Trustworthy, whilst Maria is with Felix and Dame Balde.)

HILARY:

My son, the words man utters in this place

Spell guilt which cries aloud to spirit-worlds

Unless the speaker follows truth alone.

As great the guilt, so strong too are the powers

Which strike it, and destroy the one who speaks

And proves himself unworthy of his task.

He who is standing here before thee now,

Was conscious of the working of his words

And tried to full extent of all his powers

To render service to the spirit-world

Before this holy symbol of that light

Which shines upon our Earth from out the east.

It is the will of fate that thou henceforth

Shalt stand and serve within this sacred place.

And he who consecrates thee to the task

And of his office hands thee now the key,

Doth give his blessing also that it may

Prove of good service, in so far as he

Hath served the sacred customs worthily.

THOMASIUS:

Exalted Master, he would not presume--

This poor weak mortal, who doth dare to stand

Before thee now in body,--e'en to shape

One wish that thy successor he might be

Within this ancient consecrated place.

He is not worthy e'en to place one step

Across the threshold of this mystic shrine,

But what he dares not wish for, for himself,

He must perceive in deep humility

Since powers of fate have of necessity

Desired to send this call unto his soul.

It was not I, as I am in my life

Nor as I saw myself a short time back

In spirit, as a wholly worthless soul,

That let me now draw near unto this place.

And yet the man who stands here visible

Hath been, by Benedictus and his friend,

Endowed with second manhood, which the first

Shall henceforth only as a bearer serve.

The spirit-pupilship hath given me

A self that can show forth itself with power

And to the full unfold its own pursuits

E'en when the bearer needs must know himself

Full far removed from lofty aims of soul.

If, in such case, his duty it doth seem

To give this second self that's roused in him

To service in the progress of the Earth

His life must aye observe this strictest rule

To be a light before his spirit-eyes,

That nought from his own self must enter in

Nor cause disturbance in that work, which he

Hath not himself arranged nor brought to pass

But which his second self must execute.

Concealed within himself he thus will work

That one day he may be what he doth know

To be the future goal of his true self.

Throughout his life he'll carry his own cares

Locked fast in deep recesses of his soul.

I told thee when at first thou called'st me

That I could never tread the temple courts

In mine own human personality.

He who now comes, as though another's life

Had been entrusted to him, sees that fate

Hath laid on him the task of watching o'er

Results of his own work and guiding them

With dutiful attention from this place

For such time as the spirit doth command.

TORQUATUS (in the South, to Capesius):

Capesius, henceforth 'twill be thy task

To serve the holy temple in this place

Whence love through wisdom shall stream forth to men

As warmly as the sunshine's noontide rays.

He who would to the spirit sacrifice

With understanding of the mystic work,

Must needs face dangers here, for Lucifer

Can in this place draw near with secret tread

To whomsoever faithfully doth try

To carry out the spirit-service here,

And on each word he can impress the seal

That marks the adversary of the gods.

Thou stood'st before the adversary's throne

And saw'st what follows his activities;

So for thine office thou art well prepared.

CAPESIUS:

He who hath viewed the adversary's realm

As powers of fate permitted me to do,

He knows that 'good' and 'evil' are but words

Which mankind scarce can understand aright.

Who speaks of Lucifer as wholly bad

Might also say that fire is evil too,

Because it hath a power that can kill life;

He might call water evil, since a man

Might in the water easily be drowned.

TORQUATUS:

Through other things doth Lucifer appear

As evil to thee; not through that which he

Would indicate as evil of himself.

CAPESIUS:

The cosmic spirit who could bring the light

To souls of men when first the Earth was formed

Must render service to the universe,

In ways which in themselves seem neither good

Nor evil unto spirits who have learned

What stern necessity doth oft reveal.

For good can turn to ill, if evil minds

Make use of it for their destructive ends;

And what seems evil may be turned to good

If some good being guideth it aright.

TORQUATUS:

So dost thou know what thou wilt have to do

So long as thou dost stand within this place.

Love doth not value powers that are revealed

Within the world by judgment's stern decree--

She treasures them for what they may bring forth

And asks how she can mould and use the life

Which is created out of cosmic depths.

BENEDICTUS (in the East):

Yet love speaks often with such gentle words,

And needs support within the depths of soul.

Here in this place she will unite with all

That follows cosmic law with threefold will

And is unto the spirit dedicate.

Maria will unite her work to thine.

The vow she took in Lucifer's domain

Is now permitted to ray forth its powers.

MARIA:

Capesius spake words of deep import

Which can reveal the truth if they proceed

From that same spirit which can guide mankind

Toward true love, in progress of the Earth,

But which but error upon error heap

When they are fashioned by an evil mind

And in the soul transform themselves to ill.

'Tis true that Lucifer doth show himself

As bearer of the light to man's soul-sight

When it would seek to gaze on spirit-space.

But then the human soul will always wish

To waken also in its inmost depths

What it can only gaze on and admire.

Although upon his beauty it may look

Ne'er may it fall 'neath Lucifer's fell sway

Lest he should gain the power to work within.

When he, the bearer of the light, sends forth

His rays of wisdom and the worlds are filled

With haughty sense of self, and with full light

Each creature's personality shines forth

A pattern of his own imperious self,

Then may the inmost being of the soul

Build up on this appearance, and rejoice

In all its senses, whilst it radiates

The joy of wisdom, all around, that lives

In its own self and loves to feel alive.

But, more than any other spirit, man

Requires a God who doth not only ask

For admiration when his outward form

Reveals itself in glory to the soul,

But One who radiates His highest power

When He Himself doth dwell within man's soul,

And loving unto death foretelleth life.

A man may turn to Lucifer and feel

Inspired by beauty, or some splendour bright:

And yet so live his life within himself

That Lucifer can ne'er find entrance there;

But to that other Spirit man doth cry,

When he can fathom his own self aright:

'The goal of love for earthly souls--'tis this

Not I, but Christ, doth live within me now.'

BENEDICTUS (turning to Maria):

And when her soul shall to her spirit bow

As she hath vowed to Lucifer, it shall,

Then through her power on to the temple stream

With all that leads unto the health of Earth.

And Christ will kindle in the hallowed place

Of wisdom warming rays of spirit-love.

What she can thus accomplish in the world

Is done because the course of her own life

Is bound up closely with that knot of fate

Which Karma spins in human lives on Earth.

In some long-past existence, it was she

Who caused the son to leave his father's home;

And now she leads the son to him again.

The soul, which in Thomasius now dwells

In former life was to that one which now

Fulfils itself within Capesius,

As son to father bound by ties of blood.

The father will not now through Lucifer

Demand the debt Maria owes to him,

For by Christ's power, the debt hath been annulled.

MAGNUS BELLICOSUS (speaking to Hilary and Benedictus, but frequently

turning to Felix Balde and Dame Balde):

Within the holy place doth shine the light

Which flows with power from out the spirit-heights,

When souls can worthily receive its strength.

But yet those lofty powers of wisdom's realm

Which thus reveal themselves in mystic shrines

Have chosen also other paths to souls.

The signs of our own times have made it clear

That all these paths must now be joined in one.

The temple must unite itself with souls

Who have reached spirit-light in other ways

And yet have been enlightened in good truth.

Now Dame Felicia and her husband too,

Are such as may approach this sacred place

And who can bring to it a wealth of light.

DAME BALDE:

I can but tell the fairy-tales that rise

Within my heart quite of their own accord--

only know about their spirit-source

What oft Capesius hath told to me.

In all humility I must believe,

What he hath told me of my gift of soul;

So also I believe what ye make clear

Why I am called within these temple walls.

FELIX BALDE:

I followed not alone the outward call

Sent to me by the guardian of this shrine;

But true unto my spirit-pathway's goal

I have applied myself unto the power

Which, as mine inmost guide, doth ever point

In what direction I shall turn my steps

That I may best be able to fulfil

In life what spirit-powers have foreordained.

This time I saw quite clearly I was meant

To shun that way which Benedictus now

Hath shown his pupils in the spirit-life.

The signs that now I see within this shrine

Appeared to me in vision previously.

For often when my soul did tread the depths

And all self-will had been destroyed in me,

And power and patience could maintain themselves

In that dread loneliness which aye approached

Before I could experience spirit-light,

Then all the universe seemed one with me,

And soon I found myself within that world,

Where life's true purpose was revealed to me.

During such spirit-wand'rings I have been

In many a temple which it seems to me

Resembles that which now my sense perceives,

Just as the writing of the spoken word

Must show a written picture of the speech.

TRUSTWORTHY (in the West, to Strader):

Dear Strader, it is now thy destiny

To speak that word henceforth within the shrine

Which will agree with all Thomasius

Makes known to us, as sunset must agree

With that hope-giving glow of morning light.

This word, in its full sense doth seize upon

The working of that Power who showed himself

To thee, when thou wert standing on thy trial.

Thou hadst to stand within that spirit-place

Where thought is strictly ordered to stand still.

For if thine hand should wield a hammer now

And only strike the air, it could not know

The power it hath, unless the blow should reach

Some anvil; even so it is with thought.

It ne'er could really fathom its own depth

If Ahriman were not opposed to it.

All thought within thy life hath led thee on

To contradict thyself and this hath caused

Within thy soul both pain and heavy doubt.

Thus didst thou learn to know thyself through thought;

As light can only gaze upon itself,

But through reflection that its rays cast forth;

The words of him who serves the temple here

Thus, in a picture, life's reflection show.

STRADER:

In truth the light of thought for long time streamed

But through reflection into mine own life;

Yet for full seven years the spirit showed

Itself to me in its bright splendour too,

And did reveal those worlds unto my soul,

In front of which my soul had formerly

Stood ever still in torment and in doubt.

Within my soul this light must grow so deep

That it shall last through all eternity,

If I would find the path to spirit-aims

And make my own creations bring forth health.

THEODORA (becoming visible, as a spirit-being, at Strader's side):

I was allowed to win this light for you,

Because thy power did strive toward my light,

As soon as thy right time had been fulfilled.

STRADER:

So too thy light, thou spirit-messenger,

Will stream o'er all the words that in this place

Shall be wrung forth from out mine inmost soul.

For Theodora's self is now with mine

To holy mystic service consecrate.

(Philia, Astrid, Luna, and the Other Philia appear in a glowing cloud

of light.)

THE OTHER PHILIA:

To Earth's primeval source

Mount thoughts of sacrifice

From many a holy shrine;

Let all that lives in souls,

Let all that spirit lights

Soar to the world of form;

Let cosmic-powers incline

With graciousness to men,

To kindle spirit-light

Within their powers of soul.

PHILIA:

From cosmic spirits I

Will beg their being's light,

The soul-sense to uphold;

The sound too of their words,

To loose the spirit-ear,

That what hath been aroused

Upon the paths of soul

May not become extinct

In lives of men on Earth.

ASTRID:

The love-streams will I guide

That fill the world with warmth

Unto the spirits of

Initiated men,

That thus the sacred rite

May be preserved and kept

Within the hearts of men.

LUNA:

From primal powers will I

For might and courage pray,

For these will help to make

Self-sacrifice to grow,

So that it may transform

What now is seen in time

And change to spirit-seeds

For all eternity.

Curtain falls while all the characters, including Theodora, Philia,

Astrid, Luna, and the Other Philia are still inside the Temple.

THE SOUL'S AWAKENING

SUMMARY OF THE SCENES

Scene 1: Hilary's business is threatened with disaster because of

his attempt to introduce into it his spiritual ideals and occult

methods. He has engaged as controller of his machinery, Strader,

who is generally known to be a failure because of his unpractical

inventions. With him comes a group of similar "cranks." Hilary's old

manager is in despair.

Scene 2: Johannes is a prey to delusion and loves to wander in his

own dreamland. He is warned by Maria and Benedictus. Capesius, in a

moment of clairvoyance gets a glimpse of Johannes' inner mood, and is

so alarmed that he decides that there can be no blending of spiritual

gifts with earthly things, and he withdraws from Hilary's group and

goes to the old mystic Felix. Maria urges Johannes to discriminate

between truth end self-delusion which can be done by the study of

elemental sprites.

The dance of gnomes and sylphs.

The youth of Johannes appears. It is in despair because it is separated

from Johannes. Lucifer tries to console it with promises of human

wisdom and love of beauty. Theodora offers divine wisdom.

Scene 3: Arguments on various phases of occult development. During

the discussion, Ahriman glides stealthily across the stage to bring

dissension and confusion of thought among the speakers, who are

ignorant of his presence.

Strader's temptations.

Felix speaks on mysticism.

The appearance in spirit form of Maria and Benedictus to help Strader,

and of Ahriman to thwart him. There is a repetition of Strader's part

in Scene II.

Scene 4: Similar discussions between Hilary's manager and

Romanus. Ahriman had succeeded in separating the various mystics.

During the discussion, Romanus, by his arguments on occultism, makes

a great impression upon the manager.

Johannes and his double.

Ahriman scoffs at the Guardian of the Threshold. Strader with

Benedictus. The vision of the latter is troubled; he--the occult

leader--is mistaken.

Scene 5: The Spirit World.

This scene needs careful meditation and some knowledge of the author's

system. Attention should be given to the indications of the planetary

spheres--Mercury, Venus, Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn--to which in turn

we expand after death. Heed should be paid to the warning given by

the Guardian of the Threshold.

Lucifer here appears as a beneficent guide, so, too, the other Philia.

Scene 6: The Spirit World. The same remarks apply. Capesius is struck

by the figures of his previous incarnations, as shown in the former

plays. The Guardian of the Threshold will allow an even earlier

incarnation to appear.

(Scenes 7 and 8: The earlier incarnations in Egypt giving the key

to the four plays, and showing the origin of development of the

different characters.)

Scene 7: Shows in a remarkable way how the future development of the

Baldes and Capesius is going to proceed. The concluding speech of the

hierophant foreshadows the approach of a new Era when candidates for

initiation will get the hidden light independently and not under the

hypnotic suggestion of the guiding priest.

Scene 8: Drop scene. Egyptian woman (otherwise Johannes Thomasius)

is in love with a man who is a neophyte or candidate for mysticism and

about to retire from the world. This mystic is known to us otherwise

as Maria.

Scene 8: About 2000 B.C. The hierophant (Capesius) has refused to

use his thought power to suggest to the candidate what his vision

should be. The candidate has a free vision looking far into the

future. A breath of love and freedom is wafted into the closely sealed

precincts. 'The truth shall make thee free.' But with this rebellion

against the old order, there is a consequence. Lucifer and Ahriman

hitherto chained within the temple break their chains and begin to

work their will. The ancient temple has been invaded, but the Ego

begins to wake. The reader will not overlook, in all this cosmic

development, the individual development of the different characters

which are difficult to understand from the other plays without this

glimpse into their previous incarnation. The author has presented it

in this order, because it corresponds to the reader's own experience.

Scene 9: Maria's awakening. The reminiscence in waking of what has

happened in a psychic condition.

Scene 10: Johannes' awakening. The quotations refer to Scenes 7 and 8.

Scene 11: Strader's awakening. Benedictus' vision is again clouded. The

reason here is probably Strader's approaching death. The quotations

refer to Scene 3.

Scene 12: Ahriman's manner, shape, and speech betray the fact that

he is being found out by the followers of Benedictus. Ahriman hopes,

however, to catch Strader. Note the satire indulged in at the expense

of those occultists, theosophists, and others whose air of superiority

makes them a laughing stock.

Note also the last line showing the importance of remembering the dead.

Scene 13: Hilary and Romanus.

Scene 14: Strader's death is announced and Hilary's manager is

converted.

Scene 15: Secretary and Nurse.

The Secretary's speech.

Ahriman's shape is here even more that of the conventional devil

than in Scene 12. This is to show that his true nature is now fully

grasped by Benedictus and his followers. This is seen in Ahriman's

last speech. Note Benedictus' speech about the dead and their messages.

Benedictus tells Ahriman that one can only serve Good when one does

good not for oneself.

The triumph and initiation of Strader and his future power.

The defeat and exit of Ahriman.

PERSONS, FIGURES, AND EVENTS

The psychic and spiritual events portrayed in this play are to be

conceived as following, at about a year's interval, those delineated in

'The Guardian of the Threshold.'

I. Representatives of the Element of Spirit:

1. Benedictus, the personality in whom a number of his 'pupils'

recognize the sage who knows the deep spiritual connection of earthly

events. In my earlier soul pictures 'The Portal of Initiation' and

'The Soul's Probation,' he is portrayed as the Hierophant of the

Sun-Temple; in 'The Guardian of the Threshold' he manifests that

particular phase of spiritual activity which aims to substitute the

actual spiritual life of modern times for the merely traditional

views upheld therein by the Mystic Brotherhood. In 'The Soul's

Awakening' Benedictus must no longer be conceived only as a sage who

has authority over his pupils but also as having his own psychic

destiny interwoven with their psychic experiences.

2. Hilary True-to-God, the adept in traditional spiritual life,

which, in his case, is accompanied by individual spirit-experience.

He is the same individuality who appears in 'The Soul's Probation'

as Grand Master of a Mystic Brotherhood.

3. The Manager of Hilary's business of sawmills.

4. Hilary's Secretary. He appears in 'The Guardian of the Threshold'

as Frederick Clear-Mind.

II. Representatives of the Element of Sacrifice:

1. Magnus Bellicosus named Germanus in 'The Portal of Initiation.' In

'The Soul's Probation' and in the 'Guardian of the Threshold' he is

the Preceptor of a Mystic Brotherhood.

2. Albertus Torquatus named 'Theodosius' in 'The Portal of

Initiation.' He appears in the 'Soul's Probation' as the First Master

of Ceremonies of the Mystic Brotherhood.

3. Professor Capesius appearing in 'The Soul's Probation' as First

Preceptor.

4. Felix Balde, representing in 'The Portal of Initiation' a kind of

natural mysticism, but here, a subjective mysticism. He appears as

Joseph Keane in 'The Soul's Probation.'

III. Representatives of the Element of Will:

1. Romanus who is here re-introduced under the same name used for

him in 'The Portal of Initiation' because it expresses the inner

state of being to which he has worked upwards during the years which

elapse between 'The Portal of Initiation' and the 'Awakening.' In

'The Guardian of the Threshold' the name given him of Frederick

Trustworthy is the one by which he is supposed to be known in the

physical world, and the name is used there because his inner life

has very little to do with the events represented. In 'The Soul's

Probation' he appears as Second Master of Ceremonies in the mediæval

Mystic Brotherhood.

2. Doctor Strader the individual appearing in 'The Soul's Probation'

as the Jew, Simon.

3. The Nurse of Doctor Strader the individual called Mary Steadfast

in 'The Guardian of the Threshold.' In 'The Portal of Initiation'

she is known as 'The Other Maria' because the imaginative perception

of Johannes Thomasius constructs, under her guise, an imaginative

picture of certain nature-forces. Her individuality appears in 'The

Soul's Probation' as Bertha, Keane's daughter.

4. Dame Balde who appears in 'The Soul's Probation' as Dame Keane.

IV. Representatives of the Element of Soul:

1. Maria whose individuality appears in 'The Soul's Probation' as

the Monk.

2. Johannes Thomasius whose individuality appears in 'The Soul's

Probation' as Thomas.

3. Hilary's wife.

V. Beings from the Spirit World:

1. Lucifer.

2. Ahriman.

3. Gnomes.

4. Sylphs.

VI. Beings of the Element of Human Spirit:

1. Philia } The spiritual beings through whose agency the

2. Astrid } human Soul-forces are connected with the Cosmos.

3. Luna }

4. The 'Other' Philia, representing the element of Love in the

world to which the spirit-personality belongs.

5. The Soul of Theodora appearing in 'The Soul's Probation'

as Cecilia, foster daughter of Keane and sister of Thomas who

impersonates Johannes Thomasius.

6. The Guardian of the Threshold.

7. The Double of Johannes Thomasius.

8. The Spirit of Johannes Thomasius' Youth.

9. The Soul of Ferdinand Fox in the realm of Ahriman (Scene 12). He

appears as Ferdinand Fox only in 'The Guardian of the Threshold.'

VII. The personalities of Benedictus and Maria also appear as

mental experiences, to wit: In the second scene as those of Johannes

Thomasius, in the third scene as those of Strader. Maria appears thus

to Johannes Thomasius in Scene 9.

VIII. The individualities of Benedictus, Hilary True-to-God, Magnus

Bellicosus, Albertus Torquatus, Strader, Capesius, Felix Balde, Dame

Balde, Romanus, Maria, Johannes Thomasius and Theodora appear in the

spirit-realm in the fifth and sixth scenes of this play, as 'souls';

and in the temple in the seventh and eighth scenes as personalities

living in a far distant past.

In connection with 'The Soul's Awakening' it is advisable again to

draw attention to a point already made with reference to the preceding

soul-pictures. Neither the spiritual nor the psychic events nor the

spiritual beings are intended to be mere symbols or allegories. Anyone

interpreting them in this manner would quite misconceive the real being

of the spiritual world. Even in the mental experiences which are shown

(in the second, third, and tenth scenes) nothing merely symbolical

is portrayed. They are genuine psychic experiences, as real for a

person who has access to the spirit world as are persons and events

in the world of the senses. Such a person will find 'The Awakening' a

thoroughly realistic soul-picture. Were the case one of mere symbolism

or allegory, I should certainly have left these scenes unwritten.

In response to various questions, I had once more attempted to add a

few 'supplementary remarks' in explanation of this 'soul-picture;'

but as on former occasions, I again suppress the attempt. I feel

averse to adding material of this kind to a picture intended to

speak for itself. Such abstract considerations have no part to play

in the conception and working-out of the picture, and would only

be a discordant element. The spiritual realities, here set forth,

present themselves to the soul as convincingly as physical things

present themselves to our bodily perception. Yet, as is natural,

an unclouded spiritual vision views the beings and events shown in

pictures painted by spiritual perception otherwise than the physical

perceptions would behold the same beings and events. On the other

hand, it must be said that the manner in which spiritual events array

themselves before the perception of the soul determines alike the

tendency and construction of such pictures.

THE SOUL'S AWAKENING

SCENE 1

Hilary's office. Fittings not very modern. He is a manufacturer of

sawn woodwork.

SECRETARY:

And e'en our good friends in St. Georgestown

Declare that they too are dissatisfied.

MANAGER:

What? even they; it is deplorable.

The self-same reasons too; 'tis plain to see

With what regret and pain our friends announce

That they can deal no more with Hilary.

SECRETARY:

Complaints of our unpunctuality

And of the value of our goods compared

With those produced by our competitors

Reach us by post; and on my business trips

Our clients meet me with the same old tale.

The good name of this house is vanishing,

By Hilary's forefathers handed down

To us intact that we might heighten it.

And men begin to think that Hilary

Is swayed by dreamers and strange fantasies,

And, thus obsessed, no longer can bestow

The earnest care which he was wont to give

To all the operations of the firm,

Whose products were world-famous and unique.

So many as were our admirers then

So great is now the tale of those who blame.

MANAGER:

It is notorious that Hilary

Long since hath let himself be led astray

By seekers after some strange spirit gifts.

To such pursuits he ever was inclined;

But formerly he kept them separate

From business and its workaday routine.

(Enter Hilary.)

MANAGER (to the Secretary):

It seems advisable to me to speak

Alone with our employer for a while.

(Exit Secretary.)

MANAGER:

Anxiety it is that bids me seek

An interview and earnest speech with thee.

HILARY:

Why then does my adviser feel concerned?

MANAGER:

Things happen constantly which bring to light

A serious diminution in demand

For what we manufacture; nor do we

Produce as large an output as we should.

There is besides an increase of complaints

About the lower standard of our work,

And other houses step in front of us.

So too our well-known promptness hath declined

As many clients truthfully attest.

Ere long the best friends that remain to us

No more will be content with Hilary.

HILARY:

Long have I been full well aware of this

And yet indeed it leaves me unconcerned.

But none the less I feel an urgent need

To talk things over with thee; thou hast helped

Not only as the servant of my house,

But also as my dear and trusted friend.

And so I shall speak plainly to thee now

Of matters which I oft have hinted at.

Whoever wills to bring the new things in

Must be content to let the old things die.

Henceforth the business will be carried on

In different ways from those it knew before.

Production, that but stays in straitest bounds

And without care doth offer up its fruits

Upon the market of our earthly life

Regardless of the uses they may find,

Doth seem so trivial and of little worth,

Since I have come to know the noble form

Work can assume when shaped by spirit-men.

From this time forth Thomasius shall be

Directing artist in the workshops here,

Which I shall build for him close to our works.

So will the product made by our machines

Be moulded by his will in artist-forms

And thus supply for daily human need

The useful with the exquisite combined,

Art and production shall become one whole

And daily life by taste be beautified.

So will I add to these dead forms of sense,

For thus do I regard our output now,

A soul, whereby they may be justified.

MANAGER (after long reflection):

The plan to fabricate such wonder-wares

Suits not the spirit of our present age.

The aim of all production now must be

Complete perfection in some narrow groove.

The powers which work impersonally, and pour

The part into the whole in active streams,

Confer unthinkingly upon each link

A worth that is by wisdom not bestowed.

And were this obstacle not in thy path

Yet would thy purpose none the less be vain.

That thou shouldst find a man to realize

The plan thou hast so charmingly conceived

Passeth belief, at least it passeth mine.

HILARY:

Thou knowest, friend, I do not dream vain dreams.

How should I aim at such a lofty goal

Had not kind fate already brought to me

The man to realize what I propose?

I am amazed that thine eyes cannot see

That Strader is, in fact, this very man.

And one who, knowing this man's inner self,

And his own duty to humanity,

Conceives one of his duties to be this;

To find a field of work for such a man,

A dreamer is no proper name for him.

MANAGER (after manifesting some surprise):

Am I to look on Strader as this man?

In his case hath it not been manifest

How easily deluded mortals are

Who lack the power to know realities?

That his contrivance owes to spirit-light

Its origin doth not admit of doubt.

And if it can sometime be perfected

Those benefits will doubtless pour therefrom

Which Strader thought he had already won.

But a mere model it will long remain

Seeing those forces are still undisclosed

Whose power alone will give reality.

I am distressed to find that thou dost hope

Good will result from giving up thy plant

Unto a man who came to grief himself

With his own carefully contrived machine.

'Tis true it led his spirit up to heights

Which ever will entice the souls of men,

But which will only then be scaled by him

When he hath made the rightful powers his own.

HILARY:

That thou must praise the spirit of this man

And yet seek'st cause to overthrow his work

Doth prove most clearly that his worth is great.

The fault, thou sayest, did not lie in him,

That failure rather than success was his.

Among us therefore he will surely find

His proper place; for here there will not be

External hindrances to thwart his plans.

MANAGER:

And if, despite what I have just now said,

I were to strive within myself and try

To tune my reason to thy mode of thought,

Still one more point compels me to object.

Who will in future value this thy work?

Or show such comprehension of thine aims

As to make use of what thou mayst have made?

Thy property will all be swallowed up

Before thy business hath been well begun,

And then it can no more be carried on.

HILARY:

I willingly admit my plans would show

Themselves imperfect, if amongst mankind

True comprehension were not first aroused

For this new kind and style of handicraft.

What Strader and Thomasius create

Must be perfected in the Sanctuary

Which I shall build for spirit knowledge here.

What Benedictus, what Capesius

And what Maria yonder shall impart

Will show to man the path that he should tread

And make him feel the need to penetrate

His human senses with the spirit's light.

MANAGER:

And so thou wouldst endow a little clique

To live self-centred, from the world apart,

And shut thyself from all true human life.

Thou fain wouldst banish selfishness on earth

Yet wilt thou cherish it in thy retreat.

HILARY:

A dreamer, it would seem, thou thinkest me,

Who thoughtlessly denies experience

That life hath brought him. Thus should I appear

Unto myself if, for one moment's space,

I held this view thou hast about success.

The cause that I hold dear may fail indeed,

Yet even if, despised by all mankind

It crumbles into dust and disappears,

Yet was it once conceived by human souls

And set up as a pattern on this earth.

In spirit it will work its way in life

Although it stay not in the world of sense.

It will contribute part of that great power

Which in the end will make it come to pass

That earthly deeds are wed to spirit aims;

This in the spirit-wisdom is foretold.

MANAGER:

I am thy servant and have had my say

As duty and conviction bade me speak;

Yet now the attitude thou hast assumed

Gives me the right to speak as friend to friend.

In work together with thee I have felt

Myself impelled for many a year to seek

A personal knowledge of the things to which

Thou giv'st thyself with such self-sacrifice;

My only guides have been the written words

Wherein the spirit-wisdom is revealed.--

And though the worlds are hidden from my gaze

To which those writings had directed me,

Yet in imagination I can feel

The mental state of men whose simple trust

Leads them to seek such spirit-verities.

I have found confirmation in myself

Of what the experts in this love describe,

As being the possession of such souls

As feel themselves at home in spirit realms.

The all-important thing, it seems to me,

Is that such souls, despite their utmost care,

Cannot divide illusions from the Truth

When they come down from out the spirit heights

As come they must, back into earthly life.

Then from the spirit world, so newly won,

Visions descend upon them which prevent

Their seeing clearly in the world of sense,

And, thus misled, their judgment goes astray

In things pertaining to this life on earth.

HILARY:

What thou wouldst raise as hindrance to my work

Doth but confirm my purpose; thou hast proved

That in thyself I now have one friend more

To stand beside me in my search for truth.

How could I have conjectured up till now

Thy knowledge of the nature of those souls

Who fain would come and join me in my task?

Thou know'st the perils ever threat'ning them.

So will their actions make it clear to thee

That they know paths where they are kept from harm.

Soon thou wilt doubtless know that this is so,

And I shall find henceforth as in the past

In thee a counsellor, who doth not fail.

MANAGER:

I cannot lend my strength to fashion deeds

Whose processes I do not understand.

Those men in whom thou trusted seem to me

Misled by the illusion I have named:

And others too, who listen to their words,

Will victims to that same illusion fall

Which doth o'erpower all thought that knows its goal.

My help and counsel evermore shall be

Thine to command as long as thou dost need

Acts based upon experience on earth;

But this new work of thine is not for me.

HILARY:

By thy refusal thou dost jeopardize

A work designed to further spirit-aims.

For I am hampered lacking thine advice.

Consider how imperious is the call

Of duty when fate designs to make a sign,

And such a sign I cannot but behold

In these men being here at our behest.

MANAGER:

The longer thou dost speak in such a strain

More clearly dost thou prove thyself to me,

The unconscious victim of illusion's spell.

Thy purpose is to serve humanity,

But in reality thou wilt but serve

The group which, backed by thee, will have the means

To carry on awhile its spirit-dream.

Soon shall we here behold activities

Ordained no doubt by spirit for these souls,

But which will prove a mirage to ourselves

And must destroy the harvest of our work.

HILARY:

If thou wilt not befriend me with thine aid

Drear doth the future stretch before my soul.

(Enter Strader, left.)

HILARY:

Dear Strader, I have long expected thee.

As things are now it seems advisable

To spend the present time in serious talk

And later on, decide what we shall do.

My dear old friend hath just confessed to me

That he can not approve what we have planned.

So let us now hear counsel from the man

Who promises his spirit to our work.

Much now depends upon how at this time

Men recognize each other in their souls,

Who each to each seem like a separate world

And yet united could accomplish much.

STRADER:

And so the loyal friend of Hilary

Will not join with us in the hopeful work

Which our friend's wisdom hath made possible?

Yet can our plan alone be carried out

If his proved skill in life be wisely joined

In compact with the aims of future days.

MANAGER:

Not only will I hold aloof myself,

But I would also make clear to my friend,

That this design hath neither aim nor sense.

STRADER:

I do not wonder thou should'st hold that view

Of any plan in which I am concerned.

I saw a great inception come to grief

Because today the forces still are hid

Which turn clear thought to sense reality.

'Tis known I drew from spirit-light the thought,

Which, though proved true, yet had no life on earth.

This fact doth witness 'gainst my power to judge

And also kills belief that spirit hides

The source of true creation on the earth.

And 'twill be very difficult to prove

That such experience hath giv'n me power

Not to fall victim for the second time.

For I must needs fall into error once

That I may safely reach the land of truth.

Yet 'tis but natural men should doubt my word.

Thy spirit outlook most especially

Must find our wisdom promise little gain.

I hear thee praised for that keen sympathy

Which goes out from thee to all spirit-life,

And for the time and strength thou givest it.

But it is also said that thou wouldst keep

Thy work on earth severely separate

From spirit-striving, which with its own powers

Would work creatively in thy soul-life.

To this pursuit thou wouldst devote alone

Those hours which earthly labour doth not claim.

The aim, however, of the spirit-tide

Where I see clear life's evolution writ,

Is to join spirit-work for spirit-ends

To earthly labours in the world of sense.

MANAGER:

So long as spirit but to spirit gives

All it can do in free creative might,

It raiseth souls in human dignity

And gives them reason in their life on earth.

But when it seeks to live out its own self

And over others' selves to domineer

It straightway doth draw nigh the realm in which

Illusion often can endanger truth.

This knowledge unto which I have attained

By personal effort in the spirit-world

Doth make me act as I do act today;

It is not personal preference, as thou,

Misled by what is said of me, wouldst think.

STRADER:

An error 'tis in spirit-knowledge then

That makes thee hostile to the views I hold.

Through this will difficulties multiply.

No doubt 'tis easy for the spirit-seer

To work in partnership with other men

Who have already let themselves be taught

By life and nature what existence means.

But when ideas which claim that they do spring

From spirit sources join reluctantly

With others flowing from the self-same source,

One can but seldom hope for harmony.

(After a period of quiet meditation.)

Yet that which must will surely come to pass.

Renewed examination of my plans ...

Perhaps may make thee change the views, to which

On first consideration thou dost cling.

Curtain whilst all three are sunk in reflection.

SCENE 2

Mountainous country; in the distance, Hilary's house, which is in

the vicinity of the workshops, which are not seen. Hilary's house

has no upper floor; no corners or angles, and is crescent shaped. A

waterfall on the left of the stage, facing audience. A rivulet runs

from the waterfall between little rocks across the stage.

Johannes is seen sitting on a rock to right. Capesius left.

JOHANNES:

The towering masses with their silent life

Brim up the air with riddles manifold;

Yet ask no maddening questions such as slay

A soul that asks not for experience

But only for serenity in which

It may behold life's revelation clear.

See how these colours play among these cliffs,

How calmly dumb the bare expanses lie,

How twilight clothes the woods in green and blue;

This is the world in which Johannes' soul

Will rest and weave tomorrow's fantasies.

Johannes' soul shall feel within itself

The depths and distances of this its world;

And by creative powers this soul shall be

Delivered of its hidden energy

And make known that the world's enchantment is

Only appearance glorified by art.

Yet could Johannes ne'er accomplish this

Did not Maria through her love awake

With gentle soul-warmth forces in his soul.

I must acknowledge fate's wise leadership

In drawing me so closely unto her.

How short a time it is since I have known

That she is by my side; how closely knit

Hath been in these few weeks Johannes' soul

Into a living unity with hers.

As spirit she lives in me though far off;

She thinks within my thought when I call up

Before my soul the objects of my will.

(Maria appears as a thought of Johannes.)

JOHANNES (continuing):

Maria here before me! but how strange!

She must not thus reveal herself to me!

This stern cold spirit-face, this dignity

That chills my earthly feelings--'tis not thus

Johannes will or can Maria see

Draw nigh to him. 'Tis not Maria--this--

Whom by kind fate's decree wise powers have sent.

(Maria disappears from Johannes' vision.)

Where is Maria whom Johannes loved

Before she had transformed his soul in him

And led it up to ice-cold spirit-heights?

And where Johannes, whom Maria loved,

Where is he now?--He was at hand e'en now.

I see no more Johannes, who didst give

Me back unto myself with joy. The past

Cannot and shall not rob me of him thus.

(Maria again appears before Johannes' vision.)

MARIA:

Maria as thou fain wouldst her behold

Lives not in worlds where shines the light of truth.

Johannes' spirit treads illusion's realm

By fantasy misled; set thyself free

From strong desire and its alluring power.

I feel in me the turmoil of thy soul;

It robs me of the calmness that I need.

'Tis not Johannes who directs the storm

Into my soul; it is some other man,

O'er whom he was victorious in the past.

Now as a wraith it roams the spirit-plains;--

Once known for such it straight will fade away.

JOHANNES:

That is Maria as she really is,

Who of Johannes speaks as he appears

To his own vision at the present time.

Long since into another form he rose

Than that which errant fancy paints for me

Because I am content to let my soul

Amuse itself with dreams in slothful ease.

But not yet doth this being hold me fast.

Escape from him I still can--and I will--

He often calls me to his side and strives

To win me for myself by his own powers--

Yet will I strive to free myself from him.

Long years ago he flooded my soul's depths

With spirit being; none the less today

No more do I desire to harbour him.

Thou stranger being in Johannes' soul

Forsake me--give me back my pristine self

Before thou didst commence thy work in me.

I would behold Johannes free of thee.

(Benedictus appears at Maria's side, equally as a thought of Johannes.)

BENEDICTUS:

Johannes, heed the warning of thy soul;

The man who, flooding thee with spirit, rose

To be thy nature's primal energy,

Must at thy side still hold his faithful sway

And claim that thou transform his being's powers

Through thy will into human deeds. He must,

Himself concealed, work out his task in thee;

That thou some day mayst reach what thou dost know

To be thy being's distant future goal.

Thy personal sorrow thou must bear through life

Fast locked within the chamber of thy soul.

So only shalt thou win thyself, if thou

Dost bravely let him own thee more and more.

MARIA (seen as a thought of Johannes):

My holy earnest vow doth beam forth power

Which shall preserve for thee what thou hast won.

Me shalt thou find in those cold fields of ice,

Where spirits must create light for themselves.

When darkness wounds and maims the powers of life

Seek me within those cosmic depths where souls

Wrestle to win God-knowledge for themselves.

By conquest that wins being from the void;

But never seek me in the realm of shades,

Where outlived soul-experience wins by guile

A transient life from out illusion's web,

And dream's frail phantoms can the spirit cheat;

So that in pleasure it forgets itself

And looks on serious effort with distaste.

(Benedictus and Maria disappear.)

JOHANNES:

She saith illusion ...

... yet 'tis passing fair.

It lives; Johannes feels it in himself,

He feels Maria's nearness in him too.

Johannes will not know how spirit works

To solve the riddles of the soul's dark depths.

He will create and will as artists work.

So may that part of him still lie concealed,

Which consciously would gaze on cosmic heights.

(He sinks into further meditation.)

(Capesius rises from his seat; as it were arousing himself out of

deep thought.)

CAPESIUS:

Did I not clearly feel within my soul

That which Johannes, dreaming over there,

Wrought as the pictures of his longing heart?

Within me glowed to life thoughts not mine own--

Such as he only could originate.

The being of his soul lived in mine own,

I saw him younger grown, as he beheld

Himself through vain illusion, and did mock

The ripe fruits that his spirit had achieved.

But hold! Why do I now experience this?

For seldom may the spirit-searcher see

The being in himself of other souls.

I mind, that Benedictus often said

That only he--and only for a while--

Can do this, whose good destiny ordains

That he shall be upraised one further step

Upon the spirit path. May I thus read

The meaning of what happened even now?

Seldom indeed could this thing be allowed;

For 'twould be terrible if aye the seer

Could see the inner being of men's souls.

Did I see truly?--or could it have been

Illusion let me dream another's soul?

I must enquire from Johannes himself.

(Capesius approaches Johannes, who now notices him for the first time.)

JOHANNES:

Capesius--I thought thee far from here.

CAPESIUS:

Yet my soul felt itself quite near to thine.

JOHANNES:

Near mine--at such a time--it cannot be!

CAPESIUS:

Why dost thou shudder at these words of mine?

JOHANNES:

I do not shudder ...

(At this moment Maria joins them; this enables both Johannes and

Capesius to speak their next words to themselves.)

(To himself):

... how his steady glance

Doth pierce me to mine inmost depths of soul.

CAPESIUS (to himself):

His shudder shows me that I saw aright.

(Capesius turns to Maria.)

Maria, thou dost come in fitting time.

Perhaps thy tongue may speak some word of cheer.

To solve the problem which oppresseth me.

MARIA:

I thought to find Johannes here, not thee.

Foreboding bade me seek the problem's weight

In him--but thou, I fancied, wast content,

Devoted to that glorious enterprise

Which we are offered here by Hilary.

CAPESIUS:

What care I for it? It disturbs me now--

MARIA:

Disturbs thee? Didst thou not express delight

To think thy projects might be realized?

CAPESIUS:

What I have lived through in this fateful hour

Hath changed the former purpose of my soul,

Since all activity in work on earth

Must rob me of my new clairvoyant powers.

MARIA:

Whoe'er is suffered to tread spirit-ways

Finds many a hint to shape his destiny.

On soul paths he will try to follow them,

Yet they have not been rightly understood

If they disturb his duties on the earth.

(Capesius sits, and is plunged in thought while the vision of Lucifer

appears to Maria.)

LUCIFER:

Thine effort will not bring thee much reward.

New force begins to stir within his heart

That opes the portal of his soul to me.

Maria, gaze with thy clairvoyant sight

Upon his inmost soul; and there behold

How he doth free himself on spirit-wings

From thy warm loving bonds of work on earth.

(Lucifer remains on the scene.)

(Maria turns towards Capesius to rouse him from his meditation,

but at the same moment he seems to rouse himself of his own accord.)

MARIA:

If on the spirit-path Johannes felt

The nature of his duties hinder him,

'Twould not be right, though so it might appear.

He needs must work upon the outer plane.

Thy task is to expound the spirit-lore

To other men and such a task as this

Cannot impede the progress of thy soul.

CAPESIUS:

Far more than when they work on outer things

Do spirit forces lose themselves in words.

Words make one reason o'er what one has seen,

And reason is a foe to seership's power.

I had a spirit-vision even now

Which only could disclose itself to me

Because the soul which was revealed to me,

Although our earthly bodies are close friends,

Had never been by me quite understood

If I saw truly, I am no more bound

By any ties unto this work of earth.

For I must feel persuaded that high Powers

Now set another goal before my soul

Than that prescribed for it by Hilary.

(He places himself in front of Johannes.)

CAPESIUS:

Johannes, tell me truly, didst thou not

A while ago feel old, outlived desires

That lived within thee like thy present self,

While thou wast lost in meditation deep?

JOHANNES:

Can then my spirit's struggle work to form

Experience within another's soul?

And can such vision make mine error strong

To find its way to life in cosmic space?

(Johannes again falls into meditation.)

(Maria turns her face towards Lucifer and hears him say:)

LUCIFER:

Here too I find the soul's gate open wide.

I'll not delay but use this chance at once.

If also in this soul a spirit-wish

Is born, that work of love must come to naught

Which doth bode ill to me through Hilary.

I can destroy Maria's might in him:

And thus can add her power unto mine own.

(Capesius at this moment straightens up self-consciously, and, during

the following speech, shows an increasingly definite conviction.)

CAPESIUS:

My doubts dissolve--that which I saw was true;

I was allowed to see Johannes' life.

So is it also clear that his world could

Only unfold itself because mine own

Would never draw near his and comprehend

The spirit-path doth ask for solitude.

Co-operation is but meant for those

Who comprehend each others' hopes and aims.

A soul which sets humanity aside

Attains the wide bounds of the worlds of light.

A pattern in old Felix can I find,

He seeks on paths that none but he may know

In proud seclusion for the spirit-light.

He sought and found because he kept himself

From ever grasping things by reason's strength.

In his track will I follow, and thy work,

Which hampers seership's power with earthly things,

Shall no more lead Capesius astray.

(Exit.)

MARIA:

So 'tis with man, what time his better self

Sinks into spirit-sleep and strong desire

Is all his being's food; until again

True spirit-nature wakes in glowing light.

Such is the sleep all human beings sleep

Before clairvoyant powers have wakened them.

They know not they are sleeping, though awake;

They seem awake, because they ever sleep.

The seer doth sleep, when to this waking state

He struggles forth from out his real self.

Capesius will now withdraw from us.

It is no transient whim; his mental life

Draws him away from us and from our plans.

It is not he that turns himself from us.

The dread decree of fate is plainly seen.

And so we who are left must consecrate

Our powers with more devotion to our work.

JOHANNES:

Maria, do not of Johannes ask

That for new aims at such a time as this

He should gird up his soul, which like all souls

Needs spirit-sleep in which it may mature

The forces which are germinating there.

I know that I in time to come shall dare

To work for spirit-worlds--but do not now

Appeal to me for services--not now.

Think how I drove away Capesius ...

Were I ripe for this work--he would be, too.

MARIA:

Capesius away? Dost thou not--dream?

JOHANNES:

I dreamed while conscious ... yea, I woke in dreams.

What would seem fantasy to cosmic powers

To me proved symbol that I was mature.

Right well I know my wish was my true self;

My thinking only was another self.

And so Johannes stood before my soul

As once he was, ere spirit seized on him

And filled his being with a second self.

Johannes is not dead;... a living wish

Createth him companion of my soul.

I may have stunned him, but not overthrown.

A living man, he claims his natural rights

Whene'er that other self must sink to sleep.

And to wake--always that--exceeds its powers.

Asleep it was throughout that time in which

Capesius could live within himself.

How my first nature tore me from myself.

My dreams did seem to him the sign of fate;

And so in me and not in him doth work

The power which drove him forth, and which forbids

Our spirit to be turned to work on earth.

MARIA:

The spirit-powers are coming--call on them.

To cosmic spirit-sources turn thy gaze

And wait until the powers within those depths

Discover that within thine own true self

Which stirs with conscious life akin to theirs.

Their magic words will show thine inward sight

That which makes them and thee a unity.

Cast out thine own brain's interfering speech,

That spirit may speak in thee as it wills;

And to this spirit-speech give thou due heed.

'Twill carry thee beyond the spheres of light

And link thee to true spirit-essence there.

Thy misty visions sprung from times long past

Will then grow sharp and clear in cosmic light,

But will not bind thee since thou hast control.

Compare them with these elemental forms,

With shadows and with phantoms of all kinds,

And place them near to demons manifold

And so discover what they really are.

But in the realm of spirits root thyself

Who primal source to primal source do bind,

Who dwell close linked with dormant cosmic powers

And order the processions of the spheres.

This view of cosmic things will give thee strength,

Amid the surging sea of spirit-life,

To blend thyself and inmost soul in one.

The spirit bids me tell thee this myself;

But now give ear to what thou knowest well

Though 'tis not wedded yet to thy soul-depths.

JOHANNES (still sitting on a rock to right of stage. He collects

himself for a determined effort):

I will give ear--I will defy myself.

(From both sides advance elemental spirits. From the right of stage

creatures like gnomes. They have steel-blue-grey bodies, small as

compared with men; they are nearly all head, but it is bent forward and

downward, and is lilac and purple in color, with tendrils and gills

of various shades of the same hue. Their limbs are long and mobile,

suitable for gesticulation, but ill-adapted for walking. From the

left of stage come sylph-like figures, slender and almost headless;

their feet and hands are partly fins and partly wings. Some of them

are bluish-green, others yellowish-red. The yellowish-red ones are

distinguished by sharper outlines than the bluish green ones. The

words spoken by these figures are accompanied by expressive gestures

developing into a dance.)

CHORUS OF THE GNOMES (dancing, hopping, and gesticulating in rhythm):

We harden, we strengthen (said sharply and quickly)

The nebulous earth-dust;

We loosen, we powder

Hard-crusted, earth-boulders;

Swift shatter we the hard,

Slow harden we the loose.

Such is our spirit-kind.

Of mental matter formed

Full-skilled were we before

When human souls still slept (said slowly and dreamily)

And dreamed when earth began.

CHORUS OF THE SYLPHS (a swaying motion in rhythm):

We weave and we unweave

The web of watery air;

We scatter and divide

Seed forces from the sun;

Light-force condense with care;

Fruit-powers destroy with skill;

For such is our soul-kind

From rays of feeling poured,

Which ever-living glows

That mankind may enjoy

Earth-evolution's sense.

CHORUS OF THE GNOMES (dancing, hopping, and gesticulating in rhythm):

We titter and we laugh (said sharply and quickly)

We banter and grimace,

When stumbling human sense

And fumbling human mind

Beholds what we have made;

They think they understand

When spirits from our age

Weave charms for their dull eyes (said slowly and emphatically).

CHORUS OF THE SYLPHS (a swaying motion in rhythm):

We take care, and we tend,

Bear fruit and in spirit,

When young mankind's dawn-life

And old mankind's errors

Consume what we have made

And childlike or greyhaired

Find in time's stream dull joy

From our eternal plans.

(These spirit-beings collect in two irregular groups in the background,

and remain there visible. From the right appear the three soul-forces:

Philia, Astrid, and Luna with 'the other Philia.')

PHILIA:

They ray out the light

As loving light-forms

To ripeness so blest,

So gently they warm

And mightily heat

Where embryo growth

Would reach actual life;

That this actual life,

May make souls rejoice

Who lovingly yield

To radiant light.

ASTRID:

'Tis life that they weave,

And help create,

In up-springing men,

They shatter the earth

And densify air;

That change may appear

In strenuous growth.

Such strenuous growth

Fills spirits with joy

Who feel that they weave

A life which creates.

LUNA:

They thoughtfully mould,

Alert to create

In flexible stuff;

They sharpen the edge

And flatten the face,

And cunningly build

The clearly-cut forms;

That clearly-cut forms

The will may inspire

With cunning to build,

Alert to create.

THE OTHER PHILIA:

They gather the blooms

And use without care

The magical works;

They dream of the true

And guard 'gainst the false;

That germs which lie hid

May wake into life.

And clairvoyant dreams

Make clear unto souls

The magical web

That forms their own life.

(These four soul-forces disappear towards the left; Johannes, who

during the preceding events was deep in meditation, rouses himself.)

JOHANNES:

'And clairvoyant dreams

Make clear unto souls

The magical web

That forms their own life.'

These are the words that still distinctly ring

Within my soul; that which I saw before

Passed in confusion out of my soul's ken.

Yet what a power stirs in me, when I think;

'The magical web

That forms their own life.'

(He relapses once more into meditation; there appears to him as a

thought-form of his own a group composed of: The Spirit of Johannes'

Youth, with Lucifer on its right and Theodora's soul on its left.)

THE SPIRIT OF JOHANNES' YOUTH:

The life within thy wishes feeds my life,

My breath drinks thirstily thy youthful dreams;

I am alive when thou dost not desire

To force thy way to worlds I cannot find.

If in thyself thou losest me, I must

Do grievous painful service to grim shades:--

O guardian of my life ... forsake me not.

LUCIFER:

He never will forsake thee,--I behold

Deep in his nature longings after light

Which cannot follow in Maria's steps.

And when the radiance which is born of them

Doth fully light Johannes' artist-soul

It must bear fruit; nor will he be content

To cast this fruit away in yonder realm

Where love divorced from beauty reigns alone.

His self will no more seem of worth to him

Which fain would cast his best gifts to the shades

Because it sets by knowledge too much store.

When wisdom shall throw light on his desires

Their glorious worth will be revealed to him;

He only can think them of little worth

So long as they hide darkly in the soul.

Until they can attain to wisdom's light

I will be thy protector--through the light

I find deep-seated in the human soul.

He has as yet no pity for thy woes,

And ever lets thee sink among the shades

When he is striving up the heights of light.

For then he can forget that thou, his child,

Must lead a miserable phantom life.

But henceforth, thou wilt find me at thy side

When as a shade thou freezest through his fault.

I will exert my rights as Lucifer

(At the word 'Lucifer' the spirit of Johannes' youth starts.)

Reserved to me by ancient cosmic law,

And occupy those depths within his soul

He leaves unguarded in his spirit-flight.

I'll bring thee treasure that will light for thee

The dark seclusion of the shadow-realms.

But thou wilt not be fully freed till he

Can once again unite himself with thee.

This act he can delay ... but not prevent.

For Lucifer will well protect his rights.

THEODORA:

Thou spirit-child, thou liv'st Johannes' youth

In gloomy shadow-realms. To thee in love

Bends down the soul which o'er Johannes broods

From realms ablaze with light, aglow with love.

She will from thine enchantment set thee free

If thou wilt take so much of what she feels

As shall procure thee life in blessedness.

I will ally thee with the elements

Which labour unaware in cosmic space

Withdrawing ever far from waking souls.

With those earth-spirits thou canst fashion forms,

And with the fire-souls thou canst ray out power,

If thou wilt sacrifice thy conscious life

Unto the will that works with light and power

But without human wisdom. So shalt thou

Preserve thy knowledge, only half thine own,

From Lucifer, and to Johannes give

The services which are of worth to him.

From his soul's being I will bring to thee

What causeth him to crave thy being's aid,

And find refreshment in the spirit-sleep.

LUCIFER:

But beauty she can ne'er bestow on thee

Since I myself dare take it far from her.

THEODORA:

From noble feeling I will find the germ

Of beauty which grows ripe through sacrifice.

LUCIFER:

From free-will she will tear thee and instead

Give thee to spirits who dwell in the dark.

THEODORA:

I shall awaken sight by spirit filled

That e'en from Lucifer knows itself free.

(Lucifer, Theodora, and the Spirit of Johannes' youth

disappear. Johannes, awaking from his meditation, sees 'the other

Philia' approaching him.)

THE OTHER PHILIA:

And clairvoyant dreams

Make clear unto souls

The magical web

That forms their own life.

JOHANNES:

Thou riddle-speaking spirit--at thy words

This world I entered! Of its mysteries

One only--is important for my soul:

Whether, as living in the spirit worlds,

The shadow dwells who sought with Lucifer

And Theodora to be shown to me.

THE OTHER PHILIA:

He lives--and by thyself was waked to life.

E'en as a glass in pictures doth reflect

All things by light upon its surface thrown

So must whate'er in spirit-realms thou see'st--

Ere full maturity gives thee the right

To such clairvoyance--mirrored be in life

Within the realm of half-waked spirit-shades.

JOHANNES:

'Tis but a picture, mirrored thus by me?

THE OTHER PHILIA:

Yet one that lives and keeps its hold on life

So long as thou dost keep within thyself

An outlived self which thou indeed canst stun

But which as yet thou canst not overthrow.

Johannes, thine awakening is but false

Until thou shalt thyself set free the shade

Whom thine offence doth lend a magic life.

JOHANNES:

What thanks I owe this spirit, who brings truth

Into my soul--I needs must follow it.

Curtain falls slowly, while 'the other Philia' and Johannes remain

quietly standing.

SCENE 3

The Same.

(Enter left, Magnus Bellicosus, Romanus, Torquatus, and Hilary,

in deep conversation, and pausing in their walk.)

BELLICOSUS:

And if his headstrong mood will not be changed,

How can prosperity attend the work

Which Hilary is fain to dedicate

In loving service to his fellowmen?

ROMANUS:

What our friend's true companion in his work

Did give as reason why he did object,

Hath weight not only amongst men who form

Opinions based on outer facts of life.

Are not these arguments advanced by him

Also in harmony with mystic views?

BELLICOSUS:

Yet it lies not within the spirit group

Which holds our projects in its firm embrace.

Those who succeeded to our mystic task

Were Benedictus' pupils;--'tis for them

That Hilary would make a field of work

In which their spirit-fruitage can mature.

The wise powers ruling over destiny

Have, in the temple, joined them to ourselves;

Our friend, however, represents alone

The wisdom which to us within the shrine

As spirit-law and duty was revealed.

ROMANUS:

But art thou sure that thou dost understand

This spirit-law? More simply it might mean

That Benedictus and his pupils too,

Whom in his way he to the spirit led,

Should still remain within the temple's shrine

And not at this time tread the hard rough road

To which friend Hilary would lead them on.

For but too easily can spirit-sight

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

BELLICOSUS:

I did not hope to hear such words from thee

To Hilary's companion in his work.

We must indeed allow that knowledge gained

From books alone is but of little worth.

But thou art bound to recognize the signs

Which are begotten on the mystic way.

How Benedictus' pupils were impelled

To come to us, speaks clearly to our souls.

They are joined with us that we may obey

What their clairvoyance doth to them reveal.

TORQUATUS:

Another sign doth still make manifest

That full rich blessing from the spirit-powers

Upon that project hath not been outpoured

Which in the temple showed itself to us.

Capesius hath now withdrawn himself

From Benedictus and his pupils' group.

That he should not yet in its fullness feel

The wakefulness of soul which now in him

Doth Benedictus seek, doth cast sad doubt

E'en on our teacher's personal competence.

BELLICOSUS:

The gift of seership lies still far from me:

Yet intuition often doth reveal

Within my soul the meaning of events.

When for the first time in our sacred fane

I saw Capesius within our group

The thought oppressed me, that fate set him there

To be both near to us and yet far off.

ROMANUS:

Thine intuition I can fully grasp.

But at that very moment none amongst

Our new-found mystic friends so closely knit

By fate to us as Strader, could I find.

Such intuition is to me a sign

To show my soul the road, where I may then

With reason search; and when I come to act

I must destroy that intuition first

Which gave strength and direction to my thought.

Thus mysticism's strict decrees ordain.

In spirit-realms I find myself in truth

With Benedictus' pupils close allied;

Yet, if I leave my inner mystic group

And find my way back into life on earth,

By Strader's side alone dare I do this.

TORQUATUS:

But Hilary's companion in his work

Finds not in Strader's soul true spirit-strength

Such as can prove of use in outer life.

And if myself I heed my inner voice

It is revealed that he entirely lacks

The rightful mood to tread the mystic path.

What outward signs can show him of these things

And what his reason grasps of spirit-life,

Arouse the explorer's zeal in him;

From inward spirit-life he stands far off.

What can the spirit products of this man

Be but obscurely woven mystic dreams?

ROMANUS:

Upon the spirit path his friends have trod;

He hath not made sufficient progress yet

To join himself to foes of his own soul,

Who bring to many mystics danger great

When they pursue him into life on earth.

BELLICOSUS:

If thou dost think him safe from such attacks

Nought hinders thee from working for him there

So that this great scheme may be brought to pass

Which Hilary would carry out through him.

For when our friend's companion comes to know

How highly thou dost rate the man whom he

Dares think of little worth, he will in truth

Misdoubt his own opinion. Thou alone

Canst win him over to the cause we serve.

For well he knows that in thine outer life

Thou hast invariably achieved success

In all thou hast essayed with forethought wise.

ROMANUS:

If thou wilt Strader take, dear Hilary,

As thy companion, and, from this thy work

Keep Benedictus' other followers

On spirit paths from all illusion free,

Thou shalt not stand alone;--I offer thee

Not only what now Bellicosus asks

As my assistance; but will also help

With all the worldly goods at my command

In making Strader's plan a real success.

HILARY:

How canst thou think that Strader at this time

From Benedictus' pupils would depart?

To follow his own spirit-aims alone?

The others are as near him as himself.

ROMANUS:

In human life they well may stand so close.

But only that part of his soul can hold

That they in spirit too are one with him,

Which still is deeply sunk in spirit-sleep

But soon, methinks, it will be evident

How that part can grow ripe to waking life.

(Exeunt right.)

(Enter left--Capesius, Strader, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde; as if

coming to a standstill during their talk because of the importance

to them of the following dialogue.)

CAPESIUS:

To seek the spirit in mine inmost soul

Is all that I can do at such a time.

Were I to load myself with outward work,

That spirit might be brought to realms of sense,

With rashness should I strive to grasp the cause

Of being in those worlds whose essence true

I have not fully grasped within myself.

Of cosmic being I can see no more

Than hath already shaped itself in me.

How shall my work do good to other men

If in creating I but please myself?

STRADER:

Thy meaning is, I take it, that thy work

Will only carry thine own being's stamp;

And in that work, thou dost but manifest

To outward cosmic life thy personal self?

CAPESIUS:

Till I encounter with mine inner world

A being strange to me, 'tis even so.

How far I now can pierce another's soul

I realized with pain, when for a while

I was awake and could with clearness judge.

FELIX BALDE:

Thou speak'st as I have never heard thee speak--

But ne'er could I so understand thy mind

As I do now, when naught speaks but thyself.

In all thy words there rings the mystic mood

Which I have sought unwearied many years;

And which alone can recognise the light

In which the human spirit feels itself

A part of cosmic spirit through clear sight.

CAPESIUS:

Because I felt how near I'd drawn to thee

I sought thee, fleeing from the kind of life

That was about to slay mine inner world.

STRADER:

I often understood thy present speech;--

And then I thought it wisdom;--but no word

In all thy speech can I now understand.

Capesius and father Felix both

Conceal dark meanings in transparent words....

Do I not feel these words of thine are but

The cloak of forces: forces of the soul

That exile me from thee unto those words

Which lie remote from all thy spirit-paths?

Worlds I have no desire for,--since I must

Deep in my soul adore that world of thine.

The opposition I can lightly bear

Which from without now menaceth my work;

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

Upon this opposition;--I could bear.

But I cannot forego these worlds of thine.

FELIX BALDE:

A man cannot attain the spirit-world

By seeking to unlock the gates himself.

Once didst thou give me pleasure, when of old

Of thine invention thou wast wont to speak--

Then, when enlightenment was granted thee

By what thou didst not strive to understand.

Thou wast far nearer to the mystic mood.

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

Expectancy the soul's whole inner life:--

That is the mystic mood. When waked in man

It leads his inmost soul to realms of light.

Our outward tasks do not endure such mood.

If them thou wouldst through mysticism seek,

Mystic illusion will destroy thy life.

STRADER:

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

The being that unites us thou dost scorn.

Yet how can men be found to undertake

True cosmic work if mystics all decline

To leave their individuality?

FELIX BALDE:

Into thy world of active daily life

The tender being of clairvoyant sight

Cannot be introduced, for it will fade

E'en as its welcome border line appears.

In faith devout, revering spirit-sway

With spirit-sight reposing in the heart:--

Thus mystics should draw nigh the world of deeds.

CAPESIUS:

And if they strive to tread it otherwise

The work of error they will then behold;

But wisdom's radiance they will never see.

I once saw clearly through another's soul.

I knew that I saw truly what I saw.

Yet only that soul's error could I see.

This was my fate for spoiling spirit-sight

By my desire for outer deeds on earth.

STRADER:

Thus speaks Capesius who hath advanced

Beyond me far upon the path of souls.

And yet my spirit-vision only wakes

When thoughts of action wholly fill my soul;

And it is flooded with a living hope

That for the spirit it may build a shrine

And kindle there on earth the light that shines

So warmly through the spirit-worlds on high

And seeks, through human sense-activities,

A new home in the daily life of earth.

Am I a son of error?--not thy son,

Ye wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells?

(Strader turns away, for a moment, from the companions with

whom he has been conversing; and now he has the following

spirit-vision--Benedictus, Maria, Ahriman appear--in the guise of

his thought-forms but nevertheless in real spirit-intercourse; first

Benedictus and Ahriman, then Maria.)

BENEDICTUS:

In wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells

Thou seekest aid to still thy questioning doubt,

Which makes the secret of thine inner life

Lie like a burden on thine earthly thought.

And thou shalt have an answer, such an one

As spirit-spaces out of their soul-depths

Are willing to reveal through this my voice.

But learn to understand what thou hast guessed

And what thou often hast made bold to say,

But in thine inner being only dreamst.

Give to thy dreams the life, which I am bound

To offer thee from out the spirit-world;

But turn to dreams whatever thou canst draw

By thought from all thy sense-experience.

Capesius and Felix cast thee forth

From out the spirit-light which they behold;

Thy place th' abyss betwixt themselves and thee--

Do not complain that they have done this thing,

But gaze in thine abyss.

AHRIMAN:

Aye, gaze therein!

Thou shalt behold there what to thee seems meet

For human spirits on their cosmic path.

'Twere well for thee, if other spirit-powers

Did tell thee when thy soul is sunk in sleep;

But Benedictus tells thee when awake,

So dost thou slay, beholding, thy response.

Aye, gaze therein.

STRADER:

I will. What do I see?

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

One at the other tears--a battle now--

The phantoms fight each other furiously,--

Destruction reigns, and from it gloom is born;--

From out the gloom now issue other shades

With ether's light around them,--flick'ring red;

One of the forms quite clearly leaves the rest;

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

(Maria steps forth from the abyss.)

MARIA:

Thou seest demons;--summon up thy strength,

They are not thus,--before thee they appear

What they are not. If thou canst hold them fast

Until their phantom nature shall become

Illumined to the being of thy soul

Thou wilt behold what value they possess

In evolution of the cosmic scheme.

Thy power of sight doth fade ere they unfold

The forces which will make them luminous.

Illuminate them with thine own self's light.

Where is thy light? Thou rayest darkness out--

Perceive thy darkness all around thyself--

'Midst light thou dost create the baffling gloom;

And feelst it when created by thyself.

Yet then thou ne'er canst feel thyself create.

Thou wouldst forget thy longing to create,

Which reigns unconsciously within thy soul.

Because thou art afraid to ray out light.

Thou wouldst enjoy this light that is thine own.

Thou wouldst enjoy therein thyself alone.

Thou seekst thyself, and seekest to forget.

Thou let'st thyself sink dreaming in thyself.

AHRIMAN:

Aye, list to her; thy riddles she can solve

But her solution solves them not for thee.

She gives thee wisdom--so that with its aid

Thou canst direct thy steps to foolishness.

Wisdom were good for thee--at other times,

When on thee spirit-day doth brightly shine.

But when Maria speaks thus in thy dreams

She slays thy riddle's answer by her words.

Aye, list to her.

STRADER:

What mean such words as these?

Maria, are they born from out the light?

From out my light? Or is my darkness that

From which they sound? O Benedictus, speak;

Who brought me counsel from the dark abyss?

BENEDICTUS:

At thine abyss's edge she sought thee out.

Thus spirits seek out men to shelter them,

From those who fashion phantoms for men's souls

And so conceal the cosmic-spirit's sway

With mazy darkness, that they only know

Themselves in truth in their own being's net.

Look further yet within thy dark abyss.

STRADER:

What now lives in the depths of mine abyss?

BENEDICTUS:

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

Enticing Felix--and the others see--

There on the left--where red with yellow blends;

Who are intent to reach Capesius.

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

And each in loneliness creates the light

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

AHRIMAN:

He would do better did he show to thee

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

He hath the best intentions certainly.

He only sees not where to seek those shades.

They stand behind thee, critically near,--

Yet thou thyself dost hide them now from him.

STRADER:

So now I hear in mine abyss these words

Which once I thought the prating of a fool,

When Hilary's adviser uttered them....

MARIA:

Sire Felix tempers for himself the blade

That rids him of his danger; one who treads

The path thy soul takes needs another kind.

The sword Capesius doth fashion here,

And bravely wields in battle with his foes,

Would be for Strader but a shadow sword

Should he commence therewith the spirit-fight

Which powers of destiny ordain for souls

Who must change spirit-being, ripe for deeds

With mighty power, to earth activity.

Thou canst not use their weapons in thy fight;

Yet thou must know them, so that thou mayst forge

Thine own from out soul-substance thoughtfully.

(The figures of Benedictus, Ahriman, and Maria disappear; i.e., from

outward sight; Strader wakes up from his spirit-vision; he looks round

for Capesius, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde, who again approach him;

he has seated himself upon a rock.)

FELIX BALDE:

Dear Strader, even now the spirit drove

Thee far from us--thus it appeared to me.

(He pauses a while in the expectation that Strader will say something,

but since the latter remains silent Felix continues.)

I would not seem to cast thee coldly forth

From out our group to other paths of life.

I only wish to check thy further steps

In that illusion which confuseth thee.

What spirit sees in spirit must by souls

In spirit also be received and lived.

How foolish were it if Felicia

Should take the fairies living in her soul,

Who also fain would only live in souls,

And make them dance upon a puppet's stage.

Their magic charm would be completely lost.

DAME BALDE: