How totally devoid this method is Of that, which gives all thought its sure support And guarantees a sense of certainty. Such revelations may warm listening hearts, But thinkers see in them mere mystic dreams. PHILIA: Aye, thus would always speak the science, won By stern sobriety and intellect. But that suffices not unto the soul, That needs a steadfast faith in its own self. She ever will give heed to words that speak To her of spirit. All she dimly sensed In former days, she striveth now to grasp. To speak of the Unknown may well entice The thinker, but no more the hearts of men. STRADER: I too can realize how much there lies In that objection; how it seems to strike The idle dreamer, who would only spin The threads of thought, and seek the consequence Of this or that premise, which he himself Hath formed beforehand. Me--it touches not-- No outer motive guided me to thought. In childhood I grew up 'mid pious folk And, following their custom, steeped my soul In sense-intoxicating images Of future sojourn in celestial realms, Wherewith they seek to comfort and beguile Man's ignorance and man's simplicity. Within my boyish soul I sensed the throb Of utmost ecstasy, when reverently I raised my thoughts to highest spirit-worlds; And prayer was then my heart's necessity. Thereafter in a cloister was I trained; Monks were my teachers, and in mine own heart The deepest longing was to be a monk,-- An echo of my parents' ardent wish. For consecration did I stand prepared When chance did drive me from the cloistered cell; And to this chance I owe deep gratitude. For, many days before chance saved my soul It had been robbed of inward peace and quiet; For I had read and learned of many things, That have no place within the cloister-gate. Knowledge of nature's working came to me From books that were forbidden to mine eyes. And thus I learned new scientific thought. Hard was the struggle as I sought the path Wandering through many a way to find mine own; Nor did I ever gain by cunning thought Whate'er of truth revealed itself to me. In fierce-fought battles have I torn the roots From out my spirit's soil of all that brought Peace and contentment to me when a child. I understand indeed the heart that fain Would soar up to the heights--but for myself, When once I recognized that all I learned From spirit-teaching was an empty dream, I was compelled to find the surer soil That science and discovery create. LUNA: