So thou dost hate That which first gives true being unto men? How canst thou come to live within this realm If so appalling seems that word to thee? For no one can arrive as far as this Who hath not faced the nature of that word. CAPESIUS: He who appears to thee hath often stood Before great Lucifer who rules this realm. And Lucifer hath made it clear to him That only souls, who consciously make use Of powers that from their earthly bodies come, Can harm the realm which doth obey his will. Those souls however who go through their life Within the body, as it were in swoon, And yet already have clairvoyant power, These only learn in Lucifer's domain, And cannot cause it harm in any way. MARIA: I know that in these realms of Spirit-life 'Tis not by words, but sight, that one doth learn. What in this moment I have come to see Because of thine appearance to me here, Will later show itself within my soul As progress in my spirit-pupilship. CAPESIUS: Here 'tis not only teaching that one gains; Duties are also shown one in this place. Thou hast here spoken with the soul of him Who calls himself Capesius on earth. The spirit-glances into former lives That are accorded thee, will show to thee Thou owest much through Karma unto him. Therefore thou shouldst petition Lucifer That he, the great Light-Bearer, should allow Capesius to guard thee on the Earth. Thou knowest through thy wisdom well enough What thou canst do for him, so that he may Be led again to thee in later lives So that through thee the debt may be wiped out. MARIA: And so this duty which I hold so dear Must be fulfilled through power from Lucifer? CAPESIUS: Thou dost desire this duty to fulfil, And that can only be through Lucifer. Look! Here he comes, the Spirit of the Light. (Lucifer appears and, in the course of his speech, Benedictus.) LUCIFER: