(Enter Johannes Thomasius and his Etheric Counterpart from different sides of the stage at the same moment, and meet face to face.) THOMASIUS: O mine own Likeness, up till now thou hast Shown thyself to me only that I might Be frightened at the sight of mine own self. I cannot understand thee much as yet; I only know that thou dost guide my soul. 'Tis thou then who dost baulk me of free life And dost prevent me from due cognizance Of what I really am. Now must I hear Thee speak in front of Lucifer, to see What I in future years shall yet achieve. THOMASIUS' DOUBLE: 'Tis true I often was allowed to come And bring Johannes knowledge of himself. But I could only work in those soul depths, Which still are hidden from his consciousness. My life within him hath for some long time Been subject to considerable change. Maria used to stand close to his side. He thought her bound in spirit to himself; I showed him that the true guides of his soul Were only passion and impulsiveness. He could but think of this as some reproach, But thou couldst show, O Light-Bearer sublime, To sensual tendencies the way by which They best might serve the spirit-purposes. Johannes from Maria had to part, And give himself forthwith to earnest thought Which hath the power to purify men's souls. What from his purity of thought streamed forth Flowed also into me, and I was changed. I felt his purity within myself. Nought need he fear from me, if he should now Feel once more drawn toward Maria's soul. But he belongs, as yet, to thy domain, And at this moment I demand him back. For he could now experience myself, Unless thou will'st to misdirect his sense. He needs me now, that from me there may flow Into his thought with mighty conscious strength Both warmth of soul and also power of heart. Then once more shall he find himself as man. LUCIFER: I count thy striving good. Yet can I not Grant to thee all that thou dost ask of me. For should I give thee to Johannes now In that same form wherein in former years Thou didst appear before his mind and soul, He would at present only give his love To thinking and to knowledge cold and bare; And all warm individuality Would seem unfeeling, meaningless and dead. It is not thus my power must fashion him. Through me he must discover in himself His living personality and self. I must transform thee, if the thing that's right Shall come forth for his health and progress now. I have a long time since prepared for all That now shall clearly show itself in thee. In future thou wilt seem another man. Johannes will no more Maria love, As he hath loved her in the days gone by. Yet none the less he'll love, with all the strength And all the passion he once gave to her. BENEDICTUS: