And then the true light shone into my soul Which long had only gazed upon the dark. I saw at last what spirit is, in truth. Thou ledd'st me on in such a way to see What was disclosed to thee from higher worlds, That every doubt might swiftly disappear. All this at that time worked so much on me That first I thought of thee as nothing else Except a medium for the spirit's work. It was a long while e'er I recognized That not my mind alone hung on thy words, Which did reveal to it its true abode; But that my heart was taken captive too And could no longer live without thee near. THEODORA: Then didst thou tell me that which thou didst feel And all thy words were in so strange a form; It seemed as if thou never hadst one thought That all the longing dwelling in thy heart Could even hope it might be satisfied. Thy words showed clearly that it was advice That thou wast seeking from thy sister-soul. Thou spakst of help which thou didst then require And of the strengthening of thy powers of soul Which otherwise must keep thee prison-bound. STRADER: That my soul's messenger could be by fate Destined to be companion of my life Lay very far from all I had in mind When, seeking help, I showed my heart to thee. THEODORA: And yet those very words which cut adrift Thy heart from mine at first, soon went to prove That all of this could not be otherwise-- Hearts often have to point the way to fate. STRADER: