Dear Theodora, she so often spoke Throughout the last hours of her life on earth Of Dame Felicia and of Felix too; She was so closely intimate with all That life brought to you here from day to day. Now must I grope my further path alone. She was the sum and meaning of my life. And what she gave, can never die for me. And yet--she is not here---- FELIX BALDE: Yet can we still With thee send out our loving thoughts to her Into the spirit-worlds, and thus unite Her soul with ours through all the days to come. But, I must own, it was a shock to us When we were told her life on Earth was o'er. These many years there hath been granted me A gift of insight which doth often show In unexpected moments quite unsought What inward strength doth lie in all men's lives; In her case hath this gift deceived me sore. For ne'er indeed could I think otherwise, Except that Theodora would be spared To spend on Earth for many years as yet That love through which she hath in joy and grief Shown herself helpful to so many men. STRADER: 'Tis very strange how all hath come to pass; As long as I have known her, had she lived Ever the same sound healthy mode of life. But since the time she first became aware Of Something strange, unknown, that threatened her And tried to enter and oppress her mind; Her senses clouded over more and more And suffering poured itself through all her life. Her body's powers were sapped, as one could see By some great struggle in her inmost soul. She told me, when in my anxiety,-- I plied her oft with many questionings-- She felt herself exposed to fearful thoughts Which frightened her and worked like fire within. And what she said besides--'tis terrible, For when she rallied all her powers of thought To find the cause of all this suffering There always came before her spirit's gaze Thomasius ... whom we both honoured so, And yet from this impression aye remained The strongest feelings which spake clear to her That she had cause to fear Thomasius. CAPESIUS (spoken as in a trance):