According to the strict decree of Fate Thomasius and Theodora ne'er Could meet in earthly passion in this life. 'Twould be indeed opposed to cosmic laws If one desired to make the other feel Aught that was not on spirit only based. Within his heart Thomasius doth break The stern decree of mighty powers of Fate: That he should never harbour in his soul Thoughts that might bring to Theodora harm. For he doth feel what he ought not to feel And, through his disobedience he doth form E'en now the powers which can deliver o'er His future life unto the realms of dark. When Theodora had been forced to come To Lucifer, she learnt unconsciously That through the Light-bearer, Thomasius Was filled with sensual passion for herself. Maria, who had been by Fate's decree Entrusted with Thomasius' spirit-life, And Theodora, at the same time met Within that realm which fights against the gods-- Maria from Thomasius had to part, And he through strength of this false love was forced To be in bondage unto Lucifer. What Theodora thus experienced Became consuming fire within her soul And working further caused her all this pain. STRADER: Oh tell us, Father Felix, what this means. Capesius speaks in such a manner strange Of things which are incomprehensible; And yet they fill my soul with dread and fear. FELIX BALDE: Capesius, when treading o'er the path, Which he hath found most needful for his soul Learns ever more and more to exercise Those special gifts of spirit which are his; His spirit lives in touch with higher worlds And passeth by unnoticed all those things Through which the senses speak unto the soul. 'Tis but by habit that he doth perform All that hath been his custom in this life. He ever tried to visit his old friends And likes to while away long hours with them, And yet whenever he is at their side His being seems in meditation lost. But what he sees in spirit aye is true So far as mine own searching of the soul Can testify to proving of the truth. And therefore in this case I do believe That owing to these spirit-gifts, he could Perceive within the depths of his own soul The truth of Theodora's destiny. DAME BALDE: It is so strange, he never notices What those around him may be speaking of; It seems his soul is from his body loosed And gazeth only on the spirit-world; And yet some word will often bring him back Out of this strange abstraction, and he'll tell Of things that seem to come from spirit-realms And somehow be connected with that word. Apart from that whatever one may say Makes no impression on his mind at all. STRADER: Ah! if he speaks the truth--how horrible-- (Theodora's Soul appears.) THEODORA'S SOUL: