Four Mystery Plays

Name: Four Mystery Plays
Author: Steiner, Rudolf

Steiner, Rudolf

Mysteries and miracle-plays

Once on a time there lived a child of God
    Who had affinity with those who weave
    The thoughtful wisdom of the spirit-realms.
    This child, brought up by truth's almighty Sire
    Grew up within his realm to ancient strength.
    And when his body, radiant with light,
    Did feel his ripened will creative stir
    He often looked with pity on the Earth
    Where souls of men were striving after truth.
    Then to the Sire of truth the child would say:
    'The souls of men are thirsting for the drink
    Which thou canst hand to them from out thy springs.'
    With earnest speech the Sire of truth replied:
    'The springs, of which I am appointed guard,
    Let light stream forth from out the spirit-suns;
    Only such beings dare to drink the light
    As need not thirst for air that they may breathe.
    Therefore in light have I brought up a child
    Who can feel pity for the souls on Earth
    And manifest the light 'midst breathing men.
    So turn and go unto mankind and bring
    The light that's in their souls to meet my light
    Enfilled with confidence and spirit-life.'
    So then the shining light-child turned, and went
    To souls who keep themselves alive by breath.
    And many good men found he on the Earth,
    Who offered him with joy their souls' abode.
    These souls he turned to gaze with grateful love
    Upon their Sire who dwells in springs of light.
    And when the child heard from the lips of men
    And joyous mind of men, the magic word
    Of fantasy, he knew himself alive
    Dwelling with gladness in the hearts of men.
    But one sad day there came unto the child
    A man who cast upon him chilling looks.
    'I turn the souls of men on earth toward
    The Sire of truth who dwells in springs of light--'
    Thus to the strange man did the light-child speak--
    The man replied: 'Thou dost but weave wild dreams
    Into men's spirits, and deceiv'st their souls.'
    And since the day which witnessed this event
    The child who can bring light to breathing souls
    Hath often suffered slander from mankind.

(Philia, Astrid, Luna, and the Other Philia appear in a cloud of
light.)

PHILIA:

    Now let every soul
    That drinks of the light
    Awake to full power
    In cosmic expanse.

ASTRID:

    So too let the spirit
    That knoweth no fear
    Arise in full power
    In cosmic domains.

LUNA:

    Let man who doth strive
    To reach to the heights
    Hold firm with full strength
    To innermost self.

THE OTHER PHILIA:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Four Mystery PlaysSteiner, Rudolf

Religion

Four Mystery Plays

Steiner, Rudolf

Mysteries and miracle-plays

Once on a time there lived a child of God
    Who had affinity with those who weave
    The thoughtful wisdom of the spirit-realms.
    This child, brought up by truth's almighty Sire
    Grew up within his realm to ancient strength.
    And when his body, radiant with light,
    Did feel his ripened will creative stir
    He often looked with pity on the Earth
    Where souls of men were striving after truth.
    Then to the Sire of truth the child would say:
    'The souls of men are thirsting for the drink
    Which thou canst hand to them from out thy springs.'
    With earnest speech the Sire of truth replied:
    'The springs, of which I am appointed guard,
    Let light stream forth from out the spirit-suns;
    Only such beings dare to drink the light
    As need not thirst for air that they may breathe.
    Therefore in light have I brought up a child
    Who can feel pity for the souls on Earth
    And manifest the light 'midst breathing men.
    So turn and go unto mankind and bring
    The light that's in their souls to meet my light
    Enfilled with confidence and spirit-life.'
    So then the shining light-child turned, and went
    To souls who keep themselves alive by breath.
    And many good men found he on the Earth,
    Who offered him with joy their souls' abode.
    These souls he turned to gaze with grateful love
    Upon their Sire who dwells in springs of light.
    And when the child heard from the lips of men
    And joyous mind of men, the magic word
    Of fantasy, he knew himself alive
    Dwelling with gladness in the hearts of men.
    But one sad day there came unto the child
    A man who cast upon him chilling looks.
    'I turn the souls of men on earth toward
    The Sire of truth who dwells in springs of light--'
    Thus to the strange man did the light-child speak--
    The man replied: 'Thou dost but weave wild dreams
    Into men's spirits, and deceiv'st their souls.'
    And since the day which witnessed this event
    The child who can bring light to breathing souls
    Hath often suffered slander from mankind.

(Philia, Astrid, Luna, and the Other Philia appear in a cloud of
light.)

PHILIA:

    Now let every soul
    That drinks of the light
    Awake to full power
    In cosmic expanse.

ASTRID:

    So too let the spirit
    That knoweth no fear
    Arise in full power
    In cosmic domains.

LUNA:

    Let man who doth strive
    To reach to the heights
    Hold firm with full strength
    To innermost self.

THE OTHER PHILIA:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Four Mystery Plays

Four Mystery Plays

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