It gave deep pain, within mine inmost self And weighed with heavy pressure on my soul When on awaking to myself I found I was again within my body pent From which thy words had given me release. My deadened soul-life first tormented me On my return, yet 'twas not only pain; For it brought forth in me the memory Of all I lived through ere I saw with dread What I could learn from Ahriman himself, That every thought must cease its progress there. I had to ask myself why I was set By Benedictus' word within this realm Where souls alone are taken into count And only those are valued which can help Toward the objects, which that power desires To make his own through deeds that I have done. He, in his wisdom, wanted to select Twelve helpers from the number of mankind. BENEDICTUS: Yet 'tis well known to thee why all these souls, Which Ahriman showed forth, drew near to thee, When he would force himself upon their fates. STRADER: That also bitter pain revealed to me: It showed how in a former life on Earth I was united to a brotherhood Which now hath formed again its mystic league, And how those people stood towards myself, Who were in their true nature then revealed. And I could feel quite sure that Ahriman Will use the bond, which e'en in future lives Must ever surely bind their souls to mine. BENEDICTUS: The cosmic powers do so direct their deeds That these with cosmic progress may unite By following in wisdom number's laws. The sign how this direction is fulfilled Shows itself clearly to the outer sense; If it doth watch the Sun upon the course He takes throughout the constellations twelve. It is his place amongst those very signs Which shows how on the Earth things come to pass In strict succession in long course of time. So Ahriman desired to mould the souls Of those who are united thus to thee To powers from whence thy work might shine afar. He also wished to follow number's laws In binding their soul-nature unto thine. STRADER: Since I have learned the sense of number's law, So shall I too succeed in rescuing My work from out the realm of Ahriman And offering it to the gods of Earth. BENEDICTUS: It was through Ahriman thou hadst to learn The sense of number in the universe; So was it needful for thine own soul's good. 'Twas spirit-pupilship that guided thee Into that realm, which thou didst need to know If thy creative power should bloom aright. (Exeunt Benedictus and Strader. Maria and Thomasius appear from the other side.) MARIA: