Maria as thou fain wouldst her behold Lives not in worlds where shines the light of truth. Johannes' spirit treads illusion's realm By fantasy misled; set thyself free From strong desire and its alluring power. I feel in me the turmoil of thy soul; It robs me of the calmness that I need. 'Tis not Johannes who directs the storm Into my soul; it is some other man, O'er whom he was victorious in the past. Now as a wraith it roams the spirit-plains;-- Once known for such it straight will fade away. JOHANNES: That is Maria as she really is, Who of Johannes speaks as he appears To his own vision at the present time. Long since into another form he rose Than that which errant fancy paints for me Because I am content to let my soul Amuse itself with dreams in slothful ease. But not yet doth this being hold me fast. Escape from him I still can--and I will-- He often calls me to his side and strives To win me for myself by his own powers-- Yet will I strive to free myself from him. Long years ago he flooded my soul's depths With spirit being; none the less today No more do I desire to harbour him. Thou stranger being in Johannes' soul Forsake me--give me back my pristine self Before thou didst commence thy work in me. I would behold Johannes free of thee. (Benedictus appears at Maria's side, equally as a thought of Johannes.) BENEDICTUS: Johannes, heed the warning of thy soul; The man who, flooding thee with spirit, rose To be thy nature's primal energy, Must at thy side still hold his faithful sway And claim that thou transform his being's powers Through thy will into human deeds. He must, Himself concealed, work out his task in thee; That thou some day mayst reach what thou dost know To be thy being's distant future goal. Thy personal sorrow thou must bear through life Fast locked within the chamber of thy soul. So only shalt thou win thyself, if thou Dost bravely let him own thee more and more. MARIA (seen as a thought of Johannes): My holy earnest vow doth beam forth power Which shall preserve for thee what thou hast won. Me shalt thou find in those cold fields of ice, Where spirits must create light for themselves. When darkness wounds and maims the powers of life Seek me within those cosmic depths where souls Wrestle to win God-knowledge for themselves. By conquest that wins being from the void; But never seek me in the realm of shades, Where outlived soul-experience wins by guile A transient life from out illusion's web, And dream's frail phantoms can the spirit cheat; So that in pleasure it forgets itself And looks on serious effort with distaste. (Benedictus and Maria disappear.) JOHANNES: