If thou wilt Strader take, dear Hilary, As thy companion, and, from this thy work Keep Benedictus' other followers On spirit paths from all illusion free, Thou shalt not stand alone;--I offer thee Not only what now Bellicosus asks As my assistance; but will also help With all the worldly goods at my command In making Strader's plan a real success. HILARY: How canst thou think that Strader at this time From Benedictus' pupils would depart? To follow his own spirit-aims alone? The others are as near him as himself. ROMANUS: In human life they well may stand so close. But only that part of his soul can hold That they in spirit too are one with him, Which still is deeply sunk in spirit-sleep But soon, methinks, it will be evident How that part can grow ripe to waking life. (Exeunt right.) (Enter left--Capesius, Strader, Felix Balde, and Dame Balde; as if coming to a standstill during their talk because of the importance to them of the following dialogue.) CAPESIUS: To seek the spirit in mine inmost soul Is all that I can do at such a time. Were I to load myself with outward work, That spirit might be brought to realms of sense, With rashness should I strive to grasp the cause Of being in those worlds whose essence true I have not fully grasped within myself. Of cosmic being I can see no more Than hath already shaped itself in me. How shall my work do good to other men If in creating I but please myself? STRADER: Thy meaning is, I take it, that thy work Will only carry thine own being's stamp; And in that work, thou dost but manifest To outward cosmic life thy personal self? CAPESIUS: Till I encounter with mine inner world A being strange to me, 'tis even so. How far I now can pierce another's soul I realized with pain, when for a while I was awake and could with clearness judge. FELIX BALDE: Thou speak'st as I have never heard thee speak-- But ne'er could I so understand thy mind As I do now, when naught speaks but thyself. In all thy words there rings the mystic mood Which I have sought unwearied many years; And which alone can recognise the light In which the human spirit feels itself A part of cosmic spirit through clear sight. CAPESIUS: Because I felt how near I'd drawn to thee I sought thee, fleeing from the kind of life That was about to slay mine inner world. STRADER: I often understood thy present speech;-- And then I thought it wisdom;--but no word In all thy speech can I now understand. Capesius and father Felix both Conceal dark meanings in transparent words....