In wide-flung spirit-realms where wisdom dwells Thou seekest aid to still thy questioning doubt, Which makes the secret of thine inner life Lie like a burden on thine earthly thought. And thou shalt have an answer, such an one As spirit-spaces out of their soul-depths Are willing to reveal through this my voice. But learn to understand what thou hast guessed And what thou often hast made bold to say, But in thine inner being only dreamst. Give to thy dreams the life, which I am bound To offer thee from out the spirit-world; But turn to dreams whatever thou canst draw By thought from all thy sense-experience. Capesius and Felix cast thee forth From out the spirit-light which they behold; Thy place th' abyss betwixt themselves and thee-- Do not complain that they have done this thing, But gaze in thine abyss. AHRIMAN: Aye, gaze therein! Thou shalt behold there what to thee seems meet For human spirits on their cosmic path. 'Twere well for thee, if other spirit-powers Did tell thee when thy soul is sunk in sleep; But Benedictus tells thee when awake, So dost thou slay, beholding, thy response. Aye, gaze therein. STRADER: I will. What do I see? Two forms confused? They change, yea, and they tear, One at the other tears--a battle now-- The phantoms fight each other furiously,-- Destruction reigns, and from it gloom is born;-- From out the gloom now issue other shades With ether's light around them,--flick'ring red; One of the forms quite clearly leaves the rest; And comes to me;--sent from the dark abyss. (Maria steps forth from the abyss.) MARIA: Thou seest demons;--summon up thy strength, They are not thus,--before thee they appear What they are not. If thou canst hold them fast Until their phantom nature shall become Illumined to the being of thy soul Thou wilt behold what value they possess In evolution of the cosmic scheme. Thy power of sight doth fade ere they unfold The forces which will make them luminous. Illuminate them with thine own self's light. Where is thy light? Thou rayest darkness out-- Perceive thy darkness all around thyself-- 'Midst light thou dost create the baffling gloom; And feelst it when created by thyself. Yet then thou ne'er canst feel thyself create. Thou wouldst forget thy longing to create, Which reigns unconsciously within thy soul. Because thou art afraid to ray out light. Thou wouldst enjoy this light that is thine own. Thou wouldst enjoy therein thyself alone. Thou seekst thyself, and seekest to forget. Thou let'st thyself sink dreaming in thyself. AHRIMAN: