I would not seem to cast thee coldly forth From out our group to other paths of life. I only wish to check thy further steps In that illusion which confuseth thee. What spirit sees in spirit must by souls In spirit also be received and lived. How foolish were it if Felicia Should take the fairies living in her soul, Who also fain would only live in souls, And make them dance upon a puppet's stage. Their magic charm would be completely lost. DAME BALDE: I surely have been silent long enough. But speak I will, if thou art going to cast Thy mystic mood upon my fairy sprites. They would indeed enjoy to have their power Drawn out of them, that they might be brought up And suckled fresh with mysticism's milk. I honour mysticism; but I fain Would keep it distant from my fairy realms. CAPESIUS: Felicia, was it not thy fairy-tales That set my feet first on the spirit-path? Those stories of the air and water-sprites, Called up so oft before my thirsting soul, Were messengers to me from yonder world Whereto I now the mystic entrance seek. DAME BALDE: But since thou cam'st with this new mystic art Into our house thou hast but seldom asked What my fair magic beings are about. More often thou hast only thought of worth What wears a solemn air of dignity; While those who caper out of sheer delight Are uncongenial to thy mystic ways. CAPESIUS: I do not doubt, Felicia, that I Shall one day comprehend the meaning hid Deep in the being of those wondrous elves Who show their wisdom through a merry mask. Yet now my power hath not advanced so far. FELIX BALDE: Felicia, thou knowest how I love Those fairy beings who do visit thee; But to conceive them as mechanical Embodied dolls--this goes against the grain. DAME BALDE: As yet I have not brought them to thee thus; Thy fancy flies--too high; but I was glad When Strader's plan was told me, and, I heard, Thomasius also strives to represent The spirit cased in matter visible. I saw in spirit dancing merrily My fairy princes and my souls of fire In thousand doll-games, beautified by art; And there I left them, happy in the thought, To find their own way to the nurseries. Curtain SCENE 4 The Same. (The Manager and Romanus, pausing in their walk, speak as follows.) MANAGER: