Thou know'st the mystic friends of Hilary, And I perceive in thee a clever man With power to give at all times judgment sure Both in life's work and in the mystic arts: And so I value thy considered thought. But how shall I make sense of what thou sayst? That Strader's friends should stay in spirit-realms And not as yet use their clairvoyant powers Upon the fashioning of things of sense Seems right to thee. But will the selfsame path For Strader not be just as dangerous? His spirit methods seem to prove to me That nature-spirits always blind his eyes As soon as strong desire for personal deeds Drives him to seek some outer work in life. Within oneself, as all true mystics know, Those forces must develop in their strength In order to oppose these enemies; But Strader's sight, it seems, is not yet ripe To see such foes upon his spirit-path. ROMANUS: Yet those good spirits who conduct such men, As stand outside the spirit-realms entire, Have not yet left his side, but guide his steps. These spirits ever pass those mystics by Who make a pact with beings to secure Their service for their personal spirit mood. In Strader's methods I can plainly feel How nature-spirits still give to his self The fruits of their benign activity. MANAGER: So 'tis by feeling only thou art led To think good spirits work in Strader's case; Thou off'rest little and dost ask full much. These are the spirits I must henceforth ask If I continue active in this place Where for so long I have been privileged To serve the work-plans and that spirit true Which Hilary's own father ever loved; And which I still hear speaking from his grave, E'en if his son hath no more ears for it. What saith this spirit of that brave strong man When he perceives these crazy spirits now Which his son tries to bring within his house? I know that spirit who for ninety years Lived in his body. He it was who taught To me the truest secrets of my work In those old days when he could work himself, The while his son crept off to mystic fanes. ROMANUS: My friend, canst thou indeed be unaware How highly this same spirit I revere? His servant certainly was that old man Whom for a pattern thou didst rightly choose. And I myself have striv'n to serve him too From childhood's days up to the present time. But I too crept away to mystic fanes. I planted truly deep within my soul What they were willing to bestow on me. But reason swept aside the temple mood When at the door it entered into life. I knew that in this way I best could bring This mood's strong forces into earthly life. From out the temple none the less I brought My soul into my work. And it is well That soul by reason should not be disturbed. MANAGER: