Johannes, wouldst thou tear this shade away From those enchanted regions of the soul, Then slay desire, which leads thee aye astray. The trace which thou dost follow disappears So long as thou dost seek it with desire. It leads thee to my threshold and beyond. But here, obeying lofty Being's will, I do confuse the inward sight of those Within whose spirit-glance lives vain desire; All these must meet me ere they are allowed To penetrate to Truth's pure radiant light. I hold thyself fast prisoned in thy sight So long as thou approachest with desire. Myself too as illusion dost thou see, So long as vain desire is joined with sight And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath not Become as yet thy being's vehicle. Make strong those words of power which thou dost know, Their spirit-power will conquer fantasy. Then recognise me, free from all desire, And thou shalt see me as I really am. And then I need no longer hinder thee From gazing freely on the spirit-realm. JOHANNES: But as illusion dost thou too appear? Thou too ... whom I must ever see the first, Of all the beings in the spirit-land. How shall I know the truth when I must find One truth alone confront mine onward steps-- That ever denser grows illusion's veil. AHRIMAN: Let not thyself be quite confused by him. He guards the threshold faithfully indeed E'en if today thou see'st him wear the clothes Which for thyself thou didst patch up before Within thy spirit from old odds and ends. And least of all shouldst thou behold in him An actor in a poor dramatic show. But thou wilt make it better later on. Yet e'en this clownish form can serve thy soul. It doth not have to spend much energy In showing thee that which it now still is. Pay close attention to the Guardian's speech: Its tone is mournful and its pathos marked, Allow not this: for then he will disclose From whom today he borrows to excess. JOHANNES: Then e'en the content of his speech deceives? THE DOUBLE: Ask not of Ahriman, since he doth find In contradictions aye his chief delight. JOHANNES: Of whom then shall I ask? THE DOUBLE: Why, ask thyself. With my power will I fortify thee well So that awake thou mayst find the place Whence thou canst gaze untramelled by desire. Increase thy power. JOHANNES: 'The magical web That forms their own life.' O magical web that forms mine own life Make known to me where desire doth not burn. (The Guardian disappears: in his place appear Benedictus and Maria.) MARIA: Myself too as illusion dost thou see Since vain desire is still allied with sight. BENEDICTUS: And spirit-peacefulness of soul hath not Become as yet thy being's vehicle. (The Double, Benedictus, and Maria disappear.) JOHANNES: