Maria, Benedictus,--Guardians! How can they as the Guardian come to me? 'Tis true I have spent many years with thee And this forbids me now to seek thine aid-- The magical web that forms mine own self. (Exit, right.) (Enter Strader, Benedictus, and Maria, left.) STRADER: Thou gav'st, when joined in spirit unto me Before the dark abyss of mine own self, Wise counsel to direct mine inward sight, Which at that time I could not understand, But which will work such changes in my soul As certainly will solve life's problems, when They seek to hinder what I strive to do. I feel in me the power which thou dost give To thy disciples on the spirit-path. And so I shall be able to perform The service thou dost ask for in this work That Hilary to mankind will devote; We shall, however, lack Capesius. Whatever strength the rest bring to the work Will not replace his keen activity; But that which must will surely come to pass. BENEDICTUS: Yea, that which must will surely come to pass. This phrase expresseth thine own stage of growth. But it awakes no answering response In souls of all our other spirit-friends. Thomasius is not as yet prepared To carry spirit-power to worlds of sense, So he too will withdraw from this same work. Through him doth destiny give us a sign That we must all now seek another plan STRADER: Will not Maria and thyself be there? BENEDICTUS: Maria must Johannes take with her If she would ever find in truth the road, Which leads from spirit to the world of sense. Thus wills the Guardian who with earnest eye Unceasing guards the borders of both realms. She cannot lend her aid to thee as yet. And this may serve thee as a certain sign That thou canst not at this time truly find The way into the realm of earthly things. STRADER: So I and all my aims are left alone! O loneliness, didst thou then seek me out When I did stand at Felix Balde's side? BENEDICTUS: The thing which hath just happened in our group Hath taught me, as I look on thy career, To read a certain word in spirit-light Which hitherto hath hid itself from me. I saw that thou wast bound to certain kinds Of beings, who, if they should take a part Creatively in mankind's life today, Would surely work for evil; now they live As germs in certain souls, and will grow ripe In future days to work upon the earth. Such germs have I seen living in thy soul. That thou dost know them not is for thy good. Through thee they will first learn to know themselves. But now the road is still close barred for them Which leads into the realm of earthly things. STRADER: Whatever else thy words may say to me, They show me that my lot is loneliness. And this it is must truly forge my sword. Maria told me this at mine abyss.