A vision came to me not long ago Which I must hold to be a sign from fate. I was aboard a ship, thou at the helm, The labouring oars were under my command; And we were bearing to their place of work Maria and Johannes; there appeared Another ship quite close to us; on board Romanus and the friend of Hilary-- They lay across our course as enemies. I battled with them;--as the fight went on Lo! Ahriman stood by their side to help. While I was bitterly engaged with him Came Theodora to my side, in aid, And then the vision vanished from my sight. I dared to say once to Capesius And Felix that I could with ease endure The opposition which now menaceth My work from outward sources e'en if all My plans were ruined--I should stand upright. Suppose that picture now should show to me That outward opposition doth imply An inward fight--a fight with Ahriman; Am I well armoured also for this fight? BENEDICTUS: My friend, I can behold in thine own soul This picture is not fully ripe as yet. I feel thou canst make stronger still the power Which showed this picture to thy spirit's eye. I can feel too that for thy friends and thee This picture can create new powers of soul If only thou wilt rightly strive for strength. This can I feel;--how it shall be fulfilled Remains a secret hidden from my sight. Curtain SCENE 12 The interior of the earth. Enormous crystal formations, with streams like lava breaking through them. The whole scene is faintly luminous, transparent in some parts, and with the light shining through from behind in others. Above are red flames which appear to be being pressed downward from the roof. (One hand of Ahriman is a claw and he has a cloven hoof. This is to show the audience that his identity as the Devil is being discovered. Fox has a cloven hoof.) AHRIMAN (at first alone):