Like to the very echo of my words This utt'rance sounds,--yet not quite what I meant. CAPESIUS: On close consideration one might find The opposite of thine own words therein,-- And more distinctly doth this fact appear When we give heed to this his further speech 'Whoever falsely wakes the mystic mood It leads his inmost soul but to himself And weaves betwixt himself and realms of light The dark veil of his own soul's enterprise. If this thou wouldst through mysticism seek Mystic illusion will destroy thy life.' FELIX BALDE: This can be nothing else than words of mine By Strader's spirit-views transformed; in thee They echo as a grievous mystic fault. CAPESIUS: Moreover Strader's final words were these: 'A man can not attain the spirit-world By seeking to unlock the gates himself. Truth doth not sound within the soul of him Who only seeks a mood for many years.' (Philia appears, perceptible only to Capesius; Felix Balde shows that he does not comprehend what follows.) PHILIA: Capesius, if soon thou markest well What in thy seeking comes to thee unsought, 'Twill strengthen thee with many-coloured light; In pictured being it will pierce thee through Since thy soul-forces show it unto thee. That which thy self's sun-nature rays on thee By Saturn's ripened wisdom will be dulled; Then to thy vision will there be disclosed That which in earth-life thou canst comprehend. Then I will lead thee to the guardian Who on the spirit-threshold keeps his watch. FELIX BALDE: From circles which I know not issue words. Their sound awakes no being full of light And so they are not fully real to me. CAPESIUS: The hint which Philia hath given me Shall be my guide so that from this time forth In spirit too may be revealed what I Already as a man upon the earth, Can find within the circuit of my life. Curtain SCENE 14 The same. Hilary's wife in conversation with the Manager. HILARY'S WIFE: That fate itself doth not desire the deed Which yet my husband thinks imperative, Seems likely when one views the tangled threads This power doth weave to form the knot in life, Which holds us here in its compelling bonds. MANAGER: A knot of fate indeed, which truly seems Unable to be loosed by human sense-- And so, I take it, it must needs be cut. I see no other possibility Than that the strand which links thy husband's life To mine must now at last be cut in twain. HILARY'S WIFE: What! Part from thee!--My husband never will. 'Twould go against the spirit of the house Which by his own dear father was inspired And which the son will faithfully uphold. MANAGER: But hath he not already broken faith? The aims that Hilary hath now in view Can surely not be found along the road His father's spirit ever walked upon.