Rather should we be silent as to goal. That we shall find if we courageously Obey the impulse of our inner self, Which speaks thus to me: 'Let Truth be thy guide; May it unfold strong powers within thyself And mould them with the noblest fashioning In all that thou shalt do; then must thy steps Attain their destined goal, nor go astray.' STRADER: Yet from the outset it were best our steps Should not lack consciousness of their true goal, If we would be of service unto men And give them happiness. He, who would serve Himself alone, doth follow his own heart; But he, who wills to serve his neighbour best, Must surely know his life's necessities. (The Other Maria, also in soul-form, emerges from the rocks, covered with precious stones.) But see! What wondrous being's this? It seems As though the rock itself did give it birth. From what world-depths do such strange forms arise? THE OTHER MARIA: I wrest my way through solid rock, and fain Would clothe in human speech its very will; I sense earth's essence and with human brains I fain would think the thoughts of Earth herself. I breathe the purest airs of life, and shape The powers of air to feel as doth mankind. STRADER: Then thou canst not assist us in our quest. For far aloft from men's endeavour stands All that which must abide in nature's realm. CAPESIUS: Lady, I like thy words, and I would fain Translate thy form of speech into mine own. THE OTHER MARIA: Most strange doth seem to me your proud discourse. For, when ye speak yourselves, unto mine ear Your words do sound incomprehensible. But if I let them echo in my heart And issue in new form, they spread abroad O'er all that lives in mine environment And solve for me its hidden mystery. CAPESIUS: If this, thy speech, be true, then change for us Into thy speech, that nature may respond, The question of the true worth of our lives. For we ourselves lack power to question thus Great mother nature that we may be heard. THE OTHER MARIA: In me ye only see an humble maid Of that high spirit-being, which doth dwell In that domain whence ye have just now come. There hath been given me this field of work That here in lowliness I may show forth Her mirrored image unto mortal sense. CAPESIUS: So then we have just fled from that domain Wherein our longing could have been assuaged? THE OTHER MARIA: And if ye do not find again the way, Your efforts shall be fruitless evermore. CAPESIUS: Then tell which way will lead us back again. THE OTHER MARIA: