I felt myself from bonds of sense released: My sight was freed from that close barrier, Which hid all but the present from mine eyes. Quite otherwise I viewed the life of one I knew on earth, and looked beyond the space Bound by the present moment's narrow ring. Capesius, who in his older years Hath but employed the sight of sense--this man The spirit placed before my soul a youth, As first he entered on life's thorny path Full of those dreams of hope, which ofttimes brought A group of faithful hearers to his feet. And Strader, also could I see e'en thus As he appeared in earthly life when young, E'er he had full outgrown his cloistered youth: And I could see what he might once have been, If he had followed out in that same way The goal he set before himself of old. And only those who in their earthly life Are filled already with the spirit's power Appear unchanged within the spirit-realms. Both Dame Felicia and good Felix too Had kept the forms in which they lived on earth, When I beheld them with my spirit's sight. And then my guides showed kindness unto me, And spake of gifts which shall one day be mine When I can reach to wisdom's lofty heights. And many things besides have I beheld With spirit-organs which sense-sight at first Had shown to me in its own narrow way. For judgment's all-illuminating light Irradiated this new world of mine. But whether I lived in some shadowy dream, Or whether spirit-truth surrounded me Already, I could not as yet decide. Whether my spirit-sight was really stirred By other things, or whether mine own self Expanded into some world of its own, I knew not. Then didst thou appear thyself; Not as thou seemest at the present time, Nor as the past beheld thee; nay--I saw Thee as thou art in spirit evermore. Not human was thy nature: in thy soul Clear could I recognize the spirit-light, Which worked not as man clothed in flesh doth work. As spirit did it act, that strives to do Such work as in eternity hath root. And only now, when I dare stand complete In spirit nigh thee, doth the full light glow. In thee my sight of sense already grasped Reality so fast, that certainty Doth meet me even here in spirit-realms; And well I know that now before me stands No phantom shape. 'Tis thy true character In which I met thee yonder, and in which 'Tis now permitted me to meet thee here. THEODORA: