Alone then filled my soul;--he gave me light, Yea, light, that gave to me the power of sight;-- It was the will that lived within the thought Wholly to give myself to spirit-life, To make me ready for the sacrifice Which would unto our leader draw me near. This thought did generate the highest power: It gave wings to my soul and wafted me Into that realm where thou hast found me now. In that same moment when I felt released From my sense body, I was free to turn My spirit's eye upon thee, and I saw Not only thee, Johannes, standing there; I saw the woman too, that followed me In ancient times; and had bound close to mine Her destiny. E'en thus was spirit-truth Revealed to me in spirit-realms through thee, Who in the world of sense already wast Made one with me in inmost consciousness. So did I gain this spirit-certainty And was endowed to give it unto thee. Sending a ray of highest, tenderest love To Benedictus, I went on before; And he hath given unto thee the power To follow me into the spirit-spheres. (Benedictus appears.) BENEDICTUS: Ye here have found yourselves in spirit-realms And so it is permitted unto me To stand once more beside you in these realms. I could confer the power that urged you here, But I could not conduct you here myself. Thus read the law, which I must needs obey:-- Ye must through your own selves first gain the eye Of spirit, which doth here make visible My spirit to you. Ye have just begun E'en now the path of spirit-pilgrimage. Henceforth indeed upon the plane of sense Endowed with novel powers shall ye both stand, And with the spirit in your hearts unsealed The cause of human progress shall ye serve, For Fate itself hath so united you, That ye together may unfold the powers Which needs must serve divine creative work. And as ye journey on the path of souls Wisdom herself will teach you that the heights May only be obtained by souls of men, Who have gained spirit-certainty, when they Unite in faith to do salvation's work. My spirit-guidance hath united you To realize each other: now do ye Unite yourselves to do the spirit's work. May powers that dwell within this realm confer On you through these my lips this Word of strength:-- 'The weaving essence of the light streams forth From man to man to fill all worlds with truth. The grace of love spreads warmth from soul to soul To work out bliss eternal for all worlds. And spirit-messengers come forth to wed Man's works of love and grace to cosmic aims. And when a man who dwells amongst mankind Can wed these twain, there doth stream forth on earth True spirit-light from his warm loving soul.' Curtain INTERLUDE