The fruits of work of spirit-entities Have been implanted in the human soul, And whoso leaves the spirit seed to lie Unheeded and decay, he brings to nought The work divine committed unto man. Thus do I recognize life's highest task; Yet when I try to take one single step Across the threshold that I dare not shun, I feel my strength desert me, which of yore Did pride itself on elevated thought, And sought the goals of life in time and space. Once did I reckon it an easy thing To set the brain in action and to grasp The nature of reality by thought. But now, when I would search the fount of life And comprehend it as in truth it is, My thought appears as some blunt instrument; I have no power, no matter how I strive, To form a clear thought-image from the words Of Benedictus, though his earnest speech, Should now direct me to the spirit's path. (Resuming his reading.) 'In silence sound the depths of thine own soul, And ever let strong courage be thy guide. Thy former ways of thinking cast away What time thou dost withdraw into thyself; For only when thine own light is put out Will spirit-radiance show itself to thee.' (Resuming his soliloquy.) It seems as though I could not draw my breath When I attempt to understand these words. And ere I feel the thoughts that I must think, Fear and misgiving have beset my soul. It is borne in on me that everything Which hitherto was my environment Is crumbling into ruin, and therewith I too am crumbling into nothingness. An hundred times at least have I perused The words which follow, and each several time Darkness enfolds me deeper than before. (Resuming his reading.) 'Within thy thinking cosmic thought doth live, Within thy feeling cosmic forces play, Within thy will do cosmic beings work; Abandon thou thyself to cosmic thought, Experience thyself through cosmic force, Create thyself anew from cosmic will. End not at last in cosmic distances By fantasies of dreamy thought beguiled. Do thou begin in farthest spirit-realms And end in the recesses of thy soul. The plan divine then shalt thou recognize When thou hast realized thy Self in thee.' (Becomes entranced by a vision, then comes to himself and speaks.) What was this? (Three Figures, representing soul-forces, float round him.) LUNA: Abundant power is thine For lofty spirit-flight; Its sure foundation rests Upon the human will. Its temper hath been tried By sure and certain hope. It hath grown strong as steel By sight of future times. Thou dost but courage lack To pour into thy will Thy confidence in life. Into the vast Unknown Dare but to venture forth! ASTRID: