I can withdraw to deep retreats of soul And find delight in wide-flung spirit-worlds: I can be lost to all the world of sense And follow colour-wonders with mine eye And watch creative energies at work, If I am left with mine own soul alone. Whate'er may thus befall me I am not Thereby impelled to my creative art. But if I follow thee to cosmic heights, And in warm rapture live again what thou Already hast in spirit there beheld, Then in my spirit-sight I feel a fire Which burns on in me also, and whose flames Kindle the powers that drive me to my work. If my desire were simply to relate That which I can find out in higher worlds, Then with my soul I well might upward soar To spheres where spirit unto spirit speaks. But as an artist I must find that fire Which lights the picture and inflames the heart. And my soul cannot to my picture give The magic warmth that streams through human hearts, Till it can quench its thirst with spirit-truths Revealed from out the depths of thine own heart. How primal force by longing is condensed, How powers creative blaze with spirit-light, And, sensing even then their need of man, Display themselves as gods in earliest times, All this, my friend, thy soul in noble speech Hath often led me on to learn unseen. In hues ethereal of the spirit-world I sought to densify what hid from sight; And felt how colours longed to see themselves Mirrored as spirit in the souls of men. So doth my friend's soul speak as if 'twere mine Out of my pictures to the human heart. MARIA: Bethink, Johannes, how the One Soul must-- A personality apart from all-- Evolve from out the womb of time. Love serves to knit together separate souls Not kill their individuality. The moment is upon us, when we twain Must test our souls, and find the spirit-path That each must follow for its separate good. (Exit.) JOHANNES: What meant my friend? Her words did sound so strange. Maria, I must follow thee forthwith. (The three Spirit-Figures of the soul-powers appear with the Other Philia.) LUNA: Thou canst not find thyself Portrayed in other souls. The power of thine own self Must root in cosmic soil, If from the spirit-heights Thou wouldst indeed transplant Their beauty to earth's depths. Be bold to be thyself, That thou, strong souled, mayst give Thyself to cosmic powers--a willing sacrifice. ASTRID: In all thy ways on earth Thou must not lose thyself; Mankind doth not attain To sun-kissed distances If he would rob himself of personality. So then prepare thyself, Press on through earthly love To utmost depths of heart Which ripen cosmic love. THE OTHER PHILIA: