And when three times three hundred sixty weeks Had passed, the boy had long become a man, And left home, parents, and his woodland nook To live in some strange city. There one eve He sat and thought, tired with the day's hard toil, Musing on what life held in store for him, When suddenly he felt himself caught up And set again beside that rock-bound spring; The women three, he there beheld once more, And this time clearly he could hear them speak. These were the words the first one spake to him: 'Think of me always whensoe'er thou art O'ercome by loneliness, for I am she Who lures the inner vision of mankind To starry realms and heavenly distances. And whosoever wills to feel my sway To him I give a draught of life and hope Out of the magic goblet which I hold.' The second also spake these words to him: 'Forget me not at times when thou art nigh To losing courage on life's battlefield. I lead men's yearning hearts to depths of soul And also up to lofty spirit-heights. And whosoever seeks his powers from me, For him I forge unwavering faith in life Shaped by the magic hammer which I wield.' The third one gave her message in these words: 'Lift up thy spirit's eye to gaze on me When by life's riddles thou art overwhelmed. 'Tis I who spin the threads of thought that lead Through labyrinths of life and depths of soul. And whosoever puts his trust in me For him I weave the rays of living love Upon this magic loom at which I sit.' Thus it befell the man, and in the night That followed on his vision he did dream, How that a dragon wild in circles crept Round him, but was not able to draw near. He was protected from that dragon's claws By those same beings whom he saw of old Seated beside the spring among the rocks, Who had gone with him, when he left his home, To guard him in his strange environment. CAPESIUS: Accept my thanks, dear dame, before I go, For this rich treasure thou hast given me. (Stands up and departs; Felix and Dame Felicia go into the house.) CAPESIUS (alone and at some distance): I feel the health that such a picture brings Into my soul, and how to all my thoughts It can restore the forces they had lost. Simple the tale unfolded by the dame, And yet it rouseth powers of thought in me That carry me away to worlds unknown.... Therefore will I in this fair solitude Myself to dreams abandon, which so oft Have sought to usher thoughts into my soul, Thoughts which have proved themselves of higher worth Than many a fruit of weeks of close research. (He disappears behind some thick bushes. Enter Johannes, sunk in deep thought.) JOHANNES TO HIMSELF: