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      If we believe that in no way at all

      Our teaching is our own;—but that alone

      The spirit shows itself within our souls—

      Then may we surely venture to assert

      That in thy mode of thinking may be found

      But feeble shadows waving to and fro

      Athwart the real true source of human life:

      And that the spirit, which ensouls our work

      Is linked in inward harmony with all

      That weaves the web of destiny for man

      Deep in the very fundaments of life.

      I have been privileged for many years

      To give myself to vital work in life:

      And during all this time more bleeding hearts

      And yearning souls have come before mine eyes,

      Than many would conceive were possible.

      I do esteem thy high ideal flight,

      The proud assurance of thy sciences:

      I like to see the student-audience,

      Respectful, sit and listen at thy feet:

      And that to many souls thy work doth bring

      Ennobling clarity of thought, I know.

      But yet regarding thought like this, it seems,

      Trustworthiness can only dwell therein

      So long as thought lives in itself alone.

      Whereas the realm of which I am a part

      Sends into deep realities of life

      The fruitage of its words, since it desires

      To plant in deep realities its roots.

      Far, far away from all thy thought doth lie

      The written word upon the spirit-heaven

      Which with momentous tokens doth announce

      New growth upon the tree of humankind.

      And though indeed such thought seems clear and sure

      As follows faithfully the ancient path,

      Yet can it only touch the tree’s coarse bark,

      And never reach the marrow’s living power.

      Romanus:

      For my part I do seek in vain the bridge

      That truly leadeth from ideas to deeds.

      Capesius:

      On one side thou dost over-estimate

      The power which can be wielded by ideas,

      And on the other thou dost fail to grasp

      The actual course of true reality:

      For it is certain that ideas must form

      The germ of all the actual deeds of men.

      Romanus:

      If this friend doth so many deeds of good,

      The impulse thereunto lies in herself

      And her warm-hearted nature, not in thought.

      Most certainly ’tis necessary for man,

      Whene’er he hath accomplished any work,

      To find foundation for it in ideas.

      But yet ’tis only schooling of man’s will

      In harmony with all his skill and power

      To undertake some real work in life

      Which will help forward all the human race.

      When whirr of busy wheels sounds in mine ears,

      Or when I see some creaking windlass drawn

      By strong stout hands of men content to work,

      Then do I sense indeed the powers of Life.

      Germanus:

      Often in careless speech have I maintained

      That I preferred things droll and humorous

      And held these only full of wit and charm,

      Deeming that for my brain at any rate,

      They always would provide material

      Best fitted to fill up the time that lies

      Between my recreation and my work.

      But now quite tasteless to me seem such things;

      The Power Invisible hath conquered me;

      And I have learned to feel that there may be

      More powerful forces in humanity,

      Than all our wit’s frail castles in the air.

      Capesius:

      And did it seem that nowhere else but here

      ’Twas possible to find such spirit-powers?

      Germanus:

      Indeed the life I lived did offer me

      Full many a type of intellectual works:

      Yet cared I not to pluck or taste their fruit.

      But this strange mode of thought which blossoms here

      Seemed to attract and draw me to itself

      However little I desired to come.

      Capesius:

      Most pleasant hath this hour of converse been,

      And we are debtors to our hostess here.

      (Exeunt all, except Maria and Johannes.)

      Johannes:

      Oh, stay a little while yet by my side,

      I am afraid:—so desperately afraid:—

      Maria:

      What is it aileth thee, my friend? Speak forth.

      Johannes:

      The first cause was our leader’s speech; and then

      The chequered converse of these people here.

      It all hath moved and stirred me through and through.

      Maria:

      But how could simple speeches such as these

      Seize on thine heart with such intensity?

      Johannes:

      Each word seemed in that moment unto me

      A dreadful symbol of our nothingness.

      Maria:

      Indeed it was significant to see

      Pour forth in such short time so many kinds

      Of life and man’s conflicting tendencies,

      In all the speeches that we lately heard.

      Yet ’tis indeed a most peculiar trait

      Of life, as it is lived amongst us here,

      To bring to speech the inner mind of man;

      And much that otherwise comes slowly forth,

      Stands here

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