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space of time.

      Johannes:

      A mirrored picture ’twas of fullest life

      That showed me to myself in clearest lines:

      This spirit-revelation makes me feel

      That most of us protect and train one trait

      And one alone in all our character,

      Which thus persuades itself it is the whole.

      I sought to unify these many traits

      In mine own self and boldly trod the path

      Which here is shown, to lead unto that goal;

      And it hath made of me a nothingness.

      Keenly I feel what all these others lack,

      And yet I sense as keenly that they all

      Have actual part in life itself, whilst I

      Stand but on unsubstantial nothingness.

      It seemed whole lines of life ran into one

      Significant in those brief speeches here.

      But then mine own life’s portrait also rose

      And stood forth vividly within my soul.

      The days of childhood first were painted there,

      With all its fulness and its joy in life:

      Then came the picture of my youthful prime

      With that proud hopefulness in parent-hearts

      Awakened by the talents of their son.

      Then dreams concerning my career in art,

      Which formed life’s all in those old happy days,

      Surged up from out my spirit’s inmost depths

      Exhorting to fulfil my cherished hopes;

      And then those dreams in which thyself didst see

      How I translated into coloured form

      The spirit-life that liveth in thy soul.

      Then saw I tongues of fire spring up and lick

      Around my youthful dreams and artist hopes,

      Reducing all to dust and nothingness.

      Thereafter rose another pictured form

      From out that drear and dreadful nothingness—

      A human form, which once had linked its fate

      In faithful love with mine in days long past.

      She sought to hold me by her when I turned

      Long years ago unto my home again,

      Called to attend my mother’s funeral rites.

      I heeded not, but tore myself away.

      For mighty was the power that drew me here

      To this thy circle and the goals of life

      Which here are set before our eager gaze.

      In those dark days I felt no sense of guilt

      When I did rend in twain the bond of love,

      That was unto another soul its life.

      Nor later when the message came to me

      How that her life did slowly pine away,

      And finally was altogether quenched

      Did I feel aught of guilt until today;

      But full of meaning were those recent words

      In yonder chamber which our leader spake;

      How that we may destroy by power misused

      And perverse thought the destiny of those

      Whom bonds of loving trust link to our souls.

      Ah, hideously these words again resound

      Out of the picture, thence re-echoing

      With ghastly repetition from all sides:

      ‘Her murderer thou art! her hast thou slain!’

      Thus whilst this weighty speech hath been for all

      The motive to probe deep within themselves,

      Within my heart it hath brought forth alone

      The consciousness of this most grievous guilt.

      By this new means of sight I can perceive

      How far astray my striving footsteps erred.

      Maria:

      And at this moment, friend, in dark domains

      Thou walkest, and none else can help thee there,

      Save he, in whom we all do put our trust.

      (Maria is called away; re-enter Helena.)

      Helena:

      I feel constrained to linger by thy side

      A little while; since now for many weeks

      Thy gaze hath held so much of grief and care.

      How can the light, which streams so radiantly

      Bring gloom unto thy soul, which only strives

      With utmost strength to seek and know the truth?

      Johannes:

      Hath then this light brought naught but joy to thee?

      Helena:

      Not the same joy as that which once I knew,

      But that new joy which springeth from those words,

      Through which the spirit doth reveal itself.

      Johannes:

      Natheless I tell thee that the self-same power,

      Which doth in thee create, can also crush.

      Helena:

      Some error must have crept into thy soul

      With cunning tread, if this be possible;

      And if dull care instead of happiness,

      And moods of sorrow flow forth from the source

      Of truth itself instead of spirit-bliss

      In free abundance: seek then in thyself

      The stumbling-blocks that thus impede thy way.

      How often are we told that only health

      Is the true fruitage of our teaching here,

      Which makes to blossom forth the powers of life.

      Shall it then show the contrary in thee?

      I see its fruitage in so many lives,

      Which, trusting me, find union in themselves.

      Their former mode of life grows day by day

      Strange and still stranger to such souls as these;

      As well-springs are fresh opened in their hearts,

      Thenceforth renewing life within themselves.

      To gaze into the primal depths of being

      Doth not create those passionate desires

      Which torture and torment the souls of men.

      (Exit.)

      Johannes:

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