She saith illusion ... ... yet 'tis passing fair. It lives; Johannes feels it in himself, He feels Maria's nearness in him too. Johannes will not know how spirit works To solve the riddles of the soul's dark depths. He will create and will as artists work. So may that part of him still lie concealed, Which consciously would gaze on cosmic heights.
(Capesius rises from his seat; as it were arousing himself out of deep thought.)
Did I not clearly feel within my soul That which Johannes, dreaming over there, Wrought as the pictures of his longing heart? Within me glowed to life thoughts not mine own-- Such as he only could originate. The being of his soul lived in mine own, I saw him younger grown, as he beheld Himself through vain illusion, and did mock The ripe fruits that his spirit had achieved.
But hold! Why do I now experience this? For seldom may the spirit-searcher see The being in himself of other souls.
I mind, that Benedictus often said That only he--and only for a while-- Can do this, whose good destiny ordains That he shall be upraised one further step Upon the spirit path. May I thus read The meaning of what happened even now? Seldom indeed could this thing be allowed; For 'twould be terrible if aye the seer Could see the inner being of men's souls.
Did I see truly?--or could it have been Illusion let me dream another's soul? I must enquire from Johannes himself.
(Capesius approaches Johannes, who now notices him for the first time.)
Yet my soul felt itself quite near to thine.
Why dost thou shudder at these words of mine?
(At this moment Maria joins them; this enables both Johannes and Capesius to speak their next words to themselves.)
... how his steady glance Doth pierce me to mine inmost depths of soul.
Maria, thou dost come in fitting time. Perhaps thy tongue may speak some word of cheer. To solve the problem which oppresseth me.
I thought to find Johannes here, not thee. Foreboding bade me seek the problem's weight In him--but thou, I fancied, wast content, Devoted to that glorious enterprise Which we are offered here by Hilary.
Disturbs thee? Didst thou not express delight To think thy projects might be realized?
What I have lived through in this fateful hour Hath changed the former purpose of my soul, Since all activity in work on earth Must rob me of my new clairvoyant powers.