Art thou quite sure, Johannes, that this soul If it approached thee now would show itself Upon the same bright height whereon it stood In those old days just pictured 'fore thy soul? Perchance it now is chained a prisoner By feelings all unworthy of its past. Many a man now walks upon the Earth Who would be filled with shame, if he could see How little in his present mode of life Doth correspond with that which once he was. Perchance this man hath wallowed in the mire Of lust and passion, and thou saw'st him now Oppressed by consternation and remorse.
Maria, why dost thou suggest such words? I cannot see what leads thee so to speak. For thoughts have here quite other influence, Than in the places where that man hath lived.
Johannes, that which here within this place Reveals itself is proving of thy soul. Gaze on the groundwork of thy self, and see What thou, unknowing, willst and canst perform. All that was hidden in thine inmost depths While thou wert living with thy soul still blind.
Will now appear and rob thee of the dark In whose protection thou wast living then. So now perceive what human soul it is To whom thou dost bow down in ardent love, And who indwelt the body thou didst see. Perceive to whom thy strongest love is given.
Sink thyself deep in depths of thine own self; Perceive the strongest powers of thine own soul; And learn to know how this strong love of thine Can hold thee upright in the cosmic life.
Yea, now I feel the soul that wished to show Itself to me--'tis Theodora's self-- 'Twas she who wished to be revealed to me. She stood before me since 'tis her I'll see When I have gained an entrance through this gate. 'Tis right to love her, for her soul did stand Before me in that other body-form Which showed me how 'tis her that I must love. Through thee alone will I now find myself And win the future, fighting in thy strength.
I cannot keep thee back from what must be. In pictured form thou hast already seen The soul thou lovest best; her shalt thou see When thou hast crossed the threshold of this realm. Perceive, and let experience decide If it shall prove so healing as thou dream'st.
Ah, heed thou not the guardian strict Who leadeth thee to wastes of life And robs thee of thy warmth of soul; He can but see the spirit-forms, And knoweth naught of human woe Which souls can only then endure When earthly love doth guard them safe From chilling cosmic space. Strictness to him belongs, From him doth kindness flee, And power to wish He hath abhorred Since first the Earth began.