THOMASIUS (as one who perceives some spiritual being):
Maria, dost thou see, clad in long cloak That dignified old man, his solemn face, His noble brow, the flashing of his glance? He passeth through the streets, 'mid crowds of men Yet each doth step aside in reverence That yon old man may go his way in peace, And lest his train of thought be rudely stirred. For one can see that, wrapped within himself He meditates with powerful inmost thought. Maria, dost thou see?
Yea, I can see, When through the eyes of thine own soul I look. But 'tis to thee alone that he would now Reveal himself in scenes significant.
I now can see into his very soul, Things full of meaning lie within its depths And memory of something he's just heard. Before his eyes there stands a teacher wise. He lets the words which he hath heard from him Pass through his soul; it is from him he comes. His thinking scans the very source of life; As once mankind in olden times on Earth Might stand quite near and view the spirit-scenes, Although their soul-life was but like a dream; The old man's soul doth trace that line of thought Which from his honoured teacher he hath learned. And now he disappears from my soul's sight; Ah, if I could but watch his further steps. I see men speaking with each other now Among the crowd; and I can hear their words. They speak of that old man with reverence deep. In his young days he was a soldier brave; Ambition, and desire to be renowned Were burning in his soul; he wished to count As foremost warrior within his ranks. In battle's service he did perpetrate Unnumbered gruesome deeds through thirst for fame. And in his life full many a time it chanced He caused much blood to flow upon the earth. At last there came a day when suddenly The luck of battle turned its back on him. He left the battlefield in bitter shame To enter his own home, a man disgraced; Scorn and derision were his lot in life, And from that time wild hatred filled his soul Which had not lost its pride and love of fame. He looked upon his boon-companions now Only as enemies to be destroyed As soon as opportunity occurred. But since the man's proud soul was soon compelled To recognize that vengeance on his foes Would not be possible for him in life, He learned the victory o'er his own self And vanquished all his pride and love of fame. He even made resolve in his old age A circle small of pupils to attend Which had arisen then within his town. The man who was the teacher of this band Was in his soul possessed of all the lore Which by the masters in much older days Had been delivered to initiates-- All this I hear from men within the crowd. It fills me with warm love when I behold With my soul's sight, this agèd man, who thus After the victories which love of fame Had won for him could even then achieve The greatest human task--to conquer self-- Therefore do I perceive within this place The man to whom I wholly give myself, Although I see him but in pictured form. This feeling howsoe'er it comes to me Is not a moment's work. Through lives long past I must have been in closest union joined Unto a soul I love as I love him. I have not in this moment roused in me A love so strong as that which now I feel; It is a recollection from past times; Nor can I grasp it with my thought as yet,-- Though memory calls these feelings back to me. Surely I once was pupil of this man And full of awe and wonder gazed on him? Oh, how I long once more in this same hour To meet the earthly soul which formerly Could speak about this body as its own, No matter if on Earth or otherwhere. Then would I prove the strength with which I love; What noble human ties did once create This can good powers alone renew in me.
