And if it were; why then shouldst thou not seek? Go forth into the deep to find it there....
A being here, who hears the speech of souls?
Souls are not here divided each from each As when within the body they are pent. Here each soul hears itself in other's speech. So dost thou only speak unto thyself When I say: 'Seek thine answer in the deep.'
Ah, in the deep there threatens darksome ... fear.
Yea truly, fear is there: but ask thyself, As thou hast forced thy way within her realm If she doth not reveal herself to thee. Ask Lucifer, before whom thou dost stand If on thy weakness he is pouring fear.
Who flees from me will love me all the same. Children of Earth have loved me from the first And only think that hatred is my due. So do they ever seek me in my deeds. If I had not as ornament to life Sent beauty to their souls, they would long since Have pined away in truth's cold empty forms Throughout the long dull progress of the Earth. 'Tis I who fill the artist's soul with power And whatsoe'er of beauty men have seen Hath had its prototype within my realm-- Now ask thyself, if thou shouldst fear me still.
In these domains which Lucifer commands Fear hath not verily her proper place. From hence he must send forth into men's souls Not fear, but wishes, as his gifts to men. Fear comes from quite another realm of power.
At birth I was the equal of the gods, Who have curtailed my many ancient rights. I wished in such a way to fashion men For Lucifer, my brother, and his realm, That each should bear his own world in himself. For Lucifer as peer amongst his peers Would only show himself in spirit-realms. In others he but shows his pictured form And so could never be a lord of men. I wished to give unto mankind such strength That they might grow to equal Lucifer. And had I stayed within the realm of gods This too had been in primal days fulfilled. The gods however willed to rule on Earth, And from their kingdom they did one day thrust My power into the depths of the abyss, So that I might not make mankind too strong. And thus 'tis only from this place I dare Send out my powerful strength upon the Earth. But in this way my power turns into FEAR.
(As Ahriman finishes speaking, Benedictus appears.)