Thomasius and Strader will henceforth United with thyself accomplish much That best may serve to further human health. They have prepared the soul-powers which are theirs With such intent since first the Earth began That they can join to form a trinity With thine own spirit in the cosmic course.
So I must thank my fate's unbending powers Which seemed at first incomprehensible, That when the rightful moment came at last My life's aim suddenly revealed itself.
How wonderfully hast thou led me on: It seemed at first as if I strove in vain To enter with my spirit consciously Into those worlds which by thy words are placed So thoughtfully before the souls of men. For many years I could find nought but thoughts When in thy writings I absorbed myself. And then, quite suddenly, around me flowed The spirit-world in its reality; I scarce knew how to find myself aright Within my former more accustomed world.
That would have hid the spirit-life from thee For ever by its strong effective power Unless the stronger forces of this life Had first reduced it to a shadow dim. And so thou too, with thy full spirit-sight Must on that threshold learn to know thyself, Where others first can gain their spirit-sight.
(During the last words Strader walks up to Capesius and the three go away together: after a short time Benedictus returns with Strader.)
It gave deep pain, within mine inmost self And weighed with heavy pressure on my soul When on awaking to myself I found I was again within my body pent From which thy words had given me release. My deadened soul-life first tormented me On my return, yet 'twas not only pain; For it brought forth in me the memory Of all I lived through ere I saw with dread What I could learn from Ahriman himself, That every thought must cease its progress there. I had to ask myself why I was set By Benedictus' word within this realm Where souls alone are taken into count And only those are valued which can help Toward the objects, which that power desires To make his own through deeds that I have done. He, in his wisdom, wanted to select Twelve helpers from the number of mankind.
Yet 'tis well known to thee why all these souls, Which Ahriman showed forth, drew near to thee, When he would force himself upon their fates.