Four Mystery Plays

by Rudolf Steiner

Scene 12

The same. Johannes and Lucifer.

Lucifer:

Take warning by Capesius’ fate and learn

What fruits are ripened when a soul attempts

To penetrate too soon the spirit-world.

He knows the words writ in his book of life

And knows his tasks for many lives to come.

But suffering not ordained by destiny

Is wrought by knowledge which hath not the power

To change itself to deeds in earthly life.

The choice that to successful issue leads

Depends upon the ripeness of the will.

At every step that he would take in life

Henceforth Capesius must ask himself:

Can all my obligations thus be met

Which are the outgrowth of my former lives?

So o’er his path a dazzling light is shed,

Causing his eyes to suffer from the glare

And giving him no help upon his way.

It kills the forces which, whilst still unknown,

Are trusty guides for every human soul,

And doth not aid the power of careful thought.

Thus it can only hurt the body’s strength

Before the soul hath learned to conquer it.

Johannes:

I can perceive the error of my life.

I stole the soul-powers from my carnal frame

And proudly carried them to spirit-heights.

Yet it was not a human being whole

That thus was carried upward to the light.

Nought was it but the shadow of a soul,

Which could but rhapsodize of spirit-realms

And feel a oneness with creative powers;

It wished to live all blissful in the light

And deeds of light in colour to behold;

It fancied that as artist it could paint

Spirit-existence in a world of sense.

This form that took its semblance from mine own

Hath shown to me myself with cruel truth.

I dreamed of soul-love, pure and free from stain,

Whilst passion yet was coursing through my veins.

But now mine eyes have seen the earthly road

Which is the real creative force in life.

And shows me whither I must truly strive.

Those spirit-pathways which of late I trod

Cannot be followed far by such a soul

As just before its present life on earth

In Thomas’s body found a fitting home.

The fashion of his life must be for me

The rule by which to seek my present goal.

I’ve striven for attainment here and now

Of things that only later can bear fruit.

Lucifer:

My light must serve to guide thy further steps

As it hath done to guide them hitherto.

The spirit-path which thou hast sought to tread

Can wed the spirit to the lofty heights,

But to thy soul it bringeth nought but gloom.

Johannes:

What hath a man attained who gives himself

A soul-less puppet to the spirit-world?

E’en at the end of all his earthly days

He is but that same being which he was,

When in earth’s primal days his human form

From out the cosmic womb did first emerge.

If to those impulses I yield myself

Which, springing from unfathomed depths of soul,

Clamour imperiously for life and form,

Then in me works the universal all.

I know not then what drives me on to act;

But surely it must be the cosmic will

Which leads me on to its appointed goal.

This will must know the wherefore of man’s life

Though human knowledge cannot make it plain.

That which in perfect manhood it creates

Is vital wealth wherewith to form the soul.

To it will I surrender, and no more

By idle spirit-striving kill it out.

Lucifer:

Myself I work in this same cosmic will

When it flows mightily through human souls,

Which are but limbs of higher entities

Until they can experience my power.

And ’tis my task to make them perfect men

And fit themselves into the universe.

Johannes:

I long have thought I knew the whole of thee;

Yet dwelt within me but thy phantom shade

Portrayed there by my visionary dreams.

Now must I feel thee, live thee by my will;

Then can I overcome thee later on

If so ’tis written in my destiny.

Let spirit-knowledge, that I gained too soon,

Repose henceforth within mine inmost soul

Till impulses in life shall call it forth.

With confidence I yield me to that will

That hath more wisdom than the human soul.

(Exit Johannes with Lucifer.)

Curtain