And yet one single moment proves to me
That e’en the highest wisdom’s words may be
But vanity of soul in man’s own self.
Curtain
Scene 2
In the open. Rocks and springs. The entire scene is to be thought of as taking place in the soul of Johannes Thomasius. What follows is the content of his meditation.
(There sounds from the springs and rocks:)
Know thou thyself, O man.