The Children of Lucifer Act I

Public square in Dionysia, a city in Asia Minor. In the background, a portico overlooking the courtyard of the Prytaneum. On the left, the entrance to the temple of Bacchus, shaded by sycamore trees. On the right, a Christian basilica with a towering cross. It is night.

Act I

Damis and Phrygius enter slowly, listening and as if trying to make out something in the darkness.

PHRYGIUS:
Are the Romans already approaching?

DAMIS:
I haven't seen anything yet!

PHRYGIUS:
Where are we?

DAMIS:
It's the Agora with the Prytaneum.
The place is so desolate and dark
As if even the empty space
Fears the light of day.

[Trumpet blasts in the distance]

PHRYGIUS:
The fanfare! Scene 2 Scene 3 Act 4 5th scene

DAMIS [startled]:
They come like thieves;
They approach before dawn.

PHRYGIUS:
The fanfare approaches,
[new, clear trumpet blast]
It sounds so dreadful
Through the pale gray of the morning

DAMIS:
Each of these sounds kills
A virtue in the cowardly sleepers.
The emperor's legions from Rome and Byzantium
Will be masters of the citadel,
And from the heights of the Acropolis
Caesar's fanfare will sound,
To announce the proconsul's entry.
The last breath
Of Dionysia's ancient proud freedom.

PHRYGIUS:
Such is the fate of the whole world,
To lie in the dust before the god of men,
Before Caesar of Rome, all cities.
Dyrapolis, my own hometown
Which chose the thunderous Zeus as its protector
And which, unapproachable, Was enthroned on proud mountain heights,
Once submitted to the city Which is your homeland. Tribute
In gold and men you had to
Pay us, the sons of the Galatians.
I still remember all this clearly,
I, who call myself the scion of ancient kings —
And today, even we, who have known only lightning and thunder
As masters since ancient times,
Since ancient times as lords.
It seems just, then, that Dionysia,
The city of softness,
Must bow before the lord of the world.

DAMIS:
Ah, without understanding you look
At my father's city — at everything
What is sublime, what is sad
The noble queen of Ionia
Experienced. She gave the thyrsus and the lyre
To the world. —
She once had to endure the chains
Forged for your ancestors. —
But freedom was given to her by the great Alexander,
As he was accompanied to the gates of India,
By Dionysius' joyful, young band of ephebes.
In his soul lived understanding
For the free nature of our god. —
We worship Dionysius, the spirit of God.
He was born to give
New life to the earth, after
Lightning had struck it in ruins.
The Titans tore him apart,
But in the light of heaven he awoke ...
Our God is not an eternally veiled, distant ruler— — —
He is a spirit who suffers
And becomes like human souls.
The blood circulates and lives
In our hearts, our limbs,
And with the blood in us
The God.
And our souls are
The tears of his eyes, they are
Immortal, because wept by him!
And the image of his blessed being
Is our city, whether happy,
Whether serious fate also befell it;
It ignites with the fire
Of the heart — the whole world, like love
Chaos' lust for creation inflamed. — —
To create kings born is not given
To it. — Nor does the light of the wise
Shine in its midst, — —
But from the joy and pleasure of the day
The poet's inspiration arises in it. —
Enthusiasm rises to prophetic power
And from misery its heroes blossom.
To the highest honor — know this —
It serves as a noble asset to the place —
The altar, entwined with floral decorations,
Is erected to the highest spirit of mankind,
“The last-born of the tribe of gods.”
And when misfortune strikes
In its excess, we do not lose
The hope that gods
Will reveal themselves and heroes will arise!
And joyfully boys,
athletes, and maidens approached the altar
of the god, offering weapons, torches,
and curly hair as first fruits. —
Dionysia, it is rightly called:
the home of hope and the refuge of longing. —

[Dawn breaks]

PHRYGIUS:
And henceforth the emperor's image
Is the altar's highest adornment?

DAMIS [lowers his head and arms]:
I feel the shame!

PHRYGIUS:
Do you now recognize in Caesar's power and in the force of fate
the only god of the world?

The same characters, Lycophron, a stooped old man wrapped in rags, slowly approaches the speaker. In his trembling hand he carries a small lantern made of bronze and horn plates on a chain, which gives off a dim light.

PHRYGIUS:
The old man, who is he?
Indeed! One might take him
Charon, who keeps watch in Hades.

DAMIS: He is a wise man, though unattractive,
And his name is Lycophron. He must answer to us.

PHRYGIUS:
What are you doing?

LYKOPHRON:
I am going to the guardian of the cemetery.

PHRYGIUS:
What are you looking for with that lantern?
The one you carry like Diogenes?

LYCOPHRON:
In the wide circle of the dead city
I want to find a soul of which
One can rightly say: It lives.

PHRYGIUS:
Have you not yet encountered anyone?

LYKOPHRON:
I have not found one, not here
Nor in other places,
Wherever I could direct my steps.
You are but shadows and larvae,
Devoid of life and will,
Suitable only for the people of Hades!
But free men and for the pleasure
Of Apollo's sun, you are not!
The free man carries within him
His own light, so that it
Illuminates the goals of his life.
But you await a foreign impulse,
Which is supposed to drive the insubstantial soul
Like the shadow of other shadows
You carry in your hollow chest
Fear and vanity guide you, and not
The inherent powers of things guide your deeds.
O cast off the deception of your masks,
That the hidden nature of apes and sheep may become visible.

PHRYGIUS:
I hear only envy and impotence rumbling
Vile Thersites, show your own works,
Before you speak with scorn and derision
Of the noble sons of lofty ancestors,
You would see crowns of glory
Around their proud foreheads, if only
Better times had been their lot.

LYKOPHRON:
You inquire about my deeds?
Day and night I direct my steps
To every street corner, into the interiors of houses,
The hidden thoughts of men
I listen with my clairvoyant powers.
My gaze falls into the minds
Of old and young, rich and poor,
Tyrants and demagogues, I look
Into the innermost recesses of their brains.
Oh, everywhere I see only the same thing,
Only disgusting monsters lurking
In bare skulls, elaborate curls.
Men and women are seized with fear
When I appear to proclaim the truth.
Is there anyone among you who knows the courage of truth,
The strongest of his weapons?
Only he could compare himself to me.
The courage to face the truth gives one the full right
To walk in the light of the sun.

PHRYGIUS:
No one is worth such work!

LYKOPHRON: One can die of hunger in the process,
But the liars reap rich rewards of gold.
[mysteriously]
However, I have not yet revealed everything:
I search behind human thought,
The soul, which is often depicted as a wonderful maiden
With wings,
But I know a secret,
To see through the body's shell
The deepest foundations of the soul.

DAMIS:
Trust us with this secret! [curious]

LYKOPHRON:
Behold this magic lamp!
I hold it under the eye of man,
At the moment when they are unaware.
When its light enters the pupil,
Which dilates from the glow,
Then I become aware of their essence,
Astral body, as a shining shadow,
And these images reveal themselves as terrifying,
Never an Apollo, always a Marsyas!
No Bacchus — but fauns and satyrs
Oh, these animal faces of all kinds:
Hyenas, tigers, boars, goats, bulls,
And often even more terrifying!
It has now been almost a hundred years
Since I have been trying to see
The divine soul with golden wings,
[with disgust]
But only owls and bats
Appear to me through my magic lamp.

PHRYGIUS [laughing scornfully]:
You human with your witch's light, you have been
Paralyzed and filled with rage by the hunt!

DAMIS [curious].
O what soul you have
Have you discovered within us?

LYKOPHRON [slowly brings his lantern closer to Damis's eyes and looks at them tenderly]:
In you I see a doll
Like a white butterfly.
It has delicate colors inside
And pretty wings. It wants to fly,
But it cannot. It sits
Trapped in your body, and if
It wants to move freely, beware,
Lest the next gust
Of wind bring about its demise.

PHRYGIUS:
And how does mine appear?

LYKOPHRON [suddenly shoves the lantern under his nose];
By Hades! A black caterpillar
With a black spiny coat! Like poison
Is what comes from it„ A thick moth,
Like those that populate the night, bearing a skull.
[He turns away in horror.]

PHRYGIUS:
Away, a moth for the night,
It is you yourself! You smell
Of graveyards and dives.
Go about your work, you old monster!

LYCOPHRON [without listening to him, slowly exits, lost in thought]:
When will I finally find you,
O soul with true life?

PHRYGIUS [shrugging his shoulders]:
He is out of his mind!

DAMIS:
He is a seer!

Damis, Phrygius, the proconsul's herald. The Roman fanfare sounds very close by, in the garden of the Prytaneum. Hearing these sounds, a crowd gathers. The proconsul's herald appears in the portico accompanied by three lictors carrying bundles and axes. It is broad daylight.

DAMIS:
The herald of the proconsul! Listen. [Fanfare]

THE HERALD:
Augustus Caesar, ruler of Rome,
lord of many peoples, imperator of armies,
The great Constantine, to the glorious city
Of Dionysius sends salvation and blessings!
The protector of the Hellenes and the Christians,
Will also be the protector in the future
Of the ancient city of Bacchus,
With all its churches, temples, and houses.
Caesar's legion will occupy the citadel
Occupy the citadel; therefore he commands Androcles
In the emperor's name, to surrender
The gates of the city, as well as the banners of the phratries.
It will be, the emperor's representative
Led by Androkles, will ascend to the Acropolis,
He must carry the fire from the Prytaneum
To the altar of the last of the divine lineage
Where now the emperor's portrait stands.
Swing your thyrses and scatter flowers,
Children of Dionysus.
The great Caesar, conqueror of the world
You will soon see him yourself within your walls;
For he will come to celebrate his wedding to the Queen of Ionia
Under the holy protection of Christ.
He will bring you dance and games
And wild animals, and gladiators!
The almighty Caesar, at Dionysia; Hail!

[The people shout: “Hail Caesar!” The herald and the lictors disappear into the courtyard of the Prytaneum.]

PHRYGIUS:
So thus you surrender to Harpalus
The gates of the city with all its rights
And even the sacred fire of Vesta
And Androcles himself, the head
Of the proud phalanx of Dionysia
Commits this undignified act!

DAMIS:
No one should doubt that Androcles
Holds the heart of a lion in the body of an athlete.
The Senate calls upon the emperor,
And our people cheer him on
He can therefore do nothing
But commit the betrayal, gnashing his teeth.

PHRYGIUS:
Standing in his place
I would rather endure death than such disgrace.
[The fanfare is heard again and muffled cries of “Hail Caesar!” can be heard in the distance.]

DAMIS:
Oh, hear the cries!
What can be done with such a people?
[Bells ring out in the basilica.]

PHRYG/us:
The bells are already ringing.
It is the Christians' greeting to Caesar,
They want him to protect their faith.

DAMIS:
It is your death knell, father city.
In my heart, it is as if I feel
Dionysius' last sigh.
[He lowers his head and then suddenly rises.]
And yet, you lived, you spoke to me,
Through the mouth of my only friend,
Who was the sun of my youth,
And who seems lost to me forever.—
[He covers his face with his hands.]

Damis, Phrygius, Theokies, in a purple tunic, black cloak, with a cypress wreath on his head, a short sword decorated with myrtle on his belt. He has approached unnoticed and places his hand on Damis' shoulder.

DAMIS [turning around].
Theokles, I was just thinking of you.
It is no illusion: you are alive, you are breathing?
O, brother of my soul, more mature than I am,
I have no other friend like you.
At first glance,
your whole being appears to me anew.

THEOCLES:
So it is for me to find you again.
O, holy is the friendship of noble men,
And their loyalty is a refreshment to this earth!

DAMIS:
You were far from me for seven years,
So long I had no news of you.
Do you still remember the days of youth,
When our souls sought errantly
In the realms of the high Muses?
You were twenty-five years old,
I myself had just turned sixteen.
Adorned with flowers, we hurried
Early in the morning to the grove of Daphnis,
Where the elm rustles beside the plane tree.
Do you still remember the golden days,
When we immersed ourselves in Plato,
Feeling what was right, true, and beautiful.
Like gifts from goddesses
Pouring into our devout souls?
Do you still remember those days?

THEOKLES:
Too many storms have raged since those days
Have ravaged my heart
And driven out the pure radiance of youth.

DAMIS:
Oh, have you forgotten me?

THEOKLES:
You shouldn't interpret it that way!
In search of the deepest truth
I wandered through all worlds,
Where I found two stern goddesses:
Loneliness and silence.
One built a wall around my heart
And the other sealed
My mouth shut.

DAMIS:
Has the goal of truth blossomed for you?

THEOKLES [gloomy]:
For moments, the goddess shines for me
In my own self.
But I do not know the hour
When I can bring her to the world.

PHRYGIUS:
Do you remember me too?

THEOKLES:
I still know you, Phrygius.

PHRYGIUS:
We were rivals in high school.

THEOKLES:
In friendly competition
We stood together.

PHRYGIUS:
We were found to be of equal value.
So you suggested
That we should become friends.

THEOKLES:
We went to war,
Which broke out with the Parthians,
Who were allied with the Pamphylians.

PHRYGIUS:
I wanted to win a crown
In that battle.

THEOKLES:
To break the chains of thought
Was my soul's endeavor.

PHRYGIUS [ironically]:
None of us has achieved his goal.

DAMIS:
But what significance does this have?
I see you in a black cloak
And your forehead crowned with cypress —
Has a relative of yours died?

THEOKLES:
Long dead are
The people to whom I am related,

DAMIS:
Then for whom is this mourning?

THEOKLES:
For the wishes that remained unfulfilled.
For my own soul, which cannot bear
The burden of the world, and not least
For the pursuit of truth,
Which remains forever veiled.

DAMIS:
If this were a reason for mourning,
Then it would apply to all people,

THEOKLES:
The hope of their souls
Has been destroyed by the pursuit of pleasure.
So I must mourn for them too,
For this city that bears the chains of slavery.
And for the world that sighs in bonds,
Forged from common sense and hatred.

PHRYGIUS:
And yet you wanted to see
The peoples in the wide circle of the earth?

THEOKLES:
I have seen Athens and Rome,
Also Thebes, Babylon, and Alexandria.
But all the temples are silent,
The gods are dead, the souls are empty.
And before the idols, made of gold and ore,
Which they themselves fashion in their foolishness,
People debase themselves.
And Caesar is free as a god,
And they are worthy of him. —
My soul must be greater
For the work of world redemption;
And smaller, to submit to the yoke.
Who can solve
The riddle of my own destiny?
Who will reveal to me
What is destined for my fatherland?

PHRYGIUS:
Bacchus himself will send you the answer.
The god's own servants are approaching.

DAMIS:
It is Alcetas with the Bacchantes.

The same. Alcetas enters with Aglaë, Cytheris, and Mir Jane. They are dressed in tunics made of deer, panther, and tiger skins, and adorned with garlands of leaves and flowers. They approach the altar erected on the steps of the temple of Bacchus.

MIMALONE [raising the thyrsus]:
[To you, divine Bacchus, we bring our gifts.]

AGLAË [pouring libations from a golden cup]:
I bring you the blood of the vines,
To kindle the flame of the heart. THEOKLES:
With bold strength, the soul now stands upright
in my breast,
Like Pallas in her temple.
She feels ready for battle.

CYTHERIS [scattering roses from a basket]:
Take from me the adornment of the meadows
It shall bring coolness to your brow.

MIMALONE [waving the thyrsus]:
I wave the thyrsus before you,
The magic call lures you into dense forests;
You envelop us in sweet slumber,
Whether you bring death or ecstasy.
O divine being, sacrifice of the Titans,
Risen anew in the light,
Let us be happy on this day of celebration,
And may the night bring us bliss.

ALCETAS [seeing Theokles]:
Theokles, you, already back from your travels?

THEOKLES:
I have wandered for seven years;
Does that seem like a short time to you?

ALCETAS:
The years pass quickly
When one spends them in pleasure.

THEOKLES:
Has fortune remained faithful to you?

ALCETAS:
It is so. Do you remember
That you were once my companion?
Every day brought me a new desire
And every night a new pleasure.
But your days flowed differently!
Even when pleasure was abundant for you,
Your mind buried itself in the mysteries of the world.
The chaste hymns of young girls,
The hot tears of sick love,
The intoxication of courtesans,
Were nothing but a source of inquiry for you.
In everything you sought the suffering
hidden revelation of God.
Your striving was in vain!
The brightest joys in your heart
were transformed into dark torments.
How are you now?

ALCETAS:
You speak of politics,
You will end in misery.
Delight yourself in our way,
We lead Bacchus' girls
In high spirits to a cheerful feast.
— Try your arts on him,
You clever daughters of Aphrodite!

AGLAË [shows him the cup]!
AgIü is my name,
Desire is my nature.
The drink from this cup
Will bring fire to your blood. Act 6 Scene 7 Act 8

CYTHERIS [hands him the basket]:
Cytheris is my name, Desire moves my being.
Aglaë's flames fade,
When my roses cool.

MIMALONE [waving her thyrsus]:
My name is Mimalone,
The embodiment of endless intoxication
Can be seen in me.
My thyrsus shows the way, there,
Where you can see many hundreds of Venus' daughters
You can see hundreds of Venus' daughters.
And again you shall find each one
In my own arms.
The vastness of life, like the depth of death,
Lie hidden in my realm.

THEOKLES:
You who call yourselves daughters
Of lust, you beguiling magical beings,
The graces and furies of man,
Can you quench
The burning thirst of my soul?
Show me the way to truth,
Give me the faith that redeems.
And those deeds that are creative?
And if you cannot do that,
Then let my soul be content,
If only you grant it oblivion.
I will follow you to the gates of death,
If this is within your power, —

[They consult quietly among themselves and surround him, as if to enchant him. Aglaë; hands him the cup,
Cytheris throws roses at him, Mimalone swings the thyrsus over his head]

THEOKLES [stands motionless, arms crossed, eyes gazing as if at a distant vision]:
Away with the loose creatures! —
Where can I find you, O my muse?

BACCHANTINES [suddenly retreat shyly and reverently]:
The muse!

MIMALONE:
Our art fails because of him!

ALCETAS:
You are not following us?

THEOKLES:
I cannot!

ALCETAS:
Your ambition prevents you,
May fortune be gracious to you!

THEOKLES:
May Aphrodite smile upon you.

[Alcetas exits, the hetaerae follow him. Before they disappear, they turn around once more, holding each other's shoulders, and cast a long glance at Theokles.]

AGLAË:
How beautiful he is!

CYTHERIS:
How pure!

MIMALONE;
How strong!

ALL THREE:
Farewell,
Son of Dionysus!

[Theokles stands as if lost in dreams, without seeing or hearing them.]

Mamis, Phrygius, Theokles, the father of the desert with the seven virgins, among them Kleonis, veiled. (Bell ringing and organ music can be heard from the basilica.)

PHRYGIUS:
I hear the Christians' death knell again.

DAMIS: The Father of the Desert approaches,
accompanied by consecrated virgins.

THE FATHER OF THE DESERT [to Theokles]: Theokles, my son, I greet you!
You young hope of the old city.
I knew of your arrival,
A dream last night told me so.
My soul saw you in bright floods,
But the dream was ominous;
For I could clearly hear the words:
"He will become famous
And also a scourge to his country."
I know your soul, its courage
And that it strives only for the truth.
However, I also know
The power of the evil enemy in your breast.
Temptations of all kinds lie in wait for you.
[Theokles looks at him in astonishment.]
I know this, and I want to bring you salvation.
You shall share the desert life with me
And you will find what you seek:
The true, the great, the soul of all worlds.

THEOKLES:
And what do you desire in return?

THE FATHER:
Denial of yourself,
Renunciation of all desires.
In Christ you shall die,
You shall be only an instrument
In God's wise guidance.

THEOKLES: So I shall deny
The source of my own will?
The holy flame of my soul,
Shall it be extinguished and perish?
In the power of a foreign God?

THE FATHER:
So it must be at first.

THEOKLES:
And does not the power of God live in one's own self?
For is not becoming God
The goal of the soul's life?

THE FATHER:
Only folly is in such words,
Only blasphemy against the one God,
Whose name is Christ Jesus.

THEOKLES:
To the greatest Son of God
Be honor and glory!
If Jesus were to return to this world,
I would listen to his every word,
And I would pray at the site of his suffering,
But I will never bow down to you
Nor to your order.
If I refuse the Olympians
The sacrifice of my own self,
Then I will not fall prey to the cross either.
I will perish for all eternity,
If salvation only blossoms for lost souls.
Should courage to face life flow from a god's sacrificial death?
Save yourself the trouble, old man!
I am not tempted by the noose of penance,
I am not frightened by the specter of fear.
I want to transform the earth
into a place of sublime joy,
and free souls shall become
the temple of divine beauty.

THE FATHER:
True freedom blossoms only
from Christ's sacrifice.
Hidden from your feelings
The knowledge of the highest reason for life.
To my sorrow, I must see it. (Pause)
You bear the dangerous symbol of Lucifer
On your forehead?

THEOKLES [approaching his father with sudden curiosity]:
Who is Lucifer?

THE FATHER:
The spirit of rebellious souls!

THEOKLES:
Oh, I long to see him.

THE FATHER:
He has already taken hold of you
[He takes a step back with a gesture of horror.]
A son of Lucifer, oh horror!

THEOKLES:
One of the maidens is veiled,
But the others are without veils. Explain the difference to me, Father.

THE FATHER:
It is Kleonis, the daughter of the archon,
The richest Christian in the city.
She veiled her blossoming face;
The pagans might mock it.
Like the others, she has surrendered
The flame of her heart,
The bloom of her beauty,
As a sacrifice to the supreme God.
Only if a woman who is her equal
In purity and greatness of soul
Sends prayers to heaven for you,
Is salvation possible for your soul, You man of doom!
To your own and our
Destruction, you will hurl
The turmoil into the city.
For you do not know Christ.
You want to be Satan's priest!
[Kleonis gazes longingly at Theokles through the veil.]

THEOKLES [aside]:
Do I behold a silent deity?
What lies beneath this veil,
It seems to show me,
The features of my destiny! —
— Such was the muse of my dream.

[Kleonis turns away, raising her arms to the sky in a gesture of despair, then folding her hands in prayer; she then covers her face with her hands, sobbing.]

THE FATHER OF THE DESERT [noticing Kleonis' agitation, turns to Theokls]:
The son of Satan, the wrath of God
Come upon you
And protect us from you,
[He exits with Kleonis and the maidens.]

THEOKLES [follows Kleonis with his gaze]
She is still weeping
The most sublime beauty shines
Through the folds of her veil,
And her gestures are full of nobility.
Only greatness flows from her,
From her terror, her tears,
And great is her prayer.
And shall I never perhaps
Look into those eyes?
The tears could be for me.
O God, why do
beautiful souls hide themselves in this world
like islands in the ocean of the world?

Damis, Phyrgius, Theokles, soon followed by Androkles with some people.

DAMIS:
Amazement seizes my soul
At this cross, which emerges from the twilight
Of basilicas and crypts
To conquer the world.

PHRYGIUS:
The Christians proclaim their God
As unique in the world.

DAMIS: And the sons of Israel say,
Only the future will see the Messiah.

THEOKLES:
The dream of the future savior
Lifts the pious spirit of man.
No one knows when
The rulers of our world order.
It would be futile to hope for them
If souls did not thirst for light
And call out to them, and if the warriors of the spirit Did not prepare the way for them.
[He sinks into thought.] But if God has become man,
Then it is certainly not presumptuous For man to strive to become God.
Then it is certainly not presumptuous
For man to strive to become God.
There are two of God's words:
Messiah! Lucifer!

DAMIS:
What about you?
Lightning flashes from your eyes,
And I see stars sparkling!

THEOKLES [as if in ecstasy]:
We live in the realm of desires,
Where everything is consumed
In order to possess itself.
Only beyond this world
Do I see the realm of art blossom,
Which carves its dreams
In marble and in beauty. —
And in the center of the world
The power of love shines forth,
Which forms from the fire of God
The souls of beings. —
The angels of origin live there.
There is only one bliss,
To create as they do!

PHRYGIUS:
You dream, but
Only deeds prove existence.

THEOKLES [coming to himself, very calmly]:
Shall that be done?

[Great noise behind the stage, people rush in screaming]

A WOMAN:
What unheard-of audacity!

AN OLD MAN:
It is recklessness,

A YOUNG MAN:
It is the beginning of the uprising.

AN OLD MAN:
It is the end of the city.

[The fanfare sounds.]

A YOUNG MAN:
The herald announces the proconsul.
Let's see!

[People shouting ah.]

DAMIS:
It is Androcles who commands
On the Acropolis

[Androcles enters hastily.]

PHRYGIUS:
What is it?

ANDROCLES [in great excitement]:
A sign has been given,
A miracle has happened.
It will spread through the city
with lightning speed!
With Harpalus I went,
carrying the torch of Vesta, to the Acropolis,
I did not do it willingly.
The Senate imposed it on me.
We approached the altar, consecrated
To the last of the divine lineage,
Where oracles once spoke of the future
And now Caesar's image stands tall.
The proconsul approaches,
But recoils in terror,
With great signs one can read
Caesar's mockery and scorn.
The proconsul sternly assures us
That before sunset he will find
The offender and punish him.
The torch falls from my hand,
Its light goes out, but already
The people have crowded
Around the altar and read the mockery,
And already everywhere
The miracle that they believe
Was performed by an unknown god
Who wants to take revenge on Caesar.
They wave their thyrses, palms, and swords,
And fear grips the Romans.

THEOKLES:
What are the words?
Spoken to awaken
The sleeping soul of the city?

ANDROCLES:
Hear the oracle on the altar
Of the last-born of the tribe of gods:
"O Dionysia, bleeding queen of Ionia!
Let your heroes fall silent! Let your ancestors
Silently cover their heads, shamefully bowed
Shame covers and mocks your stronghold towering fortress;
And from the altar of the god, Caesar mocks the helpless
People! ..."

PHRYGIUS:
Who wrote these verses?

ANDROKLES:
Surely a hero.
They are written in blood,
and underneath it says: Harmodius.

PHRYGIUS:
Harmodius, who once
freed Athens from the tyrants?

MAMIS:
The masses often speak through blood.

PHRYGIUS:
One would have to know whether a dead man
wrote them or a living man.

THEOKLES:
It is a living person. Is it me?

[Damis, Phrygius, Androkles step back in fear and draw their swords]

ALL THREE:
Theokles, is it you?

THEOKLES:
Will I find Aristogiton?

DAMIS [placing his hand in his]:
You find me!

ANDROKLES:
And me!

THEOKLES:
So we are united as three.
Three can conquer the world,
bound by strong friendship.

ANDROKLES:
Place the hammer in our hands,
we will strike!

THEOKLES [to Androkles and Damis]:
The leaders of two phratries,
Who have been disarmed today,
Are you they? The very ones who fought
Under the banner of Apollo and Mars.

DAMIS AND ANDROKLES:
We are!

THEOKLES:
Then continue to practice.
Conceal your intentions from them,
And when the great day arrives,
Hide them in secret passages,
Which exist in the Acropolis,
Then you must lead them out,
At the first sign of rebellion
And kill all the leaders of our enemies.

ANDROKLES:
And then what?

THEOKLES:
Others will join forces
With the old Dionysia, once she is free. —
[to Phrygius]
Are your ancestors not
The old kings of Dyrapolis?
Do you lack the courage
And noble pride of your fathers?

PHRYGIUS:
The blood of my ancestors speaks within me.

THEOKLES:
Then let our cause be yours as well.
Drive out the Romans and liberate your city.
If you succeed, you can be king.

PHRYGIUS [aside]:
What did he say: “King”?
Indeed, I could become one.
[He clutches his chest with his hand as if overcome with joy.]
[loudly] So be it. First Dionysia must be liberated,
Dyrapolis shall not be left behind.
Who will give the signal?

THEOKLES:
The three of us.

DAMIS, ANDROKLES [simultaneously]:
How shall it be done?

THEOKLES [steps into the background and points to the Kurdish chair under the portico]: Here in the praetorium, on his judge's seat
In full view of the whole city
We will murder the proconsul.

DAMIS, ANDROKLES [have followed Theokles, spellbound by the vision of the deed]:
This is where it shall be?

THEOKLES:
Yes, here! The uprising will spread.
From mountain to mountain, from city to city.

[All four return to the front of the stage,]

DAMIS:
We want to decorate our swords
On that day with the sign
Of the two friends who once liberated Athens.

THEOKLES:
So let it remain with this sign.
The naked sword lies in green branches,
Like creative will in blossoms of thought,
Like our terrible goal
In the lust and strength of youth,
Which overflows from abundance.
And as the steel of vengeance hides
In fragrant green leafy vines;
So may joyful smiles hide
The dark goals of our souls.
The freedom of cities is of no value
If souls are not free within.
So let us prepare for the battle of spirits
And even if destruction is our fate.
There is no finer example for the world
Than a faithful brotherhood of liberated souls.
Bodies may die, swords may break
And ramparts may fall, but souls are eternal.
So let us be souls,
And we will achieve something eternal for the world.

[Damis, Androkles, and Phrygius cross their swords with that of Theokles.]

ALL THREE TOGETHER:
So be it!

[The Roman fanfare is heard inside the Prytaneum. The three conspirators retreat and hide their swords under their cloaks. Theokles alone remains motionless and calmly hangs his sword on his belt.]

The same characters, the proconsul's herald appears with three lictors on the steps of the Prytaneum. The people gather before him. At the same time, the pontiff of Dionysus steps out of the temple and stops on the threshold. The Christian bishop steps out of the basilica opposite and stops under the portico.

THE HERALD:
Hear the news that Caesar
And the people of Rome send you!
A blasphemer has desecrated
The emperor's image.
The proconsul commands
The citizens, slaves, and strangers
Of the city to track down the perpetrator.
Death shall be the punishment
For anyone who gives him water or fire,
Whether man or woman.
He is to be led in chains to the praetorium
And shall suffer
The punishment for his misdeed.
The proconsul orders the closure
Of the baths, circuses, and other places
Where the people enjoy themselves.
Taxes are tripled
Until the man who calls himself Harmodius
Is handed over to the judge.

[Murmurs among the people]

THE PONTIFEX:
He who is an enemy of the gods
Is also an enemy of the people.
His head, which rises proudly,
And wants to be the leader of the masses,
Falls to the ground, like tall trees
Struck by lightning before the others.
Caesar and fate,
In them we must recognize the gods,
And woe to those who resist them.
Harmodius will soon find out!

THE BISHOP:
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's,
And unto God what is God's.
Blessed be you, Caesar, our protector;
For Caesar's enemies are Christ's enemies,
Cursed be he who blasphemes.

[The herald, the pontiff, and the bishop withdraw; the people leave, dismayed and murmuring.]

THE PEOPLE:
Harmodius, he is cursed!

DAMIS:
If you are discovered, you can always find refuge
In my house;
What is mine is yours at all times.

THEOKLES:
My friend, it seems to me
That exile will give me greater safety.

ANDROKLES: You know my heart and you know
With what strength it beats for you,
And you know no less how every muscle
In this arm becomes like steel
As soon as the hour of battle strikes.
But the time is not yet right;
Your life is in danger. Flee!

THEOKLES:
Woe to this city!
Already the storm of passion,
Which just now was so powerfully raging,
Has turned into powerlessness.
The herald's words caused this;
One can guess what will happen
As soon as the proconsul appears,
And even Caesar himself with his retinue.

[A man wrapped in a cloak sneaks around in the background of the stage.]

ANDROCLES [to Theokles]:
There is a man in the background.
He seems to be the proconsul's spy.
He wants to eavesdrop on us. Be careful.
I see Caesar's shadow hovering
already above your head.
His hand will seize you,
Which greedily wants to rule the whole world.
Your life hangs by a thread,
Theokles, flee, flee!

[The man in the cloak disappears.]

THEOKLES:
That is the shadow
That lies darkly over the whole world,
The 1land that crushes you,
I wanted to free you from them.

ANDROCLES: Human strength is too little For such a deed, which requires God's will.

PHRYGIUS:
Yes, God's will!

THEOKLES:
And when you hear the voice of God,
can I count on you?

ANDROKLES AND PERYGIUS:
Certainly, certainly!

THEOKLES:
And until God's sign comes,
Nothing shall be able to break our covenant.

ANDROKLES, DAMIS, PHRYGIUS:
Nothing will break it.

THEOKLES:
Farewell then, goodbye!

[Androcles and Phrygius exit.]

DAMIS:
Let me follow you!

THEOKLES:
No, stay here, I beg you
From time to time, bring me news from the city.
I will see you again before I leave.
But now I need solitude.,/p> Scene 9 LYKOPHRON:
Then seek the way to him!
He will show you yourself
And unravel for you the forces
In which all beings have their roots.
He will let you see
The source of the spirit and the heart of the worlds.

[DAMIS exits.]

Theokles, soon followed by Lykophron

THEOKLES:
You are right. To think
Man is sufficient unto himself,
But to act, God's voice must
Give him strength and certainty.
Where is the God who wants to speak to me?
[He ponders, his chin in his hand.]

[Lycophron moves his brightly burning lantern close to Theokles and looks at him intently.]

THEOKLES [snapping out of his thoughts)]:
What do you want?

LYKOPHRON
You young man in mourning clothes.
And with the myrtle wreath on your sword
A woman appears to me, floating behind you.
She has daffodils in her hair
And she has a strange smile on her face.
I see a palm branch and a dagger
In her hand
She whispers golden words in your ear.
Of the two, she is surely one:
Either death or immortality,
Perhaps both!
[He brings his lantern closer to Theokles' eyes.]
In you I see the soul that lives...
[He extinguishes his lantern.]
The old lamp has now served its purpose,
I have found what I have been searching for all my life.

THEOKLES:
And to which soul do you grant life?

LYCOPHRON:
Only to such a soul that has within itself
The source of action,
And bows to no external coercion.
To defy all resistance,
To triumph over worlds,
It alone is given.

THEOKLES:
If you see such power in my soul,
Why is it so incapable?
O give me the speed of a centaur,
To fly over the peaks,
Give me the wings of an eagle,
To soar from mountain to mountain.
And my humanity will reach
The goal to which my desire points.
For now, I am powerless
To instill faith in others
That has already taken root in my own soul.

LYCOPHRON:
You are still unaware
Of the nature of all powers.
You seem not to know Heraclitus,
Who in the wild gorges of Taurus
Consecrates himself to the unknown god.

THEOKLES:
I do not know him.

THEOKLES:
The echo of your words
sounds mighty in my heart!
Who are you?

LYKOPHRON:
I combine the work of the gravedigger
With the eye of the seer.
I lay the dead in the earth,
I show the living the way!

[He slowly exits. Theokles, motionless, watches him go.]