# 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.]*