Paralipomena on the first, third, tenth, and eleventh images
[On the first image]
[STRADER]:
I must confess, in the fullest sense,
that I agree with your last words.
It even seems to me
As if in the strongest way
It should be emphasized
That the value of high ideals and ideas
Cannot lie in that effect
Which results in satisfaction and peace
Of the soul's longing.
Rather, we must examine
The basis of the structure of thought,
And such examination is hardly up to the task,
What here presents itself as the solution to the highest mysteries
In a seemingly fixed manner.
It captivates the human senses,
Because it seemingly opens up
Knowledge from the realms
Before which
Strictly deliberate research stands perplexed.
Those who follow this research,
Are weighed down by an infinite burden,
When they must admit
That no one can know
From whence the sources of thought flow
And where the foundation of existence is laid.
And beyond what the senses perceive...
[STRADER]:
I must confess in the fullest sense
To your last words,
And I would even like to emphasize more sharply
That the satisfaction and peace
That grows in our soul
From high ideals and ideas
Can be of no value
When it comes to recognizing
Whether truth or error
Lives in them.
We can only be responsible
For examining whether they meet the requirements
Of genuine science.
And truly, everything we hear here
As the solution to life's greatest mysteries
With bold certainty
Proves weak
In such an examination.
It captivates the human mind
It captivates the human mind
For no other reason
Than because it seemingly opens
The gate to those realms
Before which perplexed and modest
Stands the strictly cautious research.
And whoever stands in true loyalty
To this research
It befits him to confess
That no one can know
From whence the springs of thought flow
And where the foundation of existence is to be found.
When such a confession
Becomes hard on the soul,
Which would all too gladly fathom
What lies beyond all knowledge.
If we deny our reason
And the sure guidance of experience,
We sink into the abyss.
And who could fail to see
How little such a way of thinking
Will submit to this revelation.
It lacks entirely
The sure ground of experience
And the firm foundation of rigorous thought.
MARIA:
This is the first time
That she has revealed herself in this way
In front of so many people.
Until now, we have only heard her speak
In front of two or three people.
CAPESIUS:
It is strange,
That she felt compelled
As if on command
To make this revelation
Right now.
MARIA:
She is not disturbed by her surroundings
When she feels the urge.
But it is always As if the urge
To reveal herself
Arose then,
When people were present
Who were to hear her.
CAPESIUS:
Now we have heard
That of that event,
Which is the content of her dreams,
The man who is currently
The man who is currently
The soul of this circle.
It must be the case,
That she has heard the content
From him.
MARIA:
If that were the case,
We would truly
Think very little of her.
However, it has been established,
As surely as is necessary,
That our friend
Was completely unaware
Of the words of our leader,
Before she entered our circle.
Just as none of us
Had ever spoken
Of this strange human being before.
CAPESIUS:...
*
The way Lilie perceives things must be much clearer. She must perceive with a completely pure soul that kills everything that comes near her. —
*
[To the third picture]
A word from Mary must evoke something like passion.
[To the tenth picture]
JOHN:
(He has confronted Mary and risen above himself.)
I must not let those moments pass me by in which the spiritual worlds can give me signs. If one has the spiritual eye, one must let things come to one calmly — one's own calm pole — One needs presence of mind to grasp them — courage not to let oneself be overwhelmed — not to be blinded —. One must follow things in their change — inner mobility — depth of the world —
THEODOSIUS: You must not have anything that burdens you —
You must be able to face the future freely —
*
[To the eleventh picture]
RETARDUS: My time for Johannes and Maria is up; I no longer have any influence over them — That Balde and the other Maria sacrificed themselves, entrusting Benedictus with the development of Johannes and Maria — F. Balde
Capesius and Strader. —
RETARDUS:
I summon you before my judgment seat.
You have not fulfilled the task
I gave you.
I counted on you to
steer Johannes and Maria in such
directions that would distract their souls
from initiation,
that would not allow those forces in them
to unfold which go in that direction.
You, Capesius, were sent by me to
that circle to overwhelm him with
the power of your words,
but instead you showed weakness
from the very first moment;
you, Strader, could not overcome
your feelings; again and again
they overwhelmed you. —
So I must leave the field. —
CAPESIUS: It was due to your weakness; I
had noticed it from the beginning;
STRADER: You were never there when
my feelings spoke. —
You spoke only to my intellect.