Third Act, partly prose

LUCIFER: Mary, you strove to place a human being before my throne. He shall come to know himself. He can only do so when he has recognized me. He is on this path even without you. How can you believe that you may be the one to achieve something for your friend here? You call Benedictus your teacher. He is my enemy. For he is one of the strongest of those who snatch from me on earth what I want to fight for. He has already conquered more for my opponents than many others. But Johannes has torn himself away from him. He has bound himself to me through his word. It is true that he cannot see me in my truth as he is now. His earthly view still prevents him from recognizing spiritual beings in their full essence. But he will attain spiritual vision in a moment when he is devoted to me. And then he will belong to me. But I command you to remain silent here about John. According to the law that prevails here, I will never tolerate your words about John before me. Lucifer does not speak to Mary about this man. The words she says about him would burn him. In this place, words are deeds.