METROPOLIS must he evil, Marial All the springs of good within me are choked up. I thought them to be dead; but they are only buried alive. My heing is a rock of darkness. But deep within the sad stone I bear the springs rushing ... If I defy the Will which is above you and me . . . If I destroy the work I created after your image . . . It would only be what Joh Fredersen deselVes and it would be better for mel . .. He has ruined me, Marin-he has ruined mel He stole the woman from me. who was mine, and whom I loved. I do not know if her soul was ever with me. But her pity was with me and made me good. Joh Fredersen took the woman from me. He made me evil. He, who grudged the stone the imprint of her shoe, made me evil to take her pity from me. Hel is dead. But she loved him. What a fearful law it is by which the beings of Light tum themselves to those of Darkness. but pass by those in the shade. Be more merciful than Hel was, Marial I will defy the Will which is above you and me. I will open the doors for you. You will be able to go where you list and nobody shall stop you. But would. you remain with me of your own free will, Maria? I long to be good , , , will you belp me?" Stillness. Silence. Immobility. "Neither do I implore your pity, Maria. There is nothing on earth more incompassionate than a woman who only loves one single being . . . You cool murderesses in the name of Love ... You goddesses of Death, with your'smilel ... The hands of your Beloved are cold. You ask: 'Shall I warm your hands for you, Beloved?' You do not wait for his 'Yes: You set fire to a city. You burn down a kingdom, so that you can warm the hands of your Beloved at its blaze . .. You rise up and pluck from the heaven of the world its most radiant stars, without caring that you destroy the Universe and put the dance of the Eternal out of balance. <Do you want the starsBeloved?' And if he says 'No' then you let the stars fall . , , Ohl you blessed harmdoersl You may step, fearfully invio· lable, before the throne of Cod and say: 'Cet up, Creator of the Worldl I need the throne of the World for my beloved I .. : You do not see who dies by your side if only the one is living. A dro of blood on the finger of your
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