Truth-Wrought-Words

Very fortunately it has been made possible to print here the original German Text of the verses, together with the translations, in the first par of this volume.  As Rudolf Steiner's Mystery Dramas are undoubtedly his greatest poetic work, and as he referred to passages in them as containing impulses which can be helpful to poets of the future, they are a constant source of inspiration along the path just described. Therefore, and because of frequent requests for them, there are included here a number of the more poetic passages from my translation – begun in the 1940's – of his first three dramas.  And a still further group of translations has been added, translations which have arisen in response to varied artistic needs: for use on special occasions, for festivals, artistic programs, etc. – consisting of a number of prose passages from his books and lectures which seem to lie within the nature and scope of Truth-Wrought-Words. the first of these includes a translation of Rudolf Steiner's German rendering of the ancient Norwegian legend or folk song,  The Dream Song of Olaf Asteson.  Also to be found in these pages are all the thought and help so generously given for the consummation and physical preparation of this book, for which i would like to express heartfelt gratitude, not only on my own behalf but on that of all who will now share here the firsts of these gifts and dedicated labors.  And finally, a word about the rendering of the title, "Wahrspruchwort." After years of pondering, tow among many have seemed most possible. The one, "Heart-Truth-Words," reflects most nearly the sounds of the original, and holds validity in the sense of the quotation from The Michael Letters at the close of this volume. However, "Truth-Wrought-Words" has been chosen as being more revealing of the cosmic element creatively at work, which has brought the original word-structures as vessels for its substance. – Arvia MacKaye Ege, from the Foreward