Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/105

 OF CHASTITY

" I love the forest. It is bad to live in towns : too many of the lustful are there.

Is it not better to fall into the hands of a murderer than into the dreams of a lustful woman ?

And look at these men : their eye saith it they know of nothing better on earth than to lie by a woman's side.

Mud is at the bottom of their soul; alas! if there is spirit in their mud !

Would ye were perfect, at least as animals are. But innocence is a necessary quality of animals.

Do I counsel you to slay your senses ? I counsel the innocence of the senses.

Do I counsel chastity ? Chastity is a virtue with some, but with most almost a vice.

True, these abstain : but the she-dog of sensuality looketh with envy out of all they do.

This beast and its no-peace followeth them even unto the heights of their virtues and into their cold spirit.

And with what grace the she-dog of sensuality knoweth how to beg for a piece of spirit, if it be denied a piece of flesh !

7*

�� �