Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/145

 THE CHILD WITH THE LOOKING-GLASS

After this Zarathustra went back into the moun- tains and the solitude of his cave and withdrew from men, waiting like a sower who hath thrown out his seed. But his soul was filled with impatience and longing for those he loved ; for he had still many gifts for them. For this is the hardest : to shut one's open hand because of love, and as a giver to preserve one's modesty.

Thus months and years passed away with the lonely one, but his wisdom grew, and its abundance caused him pain.

But one morning he awoke before dawn, meditated long on his couch, and at last spake unto his heart :

"Why then was I terrified in my dream so that I awoke ? Did not a child come unto me carrying a looking-glass ?

' O Zarathustra ' the child said unto me ' look at thyself in the looking-glass ! '

But when I looked into the looking-glass I cried aloud, and my heart was shaken. For in it I did not see myself, I saw a devil's grimace and scornful laughter.

Verily, only too well I understand the sign and warn-

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