Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/183

 THE DANCE-SONG

One night Zarathustra went through the forest with his disciples, and when seeking for a well, behold ! he came unto a green meadow which was surrounded by trees and bushes. There girls danced together. As soon as the girls knew Zarathustra, they ceased to dance; but Zarathustra approached them with a friendly gesture and spake these words :

" Cease not to dance, ye sweet girls ! No spoil- sport hath come unto you with an evil eye, no enemy of girls.

I am the advocate of God in the presence of the devil. But he is the spirit of gravity. How could I, ye light ones, be an enemy unto divine dances ? Or unto the feet of girls with beautiful ankles?

True, I am a forest and a night of dark trees, but he who is not afraid of my darkness, findeth banks full of roses under my cypresses.

And I think he will also find the tiny God whom girls like best. Beside the well he lieth, still with his eyes shut.

Verily, in broad daylight he fell asleep, the slug- gard! Did he perhaps try to catch too many butter- flies ?

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