Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/222

 1 88 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, II

When I had said thus, the fiery dog behaved as if it were mad with envy. 'How?' it cried, 'the most important animal on earth? And it is believed to be so ? ' And so much steam and terrible voices came from its throat, that I thought it would choke with anger and envy.

At last it became quieter, and its panting ceased. But as soon as it was quiet I said laughing :

'Thou art angry, fiery dog. Therefore I am right about thee !

And in order that I may also be right in future, let me speak unto thee of another fiery dog, that actually speaketh out of the heart of earth.

Gold is breathed by its breath, and a golden rain. Thus its heart willeth. What are for it ashes and smoke and hot phlegm !

Laughter fluttereth out of it like coloured clouds ; it misliketh thy gargling and spitting and thy pains in the bowels !

But gold and laughter it taketh out of the heart of earth. For thou mayest now know the heart of earth is of gold'

When the fiery dog had heard that, it could bear no longer to listen unto me. In shame it drew in its tail ; sorely cast down it said : ' Bow wow ! ' and crept down into its cave."

Thus told Zarathustra. But his disciples scarcely listened unto him. So great was their desire to tell

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