Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/227

 THE FORTUNE-TELLER

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��And I pressed the key and tried to lift the door, and exerted myself. But it was not yet opened a ringer's breadth

Then an impetuous wind tore its two halves apart. Whistling, whizzing, and buzzing it threw a black coffin at me.

And amidst the roaring and whistling and whizz- ing the coffin brake and spat out a thousandfold laughter.

And out of a thousand caricatures of children, angels, owls, fools, and butterflies as big as children, something laughed and mocked and roared at me.

It made me sore afraid, it threw me down. And with terror I yelled, as never I yelled before.

But mine own cry awakened me ; and I became conscious again."

Thus Zarathustra told his dream and then was silent. For he did not yet know the interpretation of it. But the disciple whom he loved most, arose quickly and took Zarathustra's hand, saying :

"Thy life itself is explained unto us by this dream, O Zarathustra !

Art thou not thyself the wind with whizzing whist- ling, that openeth the doors of the castles of death?

Art thou not thyself the coffin of many-coloured wickednesses and caricatures of the angels of life?

Verily, like a thousandfold laughter of children Zarathustra entereth all chambers of the dead, laugh-

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