Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/228

 194 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, II

ing at those night watchmen and grave watchmen, and whoever else rattleth with gloomy keys.

Thou wilt terrify and subvert them with thy laughter. Impotence and awakening will be. proved by thy power over them.

And even when the long dawn cometh, and the weariness of death, thou wilt not set in our sky, thou advocate of life !

Thou madest us see new stars and new beauties of the night. Verily, life itself thou didst stretch over us like a many-coloured tent.

Now for ever the laughter of children will spring forth from coffins ; now for ever a strong wind will come victoriously over all weariness of death. Of that thou art thyself a pledge and a prophet.

Verily, thou beheldest thine enemies themselves, in thy dream ; that was thy hardest dream !

But as thou awokest and earnest back from them unto thyself, so shall they awake from themselves and come unto thee ! "

Thus said the disciple. And now all the others thronged round Zarathustra and took his hands and tried to persuade him to leave his bed and his sad- ness and return unto them. But Zarathustra sat upright on his couch and with a strange glance. Like unto one who returneth from a long journey abroad he gazed at his disciples and examined their faces ; but not yet did he recognise them. But when

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