Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/299

 RETURN HOMEWARD 26$

Here all things come fondling unto thy speech and flatter thee ; for they will ride on thy back. On every likeness thou ridest here unto every truth.

Upright and sincere mayest thou here speak unto all things. And, verily, it soundeth like praise unto their ears, that one speaketh frankly with all things !

Another thing, however, is forsakenness. For dost thou remember, O Zarathustra, when thy bird shrieked above thee, when thou stoodest in the forest irresolute whither to go, unknowing, nigh unto a corpse ?

When thou spakest : " Let mine animals lead me. More dangerous I found it among men than among animals ? " That was forsakenness !

And dost thou remember, O Zarathustra, when thou sattest on thine island ; among empty pails ; a well of wine, giving and spending ; among thirsty folk, granting and pouring out

Until, at last, thou sattest alone thirsty among drunken folk and wailedst : " Is taking not more blissful than giving ? And stealing still more bliss- ful than taking?" That was forsakenness!

And dost thou remember, O Zarathustra, when thy stillest hour came and drove thee away from thyself, when it spake with evil whispering : " Speak and break ! "

When it made thee loathe all thy waiting and silence, and abashed thine humble courage ! That was forsakenness ! '

�� �