Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/315

 OF THE SPIRIT OF GRAVITY 28 1

strange, heavy words and values he taketh upon his shoulders. Now life appeareth unto him to be a desert.

And, verily ! Even many things that are one's own, are hard to bear ! And many inward things in man are like unto the oyster, i.e., loathsome and slippery and difficult to catch

So that a noble shell with noble ornaments must plead for it. But even this art requireth to be learnt, to have a shell and beautiful semblance and cunning blindness !

Again concerning many things in man there is deceit, in that many a shell is inferior and sad and too much a shell. Much hidden kindness and power is never found out ; the most precious dainties find no tasters !

Women, the most precious of them, know that : a little fatter, a little leaner oh, how much fate lieth in so little !

Man is difficult to discover, and hardest of all unto himself. Often the spirit lieth over the soul. Thus the spirit of gravity causeth it to be.

But he hath discovered himself who saith : ' This is my good and evil.' Thereby he hath made mute the mole and dwarf who saith : ' Good for all, evil for all.'

Verily, neither like I such as call everything good and this world even the best. Such I call the all- contented.

�� �