Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/324

 29O THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, III

Whoever is of the mob, will live for nothing. But we others unto whom life gave itself, we are ever wondering what we shall best give in return!

And, verily, this is a noble speech, that saith : 'What we are promised by life, we shall keep unto life ! '

One shall not wish to enjoy one's self where one doth not give enjoyment. And one shall not wish to enjoy one's self!

For enjoyment and innocence are the most bash- ful things. Neither liketh to be sought. One shall have them. But rather than for them, one shall seek for guilt and pains !

��O my brethren, whoever is a firstling is ever sacri- ficed. Now we are firstlings.

We all bleed at secret tables of sacrifice ; we all burn and roast in honour of old idols.

Our best is still young. That tickleth old palates. Our flesh is tender, our skin is merely a lambskin how should we not excite old idol-priests !

In ourselves he still liveth, the old idol-priest who roasteth our best for his own dinner. Alas ! my brethren, how could firstlings not be sacrifices ?

But thus our tribe willeth. And I love them who wish not to keep themselves. The perishing I love with mine entire love ; for they go beyond.

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