Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/384

 35O THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV

hearkened towards the depth. But when all was still there for a long while, he turned his look back and saw Zarathustra stand trembling.

"O Zarathustra," he began with a sad voice, "thou dost not stand there like one made giddy by his happi- ness. Thou wilt have to dance in order not to fall down !

But even if thou wert to dance in my presence and leap all thy side-leaps, nobody shall be allowed to say : ' Behold, here danceth the last gay man ! '

In vain would he come unto this height who would seek such a one here. True, he would find caves and back caves, hiding-places for hidden ones, but not mines of happiness and treasure-chambers and new golden veins of happiness.

Happiness how could one find happiness with such interred ones and hermits ? Must I yet seek the last happiness on blissful islands, and far away among forgotten seas ?

But everything is equal ; nothing is worth while ; no seeking is any good ; there are no longer any blissful islands besides ! "

Thus sighed the fortune-teller; but with his last sigh Zarathustra became once more bright and as- sured, like one who cometh unto the light out of a deep gulf. " Nay ! Nay ! Three times Nay ! " he cried with a strong voice and stroked his beard. "I know better ! There are still blissful islands ! Speak not of such things, thou sighing sack of sadness !

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