Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/395

 THE LEECH 361

But when the trodden one heard the name of Zarathustra, he changed. " Oh ! what happeneth unto me ! " he exclaimed. " Who else is of any account unto me in this life but this one man, Zarathustra, and that one beast which liveth on blood, the leech ?

For the sake of the leech I lay here at this swamp, like a fisherman ; and mine arm thrown out had already been bitten ten times. A still more beautiful leech biteth me for my blood, Zarathustra himself!

Oh, happiness ! Oh, wonder ! Praised be this day which allured me into this swamp ! Praised be the best live cupping-glass alive this day! Praised be the great leech of conscience, Zarathustra ! "

Thus spake the trodden one ; and Zarathustra re- joiced at his words and their fine respectful style. "Who art thou?" he asked and shook his hand. " Between us many things remain to be cleared up and brightened. But already, methinketh, it becometh pure, broad daylight."

" I am the conscientious one of the spirit," answered he who had been asked, " and in matters of the spirit, scarcely any one taketh things more severely, more narrowly, and harder than I, except thee from whom I learned it, Zarathustra himself.

Rather know nothing than know many things by halves ! Rather be a fool on one's own account than a wise man on other folk's approbation ! I examine things down unto the ground.

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