Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/407

 THE WIZARD

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��"Up! Up there leadeth the way, there lieth the cave of Zarathustra. In it thou raayest seek him whom thou wouldst find.

And ask mine animals for their counsel, mine eagle and my serpent ! They shall help thee to seek. My cave is large.

Myself, it is true, I have not yet seen a great man. What is great, for that to-day the eye of the finest is crude. It is the kingdom of the mob.

Many a one I have found, who strained himself and puffed himself up. And the folk cried : ' Behold there, a great man ! ' But of what good are any bellows ! At last the wind escapeth from them.

At last the frog bursteth which puffed itself up over-long. Then the wind escapeth from it. To stab the womb of a swollen one, that I call good pas- time. Hearken unto that, ye boys !

To-day is of the mob. Who knoweth any longer what is great, what is small? Who could have good luck seeking for greatness there ? A fool only. Fools have good luck.

Thou seekest for great men, thou strange fool? Who taught thee that ? Is to-day the time for it ? Oh, thou evil seeker, why dost thou tempt me?"

Thus spake Zarathustra, comforted in his heart, and went his way onwards, laughing.

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