Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/440

 SALUTATION

Late in the afternoon it was, when Zarathustra, after having searched and strayed about for a long time in vain, returned unto his cave. But when he stood over against unto it, no longer twenty steps distant from it, that thing came to pass which he ex- pected least. Anew he heard the great cry for help. And, astounding! this time it came from his own cave. And it was a long, manifold, strange cry. And Zarathustra distinguished clearly that it was composed of many voices, though, when heard from a distance, it might sound like a cry from a single mouth.

Then Zarathustra hasted unto his cave, and be- hold ! what spectacle awaited him there after that concert ! For there they all sat together whom he had passed by during the day : the king on the right and the king on the left ; the old wizard ; the pope ; the voluntary beggar ; the shadow ; the conscientious one of the spirit ; the sad fortune-teller ; and the ass. And the ugliest man had put a crown on his head and tied round himself two purple belts. For, like all ugly folk, he liked to disguise himself and play

406

�� �