Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/450

 4l6 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV

This proposal met the wishes of the hearts of all ; only that the voluntary beggar was against meat and wine and spices.

" Now listen unto this glutton Zarathustra ! " he said jesting. " Doth one go into caves and high mounts to have such meals ?

It is true, I understand now what we were once taught by him : ' Let petty poverty be praised ! ' And why he seeketh to abolish beggars."

"Be of good cheer," answered Zarathustra, "as I am so. Be true unto thine own custom, thou excel- lent man, grind thy corn, drink thy water, praise thine own cookery, if it only make thee gay !

I am a law only for those who are mine, I am not a law for all. But whoever belongeth unto me, must be of strong bones, and of light feet,

Gay for warfare and festivals, no obscurantist, no dreamer, one ready for what is hardest, like unto his festival, healthy and whole.

What is best, belongeth unto my folk and myself. And if we are not given it, we take it, the best food, the purest sky, the strongest thoughts, the most beautiful women ! "

Thus spake Zarathustra. But the king on the right answered :

" Strange ! Have such clever things ever been heard from the mouth of a wise man ?

And, verily, that is the strangest thing in a wise

�� �