Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/487

 THE AWAKENING i

After the song of the wanderer and shadow the cave became all at once full of noise and laughter, and the guests assembled speaking all at the same time, and the ass in the face of such an encour- agement no longer remaining silent, Zarathustra was seized by some displeasure and ridicule of his visitors, although he rejoiced in their gaiety. For it seemed unto him to be a token of convalescence. Thus he stole out into the open air and spake unto his animals.

" Whither now hath their trouble gone ? " said he, and immediately he breathed again after his little displeasure. "In my dwelling, methinketh, they have unlearnt to cry for help !

Although, I grieve to say, not yet to cry altogether." And Zarathustra shut his ears with his hands, for just then the Hee-haw of the donkey mixed strangely with the joyous noise of these higher men.

"They are gay," he began again, "and who know- eth ? perhaps at the expense of their host. And if they have learnt from me how to laugh, it is not yet my laughter they have learnt.

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