Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/494

 460 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV

"And even thou," said Zarathustra unto the con- scientious one of the spirit, " meditate and put thy finger unto thy nose ! Doth nothing here go contrary unto thy conscience ? Is thy spirit not too cleanly for this praying and the smell of these bigots ? "

"There is something in that," answered the con- scientious one, putting his finger unto his nose, " there is something in this spectacle that gratifieth even my conscience.

Perhaps I may not be allowed to believe in God. But certain it is that in this shape God seemeth unto me to be the most credible of all.

God is said to be eternal according unto the testi- mony of the most pious. He who hath much time, taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible. TJiereby such an one can nevertheless go very far.

And he who hath too much of the spirit, might well be infatuated with stupidity and folly. Meditate on thyself, O Zarathustra !

Thyself, verily ! even thou mightest become an ass out of abundance and wisdom.

Doth not a perfect wise man prefer to walk by the most crooked roads ? Appearances teach thus, O Zarathustra, thine appearances ! "

"And last of all thou," said Zarathustra, turning towards the ugliest man, who still lay on the ground rais- ing his arm unto the ass (for he gave it wine to drink). " Say, thou unutterable one, what didst thou there !

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