Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/498

 THE DRUNKEN SONG

��In the meantime one after the other had stepped out into the open air and into the cool, thoughtful night. Zarathustra himself led the ugliest man by the hand, in order to show him his night-world and the great round moon and the silvery waterfalls nigh unto his cave. There at last they stood silently to- gether, all old men, but with comforted, brave hearts, and astonished at themselves, because they felt so well on earth. But the secrecy of night came nigher and nigher unto their hearts. And once more Zarathustra thought in his mind : " Oh, how well am I now pleased with them, these higher men ! " But he did not say it aloud, for he honoured their happiness and their silence.

Then a thing came to pass, the most astonishing of that astonishing long day. The ugliest man began once more, and for the last time, to gargle and snort. And when he had found words, behold, a question sprang round and clean from his mouth, a good, deep, clear question, which moved the heart in the body of all who listened.

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