Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/501

 THE DRUNKEN SONG 467

Then it grew still quieter and more home-like, and everything hearkened, including the ass and Zarathus- tra's animals of honour, the eagle and the serpent; and likewise Zarathustra's cave, and the great cool moon, and the night itself. But Zarathustra, for a third time, laid his hand on his mouth and said :

"Come ! Come ! Come ! Let us walk now ! It is the hour! Let us walk into the night!

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Ye higher men, it is nigh unto midnight. Now I will say something into your ears, as that old bell telleth it into mine;

As familiarly, as terribly, as heartily, as speaketh unto me that midnight-bell which hath seen more than any man ;

Which hath long ago counted the pulses of your fathers' heart-beat, and pain. Alas ! alas ! how it sigh- eth ! how it laugheth in dream ! the old, deep, deep midnight !

Hush! hush! Then many things are heard which are not permitted to become audible in daytime. But now, in the cool air, after even all noise of your hearts hath been stilled ;

Now they speak, now they are heard, now they steal into night-like over-wakeful souls. Alas ! alas ! how midnight sigheth, how it laugheth in dream!

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