Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/511

 THE SIGN 477

changed. And, in truth, when it grew light before him, there lay a yellow powerful animal at his feet, and clung with its head at his knees, and would not leave him, and did thus out of love, and did as a dog doth when he findeth his old master again. But the doves with their love were no less eager than the lion. And every time when a dove flew quickly across the nose of the lion, the lion shook its head and won- dered and laughed.

Whilst all this went on, Zarathustra said but one thing : " My children are nigh) my children" Then ne became quite mute. But his heart was loosened, and from his eyes tears dropped and fell upon his hands. And he no more took notice of anything and sat there unmoved, and without keeping the animals back any more. Then the doves flew to and fro and sat down on his shoulder, and fondled his white hair, and wearied not with tenderness and rejoicing. But the strong lion always licked the tears which fell down on Zarathustra's hands, and roared and hummed shyly. Thus did these animals.

This all took a long time or a short time. For, properly speaking, for such things there is no time on earth. But in the meantime the higher men had awakened in Zarathustra's cave and arranged them- selves into a procession in order to go to meet Zara- thustra and to offer him their morning greeting. For they had found, when they awoke, that he no

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