Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/52

 18 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, I

candle and asking : " Who cometh to me and mine evil sleep ? "

"A living and a dead one," replied Zarathustra. " Give me to eat and to drink, I forgot it in the day- time. He who feedeth the hungry refresheth his own soul ; thus saith wisdom."

The old man having gone off returned immediately offering Zarathustra bread and wine. "This is a bad quarter for hungry people," said he; "that is why I am staying here. Animal and man come to me, the hermit. But ask also thy companion to eat and drink ; he is much more tired than thou art." Zarathustra answered : " Dead is my companion ; I shall scarcely persuade him to do so." "That is no reason with me," said the old man crossly; "he who knocketh at my house must take whatever I offer him. Eat and farewell ! "

Then Zarathustra walked two more hours and trusted the road and the light of the stars ; for he was accustomed to walk by night and liked to look into the face of all things asleep. But when the morning dawned Zarathustra found himself in a deep forest with no road visible. Then he laid the dead one in a hollow tree at his own head for he wished to defend him from the wolves and he laid him- self down on the ground and moss. And at once he fell asleep, with his body tired, but with his soul unmoved,

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