My virile food taketh effect, my strong and
savoury sayings: and verily, I did not nourish them
with flatulent vegetables!
savoury sayings: and verily, I did not nourish them
with flatulent vegetables!
Nietzsche - v11 - Thus Spake Zarathustra
Afterward
he began to sing with a kind of roaring.
The deserts grow: woe him who doth them hide!
-Ha!
Solemnly!
In effect solemnly!
A worthy beginning !
## p. 375 (#567) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 375
Afric manner, solemnly!
Of a lion worthy,
Or perhaps of a virtuous howl-monkey—
—But it's naught to you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved,
At whose own feet to me,
The first occasion,
To a European under palm-trees,
A seat is now granted. Selah.
Wonderful, truly!
Here do I sit now,
The desert nigh, and yet I am
So far still from the desert,
Even in naught yet deserted:
That is, I'm swallowed down
By this the smallest oasis—:
—It opened up just yawning,
Its loveliest mouth agape,
Most sweet-odoured of all mouthlets:
Then fell I right in,
Right down, right through—in 'mong you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved! Selah.
Hail! hail! to that whale, fishlike,
If it thus for its guest's convenience
Made things nice ! —(ye well know,
Surely, my learned allusion ? )
Hail to its belly,
If it had e'er
A such loveliest oasis-belly
As this is: though however I doubt about it,
—With this come I out of Old-Europe,
## p. 375 (#568) ############################################
374 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
Unless it be,—unless it be—, do forgive an old
recollection! Forgive me an old after-dinner song,
which I once composed amongst daughters of the
desert:—
For with them was there equally good, clear,
Oriental air; there was I furthest from cloudy,
damp, melancholy Old-Europe!
Then did I love such Oriental maidens and
other blue kingdoms of heaven, over which hang
no clouds and no thoughts.
Ye would not believe how charmingly they sat
there, when they did not dance, profound, but with-
out thoughts, like little secrets, like beribboned
riddles, like dessert-nuts—
Many-hued and foreign, forsooth! but without
clouds: riddles which can be guessed: to please
such maidens I then composed an after-dinner
psalm. "
Thus spake the wanderer who called himself
Zarathustra's shadow; and before any one answered
him, he had seized the harp of the old magician,
crossed his legs, and looked calmly and sagely
around him :—with his nostrils, however, he inhaled
the air slowly and questioningly, like one who in
new countries tasteth new foreign air. Afterward
he began to sing with a kind of roaring.
2.
The deserts grow: woe him who doth them hide!
—Ha!
Solemnly!
In effect solemnly!
A worthy beginning!
## p. 375 (#569) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 375
Afric manner, solemnly!
Of a lion worthy,
Or perhaps of a virtuous howl-monkey-
-But it's naught to you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved,
At whose own feet to me,
The first occasion,
To a European under palm-trees,
A seat is now granted. Selah.
Wonderful, truly!
Here do I sit now,
The desert nigh, and yet I am
So far still from the desert,
Even in naught yet deserted :
That is, I'm swallowed down
By this the smallest oasis — :
-It opened up just yawning,
Its loveliest mouth agape,
Most sweet-odoured of all mouthlets :
Then fell I right in,
Right down, right through-in 'mong you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved! Selah.
Hail ! hail ! to that whale, fishlike,
If it thus for its guest's convenience
Made things nice ! -(ye well know,
Surely, my learned allusion ? )
Hail to its belly,
If it had e'er
A such loveliest oasis-belly
As this is : though however I doubt about it,
-With this come I out of Old-Europe,
## p. 376 (#570) ############################################
376
THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth : and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies, -
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
-Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
--Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#571) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell-
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question : with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
--One doth it too, when one view'th it long ! -
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood ?
-Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
-Namely, the other leg-
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 377 (#572) ############################################
376 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth: and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies,—
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
—Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
—Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#573) ############################################
LXXVI— DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell—
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question: with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
—One doth it too, when one view'th it long! —
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood?
—Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
—Namely, the other leg—
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 377 (#574) ############################################
376 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth: and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies,—
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
—Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
—Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#575) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell—
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question: with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
—One doth it too, when one view'th it long ! —
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood?
—Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
—Namely, the other leg—
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 377 (#576) ############################################
376 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth: and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies,—
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
—Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
—Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#577) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell—
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question: with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
—One doth it too, when one view'th it long! —
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood?
—Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
—Namely, the other leg—
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 378 (#578) ############################################
378 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
Nigh her very dearest, very tenderest,
Flapping and fluttering and flickering skirting.
Yea, if ye should, ye beauteous friendly ones,
Quite take my word:
She hath, alas! lost it!
Hu! Hu! Hu! Hu! Hu!
It is away!
For ever away!
The other leg!
Oh, pity for that loveliest other leg!
Where may it now tarry, all-forsaken weeping?
The lonesomest leg?
In fear perhaps before a
Furious, yellow, blond and curled
Leonine monster? Or perhaps even
Gnawed away, nibbled badly—
Most wretched, woeful! woeful! nibbled badly!
Selah.
Oh weep ye not,
Gentle spirits!
Weep ye not, ye
Date-fruit spirits! Milk-bosoms!
Ye sweetwood-heart
Purselets!
Weep ye no more,
Pallid Dudu!
Be a man, Suleika! Bold! Bold!
—Or else should there perhaps
Something strengthening, heart-strengthening,
Here most proper be?
Some inspiring text?
Some solemn exhortation? —
## p. 379 (#579) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 379
Ha! Up now! honour!
Moral honour! European honour!
Blow again, continue,
Bellows-box of virtue!
Ha!
Once more thy roaring,
Thy moral roaring!
As a virtuous lion
Nigh the daughters of deserts roaring!
—For virtue's out-howl,
Ye very dearest maidens,
Is more than every
European fervour, European hot-hunger!
And now do I stand here,
As European,
I can't be different, God's help to me!
Amen!
The deserts grow: woe him who doth them hide!
LXXVII. —THE AWAKENING.
1.
After the song of the wanderer and shadow,
the cave became all at once full of noise and
laughter: and since the assembled guests all spake
simultaneously, and even the ass, encouraged there-
by, no longer remained silent, a little aversion and
scorn for his visitors came over Zarathustra,
although he rejoiced at their gladness. For it
seemed to him a sign of convalescence. So he
## p. 380 (#580) ############################################
380 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
slipped out into the open air and spake to his
animals.
"Whither hath their distress now gone? " said
he, and already did he himself feel relieved of his
petty disgust—" with me, it seemeth that they have
unlearned their cries of distress!
—Though, alas! not yet their crying. " And
Zarathustra stopped his ears, for just then did the
Ye-a of the ass mix strangely with the noisy
jubilation of those higher men.
"They are merry," he began, again, "and who
knoweth? perhaps at their host's expense; and if
they have learned of me to laugh, still it is not my
laughter they have learned.
But what matter about that! They are old
people: they recover in their own way, they laugh
in their own way; mine ears have already endured
worse and have not become peevish.
This day is a victory: he already yieldeth, he
fleeth the spirit of gravity, mine old arch-enemy!
How well this day is about to end, which began so
badly and gloomily!
And it is about to end. Already cometh the
evening: over the sea rideth it hither, the good
rider! How it bobbeth, the blessed one, the home-
returning one, in its purple saddles!
The sky gazeth brightly thereon, the world lieth
deep. Oh, all ye strange ones who have come to
me, it is already worth while to have lived with me! "
Thus spake Zarathustra. And again came the
cries and laughter of the higher men out of the
cave: then began he anew:
## p. 381 (#581) ############################################
LXXVII. —THE AWAKENING. 381
"They bite at it, my bait taketh, there departeth
also from them their enemy, the spirit of gravity.
Now do they learn to laugh at themselves: do I
hear rightly?
My virile food taketh effect, my strong and
savoury sayings: and verily, I did not nourish them
with flatulent vegetables! But with warrior-food,
with conqueror-food: new desires did I awaken.
New hopes are in their arms and legs, their
hearts expand. They find new words, soon will
their spirits breathe wantonness.
Such food may sure enough not be proper for
children, nor even for longing girls old and young.
One persuadeth their bowels otherwise; I am not
their physician and teacher.
The disgust departeth from these higher men:
well! that is my victory. In my domain they
become assured; all stupid shame fleeth away;
they empty themselves.
They empty their hearts, good times return unto
them, they keep holiday and ruminate,—they
become thankful.
That do I take as the best sign: they become
thankful. Not long will it be ere they devise
festivals, and put up memorials to their old joys.
They are convalescents! " Thus spake Zarathus-
tra joyfully to his heart and gazed outward; his
animals, however, pressed up to him, and honoured
his happiness and his silence.
2.
All on a sudden however, Zarathustra's ear was
frightened: for the cave which had hitherto been
## p. 382 (#582) ############################################
382 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
full of noise and laughter, became all at once still
as death ;—his nose however smelt a sweet-scented
vapour and incense-odour, as if from burning pine-
cones.
"What happeneth? What are they about? " he
asked himself, and stole up to the entrance, that he
might be able unobserved to see his guests. But
wonder upon wonder! what was he then obliged
to behold with his own eyes!
"They have all of them become pious again, they
pray, they are mad ! "—said he, and was astonished
beyond measure. And forsooth! all these higher
men, the two kings, the pope out of service, the
evil magician, the voluntary beggar, the wanderer
and shadow, the old soothsayer, the spiritually
conscientious one, and the ugliest man—they all
lay on their knees like children and credulous old
women, and worshipped the ass. And just then
began the ugliest man to gurgle and snort as if
something unutterable in him tried to find expres-
sion; when, however, he had actually found words,
behold! it was a pious, strange litany in praise of
the adored and censed ass. And the litany sounded
thus:
Amen! And glory and honour and wisdom and
thanks and praise and strength be to our God, from
everlasting to everlasting!
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
He carrieth our burdens, he hath taken upon him
the form of a servant, he is patient of heart and
never saith Nay; and he who loveth his God
chastiseth him.
## p. 383 (#583) ############################################
LXXVII. —THE AWAKENING. 383
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
Re speaketh not: except that he ever saith Yea
to che world which he created: thus doth he extol
his world. It is his artfulness that speaketh not:
thus is he rarely found wrong.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
Uncomely goeth he through the world. Grey is
the favourite colour in which he wrappeth his virtue.
Hath he spirit, then doth he conceal it; every one,
however, believeth in his long ears.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
What hidden wisdom it is to wear long ears, and
only to say Yea and never Nay! Hath he not
created the world in his own image, namely, as
stupid as possible?
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
Thou goest straight and crooked ways; it
concerneth thee little what seemeth straight or
crooked unto us men. Beyond good and evil is
thy domain. It is thine innocence not to know
what innocence is.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
Lo! how thou spurnest none from thee, neither
beggars nor kings. Thou sufferest little children
to come unto thee, and when the bad boys decoy
thee, then sayest thou simply, Ye-A.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
Thou lovest she-asses and fresh figs, thou art no
food-despiser. A thistle tickleth thy heart when
thou chancest to be hungry. There is the wisdom
of a God therein.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
## p. 384 (#584) ############################################
384 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
I
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. A
At this place in the litany, however, Zarathustra
could no longer control himself; he himself cried
out Ye-a, louder even than the ass, and sprang into
the midst of his maddened guests. "Whatever are
you about, ye grown-up children? " he exclaimed,
pulling up the praying ones from the ground.
"Alas, if any one else, except Zarathustra, had
seen you:
Every one would think you the worst blas-
phemers, or the very foolishest old women, with
your new belief!
And thou thyself, thou old pope, how is it in
accordance with thee, to adore an ass in such a
manner as God ? "—
"O Zarathustra," answered the pope, "forgive
me, but in divine matters I am more enlightened
even than thou. And it is right that it should
be so.
Better to adore God so, in this form, than in no
form at all! Think over this saying, mine exalted
friend: thou wilt readily divine that in such a
saying there is wisdom.
He who said ' God is a Spirit'—made the greatest
stride and slide hitherto made on earth towards
unbelief: such a dictum is not easily amended again
on earth!
Mine old heart leapeth and boundeth because
there is still something to adore on earth. Forgive
it, O Zarathustra, to an old, pious pontiff-heart 1—"
## p. 385 (#585) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 385
—" And thou," said Zarathustra to the wanderer
and shadow, "thou callest and thinkest thyself a
free spirit? And thou here practisest such idolatry
and hierolatry?
Worse verily, doest thou here than with thy
bad brown girls, thou bad, new believer! "
"It is sad enough," answered the wanderer and
shadow, "thou art right: but how can I help it!
The old God liveth again, O Zarathustra, thou
mayst say what thou wilt.
The ugliest man is to blame for it all: he hath
reawakened him. And if he say that he once killed
him, with Gods death is always just a prejudice. "
—" And thou," said Zarathustra, " thou bad old
magician, what didst thou do! Who ought to
believe any longer in thee in this free age, when
thou believest in such divine donkeyism?
It was a stupid thing that thou didst; how
couldst thou, a shrewd man, do such a stupid
thing! "
"O Zarathustra," answered the shrewd magician,
"thou art right, it was a stupid thing,—it was also
repugnant to me. "
—" And thou even," said Zarathustra to the
spiritually conscientious one, "consider, and put
thy finger to thy nose! Doth nothing go against
thy conscience here? Is thy spirit not too cleanly
for this praying and the fumes of those devotees? "
"There is something therein," said the spiritually
conscientious one, and put his finger to his nose,
"there is something in this spectacle which even
doeth good to my conscience.
Perhaps I dare not believe in God: certain it is,
2 B
## p. 386 (#586) ############################################
386
THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
however, that God seemeth to me most worthy of
belief in this form.
God is said to be eternal, according to the testi-
mony of the most pious: he who hath so much time
taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible:
thereby can such a one nevertheless go very far.
And he who hath too much spirit might well
become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think
of thyself, O Zarathustra !
Thou thyself—verily! even thou couldst well
become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.
Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the
crookedest paths ? The evidence teacheth it, O
Zarathustra,—thine own evidence! ”
—“And thou thyself, finally," said Zarathustra,
and turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay
on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass
(for he gave it wine to drink). “Say, thou non-
descript, what hast thou been about!
Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes
glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine
ugliness : what didst thou do?
Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again
awakened him ? And for why? Was he not for
good reasons killed and made away with ?
Thou thyself seemest to me awakened: what
didst thou do? why didst thou turn round? Why
didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript! "
“O Zarathustra,"answered the ugliest man, “thou
art a rogue!
Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is
thoroughly dead—which of us both knoweth that
best? I ask thee. .
## p. 387 (#587) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 387
One thing however do I know,—from thyself
lid I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth
o kill most thoroughly, laugheth.
'Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill'—
:hus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden
one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous
saint,—thou art a rogue! "
Then, however, did it come to pass that Zara-
thustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers,
jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning
towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:
"O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do
ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me!
How the hearts of all of you convulsed with
delight and wickedness, because ye had at last
become again like little children—namely, pious,—
—Because ye at last did again as children do—
namely, prayed, folded your hands and said 'good
God'!
But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine
own cave, where to-day all childishness is carried
on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-
wantonness and heart-tumult!
To be sure: except ye become as little children
ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven. "
(And Zarathustra pointed aloft with his hands. )
"But we do not at all want to enter into the
kingdom of heaven: we have become men,—so we
want the kingdom of earth''
## p. 387 (#588) ############################################
386 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
however, that God seemeth to me most worthy of
belief in this form.
God is said to be eternal, according to the testi-
mony of the most pious : he who hath so much time
taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible:
thereby can such a one nevertheless go very far.
And he who hath too much spirit might well
become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think
of thyself, O Zarathustra!
Thou thyself—verily! even thou couldst well
become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.
Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the
crookedest paths? The evidence teacheth it, O
Zarathustra,—thine own evidence! "
—"And thou thyself, finally," said Zarathustra,
aiVd turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay
on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass
(for he gave it wine to drink). "Say, thou non-
descript, what hast thou been about!
Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes
glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine
ugliness: what didst thou do?
Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again
awakened him? And for why? Was he not for
good reasons killed and made away with?
Thou thyself seemest to me awakened: what
didst thou do? why didst thou turn round? Why
didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript! "
"O Zarathustra," answered the ugliest man, "thou
art a rogue!
Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is
thoroughly dead—which of us both knoweth that
best? I ask thee.
## p. 387 (#589) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 387
One thing however do I know,—from thyself
did I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth
to kill most thoroughly, laugheth.
'Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill'—
thus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden
one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous
saint,—thou art a rogue! "
Then, however, did it come to pass that Zara-
thustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers,
jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning
towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:
"O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do
ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me! *
How the hearts of all of you convulsed with
delight and wickedness, because ye had at last
become again like little children—namely, pious,—
—Because ye at last did again as children do—
namely, prayed, folded your hands and said 'good
God'!
But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine
own cave, where to-day all childishness is carried
on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-
wantonness and heart-tumult!
To be sure: except ye become as little children
ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven. "
(And Zarathustra pointed aloft with his hands. )
"But we do not at all want to enter into the
kingdom of heaven: we have become men,—so we
want the kingdom of earth! '
## p. 387 (#590) ############################################
386 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
however, that God seemeth to me most worthy of
belief in this form.
God is said to be eternal, according to the testi-
mony of the most pious : he who hath so much time
taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible:
thereby can such a one nevertheless go very far.
And he who hath too much spirit might well
become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think
of thyself, O Zarathustra!
Thou thyself—verily! even thou couldst well
become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.
Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the
crookedest paths? The evidence teacheth it, O
Zarathustra,—thine own evidence! "
—"And thou thyself, finally," said Zarathustra,
afrd turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay
on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass
(for he gave it wine to drink). "Say, thou non-
descript, what hast thou been about!
Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes
glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine
ugliness: what didst thou do?
Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again
awakened him? And for why? Was he not for
good reasons killed and made away with?
Thou thyself seemest to me awakened: what
didst thou do? why didst thou turn round? Why
didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript! "
"O Zarathustra," answered the ugliest man, "thou
art a rogue!
Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is
thoroughly dead—which of us both knoweth that
best? I ask thee.
## p. 387 (#591) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 387
One thing however do I know,—from thyself
did I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth
to kill most thoroughly, laugheth.
'Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill'—
thus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden
one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous
saint,—thou art a rogue! "
Then, however, did it come to pass that Zara-
thustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers,
jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning
towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:
"O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do
ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me! *
How the hearts of all of you convulsed with
delight and wickedness, because ye had at last
become again like little children—namely, pious,—
—Because ye at last did again as children do—
namely, prayed, folded your hands and said 'good
God'!
But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine
own cave, where to-day all childishness is carried
on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-
wantonness and heart-tumult!
To be sure: except ye become as little children
ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven.
he began to sing with a kind of roaring.
The deserts grow: woe him who doth them hide!
-Ha!
Solemnly!
In effect solemnly!
A worthy beginning !
## p. 375 (#567) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 375
Afric manner, solemnly!
Of a lion worthy,
Or perhaps of a virtuous howl-monkey—
—But it's naught to you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved,
At whose own feet to me,
The first occasion,
To a European under palm-trees,
A seat is now granted. Selah.
Wonderful, truly!
Here do I sit now,
The desert nigh, and yet I am
So far still from the desert,
Even in naught yet deserted:
That is, I'm swallowed down
By this the smallest oasis—:
—It opened up just yawning,
Its loveliest mouth agape,
Most sweet-odoured of all mouthlets:
Then fell I right in,
Right down, right through—in 'mong you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved! Selah.
Hail! hail! to that whale, fishlike,
If it thus for its guest's convenience
Made things nice ! —(ye well know,
Surely, my learned allusion ? )
Hail to its belly,
If it had e'er
A such loveliest oasis-belly
As this is: though however I doubt about it,
—With this come I out of Old-Europe,
## p. 375 (#568) ############################################
374 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
Unless it be,—unless it be—, do forgive an old
recollection! Forgive me an old after-dinner song,
which I once composed amongst daughters of the
desert:—
For with them was there equally good, clear,
Oriental air; there was I furthest from cloudy,
damp, melancholy Old-Europe!
Then did I love such Oriental maidens and
other blue kingdoms of heaven, over which hang
no clouds and no thoughts.
Ye would not believe how charmingly they sat
there, when they did not dance, profound, but with-
out thoughts, like little secrets, like beribboned
riddles, like dessert-nuts—
Many-hued and foreign, forsooth! but without
clouds: riddles which can be guessed: to please
such maidens I then composed an after-dinner
psalm. "
Thus spake the wanderer who called himself
Zarathustra's shadow; and before any one answered
him, he had seized the harp of the old magician,
crossed his legs, and looked calmly and sagely
around him :—with his nostrils, however, he inhaled
the air slowly and questioningly, like one who in
new countries tasteth new foreign air. Afterward
he began to sing with a kind of roaring.
2.
The deserts grow: woe him who doth them hide!
—Ha!
Solemnly!
In effect solemnly!
A worthy beginning!
## p. 375 (#569) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 375
Afric manner, solemnly!
Of a lion worthy,
Or perhaps of a virtuous howl-monkey-
-But it's naught to you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved,
At whose own feet to me,
The first occasion,
To a European under palm-trees,
A seat is now granted. Selah.
Wonderful, truly!
Here do I sit now,
The desert nigh, and yet I am
So far still from the desert,
Even in naught yet deserted :
That is, I'm swallowed down
By this the smallest oasis — :
-It opened up just yawning,
Its loveliest mouth agape,
Most sweet-odoured of all mouthlets :
Then fell I right in,
Right down, right through-in 'mong you,
Ye friendly damsels dearly loved! Selah.
Hail ! hail ! to that whale, fishlike,
If it thus for its guest's convenience
Made things nice ! -(ye well know,
Surely, my learned allusion ? )
Hail to its belly,
If it had e'er
A such loveliest oasis-belly
As this is : though however I doubt about it,
-With this come I out of Old-Europe,
## p. 376 (#570) ############################################
376
THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth : and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies, -
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
-Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
--Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#571) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell-
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question : with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
--One doth it too, when one view'th it long ! -
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood ?
-Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
-Namely, the other leg-
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 377 (#572) ############################################
376 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth: and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies,—
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
—Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
—Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#573) ############################################
LXXVI— DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell—
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question: with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
—One doth it too, when one view'th it long! —
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood?
—Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
—Namely, the other leg—
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 377 (#574) ############################################
376 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth: and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies,—
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
—Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
—Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#575) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell—
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question: with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
—One doth it too, when one view'th it long ! —
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood?
—Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
—Namely, the other leg—
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 377 (#576) ############################################
376 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen!
Here do I sit now,
In this the smallest oasis,
Like a date indeed,
Brown, quite sweet, gold-suppurating,
For rounded mouth of maiden longing,
But yet still more for youthful, maidlike,
Ice-cold and snow-white and incisory
Front teeth: and for such assuredly,
Pine the hearts all of ardent date-fruits. Selah.
To the there-named south-fruits now,
Similar, all-too-similar,
Do I lie here; by little
Flying insects
Round-sniffled and round-played,
And also by yet littler,
Foolisher, and peccabler
Wishes and phantasies,—
Environed by you,
Ye silent, presentientest
Maiden-kittens,
Dudu and Suleika,
—Roundsphinxed, that into one word
I may crowd much feeling:
(Forgive me, O God,
All such speech-sinning! )
—Sit I here the best of air sniffling,
Paradisal air, truly,
## p. 377 (#577) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 377
Bright and buoyant air, golden-mottled,
As goodly air as ever
From lunar orb downfell—
Be it by hazard,
Or supervened it by arrogancy?
As the ancient poets relate it.
But doubter, I'm now calling it
In question: with this do I come indeed
Out of Europe,
That doubt'th more eagerly than doth any
Elderly married woman.
May the Lord improve it!
Amen.
This the finest air drinking,
With nostrils out-swelled like goblets,
Lacking future, lacking remembrances,
Thus do I sit here, ye
Friendly damsels dearly loved,
And look at the palm-tree there,
How it, to a dance-girl, like,
Doth bow and bend and on its hunches bob,
—One doth it too, when one view'th it long! —
To a dance-girl like, who as it seem'th to me,
Too long, and dangerously persistent,
Always, always, just on single leg hath stood?
—Then forgot she thereby, as it seem'th to me,
The other leg?
For vainly I, at least,
Did search for the amissing
Fellow-jewel
—Namely, the other leg—
In the sanctified precincts,
## p. 378 (#578) ############################################
378 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
Nigh her very dearest, very tenderest,
Flapping and fluttering and flickering skirting.
Yea, if ye should, ye beauteous friendly ones,
Quite take my word:
She hath, alas! lost it!
Hu! Hu! Hu! Hu! Hu!
It is away!
For ever away!
The other leg!
Oh, pity for that loveliest other leg!
Where may it now tarry, all-forsaken weeping?
The lonesomest leg?
In fear perhaps before a
Furious, yellow, blond and curled
Leonine monster? Or perhaps even
Gnawed away, nibbled badly—
Most wretched, woeful! woeful! nibbled badly!
Selah.
Oh weep ye not,
Gentle spirits!
Weep ye not, ye
Date-fruit spirits! Milk-bosoms!
Ye sweetwood-heart
Purselets!
Weep ye no more,
Pallid Dudu!
Be a man, Suleika! Bold! Bold!
—Or else should there perhaps
Something strengthening, heart-strengthening,
Here most proper be?
Some inspiring text?
Some solemn exhortation? —
## p. 379 (#579) ############################################
LXXVI. —DAUGHTERS OF THE DESERT. 379
Ha! Up now! honour!
Moral honour! European honour!
Blow again, continue,
Bellows-box of virtue!
Ha!
Once more thy roaring,
Thy moral roaring!
As a virtuous lion
Nigh the daughters of deserts roaring!
—For virtue's out-howl,
Ye very dearest maidens,
Is more than every
European fervour, European hot-hunger!
And now do I stand here,
As European,
I can't be different, God's help to me!
Amen!
The deserts grow: woe him who doth them hide!
LXXVII. —THE AWAKENING.
1.
After the song of the wanderer and shadow,
the cave became all at once full of noise and
laughter: and since the assembled guests all spake
simultaneously, and even the ass, encouraged there-
by, no longer remained silent, a little aversion and
scorn for his visitors came over Zarathustra,
although he rejoiced at their gladness. For it
seemed to him a sign of convalescence. So he
## p. 380 (#580) ############################################
380 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
slipped out into the open air and spake to his
animals.
"Whither hath their distress now gone? " said
he, and already did he himself feel relieved of his
petty disgust—" with me, it seemeth that they have
unlearned their cries of distress!
—Though, alas! not yet their crying. " And
Zarathustra stopped his ears, for just then did the
Ye-a of the ass mix strangely with the noisy
jubilation of those higher men.
"They are merry," he began, again, "and who
knoweth? perhaps at their host's expense; and if
they have learned of me to laugh, still it is not my
laughter they have learned.
But what matter about that! They are old
people: they recover in their own way, they laugh
in their own way; mine ears have already endured
worse and have not become peevish.
This day is a victory: he already yieldeth, he
fleeth the spirit of gravity, mine old arch-enemy!
How well this day is about to end, which began so
badly and gloomily!
And it is about to end. Already cometh the
evening: over the sea rideth it hither, the good
rider! How it bobbeth, the blessed one, the home-
returning one, in its purple saddles!
The sky gazeth brightly thereon, the world lieth
deep. Oh, all ye strange ones who have come to
me, it is already worth while to have lived with me! "
Thus spake Zarathustra. And again came the
cries and laughter of the higher men out of the
cave: then began he anew:
## p. 381 (#581) ############################################
LXXVII. —THE AWAKENING. 381
"They bite at it, my bait taketh, there departeth
also from them their enemy, the spirit of gravity.
Now do they learn to laugh at themselves: do I
hear rightly?
My virile food taketh effect, my strong and
savoury sayings: and verily, I did not nourish them
with flatulent vegetables! But with warrior-food,
with conqueror-food: new desires did I awaken.
New hopes are in their arms and legs, their
hearts expand. They find new words, soon will
their spirits breathe wantonness.
Such food may sure enough not be proper for
children, nor even for longing girls old and young.
One persuadeth their bowels otherwise; I am not
their physician and teacher.
The disgust departeth from these higher men:
well! that is my victory. In my domain they
become assured; all stupid shame fleeth away;
they empty themselves.
They empty their hearts, good times return unto
them, they keep holiday and ruminate,—they
become thankful.
That do I take as the best sign: they become
thankful. Not long will it be ere they devise
festivals, and put up memorials to their old joys.
They are convalescents! " Thus spake Zarathus-
tra joyfully to his heart and gazed outward; his
animals, however, pressed up to him, and honoured
his happiness and his silence.
2.
All on a sudden however, Zarathustra's ear was
frightened: for the cave which had hitherto been
## p. 382 (#582) ############################################
382 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
full of noise and laughter, became all at once still
as death ;—his nose however smelt a sweet-scented
vapour and incense-odour, as if from burning pine-
cones.
"What happeneth? What are they about? " he
asked himself, and stole up to the entrance, that he
might be able unobserved to see his guests. But
wonder upon wonder! what was he then obliged
to behold with his own eyes!
"They have all of them become pious again, they
pray, they are mad ! "—said he, and was astonished
beyond measure. And forsooth! all these higher
men, the two kings, the pope out of service, the
evil magician, the voluntary beggar, the wanderer
and shadow, the old soothsayer, the spiritually
conscientious one, and the ugliest man—they all
lay on their knees like children and credulous old
women, and worshipped the ass. And just then
began the ugliest man to gurgle and snort as if
something unutterable in him tried to find expres-
sion; when, however, he had actually found words,
behold! it was a pious, strange litany in praise of
the adored and censed ass. And the litany sounded
thus:
Amen! And glory and honour and wisdom and
thanks and praise and strength be to our God, from
everlasting to everlasting!
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
He carrieth our burdens, he hath taken upon him
the form of a servant, he is patient of heart and
never saith Nay; and he who loveth his God
chastiseth him.
## p. 383 (#583) ############################################
LXXVII. —THE AWAKENING. 383
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
Re speaketh not: except that he ever saith Yea
to che world which he created: thus doth he extol
his world. It is his artfulness that speaketh not:
thus is he rarely found wrong.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
Uncomely goeth he through the world. Grey is
the favourite colour in which he wrappeth his virtue.
Hath he spirit, then doth he conceal it; every one,
however, believeth in his long ears.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
What hidden wisdom it is to wear long ears, and
only to say Yea and never Nay! Hath he not
created the world in his own image, namely, as
stupid as possible?
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
Thou goest straight and crooked ways; it
concerneth thee little what seemeth straight or
crooked unto us men. Beyond good and evil is
thy domain. It is thine innocence not to know
what innocence is.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
Lo! how thou spurnest none from thee, neither
beggars nor kings. Thou sufferest little children
to come unto thee, and when the bad boys decoy
thee, then sayest thou simply, Ye-A.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-A.
Thou lovest she-asses and fresh figs, thou art no
food-despiser. A thistle tickleth thy heart when
thou chancest to be hungry. There is the wisdom
of a God therein.
—The ass, however, here brayed Ye-a.
## p. 384 (#584) ############################################
384 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
I
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. A
At this place in the litany, however, Zarathustra
could no longer control himself; he himself cried
out Ye-a, louder even than the ass, and sprang into
the midst of his maddened guests. "Whatever are
you about, ye grown-up children? " he exclaimed,
pulling up the praying ones from the ground.
"Alas, if any one else, except Zarathustra, had
seen you:
Every one would think you the worst blas-
phemers, or the very foolishest old women, with
your new belief!
And thou thyself, thou old pope, how is it in
accordance with thee, to adore an ass in such a
manner as God ? "—
"O Zarathustra," answered the pope, "forgive
me, but in divine matters I am more enlightened
even than thou. And it is right that it should
be so.
Better to adore God so, in this form, than in no
form at all! Think over this saying, mine exalted
friend: thou wilt readily divine that in such a
saying there is wisdom.
He who said ' God is a Spirit'—made the greatest
stride and slide hitherto made on earth towards
unbelief: such a dictum is not easily amended again
on earth!
Mine old heart leapeth and boundeth because
there is still something to adore on earth. Forgive
it, O Zarathustra, to an old, pious pontiff-heart 1—"
## p. 385 (#585) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 385
—" And thou," said Zarathustra to the wanderer
and shadow, "thou callest and thinkest thyself a
free spirit? And thou here practisest such idolatry
and hierolatry?
Worse verily, doest thou here than with thy
bad brown girls, thou bad, new believer! "
"It is sad enough," answered the wanderer and
shadow, "thou art right: but how can I help it!
The old God liveth again, O Zarathustra, thou
mayst say what thou wilt.
The ugliest man is to blame for it all: he hath
reawakened him. And if he say that he once killed
him, with Gods death is always just a prejudice. "
—" And thou," said Zarathustra, " thou bad old
magician, what didst thou do! Who ought to
believe any longer in thee in this free age, when
thou believest in such divine donkeyism?
It was a stupid thing that thou didst; how
couldst thou, a shrewd man, do such a stupid
thing! "
"O Zarathustra," answered the shrewd magician,
"thou art right, it was a stupid thing,—it was also
repugnant to me. "
—" And thou even," said Zarathustra to the
spiritually conscientious one, "consider, and put
thy finger to thy nose! Doth nothing go against
thy conscience here? Is thy spirit not too cleanly
for this praying and the fumes of those devotees? "
"There is something therein," said the spiritually
conscientious one, and put his finger to his nose,
"there is something in this spectacle which even
doeth good to my conscience.
Perhaps I dare not believe in God: certain it is,
2 B
## p. 386 (#586) ############################################
386
THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
however, that God seemeth to me most worthy of
belief in this form.
God is said to be eternal, according to the testi-
mony of the most pious: he who hath so much time
taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible:
thereby can such a one nevertheless go very far.
And he who hath too much spirit might well
become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think
of thyself, O Zarathustra !
Thou thyself—verily! even thou couldst well
become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.
Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the
crookedest paths ? The evidence teacheth it, O
Zarathustra,—thine own evidence! ”
—“And thou thyself, finally," said Zarathustra,
and turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay
on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass
(for he gave it wine to drink). “Say, thou non-
descript, what hast thou been about!
Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes
glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine
ugliness : what didst thou do?
Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again
awakened him ? And for why? Was he not for
good reasons killed and made away with ?
Thou thyself seemest to me awakened: what
didst thou do? why didst thou turn round? Why
didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript! "
“O Zarathustra,"answered the ugliest man, “thou
art a rogue!
Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is
thoroughly dead—which of us both knoweth that
best? I ask thee. .
## p. 387 (#587) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 387
One thing however do I know,—from thyself
lid I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth
o kill most thoroughly, laugheth.
'Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill'—
:hus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden
one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous
saint,—thou art a rogue! "
Then, however, did it come to pass that Zara-
thustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers,
jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning
towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:
"O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do
ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me!
How the hearts of all of you convulsed with
delight and wickedness, because ye had at last
become again like little children—namely, pious,—
—Because ye at last did again as children do—
namely, prayed, folded your hands and said 'good
God'!
But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine
own cave, where to-day all childishness is carried
on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-
wantonness and heart-tumult!
To be sure: except ye become as little children
ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven. "
(And Zarathustra pointed aloft with his hands. )
"But we do not at all want to enter into the
kingdom of heaven: we have become men,—so we
want the kingdom of earth''
## p. 387 (#588) ############################################
386 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
however, that God seemeth to me most worthy of
belief in this form.
God is said to be eternal, according to the testi-
mony of the most pious : he who hath so much time
taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible:
thereby can such a one nevertheless go very far.
And he who hath too much spirit might well
become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think
of thyself, O Zarathustra!
Thou thyself—verily! even thou couldst well
become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.
Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the
crookedest paths? The evidence teacheth it, O
Zarathustra,—thine own evidence! "
—"And thou thyself, finally," said Zarathustra,
aiVd turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay
on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass
(for he gave it wine to drink). "Say, thou non-
descript, what hast thou been about!
Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes
glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine
ugliness: what didst thou do?
Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again
awakened him? And for why? Was he not for
good reasons killed and made away with?
Thou thyself seemest to me awakened: what
didst thou do? why didst thou turn round? Why
didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript! "
"O Zarathustra," answered the ugliest man, "thou
art a rogue!
Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is
thoroughly dead—which of us both knoweth that
best? I ask thee.
## p. 387 (#589) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 387
One thing however do I know,—from thyself
did I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth
to kill most thoroughly, laugheth.
'Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill'—
thus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden
one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous
saint,—thou art a rogue! "
Then, however, did it come to pass that Zara-
thustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers,
jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning
towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:
"O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do
ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me! *
How the hearts of all of you convulsed with
delight and wickedness, because ye had at last
become again like little children—namely, pious,—
—Because ye at last did again as children do—
namely, prayed, folded your hands and said 'good
God'!
But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine
own cave, where to-day all childishness is carried
on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-
wantonness and heart-tumult!
To be sure: except ye become as little children
ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven. "
(And Zarathustra pointed aloft with his hands. )
"But we do not at all want to enter into the
kingdom of heaven: we have become men,—so we
want the kingdom of earth! '
## p. 387 (#590) ############################################
386 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, IV.
however, that God seemeth to me most worthy of
belief in this form.
God is said to be eternal, according to the testi-
mony of the most pious : he who hath so much time
taketh his time. As slow and as stupid as possible:
thereby can such a one nevertheless go very far.
And he who hath too much spirit might well
become infatuated with stupidity and folly. Think
of thyself, O Zarathustra!
Thou thyself—verily! even thou couldst well
become an ass through superabundance of wisdom.
Doth not the true sage willingly walk on the
crookedest paths? The evidence teacheth it, O
Zarathustra,—thine own evidence! "
—"And thou thyself, finally," said Zarathustra,
afrd turned towards the ugliest man, who still lay
on the ground stretching up his arm to the ass
(for he gave it wine to drink). "Say, thou non-
descript, what hast thou been about!
Thou seemest to me transformed, thine eyes
glow, the mantle of the sublime covereth thine
ugliness: what didst thou do?
Is it then true what they say, that thou hast again
awakened him? And for why? Was he not for
good reasons killed and made away with?
Thou thyself seemest to me awakened: what
didst thou do? why didst thou turn round? Why
didst thou get converted? Speak, thou nondescript! "
"O Zarathustra," answered the ugliest man, "thou
art a rogue!
Whether he yet liveth, or again liveth, or is
thoroughly dead—which of us both knoweth that
best? I ask thee.
## p. 387 (#591) ############################################
LXXVIII. —THE ASS-FESTIVAL. 387
One thing however do I know,—from thyself
did I learn it once, O Zarathustra: he who wanteth
to kill most thoroughly, laugheth.
'Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill'—
thus spakest thou once, O Zarathustra, thou hidden
one, thou destroyer without wrath, thou dangerous
saint,—thou art a rogue! "
Then, however, did it come to pass that Zara-
thustra, astonished at such merely roguish answers,
jumped back to the door of his cave, and turning
towards all his guests, cried out with a strong voice:
"O ye wags, all of you, ye buffoons! Why do
ye dissemble and disguise yourselves before me! *
How the hearts of all of you convulsed with
delight and wickedness, because ye had at last
become again like little children—namely, pious,—
—Because ye at last did again as children do—
namely, prayed, folded your hands and said 'good
God'!
But now leave, I pray you, this nursery, mine
own cave, where to-day all childishness is carried
on. Cool down, here outside, your hot child-
wantonness and heart-tumult!
To be sure: except ye become as little children
ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven.
