查拉图斯特拉如是说 英文版 Thus Spake Zarathustra
尼采 Friedrich Nietzsche
LXXX. The Sign.
In the morning, however, after this night, Zarathustra jumped up from hiscouch, and, having girded his loins, he came out of his cave glowing andstrong, like a morning sun coming out of gloomy mountains.
"Thou great star," spake he, as he had spoken once before, "thou deep eyeof happiness, what would be all thy happiness if thou hadst not THOSE forwhom thou shinest!
And if they remained in their chambers whilst thou art already awake, andcomest and bestowest and distributest, how would thy proud modesty upbraidfor it!
Well! they still sleep, these higher men, whilst _I_ am awake: THEY arenot my proper companions! Not for them do I wait here in my mountains.
At my work I want to be, at my day: but they understand not what are thesigns of my morning, my step--is not for them the awakening-call.
They still sleep in my cave; their dream still drinketh at my drunkensongs. The audient ear for ME--the OBEDIENT ear, is yet lacking in theirlimbs."
--This had Zarathustra spoken to his heart when the sun arose: then lookedhe inquiringly aloft, for he heard above him the sharp call of his eagle."Well!" called he upwards, "thus is it pleasing and proper to me. Mineanimals are awake, for I am awake.
Mine eagle is awake, and like me honoureth the sun. With eagle-talons dothit grasp at the new light. Ye are my proper animals; I love you.
But still do I lack my proper men!"--
Thus spake Zarathustra; then, however, it happened that all on a sudden hebecame aware that he was flocked around and fluttered around, as if byinnumerable birds,--the whizzing of so many wings, however, and thecrowding around his head was so great that he shut his eyes. And verily,there came down upon him as it were a cloud, like a cloud of arrows whichpoureth upon a new enemy. But behold, here it was a cloud of love, andshowered upon a new friend.
"What happeneth unto me?" thought Zarathustra in his astonished heart, andslowly seated himself on the big stone which lay close to the exit from hiscave. But while he grasped about with his hands, around him, above him andbelow him, and repelled the tender birds, behold, there then happened tohim something still stranger: for he grasped thereby unawares into a massof thick, warm, shaggy hair; at the same time, however, there soundedbefore him a roar,--a long, soft lion-roar.
"THE SIGN COMETH," said Zarathustra, and a change came over his heart. Andin truth, when it turned clear before him, there lay a yellow, powerfulanimal at his feet, resting its head on his knee,--unwilling to leave himout of love, and doing like a dog which again findeth its old master. Thedoves, however, were no less eager with their love than the lion; andwhenever a dove whisked over its nose, the lion shook its head and wonderedand laughed.
When all this went on Zarathustra spake only a word: "MY CHILDREN ARENIGH, MY CHILDREN"--, then he became quite mute. His heart, however, wasloosed, and from his eyes there dropped down tears and fell upon his hands.And he took no further notice of anything, but sat there motionless,without repelling the animals further. Then flew the doves to and fro, andperched on his shoulder, and caressed his white hair, and did not tire oftheir tenderness and joyousness. The strong lion, however, licked alwaysthe tears that fell on Zarathustra's hands, and roared and growled shyly.Thus did these animals do.--
All this went on for a long time, or a short time: for properly speaking,there is NO time on earth for such things--. Meanwhile, however, thehigher men had awakened in Zarathustra's cave, and marshalled themselvesfor a procession to go to meet Zarathustra, and give him their morninggreeting: for they had found when they awakened that he no longer tarriedwith them. When, however, they reached the door of the cave and the noiseof their steps had preceded them, the lion started violently; it turnedaway all at once from Zarathustra, and roaring wildly, sprang towards thecave. The higher men, however, when they heard the lion roaring, cried allaloud as with one voice, fled back and vanished in an instant.
Zarathustra himself, however, stunned and strange, rose from his seat,looked around him, stood there astonished, inquired of his heart, bethoughthimself, and remained alone. "What did I hear?" said he at last, slowly,"what happened unto me just now?"
But soon there came to him his recollection, and he took in at a glance allthat had taken place between yesterday and to-day. "Here is indeed thestone," said he, and stroked his beard, "on IT sat I yester-morn; and herecame the soothsayer unto me, and here heard I first the cry which I heardjust now, the great cry of distress.
O ye higher men, YOUR distress was it that the old soothsayer foretold tome yester-morn,--
--Unto your distress did he want to seduce and tempt me: 'O Zarathustra,'said he to me, 'I come to seduce thee to thy last sin.'
To my last sin?" cried Zarathustra, and laughed angrily at his own words:"WHAT hath been reserved for me as my last sin?"
--And once more Zarathustra became absorbed in himself, and sat down againon the big stone and meditated. Suddenly he sprang up,--
HAPPINESS? I strive after my WORK!motionless,without repelling!
"FELLOW-SUFFERING! FELLOW-SUFFERING WITH THE HIGHER MEN!" he cried out,and his countenance changed into brass. "Well! THAT--hath had its time!
My suffering and my fellow-suffering--what matter about them! Do I thenstrive after HAPPINESS? I strive after my WORK!
Well! The lion hath come, my children are nigh, Zarathustra hath grownripe, mine hour hath come:--
This is MY morning, MY day beginneth: ARISE NOW, ARISE, THOU GREATNOONTIDE!"--
Thus spake Zarathustra and left his cave, glowing and strong, like amorning sun coming out of gloomy mountains.