96 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, I
A third one looked for a servant with an angel's virtues. But suddenly he became the servant of a woman, and now it would be well if in consequence he became an angel.
I found all buyers careful, having cunning eyes. But even the most cunning one buyeth his wife in a sack.
Many short follies that is what ye call love. And your marriage maketh an end of many short follies being one long stupidity.
Your love unto woman, and woman's love unto man : alas ! would it were sympathy with suffering and veiled Gods ! But generally two animals find each other out.
But even your best love is but an enraptured parable and a painful heat. It is a torch that is to beacon you unto higher ways.
One day ye shall love beyond yourselves ! If so, first learn how to love. And hence ye have had to drink the bitter cup of your love.
Bitterness is in the cup even of the best love : thus it bringeth longing for beyond-man : thus it bring- eth thirst unto thee, the creator !
Thirst unto the creator, an arrow and longing for beyond-man : say, my brother, is that thy will unto marriage ?
Holy I call such a will and such a marriage."
Thus spake Zarathustra.
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