What has happened to me? Who orders this?- Ah, my angry mistress wishes it so; she spoke to me. Have I ever named her name to you?
Yesterday towards evening there spoke to me my still hour: that is the name of my terrible mistress.
And thus did it happen- for everything must I tell you, that your heart may not harden against the suddenly departing one!
Do you know the terror of him who falls asleep?-
To the very toes he is terrified, because the ground gives way under him, and the dream begins.
This do I speak to you in parable. Yesterday at the still hour did the ground give way under me: the dream began.
The hour-hand moved on, the timepiece of my life drew breath- never did I hear such stillness around me, so that my heart was terrified.
Then was there spoken to me without voice: "You know it, Zarathustra?"-
And I cried in terror at this whispering, and the blood left my face: but I was silent.
Then was there once more spoken to me without voice: "You know it, Zarathustra, but you do not speak it!"-
And at last I answered, like one defiant: "Yes, I know it, but I will not speak it!"
Then was there again spoken to me without voice: "You will not, Zarathustra? Is this true? Conceal yourself not behind your defiance!"-
And I wept and trembled like a child, and said: "Ah, I would indeed, but how can I do it! Exempt me only from this! It is beyond my power!"
Then was there again spoken to me without voice: "What
