THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, II
victory of mine overcomings, then ye made those who loved me cry, that I caused them the sorest pain.
Verily, it hath always been your action, to make bitter my best honey and the diligence of my best bees.
Ye always sent the most impudent beggars unto my charity. Ye always pressed the incurably shame- less round my sympathy. Thus ye wounded my virtues in their belief.
And as soon as I laid down as a sacrifice what was holiest unto me, quickly your ' piety ' laid its fatter gifts beside it, so that in the steam of your fat my holiest was suffocated.
And once I wished to dance as I had danced be- fore ; I wished to dance beyond all heavens. Then ye persuaded my dearest singer.
And now he started a dull, terrible melody. Alas, he blew into mine ears like a mournful horn !
Murderous singer, tool of wickedness, most innocent one ! Already I stood prepared for the best dance ; then thou murderedst my rapture with thy tunes !
Only in dancing I know how to utter the parable of the highest things. And now my highest parable remained unuttered in my limbs !
Unuttered and unsaved remained my highest hope ! And all the visions and comforts of my youth died !
How did I bear it ? How did I forget and over-
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