242 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, III
This is the new stillness I learned : their noise around me spreadeth a mantle over my thoughts.
They make a noise among themselves : ' What doth that gloomy cloud there ? Let us see unto it that it bring not a pestilence unto us ! '
And of late a woman clasped unto herself her child that was coming unto me : ' Take the children away ! ' cried she; 'Such eyes scorch children's souls.'
They cough when I speak ; they are of opinion that coughing is an objection unto strong winds. They do not divine anything about the rushing of my happiness !
'We have not yet time for Zarathustra ' they say as an objection. But what matter about a time that hath 'no time' for Zarathustra?
And if they praise me, above all, how can I fall asleep on their fame ? A belt of spikes is their prais- ing unto me; it scratcheth me even when I take it off.
And this moreover I learned among them : the prais- ing one behaveth as if he restored things; in truth, however, he desireth to be given more !
Ask my foot whether it is pleased by their melody of praising and alluring ! Verily, unto such a time- beat and ticking it liketh neither to dance nor to stand still.
Unto small virtue they would fain allure me and draw me by praising. To share the ticking of their small happiness, they would fain persuade my foot.
�� �
