THE UGLIEST MAN 383
oak tree that hath long resisted many wood cutters, heavily, suddenly, unto the terror even of those about to fell it. But forthwith he rose from the ground, and his face grew hard.
"I know thee well," he said with a brazen voice. "Thou art the miirderer of God! Let me go!
Thou didst not endure him who saw thee, who saw thee always, and through and through, thou ugliest man ! Thou tookest revenge on this witness ! "
Thus spake Zarathustra and was departing. But tjie unutterable one grasped after the tail of his coat and began again to gurgle and seek after words. " Stay ! " he said at last.
" Stay ! Pass not by ! I have found out what axe hath laid thee low. All hail unto thee, O Zarathustra, because thou standest again !
Thou foundest out, I know v/ell enough, the mood of His slayer, the mood of the murderer of God. Stay ! Sit down beside me. It is not in vain.
Unto whom did I intend to go, if not unto thee? Stay, sit down ! But look not at me ! Honour in that way my ugliness !
They persecute me. Thou art now my last refuge. Not with their hatred, not with their catchpoll. Oh, I would scoff at such a persecution ! I would be proud and rejoice at it !
Hath not all success hitherto been with the well persecuted ? And whoever persecuteth well, learneth
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