THE ASS-FESTIVAL 459
is not easy to make on earth amends for such a word !
Mine old heart leapeth and hoppeth because there is still something to be adored on earth. Forgive that, O Zarathustra, unto the old pious heart of a pope ! "
"And thou," said Zarathustra unto the wanderer and shadow, "thou callest and thinkest thyself a free spirit? And thou dost here such idolatry and service of priests ?
Worse, verily, thou dost here than with thine evil brown girls, thou evil new believer ! "
"It is bad enough," answered the wanderer and shadow, " thou art right. But how is it my fault ? The old God liveth again, O Zarathustra, thou mayest say whatever thou likest.
All this is the fault of the ugliest man. He hath awakened him again. And if -he saith that he hath slain him, with Gods death is always only a preju- dice."
" And thou," said Zarathustra, " thou evil old wizard, what didst thou ? Who shall, in this time of freedom, believe any more in thee, if thou believest in such God-doltishnesses ?
It was a stupidity thou didst. How couldst thou, thou prudent one, do such a stupidity ! "
" O Zarathustra," answered the prudent wizard, " thou art right, it was a stupidity. Besides, it hath been hard enough upon me."
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