262 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, III
And some of them have even become night watch- men. They know now how to blow horns and to walk about in the night and awaken old things which have long ago fallen asleep.
Five words of old things I heard last night at the garden wall. They came from such old, dreary, dry night watchmen.
'For a father he taketh not care enough of his children. Human fathers do it better ! '
' He is too old ! He no longer taketh care of his children at all ' thus answered the other night watchman.
' Hath he got children ? No one can prove he hath, if he doth not prove it himself ! I "have wished for a long time he would prove it for once thoroughly.'
' Prove ? As though he had ever proved anything ! Proof is hard for him. He layeth much stress upon folk believing him.'
' Ay ! Ay ! Belief maketh him blessed, belief in him. Thus is the way of old folk ! Thus it will be with us too ! '
Thus they spake unto each other, the two old night watchmen and shunners of the light, and after- wards drearily blew their horns. Thus it came to pass yesternight at the garden wall.
But my heart writhed with laughter and was like to break and knew not whither to go, and sank into the midriff.
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