274 THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, III
by breaking openeth, all that is rotten and hollow ; the rolling, grudging, punishing breaker of whited sepulchres ; the shining interrogation mark beside pre- mature answers.
Thirst of power before the glance of which man creepeth and ducketh and slaveth and becometh lower than serpent or swine, until at last the great contempt crieth out of him.
Thirst of power the terrible teacher of the great contempt which preacheth : ' Away with thee ! ' in the very face of cities and empires, until a cry cometh out of themselves : ' Away with me ! '
Thirst of power which alluring mounteth self- contented heights up unto the pure and lonely, glow- ing like a love that, alluring, painteth purple blisses on earthly heavens.
Thirst of power but who could call it thirst, if what is high longeth to step down for power ! Verily, there is nothing sick or suppurative in such a long- ing and stepping down !
That the lonely height may not for ever be lonely and self-contented ; that the mount may come unto the valley, and the winds of the height unto the low lands !
Oh ! who could find the right Christian name and name of virtue for such a longing ! ' Giving virtue ' thus the unutterable was once called by Zarathustra.
And then it also came to pass and, verily, to
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