Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/467

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THE SONG OF MELANCHOLY

��When making these speeches, Zarathustra stood close unto the entrance of his cave. But when utter- ing the last words, he escaped from his guests and fled for a short while into the open air.

"Oh, pure odours round me!" he exclaimed; "oh, blessed stillness round me ! But where are mine animals ? Come nigh, come nigh, mine eagle and my serpent !

Tell me, mine animals. These higher men alto- gether think ye, do they not smell well ? Oh, pure odours round me ! Now only I know and feel how I love you, mine animals ! "

And Zarathustra repeated : " I love you, mine ani- mals ! " But the eagle and the serpent pressed round him, when he spake these words, and looked up unto him. In this way they were all three together at peace, and snuffed and drew in the good air together. For outside the air was better than among the higher men.

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