 | Thus Spake Zarathustra |  |
1.
IN MY dream, in my last morning-dream, I stood today on a promontory-beyond the world; I held a pair of scales, and weighed the world.
Alas, that the rosy dawn came too early to me: she glowed me awake, the jealous one! Jealous is she always of the glows of my morning-dream.
Measurable by him who hath time, weighable by a good weigher, attainable by strong pinions, divinable by divine nutcrackers: thus did my dream find the world:-
My dream, a bold sailor, half-ship, half-hurricane, silent as the butterfly, impatient as the falcon: how had it the patience and leisure to-day for world-weighing!
Did my wisdom perhaps speak secretly to it, my laughing, wide-awake day-wisdom, which mocketh at all "infinite worlds"? For it saith: "Where force is, there becometh number the master: it hath more force."
How confidently did my dream contemplate this finite world, not new-fangledly, not old-fangledly, not timidly, not entreatingly:-
-As if a big round apple presented itself to my hand, a ripe golden apple, with a coolly-soft, velvety skin:-thus did the world present itself unto me:-
-As if a tree nodded unto me, a broad-branched, strong-willed tree, curved as a recline and a foot-stool for weary travellers: thus did the world stand on my promontory:-
-As if delicate hands carried a casket towards me-a casket open for the delectation of modest adoring eyes: thus did the world present itself before me today:-
-Not riddle enough to scare human love from it, not solution enough to put to sleep human wisdom:-a humanly good thing was the world to me to-day, of which such bad things are said!
How I thank my morning-dream that I thus at today's dawn, weighed the world! As a humanly good thing did it come unto me, this dream and heart-comforter!
And that I may do the like by day, and imitate and copy its best, now will I put the three worst things on the scales, and weigh them humanly well.-
He who taught to bless taught also to curse: what are the three best cursed things in the world? These will I put on the scales.
Voluptuousness, passion for power, and selfishness: these three things have hitherto been best cursed, and have been in worst and falsest repute-these three things will I weigh humanly well.
Well! Here is my promontory, and there is the sea-it rolleth hither unto me, shaggily and fawningly, the old, faithful, hundred-headed dog-monster that I love!-
Well! Here will I hold the scales over the weltering sea: and also a witness do I choose to look on-thee, the anchorite-tree, thee, the strong-odoured, broad-arched tree that I love!-
On what bridge goeth the now to the hereafter? By what constraint doth the high stoop to the low? And what enjoineth even the highest still-to grow upwards?-
Now stand the scales poised and at rest: three heavy questions have I thrown in; three heavy answers carrieth the other scale.
| Thus Spake Zarathustra | |