登陆注册
15515800000067

第67章 LII. THE APOSTATES.(1)

1.

Ah, lieth everything already withered and grey which but lately stood green and many-hued on this meadow! And how much honey of hope did I carry hence into my beehives!

Those young hearts have already all become old--and not old even! only weary, ordinary, comfortable:--they declare it: "We have again become pious."Of late did I see them run forth at early morn with valorous steps: but the feet of their knowledge became weary, and now do they malign even their morning valour!

Verily, many of them once lifted their legs like the dancer; to them winked the laughter of my wisdom:--then did they bethink themselves. Just now have I seen them bent down--to creep to the cross.

Around light and liberty did they once flutter like gnats and young poets.

A little older, a little colder: and already are they mystifiers, and mumblers and mollycoddles.

Did perhaps their hearts despond, because lonesomeness had swallowed me like a whale? Did their ear perhaps hearken yearningly-long for me INVAIN, and for my trumpet-notes and herald-calls?

--Ah! Ever are there but few of those whose hearts have persistent courage and exuberance; and in such remaineth also the spirit patient. The rest, however, are COWARDLY.

The rest: these are always the great majority, the common-place, the superfluous, the far-too many--those all are cowardly!--Him who is of my type, will also the experiences of my type meet on the way: so that his first companions must be corpses and buffoons.

His second companions, however--they will call themselves his BELIEVERS,--will be a living host, with much love, much folly, much unbearded veneration.

To those believers shall he who is of my type among men not bind his heart;in those spring-times and many-hued meadows shall he not believe, who knoweth the fickly faint-hearted human species!

COULD they do otherwise, then would they also WILL otherwise. The half-and-half spoil every whole. That leaves become withered,--what is there to lament about that!

Let them go and fall away, O Zarathustra, and do not lament! Better even to blow amongst them with rustling winds,----Blow amongst those leaves, O Zarathustra, that everything WITHERED may run away from thee the faster!--2.

"We have again become pious"--so do those apostates confess; and some of them are still too pusillanimous thus to confess.

Unto them I look into the eye,--before them I say it unto their face and unto the blush on their cheeks: Ye are those who again PRAY!

It is however a shame to pray! Not for all, but for thee, and me, and whoever hath his conscience in his head. For THEE it is a shame to pray!

Thou knowest it well: the faint-hearted devil in thee, which would fain fold its arms, and place its hands in its bosom, and take it easier:--this faint-hearted devil persuadeth thee that "there IS a God!"THEREBY, however, dost thou belong to the light-dreading type, to whom light never permitteth repose: now must thou daily thrust thy head deeper into obscurity and vapour!

同类推荐
  • 泰州道中却寄东京故

    泰州道中却寄东京故

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 中山传信录

    中山传信录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 蒙鞑备录

    蒙鞑备录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六十种曲种玉记

    六十种曲种玉记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 白虎通义

    白虎通义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 明伦汇编人事典志愿部

    明伦汇编人事典志愿部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 斩妖除魔录

    斩妖除魔录

    上古年间,天地,妖魔鬼怪横行。穿梭在人世间,祸害人族,人类为求自保,探天地奥秘,寻万古仙域。斩妖魔鬼怪,出现一批批天地侠义之士。
  • 烛彻乾坤

    烛彻乾坤

    日月为明,何为日月?天地为纲,何为天地?天地以利欲司世人,何以司众神?请诸君耐下心神,且听我细细道来!
  • 凤临江山:腹黑嫡女斗邪王

    凤临江山:腹黑嫡女斗邪王

    一朝梦醒,她,21世纪的佣兵女王竟穿越成相府无用的“废柴”嫡女,还被退婚?可笑!看她如何横扫天下,手刃三界邪魔,独享天地至宝!某日却在忘川河边遇见一个冷酷腹黑的妖孽,吵着闹着要跟她在一起,竟然还拿三界人的性命来威胁她?这可怎么行!要在一起,也只能是——她把他扑倒!【若水穿越文大宠小虐路过别错过】
  • 外婆离世的前一天

    外婆离世的前一天

    小林杰与外婆之间的一段祖孙亲情真实感人故事·人鬼亲情三部曲
  • 你是我的人间四月天

    你是我的人间四月天

    罗素素因为家庭暴力,不得已离婚到北京投奔好姐妹高原,在北京仁和医院找了一份工作,在新的环境下她认识了在医院工作的四个女人并结下深厚的友谊。一个偶然的机会,罗认识了院长何世雄,何不仅医术超群而且为人正派为,他在对罗的照顾中感情日渐深厚,当何下定决心要离婚和罗在一起的时候,他的妻子查出癌症,不得已何暂时和罗分开……整部小说用细腻而沉重的基调写出一个不幸的女人的悲欢离合,同时也描写了一群可爱可敬的医护人员和背后不为人知的心酸委屈及对事业和生活的困惑和追求,同时用柔情和细腻的笔触塑造了一系列栩栩如生的人物,读起来如泣如诉,沉重而辛酸。
  • 死神之倾城一笑

    死神之倾城一笑

    死神重生,倾城倾国;仙魔大战,逆天争霸,死神一笑,六界悲歌,快意恩仇,生死绝恋,腹黑帅爆的师父,美艳霸气的徒弟,和一个穿越过来的现代男闺蜜,在修仙的路上与你一起演绎一场旷世绝恋······
  • 天玄异域

    天玄异域

    萧东浩,某市的一位普通中学生,因为一场惊天的跨位面阴谋而与其它伙伴聚在了一起,成为了天玄大陆的顶尖强者。隋唐!中国!龙岛!麒麟阁!神界!一个个庞大的势力背后究竟隐藏着怎样的惊天秘密!岁月蹉跎之后,只在后人的传说中闪过:一个蓝发少年手持金色利剑直指天神:此剑出,兽族无敌,天下独尊者,有吞天沃日之能,天神无畏!
  • 血雨人生传

    血雨人生传

    穿越异界,新的世界、新的身份、新的人生,奇幻历险、人生百态,一幅典雅的绘卷徐徐拉开。
  • 离嵊

    离嵊

    当繁华落尽,浮出水面的是那颗久未审视的内心