Thus Spake Zarathustra - Penn State University

Friedrich Nietzscheat first he had lain outstretched on the ground, hidden this life: first a beast bit thee, and then—a man trodand indiscernible, like those who lie in wait for swampgame.When however the trodden one had heard the name ofupon thee!”—“But whatever art thou about!” called out Zarathustra Zarathustra he was transformed. “What happeneth untoin alarm, for he saw a deal of blood streaming over the me!” he exclaimed, “Who preoccupieth me so much innaked arm,—”what hath hurt thee? Hath an evil beast this life as this one man, namely Zarathustra, and thatbit thee, thou unfortunate one?”one animal that liveth on blood, the leech?The bleeding one laughed, still angry, “What matter is For the sake of the leech did I lie here by this swamp,it to thee!” said he, and was about to go on. “Here am I like a fisher, and already had mine outstretched arm beenat home and in my province. Let him question me whoeverwill: to a dolt, however, I shall hardly answer.” my blood, Zarathustra himself!bitten ten times, when there biteth a still finer leech at“Thou art mistaken,” said Zarathustra sympathetically, O happiness! O miracle! Praised be this day which enticedme into the swamp! Praised be the best, the livestand held him fast; “thou art mistaken. Here thou art notat home, but in my domain, and therein shall no one cupping-glass, that at present liveth; praised be the greatreceive any hurt.conscience-leech Zarathustra!”—Call me however what thou wilt—I am who I must be. Thus spake the trodden one, and Zarathustra rejoicedI call myself Zarathustra.at his words and their refined reverential style. “Who artWell! Up thither is the way to Zarathustra’s cave: it is thou?” asked he, and gave him his hand, “there is muchnot far,—wilt thou not attend to thy wounds at my to clear up and elucidate between us, but alreadyhome?methinketh pure clear day is dawning.”It hath gone badly with thee, thou unfortunate one, in “I am the spiritually conscientious one,” answered he225