Friedrich Nietzsche: Thus Spake Zarathustra

THIRD PART. 57. LVII. THE CONVALESCENT. (continued)

--To speak again the word of the great noontide of earth and man, to announce again to man the Superman.

I have spoken my word. I break down by my word: so willeth mine eternal fate--as announcer do I succumb!

The hour hath now come for the down-goer to bless himself. Thus--ENDETH Zarathustra's down-going.'"--

When the animals had spoken these words they were silent and waited, so that Zarathustra might say something to them: but Zarathustra did not hear that they were silent. On the contrary, he lay quietly with closed eyes like a person sleeping, although he did not sleep; for he communed just then with his soul. The serpent, however, and the eagle, when they found him silent in such wise, respected the great stillness around him, and prudently retired.