登陆注册
5289700000050

第50章 XXXIX. POETS.

"Since I have known the body better"--said Zarathustra to one of his disciples--"the spirit hath only been to me symbolically spirit; and all the 'imperishable'--that is also but a simile.""So have I heard thee say once before," answered the disciple, "and then thou addedst: 'But the poets lie too much.' Why didst thou say that the poets lie too much?""Why?" said Zarathustra. "Thou askest why? I do not belong to those who may be asked after their Why.

Is my experience but of yesterday? It is long ago that I experienced the reasons for mine opinions.

Should I not have to be a cask of memory, if I also wanted to have my reasons with me?

It is already too much for me even to retain mine opinions; and many a bird flieth away.

And sometimes, also, do I find a fugitive creature in my dovecote, which is alien to me, and trembleth when I lay my hand upon it.

But what did Zarathustra once say unto thee? That the poets lie too much?

--But Zarathustra also is a poet.

Believest thou that he there spake the truth? Why dost thou believe it?"The disciple answered: "I believe in Zarathustra." But Zarathustra shook his head and smiled.--Belief doth not sanctify me, said he, least of all the belief in myself.

But granting that some one did say in all seriousness that the poets lie too much: he was right--WE do lie too much.

We also know too little, and are bad learners: so we are obliged to lie.

And which of us poets hath not adulterated his wine? Many a poisonous hotchpotch hath evolved in our cellars: many an indescribable thing hath there been done.

And because we know little, therefore are we pleased from the heart with the poor in spirit, especially when they are young women!

And even of those things are we desirous, which old women tell one another in the evening. This do we call the eternally feminine in us.

And as if there were a special secret access to knowledge, which CHOKETH UPfor those who learn anything, so do we believe in the people and in their "wisdom."This, however, do all poets believe: that whoever pricketh up his ears when lying in the grass or on lonely slopes, learneth something of the things that are betwixt heaven and earth.

And if there come unto them tender emotions, then do the poets always think that nature herself is in love with them:

And that she stealeth to their ear to whisper secrets into it, and amorous flatteries: of this do they plume and pride themselves, before all mortals!

Ah, there are so many things betwixt heaven and earth of which only the poets have dreamed!

And especially ABOVE the heavens: for all Gods are poet-symbolisations, poet-sophistications!

Verily, ever are we drawn aloft--that is, to the realm of the clouds: on these do we set our gaudy puppets, and then call them Gods and Supermen:--Are not they light enough for those chairs!--all these Gods and Supermen?--Ah, how I am weary of all the inadequate that is insisted on as actual!

Ah, how I am weary of the poets!

When Zarathustra so spake, his disciple resented it, but was silent. And Zarathustra also was silent; and his eye directed itself inwardly, as if it gazed into the far distance. At last he sighed and drew breath.--I am of to-day and heretofore, said he thereupon; but something is in me that is of the morrow, and the day following, and the hereafter.

I became weary of the poets, of the old and of the new: superficial are they all unto me, and shallow seas.

They did not think sufficiently into the depth; therefore their feeling did not reach to the bottom.

Some sensation of voluptuousness and some sensation of tedium: these have as yet been their best contemplation.

Ghost-breathing and ghost-whisking, seemeth to me all the jingle-jangling of their harps; what have they known hitherto of the fervour of tones!--They are also not pure enough for me: they all muddle their water that it may seem deep.

And fain would they thereby prove themselves reconcilers: but mediaries and mixers are they unto me, and half-and-half, and impure!--Ah, I cast indeed my net into their sea, and meant to catch good fish; but always did I draw up the head of some ancient God.

Thus did the sea give a stone to the hungry one. And they themselves may well originate from the sea.

Certainly, one findeth pearls in them: thereby they are the more like hard molluscs. And instead of a soul, I have often found in them salt slime.

They have learned from the sea also its vanity: is not the sea the peacock of peacocks?

Even before the ugliest of all buffaloes doth it spread out its tail; never doth it tire of its lace-fan of silver and silk.

Disdainfully doth the buffalo glance thereat, nigh to the sand with its soul, nigher still to the thicket, nighest, however, to the swamp.

What is beauty and sea and peacock-splendour to it! This parable I speak unto the poets.

Verily, their spirit itself is the peacock of peacocks, and a sea of vanity!

Spectators, seeketh the spirit of the poet--should they even be buffaloes!--But of this spirit became I weary; and I see the time coming when it will become weary of itself.

Yea, changed have I seen the poets, and their glance turned towards themselves.

Penitents of the spirit have I seen appearing; they grew out of the poets.--Thus spake Zarathustra.

同类推荐
  • 清风闸

    清风闸

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 心意门拳谱易筋经贯气

    心意门拳谱易筋经贯气

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说四品法门经

    佛说四品法门经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王制

    王制

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始天尊说北方真武妙经

    元始天尊说北方真武妙经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一个人也要好好吃早饭

    一个人也要好好吃早饭

    在自己曾经梦想的生活中梦想另一种生活。60个“厨室机密”。60种“美味关系”。从今天开始,动手为自己或所爱的人做一份早餐吧。有爱的早餐让每个清晨都变得美好。谨以此书献给即将长大成人的少男少女。献给即将远行的游子。献给所有心中有爱的人们。好时光不可辜负。这世界 ,会好的……
  • 神莲

    神莲

    这个世界最美最好的安娜王后已经离世,东国的王东神陷入长达十七年的长痛中。直到一个名叫莲儿的女孩出现,一切才发生了改变。东神、莲儿、周和、惜若、陆明之、望月,他们到底有怎样的故事,请看本书《神莲》。
  • 被改变的人生:南京大屠杀幸存者口述生活史

    被改变的人生:南京大屠杀幸存者口述生活史

    本书是南京大屠杀幸存者口述历史纪实作品。本书通过为数不多至今健在的幸存者的证言、大量详实、缜密的历史档案资料,详实地还原了南京大屠杀前后南京市民的生活场景与人生故事,用完整详实的细节揭露了日军侵略暴行给中国人民带来的深重灾难。与此前的种种大屠杀幸存者口述不同的是,此次口述资料的收集、整理、汇编由侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆与南京大学历史学院共同主持,每一位口述者的经历讲述均由专家审读,并核准相关史实细节。幸存者的口述从大屠杀前的平静生活开始讲起,直至大屠杀过后多年,更为完整、详实、准确地反映了南京大屠杀给亲历者一生造成的无法逆转的巨大心灵伤痛。习近平同志在《在南京大屠杀死难者国家公祭仪式上的讲话》中指出,我们铭记历史,是为了向世人宣告“昭昭前事,惕惕后人,永矢弗谖,祈愿和平”的心愿。我们今天记录历史,记录下大屠杀幸存者最后的证言,是为了记录生命,传递和平,坚守正义,守望明天!
  • 李麻子的爱情

    李麻子的爱情

    又是一年春天。周梅已经把孩子顺利地生了下来,孩子很健康,也很可爱,她抱着孩子去看了罗老师。罗老师墓前长满了油菜花,记得那一年,她才17岁,门前的油菜花也是长得如此茂盛,罗老师为她编了一个花环戴在头上。如今,她也像当年的罗老师一样,为他编织了一个花环,放在了他的墓前。
  • 龙源夜话

    龙源夜话

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 旷世商女:逆天废物三小姐

    旷世商女:逆天废物三小姐

    当第一杀手意外穿越成‘傻子’三小姐肿么办?徐颖表示没有压力,傻子嘛!你们既然说是,那我就装,直到装到你们后悔的那一日。只是,成日的装傻子,终有一日,她竟然被貌若‘傻子’的男人给算计了,这算不是算是一物降一物?某男笑得很嫩的对着某女道,“娘子,我们是不是该……”“滚粗!”某女冷若冰霜的脸顿时瓦解,冷脸变热脸,红艳美不胜收,只是谁又能想到,她那都是怒火!小夏新建了一个读者群,亲们喜欢这文的可以加群哦!群141606849
  • 奇异有趣的动物世界(科普知识大博览)

    奇异有趣的动物世界(科普知识大博览)

    在奇妙的动物世界中有很多精彩有趣的故事。种类繁多的动物令人眼花缭乱,他们灵活敏捷的身手,漂亮的样貌,神秘独特的生活习性都能让你连连惊叹。你喜欢家里的小猫小狗吗?很多人都喜欢这些小动物。作为人类的伙伴,我们需要学会尊重和爱护动物,与他们和睦相处、共同成长,要做到这一点,那就先从了解他们开始吧!地球上的生命种类繁多,动物是其组成部分之一。它们是大自然赐予的,能够和人类共同生长、相互影响的伙伴。从天上翱翔的飞禽到地上奔跑的野兽,从海底游弋的鱼类到洞穴里的昆虫等,地球上形形色色的动物让我们的世界变得热闹,充满生机。我们人类也是动物世界的一分子,而且是最高级的动物。
  • 康有为评传(国学大师丛书)

    康有为评传(国学大师丛书)

    本书是一部从思想学术角度描述康有为一生的传记。内容包括突破传统的藩篱;“貌孔心夷”的“今文学家”;一个先知的悲剧。
  • 奕见倾心

    奕见倾心

    初次见面,他将她送进警察局,再次见面,他又将她送进警察局,第三次见面,女人你知道盗窃罪数额巨大要判多少年吗?不想坐牢的话,留下来给我打工还债吧。——情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 红柳荡

    红柳荡

    骏马,要看一双眼睛;勇士,要看走过的脚印!都为自己打算的人群里, 啥时候都不会出现英雄!——哈萨克谚语。豹子啊!你快来看看吧,家里出事了!太阳刚刚挂在远处的乌孙山梁子上,奶茶还在铁皮炉子上熬着呢,艾尼瓦尔就匆匆穿上警服,骑着他那匹腿脚不灵的跛马,向红柳村赶去。电话是舅舅打来的。舅舅在电话中心疼地说,昨晚还在圈里吃草的马,一早就不见了,日怪得很呢,那匹马的肚子里,可怀着小马驹呢,下崽的事情,就在这几天呢!