1.
How long will you sit on your misfortune?Watch out! You hatch me yet Another egg, A basilisk-eggOut of your long misery.
Why did Zarathustra sneak along the mountains? —
Distrustful, ulcerous, gloomy,One who long lies in wait —But suddenly, lightning,Bright, terrible, a blastHeavenwards out of the abyss:The mountains themselves shake fromThe bowels of the earth …
Where hate and lightning-flashBecome one, a curse —Now Zarathustra’s wrath cuts across the mountains,A storm-cloud creeps along its way.
Sneak off, one who has a last cover!Into bed with you, you weakling!Now rolling thunder over the vaults,Then shaking, as the beams and wall,Then flickering lightning and sulphur-yellow truths — Zarathustra curses …
2.
This coin, with whichAll the world pays,Fame —I grasp this coin with gloves,With disgust I trample it under me.
Who wants to be paid?Those for sale …Whoever is for sale, seizesWith sticky handsAll the world’s coin-jingle-jangle fame!
— You want to buy them?They’re all for sale.But offer much!Jingle with a full purse!— Otherwise you fortify them,You fortify their virtue …
They are all virtuous.Fame and virtue—it rhymes. [Ruhm und Tugend—das reimt sich.”]As long as the world lives,It will pay virtue-prattlingWith fame-rattling —The world lives on this noise …
Before all the virtuous I want to be guilty,Called guilty of each great offence!Before all fame-trumpetsMy ambition will become a worm —Among those I desireTo be the lowest …
This coin, with whichAll the world pays,Fame —I grasp this coin with gloves,With disgust I trample it under me.
3.
Hush! —From great things—I see a great deal! —One should keep silentOr speak greatly:Speak greatly, my delighted wisdom!
Up there I see —Rolling seas of light:— Oh night, oh silence, oh deathly silent uproar!…
I see a sign —From the distant beyondA glittering constellation slowly sinks towards me…
4.
Supreme star of being!Tablet of eternal forms!You come towards me? —Why hasn’t anyone beheldYour mute beauty —Why doesn’t it escape my gaze?
Sign of necessity!Tablet of eternal forms!— But of course you know it:What everyone hates,What I alone love,That you are eternal!That you are necessary!My love is ever ignitedOnly through necessity.
Sign of necessity!Supreme star of being! —That no desire attains,That no No desecrates,Eternal Yes of being,Eternally I am your Yes:For I love you, O eternity! — —