《查拉图斯特拉如是说·第四部》第52节
They empty their hearts, good times return unto them, they keep holiday and ruminate,—they become THANKFUL. THAT do I take as the best sign: they become thankful. Not long will it be ere they devise festivals, and put up memorials to their old joys. They are CONVALESCENTS!” Thus spake Zarathustra joyfully to his heart and gazed outward; his animals, however, pressed up to him, and honoured his happiness and his silence. All on a sudden however, Zarathustra’s ear was frightened: for the cave which had hitherto been full of noise and laughter, became all at once still as death;—his nose, however, smelt a sweet-scented vapour and incense-odour, as if from burning pine-cones. “What happeneth? What are they about?” he asked himself, and stole up to the entrance, that he might be able unobserved to see his guests. But wonder upon wonder! what was he then obliged to behold with his own eyes! “They have all of them become PIOUS again, they PRAY, they are mad!”—said he, and was astonished beyond measure. And forsooth! all these higher men, the two kings, the pope out of service, the evil magician, the voluntary beggar, the wanderer and shadow, the old soothsayer, the spiritually conscientious one, and the ugliest man—they all lay on their knees like children and credulous old women, and worshipped the ass. And just then began the ugliest man to gurgle and snort, as if something unutterable in him tried to find expression; when, however, he had actually found words, behold! it was a pious, strange litany in praise of the adored and censed ass. And the litany sounded thus: Amen! And glory and honour and wisdom and thanks and praise and strength be to our God, from everlasting to everlasting! —The ass, however, here brayed YE-A. He carrieth our burdens, he hath taken upon him the form of a servant, he is patient of heart and never saith Nay; and he who loveth his God chastiseth him. —The ass, however, here brayed YE-A. He speaketh not: except that he ever saith Yea to the world which he created: thus doth he extol his world. It is his artfulness that speaketh not: thus is he rarely found wrong. —The ass, however, here brayed YE-A. Uncomely goeth he through the world. Grey is the favourite colour in which he wrappeth his virtue. Hath he spirit, then doth he conceal it; every one, however, believeth in his long ears. —The ass, however, here brayed YE-A. What hidden wisdom it is to wear long ears, and only to say Yea and never Nay! Hath he not created the world in his own image, namely, as stupid as possible? —The ass, however, here brayed YE-A.
注释摘要
这段文字构成了一个极其尖锐的转折。查拉图斯特拉刚刚站在洞口，沉浸在一种欣慰的错觉里。他以为那些被他召集而来的“高等人”终于卸下了沉重的精神包袱，学会了笑，学会了康复。他用来判断他们走向痊愈的唯一标志，就是感激——一种不再怨恨生命、不再被“沉重精神”压垮的轻快状态。他甚至预感到，他们即将为自己失而复得的快乐设立节日和纪念碑。 然而，尼采在这里用一种冷幽默的方…