Zarathustra's Prologue: Part 10

By Friedrich Nietzsche

Jan 29, 2024

Thus Spake Zarathustra - Painting by Yury Fomichev - Uploaded to pixels.com on November 20th, 2015.

This week, M2D brings you the conclusion of Zarathustra's Prologue to Thus Spake Zarathustra. Subscribe for similar readings of seminal texts.

Part Ten

This had Zarathustra said to his heart when the sun stood at noon-tide. Then he looked inquiringly aloft,—for he heard above him the sharp call of a bird. And behold! An eagle swept through the air in wide circles, and on it hung a serpent, not like a prey, but like a friend: for it kept itself coiled round the eagle's neck.

"They are mine animals," said Zarathustra, and rejoiced in his heart.

"The proudest animal under the sun, and the wisest animal under the sun,— they have come out to reconnoitre.

They want to know whether Zarathustra still liveth. Verily, do I still live?

More dangerous have I found it among men than among animals; in dangerous paths goeth Zarathustra. Let mine animals lead me!

When Zarathustra had said this, he remembered the words of the saint in the forest. Then he sighed and spake thus to his heart:

"Would that I were wiser! Would that I were wise from the very heart, like my serpent!

But I am asking the impossible. Therefore do I ask my pride to go always with my wisdom!

And if my wisdom should some day forsake me:—alas! it loveth to fly away!—may my pride then fly with my folly!"

Thus began Zarathustra's down-going.

Marginalia

At the conclusion of the Prologue, Zarathustra draws strength again from the sun, his eagle (pride), his serpent (wisdom), and his memory of the wise old man. Wishing that his pride always go with his wisdom, Zarathustra begins his down-going.

I haven't read past the Prologue, and I don't know what happens next in Zarathustra's down-going, but here's what's happening in mine. My work on Substack is organized around four priorities: