Chapter 6 Prologue VI of Zarathustra

However, at this time, everyone's attention was focused on a new incident.Because at this moment the rope walker is starting his show: he comes out of a small gate and walks on the rope.This rope is tied between the two towers and stretched over the marketplace and the masses.When he reached the middle point of the rope, the small door opened again, and a clown-like boy in colorful clothes jumped out. The boy followed the first person with swift steps, "Hurry up, lame man, cried the boy's terrible voice, "forward! Sloth, way-stealer, gray face! Don't let me tickle you with my feet! What are you doing on the rope! You deserve to be shut up in a tower you barred the way of the better!"—he drew nearer with every word he uttered.When he was only one step away from the rope walker, the episode that was heard and heard by the whole audience happened: - the clown screamed like a ghost, and jumped over the head of the rope walker who was in the way.Seeing the victory of his opponent, the rope walker immediately became confused: his foot stepped on the air, and the balance stick slipped out of his grasp; he fell quickly to the ground, dancing with limbs.The crowd in the market is like the sea in a storm: they flee in disorder, especially where the body of the rope walker will fall.

But Zarathustra was very calm, and the body fell just beside him, with blurred features and limbs, but there was still a trace of breath.After a while the rope walker came to himself, and saw Zarathustra kneeling. "What are you doing here?" he spoke at last. "I knew the devil would hook me, and now he's dragging me to hell: are you going to stop him?" "By my honour, my friend," answered Zarathustra, "there is no such thing as you say: there is no devil, and there is no hell. Your soul dies sooner than your body: do not Be afraid!" The rope walker looked up at him distrustingly: "If your words are right," he went on, "then I don't really sacrifice anything for the loss of my life. I'm more or less a beast, and people kill me with a stick and a handful The food made me learn to walk the soft rope."

"No," said Zarathustra, "you have made danger your calling; that is no contempt. Now you have sacrificed your calling: so I will bury you with my own hands." When Zarathustra had finished speaking, the rope walker made no answer; but he moved his hand, as if seeking Zarathustra, in thanks.