LXXIV. The Song of Melancholy

When Zarathustra spake these sayings, he stood nigh to the entrance of his cave; with the last words, however, he slipped away from his guests, and fled for a little while into the open air. “O pure odours around me,”…

Zarathustra leaves the cave, calls his eagle and serpent, and says he loves them. He remarks that the higher men do not smell well. The three stand silent and breathe the good air.

Hardly, however, had Zarathustra left the cave when the old magician got up, looked cunningly about him, and said: “He is gone! And already, ye higher men—let me tickle you with this complimentary and flattering name,…

As soon as Zarathustra is gone, the old magician says his melancholy devil is attacking him. He mocks Zarathustra as a saint's mask, then seizes his harp as evening falls.

In evening’s limpid air, What time the dew’s soothings Unto the earth downpour, Invisibly and unheard— For tender shoe-gear wear The soothing dews, like all that’s kind-gentle—: Bethinkst thou then, bethinkst thou,…

In the first part of the song the taunting voices call the burning-hearted singer a mere poet and fool who must lie. The song sets him against truth-statues and compares his desires to a bird of prey diving on lambs.

In evening’s limpid air, What time the moon’s sickle, Green, ‘twixt the purple-glowings, And jealous, steal’th forth: —Of day the foe, With every step in secret, The rosy garland-hammocks Downsickling, till they’ve…

The song turns to evening and the moon's sickle cutting down the day's garlands. The singer says he sank from his own truth-madness, and ends with the refrain 'Mere fool! Mere poet!'