The old saint in the forest

Zarathustra went down the mountain alone, no one meeting him. When he entered the forest, however, there suddenly stood before him an old man, who had left his holy cot to seek roots. And thus spake the old man to…

The saint recognises Zarathustra as changed and tells him to stay in the forest. He says he now loves God, not men, and Zarathustra answers that he brings gifts. They part laughing.

“Could it be possible! This old saint in the forest hath not yet heard of it, that GOD IS DEAD!”

Alone again, Zarathustra says to his heart that the saint has not heard of God's death.

“Whoever thou art, thou traveller,” said he, “help a strayed one, a seeker, an old man, who may here easily come to grief! The world here is strange to me, and remote; wild beasts also did I hear howling; and he who…

The old man asks for help and says he sought the saint in the forest, who has since died. He names himself the last pope, out of service and without a master. His heart sent him to seek Zarathustra.