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Thus Spake ZarathustraIdeasLibrary
Fourth and Last Part · LXIV. The Leech

Invitation to the cave, called away

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—“As the evidence indicateth,” broke in Zarathustra; for still was the blood flowing down on the naked arm of the conscientious one. For there had ten leeches bitten into it.

“O thou strange fellow, how much doth this very evidence teach me—namely, thou thyself! And not all, perhaps, might I pour into thy rigorous ear!

Well then! We part here! But I would fain find thee again. Up thither is the way to my cave: to-night shalt thou there be my welcome guest!

Fain would I also make amends to thy body for Zarathustra treading upon thee with his feet: I think about that. Just now, however, a cry of distress calleth me hastily away from thee.”

Ten leeches are seen on his bleeding arm, which Zarathustra takes as evidence of the man's devotion. He invites him to the cave as a guest and promises amends for the trampling. A cry of distress calls Zarathustra away.

Commentary on this chapter

What the critics said

The leech-man as scientific specialistAnthony M. Ludovici · Notes on Thus Spake Zarathustra, 1909interpretation

Ludovici reads the conscientious in spirit as the honest scientific specialist, like Darwin, who masters a hand's breadth of knowledge and is rigorous and blind beyond it, a higher man whom Zarathustra respects.