The Supper

For at this point the soothsayer interrupted the greeting of Zarathustra and his guests: he pressed forward as one who had no time to lose, seized Zarathustra’s hand and exclaimed: “But Zarathustra!

At that moment, the soothsayer interrupted as Zarathustra and his guests greeted one another. He pushed forward as if he had no time to lose, grabbed Zarathustra’s hand, and exclaimed: “But Zarathustra!

One thing is more necessary than the other, so sayest thou thyself: well, one thing is now more necessary UNTO ME than all others.

You yourself say that one thing is more necessary than another. Well, one thing is now more necessary TO ME than all others.

A word at the right time: didst thou not invite me to TABLE? And here are many who have made long journeys. Thou dost not mean to feed us merely with discourses?

A timely word: didn't you invite me to the TABLE? And many people here have traveled a long way. You don't intend to feed us only with speeches, do you?

Besides, all of you have thought too much about freezing, drowning, suffocating, and other bodily dangers: none of you, however, have thought of MY danger, namely, perishing of hunger—”

Besides, all of you have spent too much time thinking about freezing, drowning, suffocating, and other physical dangers. But none of you have thought about MY danger: starving to death.”

(Thus spake the soothsayer. When Zarathustra’s animals, however, heard these words, they ran away in terror. For they saw that all they had brought home during the day would not be enough to fill the one soothsayer.)

(That is what the soothsayer said. When Zarathustra’s animals heard his words, they ran away in terror. They saw that everything they had brought home that day would not be enough to satisfy the soothsayer alone.)

“Likewise perishing of thirst,” continued the soothsayer. “And although I hear water splashing here like words of wisdom—that is to say, plenteously and unweariedly, I—want WINE!

“Also dying of thirst,” the soothsayer continued. “And although I hear water splashing here like words of wisdom, flowing abundantly and endlessly, I want WINE!

Not every one is a born water-drinker like Zarathustra. Neither doth water suit weary and withered ones: WE deserve wine—IT alone giveth immediate vigour and improvised health!”

Not everyone is born a water drinker like Zarathustra. Water does not suit weary and withered people either. WE deserve wine. IT alone gives immediate vigor and makeshift health!”

On this occasion, when the soothsayer was longing for wine, it happened that the king on the left, the silent one, also found expression for once. “WE took care,” said he, “about wine, I, along with my brother the king on the right: we have enough of wine,—a whole ass-load of it. So there is nothing lacking but bread.”

As the soothsayer longed for wine, the king on the left, the silent one, spoke up for once. “WE took care of the wine,” he said, “my brother the king on the right and I. We have plenty of wine, a whole donkey-load of it. So all we need is bread.”

“Bread,” replied Zarathustra, laughing when he spake, “it is precisely bread that anchorites have not. But man doth not live by bread alone, but also by the flesh of good lambs, of which I have two:

“Bread,” replied Zarathustra, laughing as he spoke, “is exactly what hermits do not have. But people do not live by bread alone. They also live on the meat of good lambs, and I have two:

—THESE shall we slaughter quickly, and cook spicily with sage: it is so that I like them. And there is also no lack of roots and fruits, good enough even for the fastidious and dainty,—nor of nuts and other riddles for cracking.

We will slaughter THESE quickly and cook them with plenty of sage. That is how I like them. There are also plenty of roots and fruits, good enough even for the pickiest and most delicate eaters. And there are nuts and other riddles to crack.

Thus will we have a good repast in a little while. But whoever wish to eat with us must also give a hand to the work, even the kings. For with Zarathustra even a king may be a cook.”

So we will have a good meal soon. But anyone who wants to eat with us must also help with the work, even the kings. For with Zarathustra, even a king may be a cook.”

This proposal appealed to the hearts of all of them, save that the voluntary beggar objected to the flesh and wine and spices.

The proposal appealed to all of them, though the voluntary beggar objected to the meat, wine, and spices.

“Just hear this glutton Zarathustra!” said he jokingly: “doth one go into caves and high mountains to make such repasts?

“Just listen to this glutton Zarathustra!” he said jokingly. “Does one go into caves and high mountains to make such feasts?

Now indeed do I understand what he once taught us: Blessed be moderate poverty!’ And why he wisheth to do away with beggars.”

Now I understand what he once taught us: Blessed be moderate poverty!’ And I understand why he wants to do away with beggars.”

“Be of good cheer,” replied Zarathustra, “as I am. Abide by thy customs, thou excellent one: grind thy corn, drink thy water, praise thy cooking,—if only it make thee glad!

“Be cheerful,” replied Zarathustra, “as I am. Keep to your customs, my excellent friend. Grind your corn, drink your water, and praise your cooking, as long as it makes you happy!

I am a law only for mine own; I am not a law for all. He, however, who belongeth unto me must be strong of bone and light of foot,—

I am a law only for my own people. I am not a law for all. But anyone who belongs to me must be strong of bone and light on their feet.

—Joyous in fight and feast, no sulker, no John o’ Dreams, ready for the hardest task as for the feast, healthy and hale.

Joyful in battle and at feasts, neither a sulker nor a John o’ Dreams, ready for the hardest task as for a feast, healthy and strong.

The best belongeth unto mine and me; and if it be not given us, then do we take it:—the best food, the purest sky, the strongest thoughts, the fairest women!”—

The best belongs to me and my people. If it is not given to us, we take it: the best food, the purest sky, the strongest thoughts, the most beautiful women!”

Thus spake Zarathustra; the king on the right however answered and said: “Strange! Did one ever hear such sensible things out of the mouth of a wise man?

So Zarathustra spoke, but the king on the right replied: “Strange! Has anyone ever heard such sensible things from a wise man?

And verily, it is the strangest thing in a wise man, if over and above, he be still sensible, and not an ass.”

And truly, the strangest thing is when a wise man is also sensible and not a fool.”

Thus spake the king on the right and wondered; the ass however, with ill-will, said YE-A to his remark. This however was the beginning of that long repast which is called “The Supper” in the history-books. At this there was nothing else spoken of but THE HIGHER MAN.

The king on the right spoke these words and wondered. But the donkey said YE-A to his remark, out of ill will. This was the beginning of the long meal called “The Supper” in the history books. At the meal, nothing was discussed except THE HIGHER MAN.