Do ye know the terror of him who falleth asleep?⁠—

To the very toes he is terrified, because the ground giveth way under him, and the dream beginneth.

This do I speak unto you in parable. Yesterday at the stillest hour did the ground give way under me: the dream began.

The hour-hand moved on, the timepiece of my life drew breath⁠—never did I hear such stillness around me, so that my heart was terrified.

Then was there spoken unto me without voice: “ Thou knowest it, Zarathustra? ”⁠—

And I cried in terror at this whispering, and the blood left my face: but I was silent.

Then was there once more spoken unto me without voice: “Thou knowest it, Zarathustra, but thou dost not speak it!”⁠—