Zarathustra's roundelay



Zarathustra's roundelay (Zarathustra's Rundgesang), also called the Midnight Song (Mitternachts-Lied ) or Once More (Noch ein Mal), is a poem in the book Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883–1885) by Friedrich Nietzsche.

The poem first appears in Thus Spoke Zarathustra 's chapter "The Second Dance-Song", then reappears in a later chapter, "The Drunken Song".

German original
"O Mensch! Gib acht! Was spricht die tiefe Mitternacht? »Ich schlief, ich schlief—, Aus tiefem Traum bin ich erwacht:— Die Welt ist tief, Und tiefer als der Tag gedacht. Tief ist ihr Weh—, Lust—tiefer noch als Herzeleid: Weh spricht: Vergeh! Doch alle Lust will Ewigkeit—, —will tiefe, tiefe Ewigkeit!«"

Selected English translations
Alexander Tille:

"O man! Lose not sight! What saith the deep midnight? "I lay in sleep, in sleep; From deep dream I come to light. The world is deep, And deeper than ever day thought it might. Deep is its woe— And deeper still than woe—delight. Saith woe: 'Pass, go! Eternity's sought by all delight—, Eternity deep—by all delight!"

Thomas Common:

"O man! Take heed! What saith deep midnight's voice indeed? "I slept my sleep— "From deepest dream I've woke and plead:— "The world is deep, "And deeper than the day could read. "Deep is its woe— "Joy—deeper still than grief can be: "Woe saith: Hence! Go! "But joys all want eternity— "Want deep profound eternity!""