“No, my wings are strong; I can bear all mankind on my back, and I could carry them away to the stars behind the stars.”
“If Astra knew that!”
“Astra knows it. But she does not want me. She reckons out the stars with figures.”
“Why do you fly from one end to the other, O splendid Chimera? What is your object? What are you for?”
“What is your own object, little Psyche? What are you yourself for? For what are flowers, men, the stars? Who knows?”
“Astra....”
“No, Astra knows nothing. Her knowledge is founded on a fundamental error. All her knowledge is like a tower, which will fall down.”
“I should like to know much. I should like to know more. I should like to seek far through the universe. I long for what is most beautiful.... But I do not know what it is. Perhaps you yourself are what is most beautiful, Chimera.... But why are you now spreading out your wings?”
“I must go.”
“So soon? Whence? Oh, why are you going so soon, splendid Chimera?”