But before we enter into the saying of Parmenides we have quoted, we must note that the saying is not offered by Parmenides as the expression of a demand he makes. Rather, the saying is addressed to Parmenides himself. For there soon follow the words:
"τά σ᾽ ἐγὼ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα"
"This, the χρὴ τὸ λέγειν and other things, I call upon you to take to heart."
Ἐγὼ, "I." Who is this "I"? It is in any case a being who calls, in any case a call which speaks to the thinking thinker, and even speaks to him of ways. It shows to him three ways: one which thinking must go before all other ways; one to which thinκing must also pay heed as it proceeds; and one which remains impassable to thinking. The calling calls thinking to the crossroads of way, no way, and wrong way. But the way of thinking is of such a kind that this crossroads can never be crossed by a once-for-all decision and choice of way, and the way can never he put behind as once-for-all behind us. The crossroads accompanies us on the way, every moment. Where does this strange triple way lead? Where else but into what is always problematical, always worthy of questioning?
By the words of Parmenides it can be shown that he is subject to a call, that he recounts what is addressed to him in order to respond to it. But we prefer to give our attention directly to what is recounted here, and in and through it raise the question what it is that is addressed to him, rather than prove from the outside, and at length, and fundamentally in vain, that what speaks here is something like a calling.
Let us listen to the thinker's words:
"χρὴ τὸ λέγειν τε νοεῖν τ’ἐὸν ἔμμεναι"
But how are we to hear without translating, translate without interpreting? Even if we were dealing with some