The Sacred Beetle and Others 



were perceived, the Sisyphus would not try 

 to go round them, as witness her obstinacy 

 in trying to climb the wirework of the cage. 

 This is an arduous and impracticable enter- 

 prise. Clawing the meshes of the gauze 

 with her hind-legs, the mother pulls the load 

 towards her; then, putting her fore-legs 

 round it, she holds it suspended. The 

 father, finding nothing to stand upon, clings 

 to the ball, encrusts himself in it, so to speak, 

 adding his weight to that of the lump and 

 taking no further pains. The effort is too 

 great to last. The ball and its rider, form- 

 ing one mass, fall to the floor. The mother, 

 from above, looks for a moment in surprise 

 and forthwith drops down to recover the 

 load and renew her impossible attempt to 

 scale the side. After repeated falls, the 

 ascent is abandoned. 



The carting on level ground is not ef- 

 fected without impediment either. At every 

 moment, the load swerves on the mound 

 made by a bit of gravel; and the team topple 

 over and kick about, with their bellies in the 

 air. This is a trifle, the veriest trifle. The 

 two pick themselves up and resume their 

 positions as cheerily as ever. These tumbles, 

 which so often fling the Sisyphus on his back, 

 cause him no concern; one would even think 

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