The Life of the Bee 



quiver right over the hive, with prodigious 

 rustle of gossamer silks that countless 

 electrified hands might be ceaselessly rend- 

 ing and stitching ; it floats undulating, it 

 trembles and flutters like a veil of glad- 

 ness invisible fingers support in the sky, 

 and wave to and fro, from the flowers to 

 the blue, expecting sublime advent or de- 

 parture. And at last one angle declines 

 another is lifted ; the radiant mantle 

 unites its four sunlit corners ; and like 

 the wonderful carpet the fairy-tale speaks 

 of, that flits across space to obey its mas- 

 ter's command, it steers its straight course, 

 bending forward a little as though to hide 

 in its folds the sacred presence of the 

 future, towards the willow, the pear-tree, 

 or lime whereon the queen has alighted ; 

 and round her each rhythmical wave 

 comes to rest, as though on a nail of gold, 

 and suspends its fabric of pearls and of 

 luminous wings. 



122 



