The Life of the Bee 



ing themselves in strange and sterile efforts 

 whereby they never shall profit, but only 

 shall render more complex and more in- 

 explicable still the life of the idle. We 

 should conclude that the reason and 

 moral sense of these beings must belong 

 to a world entirely different from our own, 

 and that they must obey principles hope- 

 lessly beyond our comprehension. But 

 let us carry this review of our faults no 

 further. They are always present in our 

 thoughts, though their presence achieves 

 but little. From century to century only 

 will one of them for a moment shake off 

 its slumber, and send forth a bewildered 

 cry ; stretch the aching arm that supported 

 its head, shift its position, and then lie 

 down and fall asleep once more, until a 

 new pain, born of the dreary fatigue of 

 repose, awaken it afresh. 



414 



