The Life of the Bee 



perfect and rational, combined with a sub- 

 mission more logical and more complete. 

 And nowhere, surely, should we discover 

 more painful and absolute sacrifice. Let 

 it not be imagined that I admire this 

 sacrifice to the extent that I admire its 

 results. It were evidently to be desired 

 that these results might be obtained at 

 the cost of less renouncement and suf- 

 fering. But, the principle once accepted, 

 — and this is needful, perhaps, in the 

 scheme of our globe, — its organisation 

 compels our wonder. Whatever the 

 human truth on this point may be, life, 

 in the hive, is not looked on as a 

 series of more or less pleasant hours, 

 whereof it is wise that those moments 

 only should be soured and embittered 

 that are essential for maintaining exist- 

 ence. The bees regard it as a great 

 common duty, impartially distributed 

 amongst them all, and tending towards 

 ii6 



