The Life of the Bee 



leading the horses, at that other who 

 throws up the sheaves on his fork, at the 

 women bending over the corn, and the 

 children at play. . . . They have not 

 displaced a stone, or removed a spadeful 

 of earth, to add to the beauty of the 

 scenery ; nor do they take one step, plant 

 a tree or a flower, that is not necessary. 

 All that we see is merely the involuntary 

 result of the effort that man puts forth to 

 subsist for a moment in nature ; and yet 

 those among us whose desire is only to 

 create or imagine spectacles of peace, 

 deep thoughtfulness, or beatitude, have 

 been able to find no scene more perfect 

 than this, which indeed they paint or 

 describe whenever they seek to present 

 us with a picture of beauty or happiness. 

 Here we have the first semblance, which 

 some will call the truth." 



332 



