The Swarm 



in their unconscious servitude obey only 

 the laws of their own adoption. Man 

 may believe, if he choose, that, possessing 

 the queen, he holds in his hand the 

 destiny and soul of the hive. In accord- 

 ance with the manner in which he deals 

 with her — as it were, plays with her — 

 he can increase and hasten the swarm or 

 restrict and retard it ; he can unite or 

 divide colonies, and direct the emigration 

 of kingdoms. And yet -it is none the less 

 true that the queen is essentially merely a 

 sort of living symbol, standing, as all 

 symbols must, for a vaster although less 

 perceptible principle; and this principle 

 the apiarist will do well to take into 

 account, if he would not expose himself to 

 more than one unexpected reverse. For 

 the bees are by no means deluded. The 

 presence of the queen does not blind them 

 to the existence of their veritable sovereign, 

 immaterial and everlasting, which is no 



89 



