The Life of the Bee 



judicious examination his convictions, his 

 principles, and his dreams. 



Once more, he has not the slightest de- 

 sire to abandon his human ideal. That 

 even which at first diverts him from this 

 ideal teaches him to return to it. It 

 were impossible for nature to give ill 

 advice to a man who declines to include 

 in the great scheme he is endeavouring 

 to grasp, who declines to regard as suffi- 

 ciently lofty to be definitive, any truth 

 that is not at least as lofty as the truth he 

 himself desires. Nothing shifts its place 

 in his life save only to rise with him; 

 and he knows he is rising when he finds 

 himself drawing near to his ancient image 

 of good. But all things transform them- 

 selves more freely in his thoughts ; and 

 he can descend with impunity, for he has 

 the presentiment that numbers of succes- 

 sive valleys will lead him to the plateau 

 that he expects. And, while he thus 



