Tra] AND SYMBOLS. 353 



because by doing so he escapes a worse penalty. A vulture is 

 objectionable ; carrion is more so. A despotism is bad ; anarchy 

 worse. There are plenty of other examples of tolerated offen- 

 siveness ; but the reason for their existence is always the same, 

 and is founded upon utility. MU. 



Tortuousness the Habit of the Weak. 



With its large and light wings, the butterfly can fly for a long 

 time. But it never flies in a straight line. The line it takes is 

 composed of an infinity of zig-zags, going up and down, and 

 from right to left. Thus it is saved from the bird which pur- 

 sues it, whose flight is far more rapid : for the butterfly is 

 always higher or lower than the place to which the bird flies, 

 expecting to catch it. Its tortuousness is not only its defence, 

 but its habit. So it usually is with weak natures. There are 

 weak-minded people who never go straight. The butterfly goes 

 zig-zag, even although no enemy is near; and these human 

 flutterers persist in crooked paths, even when there is nothing 

 to. fear from going straight. By the habit of their weak natures 

 they habitually shuffle and equivocate. You may as reasonably 

 expect a butterfly to fly in a line like the crow, as expect this 

 sort of people to abandon their tortuous courses. i. 



A Deceptive Tranquillity. 



We love tranquillity ; but there are forms of it which are 

 most deceptive. There are men and women whose appearance 

 of calm is as allusive as is that of the viperine serpents. These 

 latter reptiles have a dull, heavy disposition, and a slow mode 

 of progression, which suggests a nature too sluggish to do any 

 harm to any one. But like some human beings, though they 

 are too tranquil to search for prey, they know well enough where 

 to lie in wait for it. Placing themselves in the situations where 

 their victims are sure to pass, they enjoy their laziness until 

 there is a reason for discarding their appearance of tranquil- 

 lity and using for their own benefit the extraordinary activity 

 which they can command. Then, when the unsuspicious prey 

 approaches, they raise erect their head, which was negligently, 



