THE SWARM 

 that apparently nothing can trouble. They 

 have detached themselves from the wealth 

 they had to defend, and they no longer 

 recognise their enemies. They become 

 inoflFensive because of their happiness, 

 though why they are happy we know 

 not, except it be because they are obey- 

 ing their law. A moment of such blind 

 happiness is accorded by nature at times 

 to every living thing, when she seeks to 

 accomplish her end. Nor need we feel 

 any surprise that here the bees are her 

 dupes; we ourselves, who have studied 

 her movements these centuries past, and 

 with a brain more perfect than that of 

 the bee, we too are her dupes, and know 

 not even yet whether she be benevolent 

 or indifferent, or only basely cruel. 



[109] 



