176 THE LIFE OF THE BEE 



feelings and ardour, created by ancient and imaginary 

 beauties, that humanity welcomes to-day truths which per- 

 haps would have never been born, which might not have 

 been able to find so propitious a home, had these sacrificed 

 illusions not first of all dwelt in, and kindled, the heart and 

 the reason whereinto these truths should descend. Happy 

 the eyes that need no illusion to see that the spectacle is 

 great ! It is illusion that teaches the others to look, to ad- 

 mire, and rejoice. And look as high as they will, they 

 never can look too high. Truth rises as they draw nearer ; 

 they draw nearer when they admire. And whatever the 

 heights may be whereon they rejoice, this rejoicing can 

 never take place in the void, or above the unknown and 

 eternal truth that rests over all things like beauty in 

 suspense. 



92 



Does this mean that we should attach ourselves to 

 falsehood, to an unreal and factitious poetry, and find our 

 gladness therein for want of anything better ? Or that in 

 the example before us — in itself nothing, but we dwell on it 

 because it stands for a thousand others, as also for our entire 

 attitude in face of divers orders of truths — that here we 

 should ignore the physiological explanation, and retain and 

 taste only the emotions of this nuptial flight, which is yet, 

 and whatever the cause, one of the most lyrical, most 

 beautiful acts of that suddenly disinterested, irresistible force, 

 which all living creatures obey, and are wont to call love ? 



