The Life of the Bee 



path that is traced in their life by an 

 intellect nothing can thwart or turn from 

 its purpose, by a spirit whose aim is 

 always the good of the morrow — on this 

 day man can approach them, can divide 

 the glittering curtain they form as they 

 fly round and round in songful circles; 

 he can take them up in his hand, and 

 gather them as he would a bunch of 

 grapes ; for to-day, in their gladnesSj 

 possessing nothing, but full of faith in 

 the future, they will submit to everything 

 and Injure no one, provided only they be 

 not separated from the queen who bears 

 that future within her. 



[25] 

 But the veritable signal has not yet 

 been given. In the hive there is in- 

 describable confusion ; and a disorder 

 whose meaning escapes us. At ordinary 

 times each bee, once returned to her 

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