The Nuptial Flight 



In the meanwhile they exhaust the sup- 

 plies of the city ; each one of the parasites 

 requiring the unceasing labour of five or 

 six workers to maintain it in its abound- 

 ing and voracious idleness, its activity 

 being indeed solely confined to its jaws. 

 But nature is always magnificent when 

 dealing with the privileges and preroga- 

 tives of love. She becomes miserly only 

 when doling out the organs and instru- 

 ments of labour. She is especially severe 

 on what men have termed virtue, whereas 

 she strews the path of the most unin- 

 teresting lovers with innumerable jewels 

 and favours. " Unite and multiply ; 

 there is no other law, or aim, than love," 

 would seem to be her constant cry on 

 all sides, while she mutters to herself, 

 perhaps : " and exist afterwards if you 

 can ; that is no concern of mine." Do 

 or desire what else we may, we find, 

 everywhere on our road, this moraHty 

 299 



