The Young Queens 
two irreconcilable sisters with the magnificent 
and familiar weapons that adorn and distract 
its bosom. 
83 
Does this force take measures to maintain 
what may be struggling on its surface, or 
must we say, arguing in the strangest of 
circles, that what floats on its surface must 
guard itself against the genius that has given 
it life? That question must be left open. 
We have no means of ascertaining whether 
it be notwithstanding the efforts of the 
superior will, or independently of these, or 
lastly, because of these, that a species has 
been able to survive. 
All we can say is that such a species 
exists, and that on this point, therefore, 
Nature would seem to be right. But who 
shall tell us how many others that we have 
not known have fallen victim to her restless 
and forgetful intellect? Beyond this we 
can recognise only the surprising and occa- 
sionally hostile forms that the extraordinary 
fluid we call life assumes, in utter uncon- 
sciousness sometimes, at others with a kind 
237 
