The Life of the Bee 
enigma suffices, and that enigma is as great, 
and shines as mysteriously, in the peasants 
as in ourselves. As we trace life back to 
its all-powerful principle it confronts us on 
every side. To this principle each succeed- 
ing century has given a new name. Some 
of these names were clear and consoling. It 
was found, however, that consolation and 
clearness were alike illusory. But whether 
we call it God, Providence, Nature, chance, 
life, fatality, spirit, or matter, the mystery 
remains unaltered ; and from the experience 
of thousands of years we have learned 
nothing more than to give it a vaster name, 
one nearer to ourselves, more congruous 
with our expectation, with the unforeseen. 
That is the name it bears to-day, wherefore 
it has never seemed greater. Here we have 
one of the numberless aspects of the third 
semblance, which also is truth.” 
280 
