The Life of the Bee 
from the hostile inertia of matter. She 
records each happy effort, and contrives we 
know not what special and benevolent laws 
to counteract the inevitable recoil. This 
progress, whose existence among the most 
intelligent species can scarcely be denied, 
has perhaps no aim beyond its initial impetus, 
and knows not whither it goes. But at 
least, in a world where nothing save a few 
facts of this kind indicates a precise will, it 
is significant enough that our eyes, once 
unsealed, should behold certain creatures 
rising thus, slowly and continuously; and 
had the bees revealed to us only this 
mysterious spiral of light in the overpower- 
ing darkness, that were enough to induce us 
not to regret the time we have given to 
their little gestures and humble habits, 
which seem so far away and are yet so nearly 
akin to our grand passions and arrogant 
destinies. 
11§ 
It may be that these things are all vain, 
and that our own spiral of light, no less than 
that of the bees, has been kindled for no 
340 
