The Swarm 
her that she must depart; it compels her 
to bring her own rivals into the world, 
and rears them royally, protecting them 
from their mother’s political hatred. So, 
too, in accordance with the generosity of 
the flowers, the age of the spring, and 
the probable dangers of the nuptial flight, 
will it permit or forbid the first-born 
of the virgin princesses to slay in their 
cradles her younger sisters, who are sing- 
ing the song of the queens. At other 
times, when the season wanes, and flowery 
hours grow shorter, it will command the 
workers themselves to slaughter the whole 
imperial brood, that the era of revolutions 
may close, and work become the sole 
object of all. The “spirit of the hive” 
is prudent and thrifty, but by no means 
parsimonious. And thus, aware, it would 
seem, that nature’s laws are somewhat 
wild and extravagant in all that pertains 
to love, it tolerates, during summer days 
4 
