The Life of the Bee 
quiver right over the hive, with prodigious 
rustle of gossamer silks that countless 
electrified hands might be ceaselessly rend- 
ing and stitching; it floats undulating, it 
trembles and flutters like a veil of glad- 
ness invisible fingers support in the sky, 
and wave to and fro, from the flowers to 
the blue, expecting sublime advent or de- 
parture. And at last one angle declines 
another is lifted; the radiant mantle 
unites its four sunlit corners; and like 
the wonderful carpet the fairy-tale speaks 
of, that flits across space to obey its mas- 
ter’s command, it steers its straight course, 
bending forward a little as though to hide 
in its folds the sacred presence of the 
future, towards the willow, the pear-tree, 
or lime: whereon the queen has alighted ; 
and round her each rhythmical wave 
comes to rest, as though on a nail of gold, 
and suspends its fabric of pearls and of 
luminous wings. 
I22 
