The Life of the Bee 
leading the horses, at that other who 
throws up the sheaves on his fork, at the 
women bending over the corn, and the 
children at. play. ... They have not 
displaced a stone, or removed a spadeful 
of earth, to add to the beauty of the 
scenery ; nor do they take one step, plant 
a tree or a flower, that is not necessary. 
All that we see is merely the involuntary 
result of the effort that man puts forth to 
subsist for a moment in nature; and yet 
those among us whose desire is only to 
create or imagine spectacles of peace, 
deep thoughtfulness, or beatitude, have 
been able to find no scene more perfect 
than this, which indeed they paint or 
describe whenever they seek to present 
us with a picture of beauty or happiness. 
Here we have the first semblance, which 
some will call the truth.” 
332 
