The Nuptial Flight 
to no eternal intellect, where his desire 
for the better could attain no actual 
good.’ 
“Once more, for the spectacle to absorb 
us, there is no need of progress. The 
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 con- 
fronts us on every side. To this principle 
each succeeding 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 un- 
altered ; and from the experience of thou- 
sands 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. 
343 
