The Life of the Bee 
ing themselves in strange and sterile efforts 
whereby they never shall profit, but only 
shall render more complex and mote in- 
explicable still the life of the idle. We 
should conclude that the reason and 
moral sense of these beings must belong 
to a world entirely different from our own, 
and that they must obey principles hope- 
lessly beyond our comprehension. But 
let us carry this review of our faults no 
further. They are always present in our 
thoughts, though their presence achieves 
but little. From century to century only 
will one of them for a moment shake off 
its slumber, and send forth a bewildered 
cry ; stretch the aching arm that supported 
its head, shift its position, and then lie 
down and fall asleep once more, until a 
new pain, born of the dreary fatigue of 
repose, awaken it afresh. 
414 
