Redow'rd and differenced with such alternative organs As they chose, to whate'er preferential function adapted, Wax-pocket or honey-bag, with an instinct rightly acordant. We know well the result, but not what causes effected 381 Their decision to prefer so blindly the race to the unit, As to renounce happiness for a problem, a vain abstraction; Making home and kingdom a vast egg-factory, wherein Food and life are stor'd up alike, and strictly proportion'd In loveless labour with mean anxīety. Wondrous Their reason'd motive, their altrūistic obedience Unto a self-impos'd life-sentence of prison or toil. Wonder wisely! then ask if these ingenious insects, (Who made Natur' against her will their activ' acomplice, And, methodizing anew her heartless system, averted 391 From their house the torrent of whelming natural increase,) Are blood-guiltless among their own-born prógeny: What skill Keeps their peace, or what price buys it? Alack! 'tis murder, Murder again. No worst Oriental despot, assuring 'Gainst birthright or faction or envy his ill-gotten empire, So decimates his kin, as do these rown-bodied egg-queens Surprise competitors, and stab their slumbering infants, Into the wax-cradles replunging their double-edged stings. Or what a deed of blood some high-day, when the summer[v]hath 400 Their clammy cells o'erbrim'd, and already ripening orchards And late flow'rs proclaim that starving winter approacheth, Nor will again any queen lead forth her swarm, dispeopling Their strawbuilt citadel; then watch how these busy workers Cease for awhile from toil; how crowding upon the devoted Drones they fall; those easy fellows gave some provocation; Yet 'tis a foul massacre, cold murder of unsuspecting Life-long companions; and done bloodthirstily:--is not Exercise of pow'r a delight? have yóu not a doctrine That calls duty pleasure? What an if they make merry, saying 'Lazy-livers, runagates, evil beasts, greedy devourers, 411 'Too happy and too long ye've liv'd, unashamed to have outliv'd 'Your breeders, feeders, warmers and toiling attendants; 'Had-ye ever been worthy a public good to accomplish, 'Each had nobly perish'd long-ago. Unneeded, obese ones, 'Impious encumbrance, whose hope of service is over, 'Who did not, now can not, assist the community, YE DIE!' My parable may serve. What wisdom man hath attain'd to Came to him of Nature's goodwill throu' tardy selection: Should her teaching accuse herself and her method impugn, I may share with her the reproach of approving as artist 421 Far other idēals than what seem needful in action. This difficulty besets our time. If you have an answer, Write me it, as you keep your salt in savour; or if toil