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162 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
I have suffered thee to speake all thou wouldst, and
as long as thou pleasedst, without ever speaking one
word.' Is not this a kinde of speaking silence, and
easie to he understood? And as for other matters;
what sufficiency is there in us that we must not acknowledge
from the industry and labours of beasts?
Can there be a more formall and better ordained
policie, divided into so severall charges and offices,
more constantly entertained, and better maintained,
than that of Bees ? Shall we imagine their so orderly
disposing of their actions, and managing of their
vocations, have so proportioned and formall a conduct
without discourse, reason, and forecast ?
His quidam signis atque hoec exempla sequuti,
Esse apibus partem divinoe mentis, et haustus
AEthereos dixere. 1
Some by these signes, by these examples moved,
Said that in Bees there is and may be proved
Some taste of heavenly kinde,
Part of celestiall minde.
The Swallowes which, at the approach of springtime,
we see to pry, to search, and ferret all the
corners of our houses; is it without judgement they
seeke, or without discretion they chuse from out a
thousand places, that which is fittest for them to build
their nests and lodging ? And in that prety cunning
contexture and admirable framing of their houses,
would birds rather fit themselves with a round than
a square figure, with an obtuse than a right angle,
except they knew both the commodities and effects of
them ? Would they (suppose you) first take water and
then clay, unlesse they guessed that the hardnesse of
the one is softened by the moistnesse of the other?
Would they floore their palace with mosse or downe,
except they foresaw that the tender parts of their
young ones shall thereby lie more soft and easie?
Would they shroud and shelter themselves from stormy
weather, and build their cabbins towards the East,
1 VIRG. Geor. 1. iv. 219.