shutting up themselves in their own work, they are new-born under
another figure, in order to perpetuate themselves. On the other
hand, the bees carefully suck and gather the juice of odorous and
fragrant flowers, in order to make their honey; and range it in such
an order as may serve for a pattern to men. Several insects are
transformed, sometimes into flies, sometimes into worms, or maggots.
If one should think such insects useless, let him consider that what
makes a part of the great spectacle of the universe, and contributes
to its variety, is not altogether useless to sedate and
contemplative men. What can be more noble, and more magnificent,
than that great number of commonwealths of living creatures so well
governed, and every species of which has a different frame from the
other? Everything shows how much the skill and workmanship of the
artificer surpasses the vile matter he has worked upon. Every
living creature, nay even gnats, appear wonderful to me. If one
finds them troublesome, he ought to consider that it is necessary
that some anxiety and pain be mixed with man's conveniences: for if
nothing should moderate his pleasures, and exercise his patience, he
would either grow soft and effeminate, or forget himself.


SECT. XX. Admirable Order in which all the Bodies that make up the
Universe are ranged.


Let us now consider the wonders that shine equally both in the
largest and the smallest bodies. On the one side, I see the sun so
many thousand times bigger than the earth; I see him circulating in
a space, in comparison of which he is himself but a bright atom. I
see other stars, perhaps still bigger than he, that roll in other