The prettie _Bees_, with daily paines contrive Their curious _Combes_, and from the flowry Fields, Doe bring that pleasant sweetnesse to their Hive, Which _Nectar_, and _Ambrosiack_ dainties, yeelds, Yet, when themselves with labours they have tir’d, The following Winters famine to prevent, For their good service, either they are fir’d, Or, forth into an emptie _Hive_ are sent: And, there, with slender diet they are served, To leave another _Summers_ worke, to those Who take no care, though all the swarme be starved, If weake, and quite past labour once it growes. As with such _Bees_, it fares with many a one, That, spends his youthfull time in honest thrift; And, by the _Waspe_, the _Hornet_, or the _Drone_, Of all their labours, they are soone bereft. Sometime, the bordring _Flies_, much wrong this _brood_, Through idle _visitings_; or, them despoyle, By making friendly shewes of _neighbourhood_; When, all their Complements, are nought but guile. Sometime, their powerfull Foes do rob them quite; Sometime, their _Lords_, or _Landlords_, with pretence, Of claiming only what is just and right, Oppresse them without _mercie_, or _defence_. Thus, by one course or other, daily, some (That are laborious in an honest way) The prey of Pride, or Idlenesse become: And, such as these, may therefore truely say, That, whatsoever they to passe have brought, _Not for themselves, but others, they have wrought_. _=God=, by their Names, the =Stars= doth cal; And, hee is =Ruler= of them all._ [Illustration: ASTRA DEUS REGIT. ILLVSTR. XLIII. _Book. 4_]