_Virgil has taken care to raise the subject of each Georgic. In the first, he has only dead matter on which to work. In the second, he just steps on the world of life, and describes that degree of it which is to be found in vegetables. In the third, he advances to animals: and, in the last, he singles out the Bee, which may be reckoned the most sagacious of them, for his subject._ _In this Georgic, he shews us what station is most proper for the bees, and when they begin to gather honey; how to call them home when they swarm; and how to part them when they are engaged in battle. From hence he takes occasion to discover their different kinds; and, after an excursion, relates their prudent and politic administration of affairs, and the several diseases that often rage in their hives, with the proper symptoms and remedies of each disease. In the last place, he lays down a method of repairing their kind, supposing their whole breed lost; and gives at large the history of its invention._ The gifts of heaven my following song pursues, Aërial honey, and ambrosial dews. Mæcenas, read this other part, that sings } Embattled squadrons, and adventurous kings-- } A mighty pomp, though made of little things. } Their arms, their arts, their manners, I disclose, And how they war, and whence the people rose. Slight is the subject, but the praise not small, If heaven assist, and Phœbus hear my call. First, for thy bees a quiet station find, And lodge them under covert of the wind, (For winds, when homeward they return, will drive The loaded carriers from their evening hive,) Far from the cows' and goats' insulting crew, That trample down the flowers, and brush the dew. The painted lizard, and the birds of prey, Foes of the frugal kind, be far away-- The titmouse, and the pecker's hungry brood, And Procne, with her bosom stained in blood: These rob the trading citizens, and bear } The trembling captives through the liquid air, } And for their callow young a cruel feast prepare. } But near a living stream their mansion place, Edged round with moss, and tufts of matted grass: And plant (the winds' impetuous rage to stop) Wild olive trees, or palms, before the busy shop; That, when the youthful prince,[18] with proud alarm, Calls out the venturous colony to swarm-- When first their way through yielding air they wing, New to the pleasures of their native spring-- The banks of brooks may make a cool retreat For the raw soldiers from the scalding heat, And neighbouring trees with friendly shade invite The troops, unused to long laborious flight. Then o'er the running stream, or standing lake, A passage for thy weary people make; With osier floats the standing water strow; Of massy stones make bridges, if it flow; That basking in the sun thy bees may lie,