'Tis sacred silence all. Nor dare they stray, When rain is promised, or a stormy day; But near the city walls their watering take, Nor forage far, but short excursions make. And as, when empty barks on billows float, With sandy ballast sailors trim the boat; So bees bear gravel-stones, whose poising weight Steers through the whistling winds their steady flight. But (what's more strange) their modest appetites, Averse from Venus, fly the nuptial rites. No lust enervates their heroic mind, Nor wastes their strength on wanton womankind; But in their mouths reside their genial powers: They gather children from the leaves and flowers. Thus make they kings to fill the regal seat, } And thus their little citizens create, } And waxen cities build, the palaces of state. } And oft on rocks their tender wings they tear, And sink beneath the burdens which they bear: Such rage of honey in their bosom beats, And such a zeal they have for flowery sweets. Thus[19] though the race of life they quickly run, Which in the space of seven short years is done, The immortal line in sure succession reigns; } The fortune of the family remains, } And grandsires' grandsires[20] the long list contains. } Besides, not Egypt, India, Media, more, With servile awe, their idol king adore: While he survives, in concord and content } The commons live, by no divisions rent; } But the great monarch's death dissolves the government. } All goes to ruin; they themselves contrive To rob the honey, and subvert the hive. The king presides, his subjects' toil surveys. The servile rout their careful Cæsar praise: Him they extol: they worship him alone; They crowd his levees, and support his throne: They raise him on their shoulders with a shout; And, when their sovereign's quarrel calls them out, His foes to mortal combat they defy, And think it honour at his feet to die. Induced by such examples, some have taught, That bees have portions of ethereal thought-- Endued with particles of heavenly fires; For God the whole created mass inspires. Through heaven, and earth, and ocean's depth, he throws His influence round, and kindles as he goes. Hence flocks, and herds, and men, and beasts, and fowls, With breath are quickened, and attract their souls; Hence take the forms his prescience did ordain, And into him at length resolve again. No room is left for death: they mount the sky, And to their own congenial planets fly. Now, when thou hast decreed to seize their stores, And by prerogative to break their doors, With sprinkled water first the city choke, And then pursue the citizens with smoke. Two honey-harvests fall in every year: First, when the pleasing Pleiades appear, And, springing upward, spurn the briny seas: