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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
IltLUSTBATEB WITM 
 
 Exhibiting 
 
 N .-."tcaZle, circumstances 
 
 
 I 
 
 
A) 7355 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 AMONGST a variety of attempts made 
 to impart instruction to the youthful 
 mind, the Author of the following little 
 Poem, has endeavoured to select some 
 of the most popular incidents in the Eco- 
 nomy of the Bee, with a view to excite 
 the attention and curiosity of juvenile 
 readers to search into the history of that 
 industrious little insect. He has no de- 
 sire to lay claim to any superior degree 
 of poetical embellishment in the arrange- 
 
 l>7 3 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ment and composition of the story ; his 
 ambition has been merely, in simple 
 versification, to exhibit a source from 
 whence may be gleaned amusement and 
 instruction. The facts adduced in the 
 Poem are illustrated by Notes derived 
 from respectable authorities; so that whilst 
 the reader is amused, it cannot fail at the 
 same time to convey useful information. 
 
iMONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Introduction Court of Bees Speech of the Queen 
 Her claim to the Sovereign Authority by right of Con- 
 quest Reply to her Address, by one of the Peers; 
 who describes their labours in the fields. 
 
 BLEAK winter's dreary months were o'er, 
 
 And howling winds had ceased to roar ; 
 
 Reanimated by the spring. 
 
 The warbling choir began to sing ; 
 
 The fields were deck'd in green array, 
 
 And Flora, with her mantle gay, 
 
 Had usher'd in the month of May : 
 
 B 
 
2 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The distant fields their fragrance spread, 
 And rosy morn her dew-drops shed ; 
 The orchards teem'd with blossoms fair 
 Of plum, of cherry, and of pear : 
 The woods in richest robes were seen, 
 All in their sweet attire of green ; 
 The glowing charm all nature feels : 
 Now Flora her fair form reveals ; 
 And Phoebus, rising in his might, 
 Beamed from his purple mansions bright. 
 'Twas on the dawn of such a day. 
 The bees prepared their court to pay : 
 In state array 'd, the royal Queen 
 Upon her waxen throne was seen, 
 The peers within the palace meet 3 
 Her majesty with joy to greet, 
 The commons also hasten near. 
 Their sovereign's gracious speech to hear. 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEKS. 
 
 The senate waits the monarch's will, 
 
 Her royal mandates to fulfil. 
 
 Now all convoked, in robes of gold 
 
 She rises, graceful to behold. 
 
 Then from the throne her silence broke. 
 
 And to the peers around thus spoke : 
 
 a Ye nobles wise, who grace the state, 
 Since you request, I now relate 
 My regal title to the throne, 
 And whence the right is mine alone. 
 Know, when a chosen warlike band 
 Enlisted under our command, 1 
 Our loyal legions took their post, 
 And met the daring hostile host. 
 The bold usurper's marshall'd train 
 Was by our conquering army slain, 
 Its valiant chiefs we overthrew, 
 And their aspiring leader slew ; 
 
4 MONARCHY OE THE BEES. 
 
 From that victorious era bright. 
 
 The realm by conquest is our right. 
 
 Aside each host their weapons laid. 
 
 And the imperial will obey'd ; 
 
 The empire, rul'd by wholesome laws, 
 
 In useful arts makes common cause ; 
 
 The waxen citadel to rear, 
 
 Demands the aid of every peer ; 
 
 Assembled senators attend, 
 
 To assist the state, your counsels lend, 
 
 That we, by industry and skill, 
 
 With honied stores the realm may fill." 
 
 Thus spoke at large the sovereign Queen, 
 
 Her senators and chiefs between ; 
 
 Her speech excites the people's zeal, 
 
 And all one glow of ardour feel. 
 
 The nobles next address the Throne, 
 
 Soon as the royal will is known ; 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Towards the Queen a chief renown'd 
 Commences thus his speech profound : 
 " 'Tis our high duty to fulfil 
 Your Majesty's most gracious will ; 
 The bees have been from earliest days 
 For industry the theme of praise ; 
 By laws the empire govern'd wise 
 The flame of civil war defies. 
 All is activity and zeal, 
 To aid and help the public weal : 
 By break of day, dread Queen, we rise 
 To gather for the hive supplies ; 
 The chiefs attend the affairs of state, 
 And for the land deliberate. 
 The squadrons traversing the air, 
 To their own districts straight repair ; 
 According to their ranks they move, 
 As over Flora's realms they rove. 
 
6 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The nobles cull the fairest flowers, 
 
 Ranging through peach and nect'rine bowers ; 
 
 The inferior tribes, dispersed wide 
 
 Amongst them meadow sweets divide; 
 
 Some take the wild-flower blooming gay, 
 
 Some round the orchard devious stray. 
 
 All actively engaged to store 
 
 The hive, where all their gains they pour; 
 
 Some o'er the laboring train preside, 
 
 And through mid air the squadrons guide, 
 
 Or range in quest of honied sweets 
 
 Where they may cull in safe retreats. 
 
 The anxious workmen laden fly 
 
 With their rich treasures through the sky, 
 
 Panting beneath their fragrant spoil, 
 
 As through their airy way they toil. 
 
 Sometimes a burden'd 2 traveller eyes 
 
 A weary labourer, as he flies, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The one communicates his needs, 
 With generous hand the other feeds, 
 Supplying from his trunk, at ease. 
 Honey, his cravings to appease, 
 Then homeward, laden, wings his way, 
 The wants of other bees to stay. 
 But when fierce winds disturb the air 
 The bees, of gathering storms aware, 
 Provide them ballast, 3 or in vain 
 Would they attempt the aerial main, 
 Nor once the destin'd harbour gain : 
 Their limbs with gravelly dust they load, 
 To poise them through the airy road ; 
 With steady course their way they steer, 
 Nor the rude tempest's anger fear. 
 And keep the haven fair in sight, 
 Prepared, should dangers rise, for flight : 
 
8 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Thus all abroad thy subjects roam, 
 And bring their honied treasures home." 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 Speech of a venerable Sage He relates the various labours 
 of the Hive Care of the Infant Offspring Construc- 
 tion of the Hive Ceremony observed on the Queen's 
 going abroad Streets of the Hive lined with guards 
 Her visit to each cell ^Ceremony at the time of her 
 depositing her eggs Regulations to preserve the 
 health of the Community Treatment of the Drones 
 Story of the Two Bees. 
 
 NEXT, to address the royal Queen, 
 A venerable Sage is seen, 
 In waxen arts one greatly famed. 
 Whose counsels wise attention claira'd ; 
 
10 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Th' affairs internal of the state 
 
 Thus he commences to relate: 
 
 " The infant offspring, watch'd with care, 
 
 Our most paternal kindness share ; 
 
 All day from cell to cell some go, 
 
 The wants 4 of infant bees to know, 
 
 These, ceaseless, they with food supply. 
 
 Till all assume their wings, and fly. 
 
 First quits the infant grub his shell, 
 
 To take possession of a cell, 
 
 Then wraps him in a silken bed, 
 
 And lies as silent as the dead, 
 
 Till roused from slumbers, with surprise 
 
 He claps his willing wings, and flies ; 
 
 Then instant joins the labouring train, 
 
 Toils in the cells, or scours the plain. 
 
 No jarring interests here, nor strife, 
 
 All is activity and life; 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 11 
 
 The busy artisans pursue 
 Their works the day unceasing through; 
 The pile augments on every side. 
 The nobles see it rise, with pride ; 
 Its ample palaces extend, 
 And bulwarks strong the realm defend; 
 Here rows of stately mansions fair 
 Are seen, the great alone dwell there; 
 There the pavilion rears its head, 
 Where royalty alone dares tread ; 
 There guards of honour daily stand, 
 To execute your great command. 
 Sometimes upon a summer's day, 
 When Tis your will abroad to stray, 5 
 The royal pleasure is made known 
 To all that wait around the throne ; 
 The streets with faithful guards are lined, 
 Each has his various post assign'd ; 
 
12 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The labouring bees from toils refrain, 
 And join the wide extended train ; 
 With regal pomp it moves along. 
 The pride and triumph of the throng. 
 Now pass they on,. from street to street, 
 While joyful crowds their sovereign greet : 
 A faithful train the palace leave, 
 That you their homage may receive. 
 Now pass they through the city's gate, 
 Where numerous guards obedient wait ; 
 Onward before, a thousand steer, 
 A thousand nobles close the rear ; 
 Abroad through Flora's realms they roam, 
 And when you will, they hasten home. 
 So when, great Queen, your peers among, 
 Attended by a numerous throng, 
 From cell to cell 6 you speed your way, 
 With care an egg in each to lay, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 13 
 
 The retinue the charge attend. 
 And from surrounding ills defend; 
 With waxen works the cells enclose 
 Secure from all invading foes. 
 Awhile the offspring dormant sleep, 
 Then from their waxen prisons creep: 
 Thus into life a nation's seen 
 To spring, from one prolific queen, 
 Yourself the fruitful parent, sole 7 
 And mighty guardian of the whole. 
 But when the population great 
 Becomes too numerous for the state, 
 A bee of royal race is found, 
 Whom thousands joyful rally round : 
 The busy crowds with shouts proclaim, 
 Thro' the wide realm, aloud the same. 
 The colony, 8 a marshall'd band, 
 Forsake the hive at her command ; 
 
14 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Not long the bold adventurers fly ? 
 Ere they a chosen spot descry ; 
 Concentrated, the active train 
 Commence a new auspicious reign ; 
 The waxen pile they soon complete 
 The mansions fair and royal seat. 
 
 But lest, midst such a numerous band, 
 
 p 
 
 Infection should overspread the land; 
 Some take their station at the gate, 
 The building vast to ventilate; 9 
 By turns, with wings extended wide, 
 They agitate the ethereal tide, 
 The vital stream the realm inhales, 
 While through the nation health prevails, 
 Save when untimely fate, or age, 
 (For even here death war doth wage) 
 Arrests and cuts life's tender thread, 
 And leaves them number'd with the dead ; 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 1 
 
 For these some pace the city round, 
 
 With careful search, and when they're found. 
 
 With funeral pomp they swift convey 
 
 Them off for burial far away. 10 
 
 If any lose their stings 11 in war, 
 
 Such is the rigour of the law, 
 
 From out the city they must fly, 
 
 Or, by our code, be doom'd to die. 
 
 If fell disease the realm invade, 
 
 A cruel 12 edict is obey'd; 
 
 Lest the contagion wide should spread, 
 
 Far off the dying and the dead 
 
 Are borne, the infection to allay, 
 
 Or all to death would fall a prey. 
 
 Thus all your subjects still are seen 
 Toiling t' enrich the realm, O Queen ! 
 One glow of patriotic zeal 
 Their ever-loyal bosoms feel. 
 
16 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Though wide dispers'd, the numerous train 
 
 Are eager all in quest of gain. 
 
 Save the dull drone, whose gay attire 
 
 The unthinking many most admire ; 
 
 Yet he nor heeds the general good. 
 
 Nor labours to procure him food ; 
 
 Pleased with his courtly dress he strays, 
 
 And on th' industrious people preys, 
 
 But soon his idle race is run, 
 
 And he for ever is undone; 
 
 The chiefs convict the rogue of stealth. 
 
 Then drive 13 him from the commonwealth. 
 
 A headstrong subject scarce you see, 
 
 Save in a drone or humble bee, 
 
 Or sometimes in a stripling bold 
 
 Intemperance we may behold ; 
 
 Such as occurred, great Queen, of late, 
 
 To a young noble of the state ; 
 
 The tale permit me to relate : 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 17 
 
 Two Bees, one morning fair in May, 
 Did each in quest of honey stray ; 
 The one was profligate and wild. 
 The other sober, chaste, and mild. 
 They had not travelled o'er much ground, 
 Ere they a wide-mouth'd vial foundj 
 With honey laden full and sweet 
 As though prepared their wants to meet. 
 Th' unthinking profligate alights, 
 And his companion much invites ; 
 The sober youth, with cautious eye. 
 Perceives, or fears, some danger nigh; 
 Perhaps, while sipping round the brink, 
 He might within the vial sink, 
 And thus untimely meet his fate, 
 While of the honied sweets he ate : 
 Forewarned of ill, he takes his leave, 
 With promise to return at eve, 
 
 
18 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 And searches out an orchard fair 
 Where he procures him ample fare. 
 Now sinks in shades the lamp of day. 
 And homeward bends the peer his way, 
 But lest the stripling late should roam, 
 He calls, to bid him hasten home ; 
 Upon the vial's brim he stands, 
 But now, alas ! too late commands ; 
 The giddy youth, while round he tript, 
 Into the vial's mouth had slipt, 
 Immers'd in sweets, he tried in vain 
 The treach'rous vessel's brim lo gain ; 
 Clogg'd and enfeebled in his wings, 
 The viscid juice around him clings; 
 Exhausted, when his friend draws near, 
 He dying sinks, appall'd with fear, 
 And in faint tones lamenting cries, 
 Mourns his untimely end, and dies. 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 19 
 
 His late companion seeks in grief, 
 A sad asylum for relief^ 
 As oft he calls to mind his friend. 
 Now brought to an untimely end." 
 Thus spoke the venerable sire. 
 Bows, then solicits to retire. 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Address of a Veteran Chief He describes their Enemies 
 The Wasp The Snail and the Caterpillar Singular 
 Mode of treating them Attack of the Hornets 
 Council of the Chiefs They resolve to give Battle. 
 
 A VETERAN chief, of lineage high, 
 Deeds of renown to state, draws nigh; 
 
 With eloquence, before the throne, 
 
 Thus he their feats in war makes known : 
 
 " Our cells the robber oft by night 
 Invades, confiding in his might; 
 
22 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The daring wasp 14 e'en fights his way. 
 And rushes through the gates for prey ; 
 The thief the lab'ring train alarms, 
 The watchful guards swift call to arms, 
 Instant the valiant legion flies ; 
 The enemy their number eyes. 
 Provokes though single armed, the fight, 
 Midst crowds, nor refuge seeks in flight. 
 Th* enraged citizens assail, 
 And o'er the fearless foe prevail ; 
 Beneath a shower of darts he falls, 
 Then, borne in triumph to the walls, 
 Is hurl'd with fury to the plain, 
 Where they deposit all their slain. 
 But other insects oft, by stealth, 
 Creep in, and rob the state of wealth: 
 The knave, by his insidious wiles, 
 The careful centinels beguiles, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 23 
 
 But when descried, no respite meets. 
 No intercessor for him treats, 
 A thousand darls the robber feels. 
 As stung with pain in death he reels. 
 Sometimes a snail, 15 ill-fated, crawls, 
 By stealth within the waxen walls, 
 The faithful troops attack the foe, 
 And lay the slimy monster low, 
 The pond'rous carcass lifeless Iies 5 
 Which all their strength to more defies ; 
 But where their wonted vigour fails, 
 Their skill in works of art prevails : 
 Lest noxious odours should overspread 
 The land, some quick embalm the dead, 
 The invader they enamel o'er 
 With propolis, a foreign store, 
 And thus with so much skill o'erlay, 
 That no effluvia finds its way. 
 
24 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 But should a caterpillar 16 dare 
 To enter, instant death's his share ; 
 Too heavy should the carcass prove, 
 Now lifeless stretch'd, for them to move, 
 Instant they sever it in two, 
 Then drag the trunk the portals through. 
 Thus have we ventur'd to relate, 
 Great Queen, the labours of the state; 
 The senate's patriotic zeal, 
 And commons', for the public weal/' 
 The nobles bow low at her feet, 
 Then slow before the throne retreat. 
 But the most bold of robbers vile, 
 That dares attack the treasured pile, 
 And comes prepared, an armed band, 
 For plunder, to invade the land, 
 Is the fierce hornet^ 17 brave and strong ; 
 T assail their wealth these often throng. 
 
'MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 25 
 
 This foe voracious storms the gate, 
 And spreads alarm through all the state ; 
 Instant the chiefs a council call, 
 The veteran peers assemble all, 
 The guards repair to every post, 
 To check th' advancing hostile host. 
 A warrior grave, in wisdom great, 
 Commences thus the sage debate : 
 4< My counsel is to strike a blow, 
 And instant battle give the foe ; 
 Our case is desperate, we must all 
 In one dread conflict stand, or fall. 
 This I advise, ye chiefs ; give ear, 
 Ere all are overcome with fear." 
 He ceased, another warrior rose, 
 His counsel eager to propose : 
 Ct To stop their rapid march, I own, 
 Is right, or ruin'd is the throne; 
 
26 MONARCHY OE THE BEES. 
 
 But when to give their armies fight, 
 By day, or by surprise at night, 
 And where ; these points we must debate, 
 Then leave the dread result to fate. 
 Without the city's wall, far hence, 
 Let us the combat fierce commence ; 
 The seat of war they'll urge to make 
 Within, our waxen works to break, 
 And while in fight the armies meet, 
 Some with the spoil will quick retreat. 
 It is expedient, then, that we 
 On this momentous point agree," 
 Next rose a venerable peer, 
 Not to increase, but calm their fear, 
 " Your bold advice, great chiefs, is wise, 
 But they may take us by surprise ; 
 For, should our hosts their station leave, 
 They may the cells of wealth bereave, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 27 
 
 Thus, though we make th* invaders fly. 
 The people would by famine die. 
 I counsel that a chosen band 
 Be left within, to guard the land, 
 A garrison, with skill and might, 
 That may their ambush put to flight ; 
 Without the walls then meet the foe, 
 And let the daring hornets know 
 The weight and vengeance of our rage 
 When war with us they dare to wage. 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 The Chiefs repair to the Queen Relate their Delibe- 
 rations She approves of their Decision Leaves the 
 Hive at the head of her Army to give Battle Fierce 
 Engagement between the Bees and the Hornets 
 Manner in which the Conflict is terminated. 
 
 \J p to the throne the chiefs now go ? 
 The Sovereign's pleasure there to know. 
 Their warlike counsels they repeat. 
 Then bow before the regal seat ; 
 The royal queen approves their skill. 
 Their wisdom meets her gracious will : 
 
30 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 u Defensive war, ye peers, is just, 
 And to your might the realm I trust ; 
 This day renown'd for deeds shall be, 
 And give our armies victory. 
 Let us away, ye chiefs arise, 
 To take th' invaders by surprise/' 
 Thus spoke the Queen ; the armies shout, 
 As to the plain they urge their route, 
 Then through mid air indignant rush, 
 Th' audacious enemy to crush. 
 The savage foe, with cruel rage, 
 Drawn up in order to engage, 
 Is seen ; each host with fury burns, 
 As to the gate the battle turns, 
 A thousand darts envenom'd fly, 
 And troops on troops promiscuous die. 
 The bees, with skill superior fight, 
 And overcome superior might; 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 31 
 
 Fierce and more fierce the contest grows, 
 Now chieftains warring chiefs oppose ; 
 The conflict rages far and wide. 
 And victory turns from side to side. 
 The queen, to animate her host, 
 Is seen to fly from post to post, 
 Where'er the combat doubtful reigns, 
 Its rage and fury she sustains ; 
 Vast heaps of dead bestrew the ground, 
 And dying groans are heard around. 
 Full many a warrior bites the dust, 
 No more th' envenom'd dart to thrust ; 
 Death grimly marching thins their lines, 
 And to the grave whole ranks consigns ; 
 The distant flanks the breach repair. 
 The hottest of the war to share. 
 The hornets strong their ground maintain 
 Amongst whole heaps of heroes slain. 
 
32 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Charge after charge on either side 
 
 Is made, nor does their wrath subside ; 
 
 In equal poise the pendnat scales 
 
 Remain, nor either host prevails. 
 
 The bees, their state and wealth to save, 
 
 The hornets' strength ferocious brave ; 
 
 With patriotic zeal they fight, 
 
 Invincible, disdaining flight. 
 
 With rage rekindling, lo the Queen 
 
 Rushing along the lines is seen, 
 
 The sov'reign's presence re-inspires, 
 
 And their brave souls with vengeance fires ; 
 
 Like billows bursting on the shore, 
 
 Upon th' undaunted host they pour; 
 
 The foe inflexible remains, 
 
 And all their foaming wrath sustains ; 
 
 As leaves autumnal strew the ground, 
 
 The dead and dying fall around. 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 33 
 
 Repeated shocks their host appals, 
 And with them many a warrior falls, 
 Nor could the conflict cease to rage 
 When such dire enemies engage. 
 Till death his banners wide had spread, 
 And number'd all amongst the dead. 
 Did not some hero 18 intervene, 
 To stop the devastating scene, 
 By scattering showers of dust among 
 The mad, infuriated throng. 
 This bold expedient breaks their ranks, 
 As well the centre as the flanks ; 
 To rally they attempt in vain, 
 Discord prevails o'er all the plain. 
 The hornets safety seek in flight, 
 Not daring to resume the fight ; 
 The bees victorious homeward fly, 
 And pass the dead indignant by; 
 
34 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The warriors in the conflict brave, 
 Their city and their wealth to save, 
 To store the cells again they go. 
 Secure against the vanquish'd foe. 
 The sov'reign mourns a numerous train 
 Of subjects in the combat slain, 
 Till nature's bounteous hand and care 
 Doth with her gifts the breach repair, 
 Fresh swarms replenish soon the state 
 And thousands crowd the city's gate. 
 
35 
 
 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Close of their labours in the fields- Death of the Queen 
 Rebellion of the Commonwealth Plunder of the 
 Hive Election of a new Queen Commencement of 
 a new Era. 
 
 THUS, till autumnal suns decline. 
 The bees to gather food combine; 
 The noble fabric shews their skill. 
 Where honey dews each morn distil; 
 Their arduous works the cells attest, 
 All with the honied burdens press'd : 
 
36 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Their barns are stored, and plenty greets 
 The busy crowds that pace the streets; 
 The senate hails its labours o'er 
 Abroad, and sees well hous'd their store. 
 Fair Flora, late so gay array'd, 
 Laments to see her colours fade. 
 For now the harvest moon hath waned. 
 And Phoebus his bright beams restrained; 
 Abroad the squadrons cease to roam ? 
 Since they have sung their harvest home ; 
 Each works unwearied in his cell, 
 Where all the winter months they dwell. 
 The stores they have at their command 
 More than supply with food the land. 
 
 The bees continue long to thrive, 
 And sweets abundant fill the hive. 
 Seven years the active race remain, 
 Then terminates the sovereign's 19 reign, 
 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 37 
 
 For now her health excites their fears ; 
 Sinking beneath the weight of years. 
 The aged monarch's strength decays, 
 And she the debt of nature pays ; 
 Surrounded by the nobles great, 
 She yields reluctantly to fate : 
 Her power to govern strong and wise 
 Fades as she fades, and with her dies. 
 The chiefs unite to save the realm. 
 Lest faction should right overwhelm ; 
 The tidings sad abroad are spread, 
 And discord instant rears her head; 
 Rebellion to fair peace succeeds, 
 With civil war the nation bleeds ; 
 The sealed cells of waxrn store 
 Are sacred view'd by them no more ; 
 The senate sues for peace in vain, 
 Lo rebels are by rebels slain, 
 
38 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The treasured honey robbers seize, 
 
 Nor can the great their wrath appease ; 
 
 The state, by sad divisions rent, 
 
 Falls with the mould'ring government; 
 
 But 'midst this scene of anarchy 
 
 Is raised again the standard high 
 
 By one renowned of royal 20 breed, 
 
 By right entitled to succeed. 
 
 The great the standard rally round. 
 
 There instant all the chiefs are found ; 
 
 The throne thus strengthened by the peers 
 
 Begins to dissipate its fears ; 
 
 The rebel army now repair, 
 
 And to their Queen allegiance swear. 
 
 Consolidated thus once more, 
 
 Their civil broils at length are o'er. 
 
 From bearing arms the people cease, 
 
 And cultivate the arts of peace, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 39 
 
 Resume their wonted works again, 
 With a new era arid new reign ; 
 The laws are reverenc'd and obey'd, 
 Foundations for new cells are laid, 
 A city on the once gay scite 
 Again majestic tow'rs in height , 
 The waxen palaces arise. 
 And shouts of triumph rend the skies. 
 
4i 
 
 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Conclusion Moral of the Poem : Triumph of Industry 
 over Idleness.. 
 
 JL HUS have I sung the golden age, 
 And wars that bees offended wage ; 
 Their industry and care have shown. 
 And veneration for the throne ; 
 The perseverance and the skill 
 They use, the hive with sweets to fill ; 
 
42 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 The toils incessant they endure. 
 Their honied treasures to procure. 
 Yet are they for their pains repaid : 
 When summer suns and flowers fade, 
 While tribes of other insects die 
 For want, beneath a winfry sky, 
 The bees, with cells well stor'd, can feed 
 Through the cold months on richest mead. 
 
 Ye youthful minds, who love to stray 
 Where they for honey wing their way, 
 Learn from the labours of the bee 
 The sure reward of industry. 
 Their little minds and bodies too 
 Ardent their various works pursue, 
 And from beginnings small acquire 
 All they can wish for or desire. 
 Let then their wise examples bright 
 Make you m diligence delight, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 43 
 
 Your studies with fresh zeal renew, 
 
 They'll yield you pleasures not a few ; 
 
 Sip, like the bee, from every flower, 
 
 Nor pass away an idle hour; 
 
 Let life's fair morn devoted be 
 
 To useful arts ; from error flee ; 
 
 Ascend the steep that leads to fame, 
 
 And the rich prize of knowledge claim ; 
 
 Then eye the sluggard, as he strays, 
 
 And wastes in idleness his days : 
 
 The wall that fenc'd his vineyards round 
 
 Is crumbling daily to the ground ; 
 
 The breach which time had open'd there 
 
 He has not courage to repair; 
 
 His garden, cover'd o'er with weeds, 
 
 The reptile tribes of insects feeds ; 
 
 The thistle and the thorn there grow, 
 
 An emblem of the sluggard's woe. 
 
44 MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 
 
 Lo, nettles all his lands o'erspread, 
 There deadly nightshade rears its head ; 
 Such is the produce of his fields. 
 Such are the fruits his garden yields ; 
 For want he pines, with folded hands. 
 While desert lie his richest lands ; 
 To shun his fate in vain he tries, 
 In vain for aid the sluggard cries, 
 But clothed with shame and rags he dies. 
 
 Not so with him whose garden fair 
 Bespeaks his industry and care ; 
 He sees the dew. drop on the thorn 
 Sweetly distil at early morn ; 
 He rises with the breaking day, 
 And o'er his fields pursues his way ; 
 His vineyards flourish, yellow corn 
 The distant hills and vales adorn, 
 
MONARCHY OF THE BEES. 45 
 
 A rich abundance crowns his board, 
 
 His barns with plenty are well stored ; 
 
 Nor winter's blast excites his fear, 
 
 He has the, produce of the year. 
 
 And spends life's evening in repose, 
 
 Nor cares, nor wants, nor sorrow knows. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 Note 1. 
 
 IT not unfrequently occurs that there are two 
 pretenders to the throne; when this is the case, 
 the bees divide, a general conflict takes place, 
 nor does the battle cease until one of the queen 
 bees is slain ; the survivor is immediately ack- 
 nowledged, and the hostile parties are reconciled 
 and rally round the conqueror. 
 
 Note 2. 
 
 It has been observed that a bee laden with 
 honey on his way to the hive, has been accosted 
 by a hungry companion ; how the one manages 
 to communicate its wants to the other, it is per- 
 
48 NOTES, 
 
 haps impossible to discover ; but the fact is cer- 
 tain, that when two bees meet in this situation, 
 they mutually stop, and the one whose stomach 
 is full of honey extends its trunk, opens its 
 mouth, and like a ruminating animal, forces 
 up the honey ; the hungry bee with the point 
 of its trunk sucks the honey from the other's 
 mouth. When not stopped on the road, the 
 bee, as before stated, proceeds to the hive, 
 and in the same manner offers its honey to those 
 who are at work, as if it meant to prevent the 
 necessity of their quitting their labour in order 
 to go in quest of food. 
 
 Bingley 's Animal Biography, Vol. 3. 
 
 Note 3. 
 
 Bees seem also to be forewarned of the 
 approach of bad weather, by some particular 
 feeling ; it sometimes happens even when they 
 are assiduous and busy, that they on a sudden 
 cease from their work, not a single one stirs 
 out., and those that are abroad hurry home in 
 
NOTES. 49 
 
 such prodigious crowds, that the doors of their 
 habitations are too small to admit them. 
 
 Encyclopaedia Londinensis. 
 
 The circumstance of the bees providing 
 themselves with ballast, is taken from Virgil's 
 Georgics, Book 4. 
 
 Note 4. 
 
 The common bees go from cell to cell 
 with astonishing tenderness and anxiety, they 
 furnish the grub with food, and watch over it 
 with unremitting assiduity ; in about six days 
 the grub arrives at its full growth, when its 
 affectionate attendants 'shut up the mouth of its 
 apartment with wax, in order to secure it from 
 injury; thus enclosed it soon begins to line the 
 walls of its cell with a silken tapestry, in 
 which it undergoes its last transformation : 
 when it first crawls forth a winged insect it is 
 very weak and inactive, but in the course of a 
 few hours it acquires strength enough to fly off 
 
 to its labour. 
 
 Bingley, Vol. 3. 
 
50 NOTES. 
 
 Note 5. 
 
 When the queen bee is desirous of going 
 abroad, the work of the hive ceases, vast num. 
 bers follow in procession as she passes through 
 the streets, carefully attend her as she flies, and 
 also return with her to the hive. 
 
 White on the Management of Bees. 
 
 Note 6. 
 
 The queen is seen at times attended by a 
 numerous retinue marching from cell to cell, 
 plunging the extremity of her body into each of 
 them, and leaving in each an egg. 
 
 Bingley, Vol. 3. 
 
 Note 7. 
 
 To the Queen the whole swarm, amounting 
 from twenty to forty thousand, owe their birth : 
 she is easily distinguished from the other bees 
 by the form of her body ; she is longer and 
 
NOTES. 51 
 
 larger than they are, and her wings are much 
 shorter than theirs in proportion to her body ; 
 she is unwieldy in her flight, a reason for her 
 seldom flying ; but when she leaves the parent 
 hive to settle a colony, all the bees form her 
 retinue, and like dutiful subjects repair to the 
 place she chooses. She is armed with a vigor, 
 ous sting : less passionate 3 however, than her 
 subjects, she only uses her sting when long 
 provoked or when contesting for imperial sway. 
 The dissection of the queen bee shews evidently 
 that she lays many thousand eggs ; it is com- 
 puted that the ovary of a queen bee contains 
 more than five thousand eggs at one time, and 
 therefore it is not difficult to conceive that a 
 queen bee may produce ten thousand or twelve 
 thousand bees, or even more, in the space of two 
 months. The queen is generally concealed in 
 the most secret part of the hive, and is never 
 visible but when she lays her eggs in such 
 combs as are exposed to sight; when she does 
 
52 NOTES. 
 
 appear she is always attended by ten or a dozen 
 of the common sort, who form a kind of reti- 
 nue, and follow her wherever she goes with a 
 
 sedate and grave tread. 
 
 Modern Encyclopedia, 
 
 Note 8. 
 
 In the evening before colonization, indica- 
 tions of their intention is given by an unusual 
 noise and hurry within the hive, all the morning 
 of the next day passes without hardly a single 
 bee going to collect honey, those who are to 
 leave the hive are preparing to take their depar- 
 ture, while those that remain behind defer their 
 operations till their companions by their leaving 
 them have afforded sufficient room : it is in the 
 great enterprise of colonization that the influ- 
 ence of the queen bee is most clearly seen ; 
 wherever she alights, there the whole swarm 
 take up their abode, and all cling round her 
 
 body. 
 
 Encyclopedia Londinensis. 
 
NOTES. 53 
 
 Note 9. 
 
 This singular circumstance of fluttering 
 the wings at the door of the hive, apparently 
 for the purpose of ventilation, remarkable as it 
 may appear, I have been assured by several 
 owners of bees, they have repeatedly witnessed. 
 
 Note 10. 
 
 The removal of the dead from the hive is a 
 fact familiar to every observer of the economy 
 of bees. 
 
 Note II. 
 
 A bee cannot lose its sting without sus- 
 taining a material injury, nay it generally costs 
 him his life, consequently his banishment from 
 the hive appears to be the result not of cruelty 
 but of necessity. 
 
 Note 12. 
 
 Cruel as this practice of driving the sick 
 from the hive may appear, when the vast popu- 
 
54 NOTES. 
 
 lation is considered, there is almost a necessity 
 for such an edict, as the consequence of infec- 
 tion from the sick might be fatal to the whole 
 community. 
 
 Note 13. 
 
 Towards the latter end of summer, when 
 the hive is sufficiently stored with inhabitants, 
 a most cruel policy ensues ; the drone bees, 
 which are generally in a hive to the number of 
 a hundred, are marked for slaughter; these 
 which had hitherto led a life of indolence and 
 pleasure, and rioting upon the labours of the 
 hive, without aiding in the general toil, now 
 share the fate of most voluptuaries, and fall a 
 sacrifice to the general resentment of society. 
 The working bees in a body declare war against 
 them, and in two or three days time the ground 
 all round the hive is covered with their dead 
 bodies, nay the working bees will even kill 
 such drones as are yet in the worm state in the 
 
NOTES. 55 
 
 cells, and eject their bodies from the hive 
 among the general carnage. 
 
 Goldsmith's Animated Nature, Vol. 6. 
 
 In the poem I have confined myself to a 
 single drpnc, not wishing to stain the character 
 of the bees with such an apparent act of cruelty. 
 
 Note 14. 
 
 Scarcely have they entered the walls of the 
 city when a general engagement ensues ; those 
 who have the right of possession oppose their 
 invaders with all their force and undaunted 
 courage ; not a minute passes, when attacked 
 by numbers of wasps, that you do not observe 
 a victorious bee dragging to the door of the 
 hive a dead adversary, or one who is yet strug. 
 gling in all the agonies of death. 
 
 Note 15. 
 
 But it sometimes happens that an ill-fated 
 snail creeps into the hive, this is no sooner 
 
56 NOTES. 
 
 perceived than it is attacked on all sides and 
 stung to death ; but how are the bees to carry 
 out so heavy a burthen ? such a labour would 
 be in vain : to prevent the noxious odours 
 consequent on its putrefaction they immediately 
 embalm it by covering every part of its body 
 with propolis, through which no effluvia can 
 
 escape. 
 
 Bingley's Animal Biography, Vol. 3. 
 
 Note 16. 
 
 When a caterpillar enters the hive, the 
 guards immediately give the alarm, he is in. 
 stantly surrounded and stung to death ; but 
 should the carcase prove too ponderous for them 
 to move, they with great perseverance sever 
 the body into two parts, and transport it out 
 of the hive. 
 
 Note 17. 
 
 There is not a more determined and fero- 
 cious foe to bees than the hornet : these vora- 
 
NOTES. 57 
 
 cious robbers will with great courage and fury 
 attack a hive, and the great superiority in num. 
 bers and prowess on the side of the bees alone 
 enables them to make a stand against such 
 powerful adversaries. In selecting the hornet 
 as one of their opponents to whom they give 
 battle, I wish to be understood as choosing a 
 determinate enemy rather than a neighbouring 
 community, thereby establishing the justice of 
 defensive warfare, and that against a foreign 
 enemy. 
 
 Note 18, 
 
 Dreadful as these battles are, a handful of 
 dust thrown amongst the contending parties, is 
 sufficient to put an end to their most deadly 
 frays. 
 
 Note 19. 
 
 From a number of well attested experi- 
 ments and observations, it appears that the life 
 of the queen is more precious than any of the 
 
58 NOTES. 
 
 rest, for she is the soul of all their operations ; 
 if a hive be deprived of her, however numerous, 
 it will undertake no labour, and the individuals 
 will hardly give themselves the trouble of col- 
 lecting their daily subsistence : a swarm that 
 was busy from morning to night, constructing 
 cells and collecting wax, immediately upon 
 this accident seem to forget that the flowers 
 contain their food ; they scarcely stir from the 
 hive, construct no new cells, nor ever finish 
 what was begun ; her loss is proclaimed by a 
 clear and uninterrupted humming, a scene of 
 anarchy and confusion ensues, the cells are 
 plundered, and the whole commonwealth bids 
 fair for general ruin. 
 
 Encyclopaedia Londinensis. 
 
 Note 20. 
 
 In this perilous situation of the hive a 
 young queen is introduced, the flock instantly 
 revives, pleasure and activity are apparent 
 
NOTES. 59 
 
 through the whole hive; the presence of the 
 sovereign restores vigour and exertion, and her 
 voice commands universal respect and obedi- 
 ence : of such importance is the Queen to the 
 existence and prosperity of the other members 
 of this community. 
 
 Modern Encyclopedia. 
 
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