THE
HIVE
OF
BEES
:
A
FABLE
,
WRITTEN
IN
DECEMBER
1792.
In
antient
legends
of
past
time
we
find
,
Birds
,
beasts
,
and
insects
us'd
to
speak
their
mind
,
And
oft
by
fable
serious
truths
impart
To
mend
the
morals
and
to
strike
the
heart
:
Nay
Solomon
himself
would
deign
to
say
,
Go
to
the
Ant
,
thou
sluggard
!
learn
her
way
.
But
now
alas
!
in
these
degenerate
times
,
Insects
have
learn'd
from
men
to
ape
their
crimes
;
The
table's
turn'd
—
false
morals
now
are
shewn
In
place
of
true
—
a
sad
reverse
you'll
own
.
A
hive
of
bees
within
a
certain
grove
Had
long
enjoy'd
contentment
,
peace
,
and
love
,
Fed
on
each
source
of
sweet
that
earth
bestows
,
Ev'n
from
the
cowslip
to
the
stately
rose
;
Each
morn
had
sipp'd
of
dew
from
Heav'n
,
which
fell
And
lodg'd
in
silver'd
cup
or
golden
bell
;
Had
drawn
the
nectar
of
each
fragrant
flower
To
carry
treasures
to
their
native
bower
,
And
there
in
cells
of
curious
form
they
stor'd
Their
several
tributes
to
the
general
hoard
;
Then
safe
at
night
were
shelter'd
by
those
bowers
,
Where
first
they
swarm'd
,
when
in
their
infant
hours
Each
morn
they
sallied
with
the
rising
sun
,
Nor
e'er
returned
until
their
task
was
done
;
For
arts
and
industry
had
made
them
great
,
And
seemingly
had
fix'd
their
happy
state
;
A
state
,
where
nature's
policy
doth
trace
To
every
bee
his
station
,
rank
,
and
place
:
Some
form'd
to
labour
for
the
public
good
,
Others
to
nurse
the
young
,
and
chew
their
food
;
Some
on
the
watch
as
centinels
between
Whatever
danger
may
assail
their
queen
;
For
every
hive
is
in
itself
protected
,
Whilst
to
it's
sovereign
it
is
well
affected
,
But
now
no
further
to
dilate
my
story
,
This
hive
,
when
at
it's
highest
pitch
of
glory
,
Like
other
states
did
subjects
still
contain
Of
discontented
mind
and
heated
brain
,
Prone
to
adopt
and
lead
some
new
opinion
,
Spurning
restraint
,
and
grasping
at
dominion
;
These
oft
with
greedy
list'ning
ear
repair'd
Close
to
a
neighb'ring
hive
,
from
whence
they
heard
A
murmuring
hum
,
as
if
from
discontent
,
Of
liberty
,
no
queen
,
no
government
;
Let
all
be
equal
,
and
these
lordly
drones
Be
set
to
work
to
shape
these
ugly
cones
:
'Tis
slavery
I
swear
—
no
more
will
I
Lag
home
with
honey
in
my
bag
and
thigh
,
Much
sooner
will
I
dart
my
sting
and
die
.
Thus
saying
,
oft
their
measures
they'd
debate
,
And
in
convention
plot
against
the
state
;
But
here
disorder
mark'd
their
wretched
way
,
Each
claim'd
his
right
,
a
right
to
bear
the
sway
,
And
left
the
loyal
bees
their
haunts
should
see
,
They
dar'd
not
light
upon
a
flower
or
tree
,
Where
aught
of
substance
,
fit
for
daily
food
,
Might
be
extracted
for
the
public
good
;
But
conscious
of
their
base
intent
,
they
shun
Whatever
spreads
its
blossoms
to
the
sun
,
And
to
the
deadly
nightshade
darkling
flew
,
Or
on
the
hemlock
swarm'd
,
or
pois'nous
yew
,
And
there
their
mischiefs
hatch'd
in
fell
debate
,
There
plann'd
the
downfal
of
their
queen
and
state
:
So
loud
they
buzz'd
their
murmurs
thro'
the
trees
,
Of
liberty
,
no
work
—
the
rights
of
bees
—
That
echo
swift
convey'd
the
infectious
sound
,
And
Liberty
—
no
work
—
rebellow'd
round
.
Their
plot
now
ripe
,
they
act
the
fatal
scene
,
Murder
the
guards
,
and
then
confine
their
queen
;
Rebellion
buzzes
thro'
the
straw-built
dome
—
"
Seize
,
seize
the
honey
,
and
lay
waste
the
comb
!
Destroy
each
cell
,
for
labour
now
is
o'er
,
We'll
feast
and
revel
on
the
public
store
.
"
And
now
how
gladly
would
I
draw
a
veil
O'er
the
remaining
sequel
of
my
tale
;
But
recent
facts
require
I
should
relate
How
bad
example
marr'd
the
happy
state
.
Tho'
most
with
horror
heard
the
soul
disgrace
Brought
on
the
noblest
of
the
insect
race
,
Yet
those
who
had
enlisted
in
the
plan
,
And
long'd
like
them
to
copy
after
man
,
Now
vend
their
poisons
,
and
in
treasons
dire
Against
their
friends
,
their
queen
,
their
hive
conspire
,
Whilst
swarms
from
forth
the
rebel
state
combine
To
prosecute
the
horrible
design
,
And
,
shame
to
tell
,
tho'
courteously
receiv'd
,
League
against
those
by
whom
they
are
reliev'd
.
Arous'd
at
length
,
the
loyal
bees
unite
To
save
their
state
,
and
arm
them
for
the
fight
,
True
to
their
sovereign
,
who
with
gentle
sway
So
mildly
rul'd
,
'twas
freedom
to
obey
;
And
now
behold
them
eager
and
alert
To
expel
the
traitors
and
their
schemes
avert
;
Taught
by
examples
terrible
as
these
,
That
faction
blasts
the
happiness
of
bees
,
Active
they
keep
their
vigilance
alive
To
guard
their
monarch
,
property
,
and
hive
.