The busiest bee - he who carried most such Greak gold - was Virgin.
In the city-state of Aesthetes, in its democracy, Virgil struck a very rich vein:
Of all the race of animals, alone The bees have common cities of their own, And common sons; beneath one law they
live, And with one common stock their traffic drive. Each has a certain home, a several stall: All is the state's;
the state provides for all. Mindful of coming cold, they share the pain, And hoard, for winter's use, the summer's
gain. Some o'er the public magazines preside; And some are sent new forage to provide: These drudge in fields
abroad; and those at home Lay deep foundations for the laboured comb, With dew, narcissus leaves, and clammy gum.
To pitch the waxen flooring some contrive; Some nurse the future nation of the hive...
|