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Their own sweet Spring…tide； when the new…made chiefs
Lead forth the young swarms； and； escaped their comb；
The colony comes forth to sport and play；
The neighbouring bank may lure them from the heat；
Or bough befriend with hospitable shade。
O'er the mid…waters； whether swift or still；
Cast willow…branches and big stones enow；
Bridge after bridge； where they may footing find
And spread their wide wings to the summer sun；
If haply Eurus； swooping as they pause；
Have dashed with spray or plunged them in the deep。
And let green cassias and far…scented thymes；
And savory with its heavy…laden breath
Bloom round about； and violet…beds hard by
Sip sweetness from the fertilizing springs。
For the hive's self； or stitched of hollow bark；
Or from tough osier woven； let the doors
Be strait of entrance； for stiff winter's cold
Congeals the honey； and heat resolves and thaws；
To bees alike disastrous； not for naught
So haste they to cement the tiny pores
That pierce their walls； and fill the crevices
With pollen from the flowers； and glean and keep
To this same end the glue； that binds more fast
Than bird…lime or the pitch from Ida's pines。
Oft too in burrowed holes； if fame be true；
They make their cosy subterranean home；
And deeply lodged in hollow rocks are found；
Or in the cavern of an age…hewn tree。
Thou not the less smear round their crannied cribs
With warm smooth mud…coat； and strew leaves above；
But near their home let neither yew…tree grow；
Nor reddening crabs be roasted； and mistrust
Deep marish…ground and mire with noisome smell；
Or where the hollow rocks sonorous ring；
And the word spoken buffets and rebounds。
What more？ When now the golden sun has put
Winter to headlong flight beneath the world；
And oped the doors of heaven with summer ray；
Forthwith they roam the glades and forests o'er；
Rifle the painted flowers； or sip the streams；
Light…hovering on the surface。 Hence it is
With some sweet rapture； that we know not of；
Their little ones they foster； hence with skill
Work out new wax or clinging honey mould。
So when the cage…escaped hosts you see
Float heavenward through the hot clear air； until
You marvel at yon dusky cloud that spreads
And lengthens on the wind； then mark them well；
For then 'tis ever the fresh springs they seek
And bowery shelter： hither must you bring
The savoury sweets I bid； and sprinkle them；
Bruised balsam and the wax…flower's lowly weed；
And wake and shake the tinkling cymbals heard
By the great Mother： on the anointed spots
Themselves will settle； and in wonted wise
Seek of themselves the cradle's inmost depth。
But if to battle they have hied them forth…
For oft 'twixt king and king with uproar dire
Fierce feud arises； and at once from far
You may discern what passion sways the mob；
And how their hearts are throbbing for the strife；
Hark！ the hoarse brazen note that warriors know
Chides on the loiterers； and the ear may catch
A sound that mocks the war…trump's broken blasts；
Then in hot haste they muster； then flash wings；
Sharpen their pointed beaks and knit their thews；
And round the king； even to his royal tent；
Throng rallying； and with shouts defy the foe。
So； when a dry Spring and clear space is given；
Forth from the gates they burst； they clash on high；
A din arises； they are heaped and rolled
Into one mighty mass； and headlong fall；
Not denselier hail through heaven； nor pelting so
Rains from the shaken oak its acorn…shower。
Conspicuous by their wings the chiefs themselves
Press through the heart of battle； and display
A giant's spirit in each pigmy frame；
Steadfast no inch to yield till these or those
The victor's ponderous arm has turned to flight。
Such fiery passions and such fierce assaults
A little sprinkled dust controls and quells。
And now； both leaders from the field recalled；
Who hath the worser seeming； do to death；
Lest royal waste wax burdensome； but let
His better lord it on the empty throne。
One with gold…burnished flakes will shine like fire；
For twofold are their kinds； the nobler he；
Of peerless front and lit with flashing scales；
That other； from neglect and squalor foul；
Drags slow a cumbrous belly。 As with kings；
So too with people； diverse is their mould；
Some rough and loathly； as when the wayfarer
Scapes from a whirl of dust； and scorched with heat
Spits forth the dry grit from his parched mouth：
The others shine forth and flash with lightning…gleam；
Their backs all blazoned with bright drops of gold
Symmetric： this the likelier breed； from these；
When heaven brings round the season； thou shalt strain
Sweet honey； nor yet so sweet as passing clear；
And mellowing on the tongue the wine…god's fire。
But when the swarms fly aimlessly abroad；
Disport themselves in heaven and spurn their cells；
Leaving the hive unwarmed； from such vain play
Must you refrain their volatile desires；
Nor hard the task： tear off the monarchs' wings；
While these prove loiterers； none beside will dare
Mount heaven； or pluck the standards from the camp。
Let gardens with the breath of saffron flowers
Allure them； and the lord of Hellespont；
Priapus； wielder of the willow…scythe；
Safe in his keeping hold from birds and thieves。
And let the man to whom such cares are dear
Himself bring thyme and pine…trees from the heights；
And strew them in broad belts about their home；
No hand but his the blistering task should ply；
Plant the young slips； or shed the genial showers。
And I myself； were I not even now
Furling my sails； and； nigh the journey's end；
Eager to turn my vessel's prow to shore；
Perchance would sing what careful husbandry
Makes the trim garden smile； of Paestum too；
Whose roses bloom and fade and bloom again；
How endives glory in the streams they drink；
And green banks in their parsley； and how the gourd
Twists through the grass and rounds him to paunch；
Nor of Narcissus had my lips been dumb；
That loiterer of the flowers； nor supple…stemmed
Acanthus； with the praise of ivies pale；
And myrtles clinging to the shores they love。
For 'neath the shade of tall Oebalia's towers；
Where dark Galaesus laves the yellowing fields；
An old man once I mind me to have seen…
From Corycus he came… to whom had fallen
Some few poor acres of neglected land；
And they nor fruitful' neath the plodding steer；
Meet for the grazing herd； nor good for vines。
Yet he； the while his meagre garden…herbs
Among the thorns he planted； and all round
White lilies； vervains； and lean poppy set；
In pride of spirit matched the wealth of kings；
And home returning not till night was late；
With unbought plenty heaped his board on high。
He was the first to cull the rose in spring；
He the ripe fruits in autumn； and ere yet
Winter had ceased in sullen ire to rive
The rocks with frost； and with her icy bit
Curb in the running waters； there was he
Plucking the rathe faint hyacinth； while he chid
Summer's slow footsteps and the lagging West。
Therefore he too with earliest brooding bees
And their full swarms o'erflowed； and first was he
To press the bubbling honey from the comb；
Lime…trees were his； and many a branching pine；
And all the fruits wherewith in early bloom
The orchard…tree had clothed her； in full tale
Hung there； by mellowing autumn perfected。
He too transplanted tall…grown elms a…row；
Time…toughened pear； thorns bursting with the plum
And plane now yielding serviceable shade
For dry lips to drink under： but these things；
Shut off by rigorous limits； I pass by；
And leave for others to sing after me。
Come； then； I will unfold the natural powers
Great Jove himself upon the bees bestowed；
The boon for which； led by the shrill sweet strains
Of the Curetes and their clashing brass；
They fed the King of heaven in Dicte's cave。
Alone of all things they receive and hold
Community of offspring； and they house
Together in one city； and beneath
The shelter of majestic laws they live；
And they alone fixed home and country know；
And in the summer； warned of coming cold；
Make proof of toil； and for the general store
Hoard up their gathered harvesting。 For some
Watch o'er the victualling of the hive； and these
By settled order ply their tasks afield；
And some within the confines of their home
Plant firm the comb's first layer； Narcissus' tear；
And sticky gum oozed from the bark of trees；
Then set the clinging wax to hang therefrom。
Others the while lead forth the full…grown young；
Their country's hope； and others press and pack
The thri