Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
113
Bees.
See Labour.
Of all the mute Creation, These aloneA public Weal, and common Int'rest know,
Imbody'd: and subsist by certain Laws.
Mindful of Winter, they in Summer toil:
And for their Country's Good preserve their Store.
Some, by joint Compact, range the Fields for Food,
Industrious: Others in their Tents at home,
Narcissus' clammy Tears, and Gum from Trees,
Lay, as the first Foundation of their Combs:
Then into Arches build the viscid Wax.
Others draw forth their Colonies adult,
The Nation's Hope: Some work the purer Sweets
And with the liquid Nectar stretch their Cells:
Some (such their Post allotted) at the Gates,
Stand Sentry: and alternate watch, the Rain,
And Clouds, observing: or unlade their Friends
Returning: or in Troops beat off the Drones,
A lazy Cattle: Hot the Work proceeds:
And fresh with Thyme the fragrant Honey smells.—
The inbred Love of getting prompts the Bees
Their Labour to divide. The aged Sires
With curious Architecture build their Cells:
And guard their Towns, and fortify their Combs.
But late at Night the Youth fatigu'd return,
Their Legs with Thyme full-laden: hov'ring round
They suck the Arbutus, and Willows grey,
Sweet Lavendar, and Crocus' yellow Flow'r,
The purple Hyacinth, and gummy Lime.
Their Labour to divide. The aged Sires
With curious Architecture build their Cells:
And guard their Towns, and fortify their Combs.
But late at Night the Youth fatigu'd return,
Their Legs with Thyme full-laden: hov'ring round
They suck the Arbutus, and Willows grey,
Sweet Lavendar, and Crocus' yellow Flow'r,
The purple Hyacinth, and gummy Lime.
They toil together, and together rest:
With the first Morn they issue from their Gates:
Again, when Vesper warns them to return
From feeding, and the Fields: they homewards bend,
Refresh their Bodies, and with murm'ring Noise
Hum round the Sides, and Entrance of their Hives:
At length in Silence hush'd all Night repose,
And with soft Sleep relieve their weary Limbs.
While Rain impends, or Winds begin to rise,
They rove not far from Home, nor trust the Sky:
But drink, secure, beneath their City's Walls,
And short Excursions try: and oft with Sand
Ballast Themselves, like Ships on tossing Waves,
And poise their Bodies thro' the Void of Air.—
—Not Egypt, nor wide Lydia's Realms,
With the first Morn they issue from their Gates:
Again, when Vesper warns them to return
From feeding, and the Fields: they homewards bend,
Refresh their Bodies, and with murm'ring Noise
Hum round the Sides, and Entrance of their Hives:
At length in Silence hush'd all Night repose,
115
While Rain impends, or Winds begin to rise,
They rove not far from Home, nor trust the Sky:
But drink, secure, beneath their City's Walls,
And short Excursions try: and oft with Sand
Ballast Themselves, like Ships on tossing Waves,
And poise their Bodies thro' the Void of Air.—
Nor Parthia, nor Hydaspes with such Zeal
Adore their King.—Their King surviving, All
Unanimous concur: his Death dissolves
Society: Themselves their Honey-Stores,
And all the curious Texture of their Combs
Demolish. He o'er all their Works presides:
Him they admire: and in one Body form'd,
Humming, inclose Him round: and oft in War
Support Him on their Shoulders: for his Life
Expose their own, and court a glorious Death,—
If to the Fight they issue forth, (for oft
Between two Kings, with Tumult, Discord reigns:)
The Vulgar's Rage, and Courage, and their Hearts
Trembling with eager Appetite of War,
You may foreknow. A Clarion, shrill as Brass,
Rouses the Laggers; and a martial Noise
Distant is heard, like Trumpets broken Sounds.
Then trembling they unite, and shake their Wings,
And with their sharp Proboscis whet their Darts,
And fit their Claws: and round their Monarch's Court
Thicken, and muster: and with loud Acclaim
Provoke the Foe.—Now, having gain'd a Sky
Serene, and open Fields of vernal Air,
They issue from their Gates, and join the Shock
Of Battle: Humming thro' th' Etherial Void,
In one huge Cluster they conglobe, and fall
Precipitant: Nor thicker falls the Hail,
Nor Show'rs of Acorns from a shaken Oak.
The Kings themselves, betwixt the middle Ranks,
Conspicuous shine, and spread their glist'ning Wings:
(Their little Bodies mighty Souls inform.)
117
With vary'd Spots, and Gold: his Form all o'er
Beauteous, and bright with glist'ring Scales: this Kind
The Best: the Other horrid, and with Sloth
Inglorious, trails his swagging Paunch along.
Nor less the People, than their Kings, are found
Of Forms distinct: Some foul, of dusky Hue;
As when the Trav'ler, on a sandy Road,
From his dry Mouth spits Froth commix'd with Dust:
Some glaring Shine, and glow with Drops of Gold.—
One Quality in Bees thou wilt admire:
That genial Love they know not, nor indulge
Venus' soft Joys, nor propagate their Kind.
From Herbs, and fragrant Simples, with their Mouths
They cull their Young: from thence the Insect King,
And all his little Subjects they supply.
And therefore tho' their Term of Life be short,
(Nor beyond seven Summers e'er extends)
Yet the immortal Progeny remains:
For many Years the Kingdom's Fortune stands,
And Grandsires number Grandsires in their Line.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |