26 



Probably the true nature of the drone in Shakspere's time was 

 unknown. Although the crime suggested in the following must 

 have been a mistake — 



" Drones suck not eagle's blood, but rob bee-hives." 



2 Henry VI., iv., 1. 



Is there not here a confusion with the wasp, who maj' be more 

 justly charged ? 



The contagious anger of the bees is well imaged, when Warwick 

 in his report to the king that the good Duke Humphrey, the leader 

 of the rebels, had been murdered, says — 



" The commons, like an angry hive of bees, 

 That want their leader, scatter up and down, 

 And care not who they sting in his revenge.'' 



2 Hennj VI., iii., 2. 



We infer that Shakspere was aware of other than the hive bee, 

 for when Bottom the weaver, in the character of an ass, gives orders 

 to his attendants, he says — 



" Monsieur Cobweb, good Monsieur, get your weapons in your 

 hand, and kill me a red-hip'd humble-bee on the top of a thistle ; 

 and good Monsieur, bring me the honey bag." 



MidsiDinner yiffht's Dream, iv., 1. 



In another passage we find an allusion to one of the more solitary 

 species — 



"That red-tailed humble-bee." — AlVit Well, iv., 5. 



Sealing-wax to-day is made of lac and resm, but beeswax may 

 have been used in olden times on legal documents, for Jack Cade, 

 when proclaiming his schemes of reform, proceeds — 



"Is not this a lamentable thing, that the skin of an innocent 

 lamb should he made into parchment, and that parchment being 

 scribbled o'er should undo a man. Some say the bee stings ; but I 

 say 'tis the bee's wax: for I did but seal once to a thing, and I was 

 never my own man since." — 2 Henri/ 17., iv., 2. 



Edgar justifies his opening of the letters confided to Goneril 

 the messenger — 



" Leave, gentle wax, and manners, blame us not, 

 To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts; 

 Their papers are more lawful." — /"><?«>-, iv., 6. 



Again when Imogen receives a letter from her lord Leonatus, 

 her words are — ■ 



