The Life of the Bee 



and careless slumber that shall fold them 

 in its embrace till the time for the next 

 repast. 



[95] 



But the patience of the bees is not 

 equal to that of men. One morning 

 the long-expected word of command goes 

 through the hive ; and the peaceful work- 

 ers turn into judges and executioners. 

 Whence this word issues, we know not ; 

 it would seem to emanate suddenly from 

 the cold, deliberate indignation of the 

 workers ; and no sooner has it been ut- 

 tered than every heart throbs with it, 

 inspired with the genius of the unanimous 

 republic. One part of the people re- 

 nounce their foraging; duties, to devote 

 themselves to the work of justice. The 

 great idle drones, asleep in unconscious 

 groups on the melliferous walls, are rudely 

 torn from their slumbers by an army 



350 



