Vol. XII. 



JAN. 15, 1884. 



IVo. 



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VIKGII^'S TREATISE ON BEES. 



Concluded. 



i^PON the capture of Proteus, as told last month, 

 a little angry parley ensues between him and 

 Aristfeus; and then Proteus breaks the seal of 

 mystery, and discloses to Aristjeus that he stands 

 charged with the death of Eurydice, and her hus- 

 band Orpheus; and that the wood-nymphs, that 

 were companions of Eurydice, had destroyed his 

 bees as a punishment. It appears that Aristasus 

 once entertained in his heart a wicned design to- 

 ward Eurydice. She was aware of it, and kept out 

 of his sight. In order to avoid him one day, it was 

 necessary to creep along the brink of the river. A 

 deadly serpent, that she might easily have seen and 

 avoided, lay in her way; but as her eyes and thoughts 

 were wholly occupied with a different danger, in an- 

 other direction, she ran directly upon the serpent, 

 and was bitten, and died. Aristieus appears not to 

 have known that there was any connection between 

 her death and his wicked intent; and so he dis- 

 missed the whole subject from his thoughts. How 

 forcibly this brings out the evil character of meditat- 

 ed sin ! We don't know how much evil it may be doing, 

 to others as well as to ourselves. If we could grant 

 the truth of the story, it would be quite a subtile 

 question to determine just how far Aristieus should 

 be held responsible for the frightful and far-reach- 

 ing results of his uncommitted act. 



Well, this thread of connection enabled Virgil to 

 tell a considerable part of the story as an embellish- 

 ment to his bee-poem. It is one of the most pathetic 

 and beautiful of all the ancient fables; and, as we 



here have Virgil at his best, I will be brief in my 

 comments, and insert the most of it. You will un- 

 derstand that Oipheus was a most wonderful mu- 

 sician. He conceived the bold design of influencing 

 by his music the beings that had charge of the soula 

 of the dead, and making them release Eurydice, and 

 return her to this world. 



THE GRIEF OF ORPHEUS. 



Orpheus, making loneliness more lone. 



His frantic love did to his harp intone; 



Thou, sweetest wife, his theme wast evermore, 



While wandering on the solitary shore: 



Of thee he sings when peeps the morning day, 



Of thee he sings when evening fades away: 



He entered e'en the mountain jaws that bound 



The lofty gates of Pluto's realm profound. 



And in that forest, with its misty gloom 



Dark with the dread reminders of the tomb, 



Drew near the realms departed spirits own. 



And faced the king of terrors on his throne: 



Hearts never known in pity to relent 



At human prayers, his tearful music bont. 



THE ASTONISHMENT IN HADES. 



Then from the lowest seats, deep down within 

 The land of death and darkness, spirits thin, 

 Forms void of life and light, a ghostly throng, 

 Rushed forth together, startled at the song. 

 So thick gregarious birds in thousands fly 

 To join in chosen groves when night is nigh. 

 Or when, from mountains driven, in troops they form 

 To seek a refuge from the winter's storm: 

 Mothers and men, heroes in glory slain, 

 In Immaterial forms compose the train. 

 Boys, girls, not yet of age to wed, 



