THE HONEY-BEE. 



and other classical writers allude not unfrequently 

 to these insects. 



Columella, who lived in the first century of the 

 Christian era, gave, in his work De re rusticd, many 

 directions for apiarians ; and though, of course, 

 abounding, like Vergil's work, in errors on certain 

 points, his book shows a decided advance beyond 

 the knowledge of preceding writers. 



We might speak of Theophrastus, Celsus, and 

 Varro as contributing to the literature of bee-lore, 

 but it would be beyond the scope of our design to 

 detail what they have written on the subject. 

 Coming, however, down to much more recent times, 

 and to our own country, we cannot resist the temp- 

 tation to quote the well-known lines of our most 

 marvellous poet Shakespeare, whose comprehensive 

 intellect almost rivalled that of Solomon, for "he 

 spake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, 

 even 1 unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall : 

 he spake also of beasts and of fowl and of creep- 

 ing things and of fishes." The passage to which 

 we now especially refer is to be found in his play 

 of Henry F., act i. sc. 2 : 



"Therefore doth heaven divide 

 The state of man in divers functions, 

 Setting endeavour in continual motion ; 

 To which is fixed, as an aim or butt, 

 Obedience : for so work the honey-bees ; 

 Creatures, that, by a rule in nature, teach 

 The act of order to a peopled kingdom. 

 They have a king and officers of sorts : 

 Where some, like magistrates, correct at home : 

 Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad ; 

 Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings 

 Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds ; 



