APIDiE — BEES. 177 



arrival was that they melodiously sang to ITiin songs of 

 praise as they were able; after that they built a little church 

 with their wax from the foundations to the roof, divided into 

 three rooms, sustained by pillars, with their bases and chapi- 

 ters. They had there also an Altar, upon which they had 

 laid the precious Body of our Lord, and flew round about 

 it, continuing their musick. The peasant .... coming nigh 

 that hive where he had put the II. Sacrament, the Bees is- 

 sued out furiously by troops, and surrounding him on all 

 sides, revenged the irreverence done to their Creator, and 

 stung him so severely that they left him in a sad case. This 

 punishment made this miserable wretch come to himself, who, 

 acknowledging his error, went to find out the parish priest to 

 confess his fault to him . . . . " etc.^ 



We quote also another from the School of the Eucharist: 



"A certain peasant of Auvergne, a province in France, 

 perceiving that his Bees were likely to die, to prevent this 

 misfortune, was advised, after he had received the com- 

 munion, to reserve the Host, and to blow it into one of the 

 hives. As he tried to do it, the Host fell on the ground. 

 Behold now a wonder ! On a sudden all the Bees came 

 forth out of their hives, and ranging themselves in good or- 

 der, lifted the Host from the ground, and carrying it in 

 upon their wings, placed it among the coml:)es. After this 

 the man went out about his business, and at his return found 

 that this advice had succeeded ill, for all his Bees were 

 dead ....'" 



We will close this series of legends with one from the 

 Lives of the Saints : 



"When a thief by night had stolen St. Medard's Bees, 

 they, in their master's quarrel, leaving their hive, set upon 

 the malefactor, and eagerly pursuing him which way soever 

 he ran, would not cease stinging of him until they had made 

 him (whether he would or no) to go back again to their 

 master's house; and there, falling prostrate at his feet, sub- 

 missly to cry him mercy for the crime committed. Which 

 being done, so soon as the Saint extended unto him the 

 hand of benediction, the Bees, like obedient servants, did 

 forthwith stay from persecuting him, and evidently yielded 



1 Vicentius in Spec. Moral., B. 2, D. 21, p. 3. N. and Q., x. 499. 



2 Fet. Cluuiac, B. 1, c. i. N. and Q., x. 499. 



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