126 STING OF THE BEE. 



at some time or other, had painful experience. 

 Shakspeare says — 



" Full merrily the humble bee doth sing, 

 Till she hath lost her honey and her sting;" — 



{Troilus and Cres»ida, Act V. Sc. XI.) 



a couplet which leads us to infer that the Poet was 

 well aware of these insects losing their sting, by 

 being unable to retract it from the wound they have 

 inflicted. 



In the sarcasms to which Brutus and Cassius give 

 utterance against Antony, the same topic is thus 

 introduced : — 



" Cas. — The posture of your blows are yet unknown ; 

 But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees, 

 And leave them honeyless. 



Ant. — Not stingless too — 



Bru. — O yes, and soundless too ; 

 For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, 

 And very wisely threat before you sting." 



Julius Casar, Act V. Sc. I. 



From the numerous passages in which the bee 

 is introduced, we might almost be warranted in 

 supposing that this insect was a favourite with 

 Shakspeare. It has certainly furnished him with 

 numerous similes, and what is rather remarkable in 

 a writer possessed of such varied powers of illustra- 

 tion, he has caused it to be twice mentioned by King 

 Henry the Fourth, in the course of one scene, — first, 

 when meditating on the wild and riotous life pursued 



