Deborah: " The Honey-Bee" 291 



members of the hive try to corrupt the community by de- 

 scribing the pleasures of idleness and luxury, "a stubborn 

 bee " gets up, and " with honest indignation warm " replies 

 to their base counsels : 



1 ' Shall luxury corrupt the hive 

 And none against the torrent strive ? 

 Exert the honour of your race ; 

 He builds his rise on your disgrace. 

 'Tis industry our state maintains ; 

 'Twas honest toil and honest gains 

 That raised our sires to power and fame. 

 Be virtuous ; save yourselves from shame. 

 Know that in selfish ends pursuing, 

 You scramble for the public ruin." 



" Vagrant " and " vagabond " are, next to " busy " and its 

 synonyms, the most frequent epithets of the honey-seeking 

 bee, a libertine for the purpose chartered. It is a lover 

 with a roving commission, and as a trifler with the affections 

 of flowers, far more seriously detrimental than the butterfly, 

 the insect which is so perpetually being reproached by poets 

 for fickle love and wandering fancy. The simile of incon- 

 stancy is obviously on the surface, and at once suggested 

 by the habits of the bee ; but it is very curious that this 

 practical, prosaic, honey-grubbing little brown fly should live 

 in verse as a far more dangerous flirt than that gallant 

 brilliant courtier the butterfly, and be held up as a warning 

 to pretty blossoms of the dangers to be apprehended from 

 " deflowering " insects. As thus in Moore : 



1 ' He. What the bee is to the flowret 

 When he looks for honey dew, 

 Through the leaves that close embower it, 

 That, my love, I'll be to you. 



' ' She. What the bank with verdure glowing 

 Is to waves that wander near, 

 Whispering kisses, while they're going, 

 That I'll be to you, my dear. 



