The Life of the Bee 



and careless slumber that shall fold them 

 in its embrace till the time for the next 

 repast. 



[95] 

 But the patience of the bees is not 

 equal to that of men. One morning 

 the long-expected word of command goes 

 through the hive ; and the peacefiil work- 

 ers turn into judges and executioners. 

 Whence this word issues, we know not ; 

 it would seem to emanate suddenly from 

 the cold, deliberate indignation of the 

 workers ; and no sooner has it been ut- 

 tered than every heart throbs with it, 

 inspired with the genius of the unanimous 

 republic. One part of the people re- 

 nounce their foraging duties to devote 

 themselves to the work of justice. The 

 great idle drones, asleep in unconscious 

 groups on the melliferous walls, are rudely 

 torn from their slumbers by an army 

 350 



