282 The Honey-Makers 



and a " puella mellita," the classical form of " Honey " so 

 commonly used by our Southern negro when addressing 

 children or beloved adults. 



Cupid was also the honey-bird, or honey-bee. There 

 were " eyes as sweet as honey." 



And the lover, quite in modern southern United States 

 dialect, addressed his beloved as " my little honey," " my 

 honey," " my honied one." 



Cities and districts were also frequently named from 

 honey, as Melitonus in Pontus, Melitaia in Thessaly, 

 Melita in Sicily, Mehteria in Cappadocia, Melitussa in 

 lUyria, and Melissurgis in Macedonia. Melita was also the 

 classical name of Malta. 



Some kinds of honey possess an intoxicating quality 

 when used fresh, as well as after being mixed with water 

 and fermented to form the drink called mead, so popular 

 among the Northern nations. 



Porphyry alludes to intoxicating honey in his " Cave of 

 the Nymphs," where he tells us : — 



" In Orpheus, likewise, Saturn is ensnared by Jupiter 

 through honey. For Saturn, being filled with honey, is 

 intoxicated, his senses are darkened, as if from the effects 

 of wine, and he sleeps. The goddess Night, too, in 

 Orpheus, advises Jupiter to make use of honey as an artifice. 

 For she says to him : — 



" ' When stretch'd beneath the lofty oak's good view, 

 Saturn, with honey by the bees produced. 

 Sunk in ebriety, fast bind the god.' " 



And Horace, in his " Ode to Bacchus," says ; — 



" Give me to sing, by thee inspir'd. 

 Thy priestesses to madness fir'd : 

 Fountains of wine shall pour along. 

 And, melting from the hollow tree. 

 The golden treasures of the bee, 

 And streams of milk shall fill the song." 



