292 The Honey-Makers 



lot surpass (though he knows it not) him who is splendid 

 in the sway of fruitful Africa. Although for me neither 

 Calabrian bees bring honey, nor wine is mellowing in 

 Laestrygonian jar, nor goodly fleeces grow on Gallic pas- 

 tures, yet vexing penury is far away, and if I wished for 

 more, you would not refuse to give it to me." 



Martial agrees with Horace in preferring the country, and 

 in his epigram to Fronto we read the following : — 



" Does any one haunt the porticos of cold variegated 

 Spartan marble, and run to offer, like a fool, his morning 

 greetings, when he might, rich with the spoils of grove and 

 field, unfold before his fire his well-filled nets, and lift the 

 leaping fish with the quivering line, and draw forth the yel- 

 low honey from the red cask, while a plump housekeeper 

 loads his unevenly propped table, and his own eggs are 

 cooked by an unbought fire?" 



Martial in another of his epigrams describes the young 

 girl Erotien, " whose breath was redolent with odors which 

 rivalled the rose beds of Paestum, or the new honey of Attic 

 combs, or amber just rubbed in the hand." 



In another of the epigrams occurs the well-known de- 

 scription of the bee enclosed in amber : — 



" The bee is enclosed, and shines preserved, in a tear of 

 the sisters of Phaeton, so that it seems enshrined in its own 

 nectar. It has attained a worthy reward for its great toils ; 

 we may suppose that the bee itself would have desired such 

 a death." 



While again we read, " The bee that throngs Thesean 

 Hymettus has sent you this noble nectar from the forest of 

 Minerva ; " and again, " If quinces well saturated with 

 Attic honey were placed before you, you would say these 

 honey-apples are delicious." 



The honey of Hybla is almost as celebrated as the Attic 

 honey of Hymettus. 



