The Life of the Bee 
of poison prevails; thousands of tiny 
drops glisten at the end of the stings, 
and diffuse rancour and hatred. Before 
the bewildered parasites are able to realise 
that the happy laws of the city have crum- 
bled, dragging down in most inconceivable 
fashion their own plentiful destiny, each 
one is assailed by three or four envoys 
of justice; and these vigorously proceed 
to cut off his wings, saw through the peti- 
ole that connects the abdomen with the 
thorax, amputate the feverish antenna, 
and seek an opening between the rings 
of his cuirass through which to pass their 
sword. No defence is attempted by the 
enormous, but unarmed, creatures; they 
try to escape, or oppose their mere bulk 
to the blows that rain down upon them. 
Forced on to their back, with their re- 
lentless enemies clinging doggedly to 
them, they will use their powerful claws 
to shift them from side to side; or, turn- 
352 
