290 The Honey-Makers 



This sad example has been followed by later writers. 



x'Eschylus, like Homer, used the bees in a simile of the 

 army in his tragedy of " The Persians/' where the chorus 

 tells us, — 



'' For all the host that drive the steed, and that tramp 

 along the plain, hath gone off like a swarm of bees, along 

 with the leader of the army, having crossed the ocean 

 promontory common to both continents, united to either 

 side." 



In a fragment of one of the unknown plays of Euripides 

 preserved to us by Athenaeus, we meet again the figure for 

 eloquence used by Homer, — 



" E'en should the Phrygian God enrich my tongue 

 With honeyed eloquence, such as erst did fall 

 From Nestor's or Antenor's lips." 



Euripides also gives us the following beautiful descrip- 

 tion of a meadow in his tragedy "■ Hippolytus." 



Hippolytus enters with his huntsmen, unconscious of the 

 frightful fate Venus has decreed for him because he scorns 

 the joys of love. He is singing in honor of the virgin god- 

 dess Artemis, whom alone he worships, — 



" For thee this woven garland from a mead 

 Unsullied have I twined, O Queen, and bring. 

 There never shepherd dares to feed his flock. 

 Nor steel of sickle came : only the bee 

 Roveth the springtide mead undesecrate : 

 And Reverence watereth it with river-dews. 

 They which have heritage of self-control 

 In all things, — not taught, but the pure in heart, — 

 These, these may gather flowers, but none impure." 



Later in the same tragedy the Love Queen appeared, and 

 dire indeed was her coming to the hapless Phaedra, who had 

 fallen in love with Hippolytus 



