Plinies Natural! HiftoHe. 



A 



Chap* xvii. 

 ^ The regiment of Bees^, and their governmenh 



\1\J H^^^^"^^^*"^" "^^'^^^'"^c^^out ^^r^/^/(fj,whether there was but one of that name 

 y y or many ? Likewife as touching the Sepulchre of Prince Bacchm^ where and which it 

 is ? As alfo trouble his head in many other fuch like antiquities^buried by long conti- 

 nuance of time. For behold, in one fmall matter that is daily feenc in our countrey houfesj in a 

 thing annexed to our fermes, and whereof there is fuch ftore, all Authours who have written of 

 Agriculture are not yet refolved : namely, Whether the king of Bees alone hath no fling, and 



B is armed only with majeftie ? or, whether Nature hath bcftowed a fling upon himj and denied 

 him only the ufe therof?For c'ertcin it isjthat this great commander over the reft, doth nothing 

 with his fting:&: yet a wonder it is to fee^how they all are ready to obey him. When he marcheth 

 abroad jthe whole armie goeth forth likewife : then they aflemble togither,^ environ him round 

 about 5 they are his guard, and foclofe they kecpc united togither 5 that they will not fuffer him 

 once to be fecne. Ac other timesjwhen all his people are bufie in labor,himfeIfe (as a right good 

 captaine) overfeeth their workes, goeth about from one to another, encouraging them in well- 

 doing,and exhorting them to plie their bufinefTe: himfelfe onely exempt from all other travel! 

 and painstaking. Abouthisperfonhe hath acertain guard everatcendant: he hath hisLidors 

 andofjScersalwaiesinreadinefTejintoken of majeftie and princely port. Hee never fettethfor- 



C ward^ but when the whole fwarme is preft Hkewife to goe forth : and in truth, long time before^a 

 man may perceive that they be about a voiage and expedition 5for, many daics togither there 

 is an extraordinarie humming and noile within, whiles they prepare to diflodge,truilingupas 

 icweretheirbagandbaggage,and expe(5lingonelyafairedayof remoove. And fuppole that 

 the king have in ibmcbattaile loft one of his wings, yet will not hishoaft forfake him and flico 

 When they be in march, each one defireth and flriveth to be next the prince , as taking a joy 

 and pride to be (eene of him, how luftily they performe their devoir . If he begin to be wearie, 

 they fupport him with their fhoulders :if hee be tired indeed and faint outright, they carry him 

 full and whole. If any one oi their ownecompaniechaunce tofaileforvery wearinefle,anddoe 

 drag behind, orfttay afide and wanderoutofthe way 5iit will yet endeavour to follow the armie 



D onlyby thefmellandfent. Where the king once fetleth and takcth up his reftlng place, there 

 they all pitch downe their tents and encampe , And I aflure you, herein liech a matter of great 

 weight and importance 5 as touching the Auguries &prefages gathered by the manner ohheir 

 fetlmg, prognofticating both to publicke ftates and alfo to privat perfons, fomthing to enfue of 

 much moment jcither for good or otherv'^ife; according as they have been obferved lohangto- 

 gither in clufters like bunches of grapes.either at mens houfes or upon the temples of the gods. 

 By occafion whereof, folke had recourle to their devotions and facrifices, for to appeafe the 

 heavenly powers : andyst oftentimes fuch foretokens have not ben expiat without fome flrange 

 events in the end . There was a Avarme of Bees refted upon the very lips and mouth of Plm^ 

 whenhe wasbuc a very babe and infant j fore- fhewing (no doubt)that Angular eloquence of his, 



E and fwcec utterance that afterwards he had. Another caft of Bees feded within the very camp of 

 Generall Druff^^^ibc very fame day,when he obtained that notable vi6lorie at Arbalo.By which 

 examples we mayfee,thatthisconjeci:uralI skill andlearningof thefe Soothfayers holdeth not 

 alwaiesjnorproveth ever true: for they forfoothfuppofe this to be evermore a portenteousfign 

 of fome fearfull event and misfortune. Toreturne againe to our captain Bee:if hechaunceto 

 be entrapped and furprized by the enemie,the whole armie is fure withall to be taken with him. 

 If he be deffeited and ilaine, the field is loft : all the reft are fcattered, and feeke their fortune to 

 fecve fome other prince .-for without one king or other, live they cannot . Sometime they are 

 driven to kill thofe of the kings race, and namely when there be many kings togither: but this 

 they doe perforce and full againft their wills: and before they will fo doe, they chufe rather to 



F ruinate and put downe the houfes wherein they were bred ; efpecially when there is fome fearc 

 of fcarfitie,by reafon of the unkind feafon : and at fuch a rime alfo,they chafe and drive away the 

 drone-Bees. And yet I fee fome doubt made of them: for divers arc of opinion, that they be a 

 kind of Bees by themfelves, and thatthc reft doe fet againft them as very thcevcs . The biggeft 

 they are of all others^ but biacke and broad bellied: good reafon therefore that theyfhould be 



called 



