OF SELBORNE. 
201 
feize them nudis manihus, and at once difarm them of then" weapons, 
and fuck their bodies for the fake of their honey-bags. Sometimes 
he would fill his bofom between his fliirt and his fkin with a num- 
ber of thefe captives ; and fometimes would confine them in bottles. 
He was a very nierops apiqfter, or bee-hird ; and very injurious to 
men that kept bees; for he would flide into their bee-gardens, 
and, fitting down before the ftools, would rap with his finger on 
the hives, and fo take the bees as they came out. He has been 
known to overturn hives for the fake of honey, of which he was 
paffionately fond. Where metheglin was making he would linger 
round the tubs and veflcis, begging a draught of what he called 
hee-wine. As he ran about he ufed to make a humming noife with 
his lips, refembling the buzzing of bees. This lad was lean and 
fallow, and of a cadaverous complexion ; and, except in his favourite 
purfuit, in which he was wonderfully adroit, difcovered no manner 
of underftanding. Had his capacity been better, and direftcd to 
the fame obje<5t, he had perhaps abated much of our wonder at 
the feats of a more modern exhibiter of bees : and we may juflly 
fay of him now, 
— Thou, 
" Had thy prefiding flar propitious Ihone, 
" Should'ft JViUman be — — — — 
When a tall youth he was removed from hence to a diftint 
village, where he died, as I underftand, before he arrived at man- 
hood. 
I am, &c. 
L E T T E R 
