Fable XXII. The Bees

AS a young Prince, at the return of the zephyrs, when all nature reilves, was walking in a delightful garden, he heard a great buzzing, and spied an hive of bees, he draws near to this sight, which was new to him, and sees, with astonishment, the order, care, and labour of that little commonwealth, the cells begun to be formed, and to take a regular figure: one part of the bees were filling them with their sweet nedtar; others were bringing flowers, which they had culled out of all the riches of the spring: idleness and sloth were banished that little (late; every thing was in motion, but without confusion or diflurbance. the most considerable amongst the bees conduced the rest, who obeyed without any murmur or jealousy against those that were above them, while the young prince was admiring this obje£t, which he was yet unacquainted with, a bee, whom all the others acknowledged as their Queen, accofledhim, and said; the ^ sight of our work and oeconomy entertains you: but it ought flill more to inftruft you; we never sufFer amongst us disorder or licentiousness; there is do be-

9S THE BEES.

ing considerable among us but by labour, and by the talents that may be useful to our commonwealth; merit is here the only way to preferment; we occupy ourselves night and day in things whereof men reap all the benefit, may you be one day like us, and bring mankind into that order which you admire in our society«

BEE AND THE FLY.