Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-07-09
The Fable Of the Bees.
FROM THE FREN OF BAYLE

T. The Fable Of the Bees.
FRoaTHE FRENCH OF BAYLE.
There was formerly great and potent
King, sovereign of one of the islands in the
ocean. He was unequalled in power by all
other Kings, and his subjects were so SUBJ
missive to his will, that it was the rule of all
their actions. His goodness and wisdom
were great as his power, and every other
perfection he possessed in the highest de-
gree. This King found the island desert,
but he planted it, filled it with inhabitants
and animals of every sort, and directed it
to be cultivated, SO that it produced all the
necessaries for the sustenance, convenience,
and pleasure Of the inhabitants.
The Soyereign's palace was the greatest
and most magnificent that can be imagined,
and was situated IN the middle of the finest
gardens that were ever seen. This mon
arch, who perfectly understood every thing,
formed plan OF the finest production of
which nature was capable, and having
given orders that it should be executed, this
was done on the spot; for such was the ex-
tent of his power, that all things animate
and inaninlate CONFIRMED exactly to his will,
and Immediately submitted to his law
There, were also parks, meadows and
woods, all admirably fine, and full of all
sorts of animals, birds, and insects, that
could be desired either for use OF pleasure.
In this island there was multitude Of
Bees, and as the Kings care was extended
to every thing, he so ordered it that there
were abundance of flowers to nourish them.
But in a corner of one of his own gardens,
there was particular sort of flowers which
he forbade the Bees to touch; not that those
flowers were hurtful to the Bees, or that the
other flowers, but, as l was told, because
he wished to try their obedience. 1t hap
pened not long after, that soine of the Bees
forgetting, or not much regarding the order,
sucked those flowers The King immedi-
ately perceived it, and was SO incensed that
he resolved to drive all the Bees out of the
Island, and even swore, so great was his"
wrath, that he would not spare one single
Bee. But some time after, when the heat
of bis indignation was abated, he regretted
that he had passed so severe sentence; and
feeling some remains of pity for those poor
Bees, the monarch, who was goodness and
mercy itself, devised an expedient to restore
them to his favor.
He had an only son whom he loved inf
niteIy more than all things in the world ,and
it was his pleasure that his son should be
and the Bees. But in order that this peace
might be in a manner consistent with the
Kings dignity, and without wounding his
honor and his justice, which were involved
in maintaining the oath that he had sworn,
it was necessary this well beloved son should
bear the punishment due to the Bees, and
that for this purpose he should become a
Bee himself When this metamorphosis
took place, the son proceeded in the form of
a Bee to one of the worst hives in the whole
island, where he labored to induce the 9TH
er Bees to be more circumspect and more
observant of the Kings orders; but they
laughed him to scorn, abused him, and at
las stang him to death. But what was
worse than all, he was compelled to bear
the whole weight of his fathers wrath and
indignation, who was resolved to revenge
the fault of the Bees upon him. As soon
as this SON was dead, he returned to his
father, and commenced interceding for the
Door Bees, whose debt he had paid. and for
whose crime he had suffered; which inter-
cession he still continues with so much sue
cess, tn, the King has shown compassion
to several of the Bees and agreed to forgive
their faults, provided that they adhere
strictly to his son as many entire bee-hives
have already done. /
1t does not appear that these favored
Bees make more honey, or are more at ease
than the others. The reason is as they
are taught by certain Hornets who have in
troduced themselves in great numbers into
all those hivesl that they will be more sem
sibe of the benefit that results to them from |
it after they are dead.
These Hornets tell the Bees, who are in
clined to listen to them, the whole OF this
story. besides multitude Of circumstances;
and in the several hives both the story and
circumstances are so varied that some re-
ceive 1t one way, and others another, and
some believe nothing at all OF the matter
These latter are threatened by the Hornets |
with very severe punishment after death
whereas the Bees which follow their advice
will be sure to receive great rewards
When they are told, that it is plain that alt
Bees on dying, fall to the ground and rot}
awav either in dust or dirt, they gravel,
answer, that it is only their bodies that per-
ish, but that their buzzing part which is
different from their bodies, is to enjoy the
rewards or suffer the punishments with
which they have threatened them. For
thew make them believe that when Bee
dies that has followed the advice of the Hor-
nets, and given them the greatest part OF
his honey, his buzz goes directly to the
Kings palace and contributes to fill his
great hall of audience with music, with