The Honey-Makers

Half natural history, half literature: how the honey-bee actually works — tongue, wings, sting, swarm — and then three thousand years of what people have believed about her, from the Vedas to mead.

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In Hindu Literature: Dushyanta

King Dushyanta riding in the forest comes upon the hermit's lovely daughter, Sakoontalá, watering the flowers, and driving away a bee that tries to settle upon her face. Whereupon his majesty, gazing ardently upon her, thus expresses his feelings : - "Beautiful! there is something charming even in her repulse. Where'er the bee his eager onset plies, Now here, now there, she darts her kindling eyes What love hath yet to teach, fear teaches now, The furtive glances and the frowning brow."

In a tone of envy he continues : - "Ah, happy bee! how boldly dost thou try To steal the lustre from her sparkling eye; And in thy circling movements hover near, To murmur tender secrets in her ear; Or, as she coyly waves her hand, to sip Voluptuous nectar from her lower lip !

While rising doubts my heart's fond hopes destroy, Thou dost the fulness of her charms enjoy."

Sakoontalá, reclining upon a couch of flowers, requests the king to leave her, upon which she receives the ardent reply : - "When I have gently stolen from thy lips Their yet untasted nectar, to allay The raging of my thirst, e'en as the bee Sips the fresh honey from the opening bud."

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