"O bees, sweet bees!" I said, "that nearest field br Is shining white with fragrant immortelles. br Fly swiftly there and drain those honey wells." br Then, spicy pines the sunny hive to shield, br I set, and patient for the autumn's yield br Of sweet I waited. br When the village bells br Rang frosty clear, and from their satin cells br The chestnuts leaped, rejoicing, I unsealed br My hive. br Alas! no snowy honey there br Was stored. My wicked bees had borne away br Their queen and left no trace. br That very day, br An idle drone who sauntered through the air br I tracked and followed, and he led me where br My truant bees and stolen honey lay. br Twice faithless bees! They had sought out to eat br Rank, bitter herbs. The honey was not sweet.