The Child and the Honeybee
Come here, little bee!
There are sweet flowers by me;
Come, and just let me see
How your honey is made.
"Oh! I can't; for I fear
That, for coming too near
I should pay very dear;
I'm afraid! I'm afraid!"
O, feel no alarm!
Not a wing nor an arm -
Not a part will I harm,
While you're sipping your till
Pretty maid, then I'll come
Close beside you, and hum;
And you shall have some
Of the sweets I distil."
My trust then is free,
Just as yours is to me;
But, be sure, little bee,
Not to give me your sting!
"Oh, no, no! Since I flew
From the cell where I grew,
None has known me to do
So ungrateful a thing!"
Then, why thus supplied
With a sting, but to hide
And to keep never tried,
Out of sight? Cunning bee!
"He who gave me the sting,
And the swift gauzy wing.
Bids me not harm a thing
That would not injure me."
