Anacreon
Love, once among the roses,
Perceived a bee reposing,
And wondered what the beast was,
And touched it, so it stung him.
And half he ran, half fluttered,
T Cythereas bosom,
Unto his fair, sweet mother,
Loud sobbed he, 'Ai! Ai! mother
Glola! I am murdered!
Glola! it has killed me!
A small brown snake with winglets,
Which men the honey bee call,
Bit me'But Cytherea
Said laughing, 'Ah, my baby,
If bee stings hurt so sorely,
Bethink thee what the smart is,
Of those, Love, whom thou piercest'
(Not mine...dated Dec 15 1895 &
attributed to Sir Edwin Arnold)