For so work the honey bees

For so work the honey bees,
Creatures that by a rule in nature teach
The act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king, and officers of sorts,
Where some like magistrates correct at home;
Others like merchants venture trade abroad;
Others like soldiers, armed in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds,
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent-royal of their emperor;
Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens kneading up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate,
The sad-ey’d justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o’er to executors pale
The lazy yawning drone.

William Shakespeare, Henry V, I.ii

19 thoughts on “For so work the honey bees”

Exquisite work Rachael.. I love the top one. It’s body seems almost translucent. Such heavy pollen.. and the words… gorgeous!

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Rachael on July 9, 2012 at 9:17 am said:

Thanks, Helen. I love that passage from Henry V.

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Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful!!! I love these 🙂

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Rachael on July 9, 2012 at 9:18 am said:

Thank you so much!

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Amazingly detailed pictures. As I read the poem, I was thinking that you had written it, a latter-day Shakespeare! Thank you for visiting my blog.

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Rachael on July 10, 2012 at 4:23 pm said:

Thanks, Vivien. So nice to find you here on WordPress.

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- vivinfrance on July 10, 2012 at 4:34 pm said:
  
  I was thrilled to bits to find you, as well! Did you know that there are other OU CW survivors around as well. Susanne Lockie (A Sonsie Lass) and Linda Cosgriff (The Laughing Housewife and also I’m Not Averse), and Harry Nicholson all blog on WP
- Rachael on July 10, 2012 at 5:07 pm said:
  
  I didn’t know that. I must try to find Harry.
- vivinfrance on July 10, 2012 at 10:23 pm said:
  
  Harry is at http://1513fusion.wordpress.com/ He put a link to your blog on his this morning!
Rachael on July 10, 2012 at 11:01 pm said:

Thanks. I’ve found him. That was very kind of him.

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