The Bear and Bee-Hives

086. THE BEAR AND BEE-HIVES.
A Bee's keene sting a Bear did so inrage,
That with the Hives a war he does ingage,
The numbers joyne, and on the foe do fall,
Who grieves, his private feud prov'd nationall.
Morall.
So petty tumults by the Rout persu'd
Have often mighty common wealths subdu'd.
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The Bear and the Bee-Hives

126. THE BEAR AND THE BEE-HIVES. A bear, climbing over the fence into a place where bees were kept, began to plunder the hives, and rob them of their honey. But the bees, to revenge the injury, attacked him in a whole swarm together; and though they were not able to pierce his rugged hide, yet with their little stings they so annoyed his eyes and nostrils, that, unable to endure the smarting pain, with impatience he tore the skin over his ears with his own claws, and suffered ample punishment for the injury he did the bees, in breaking open their waxen cells. [more info]

The Bear and the Bee-Hives

086. THE BEAR AND THE BEE-HIVES. A bear, climbing over the fence into a place where bees were kept, began to plunder the hives, and rob them of their honey. But the bees, to revenge the injury, attacked him in a whole swarm together; and though they were not able to pierce his rugged hide, yet with their little stings they so annoyed his eyes and nostrils, that, unable to endure the smarting pain, with impatience he tore the skin over his ears with his own claws, and suffered ample punishment for the injury he did the bees, in breaking open their waxen cells. [more info]

The Bear and the Bees

1.23. THE BEAR AND THE BEES. It were more prudent to acquiesce under an injury from a single person, than by an act of vengeance to bring upon us the resentment of a whole community.
A Bear happened to be stung by a Bee, and the pain was so acute, that in the madness of revenge he ran into the garden and overturned the hive. This outrage provoked their anger to a high degree, and brought the fury of the whole swarm upon him. They attacked him with such violence, that his life was in danger, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he made his escape, wounded from head to tail. In this desperate condition, lamenting his misfortunes, and licking his sores, he could not forbear reflecting how much more advisable it had been to have patiently acquiesced under one injury, than thus by an unprofitable resentment to have provoked a thousand. [more info]

The Bear and the Bees

56. THE BEAR AND THE BEES.
Their honey I'll have when I please;
Who cares for such small things as Bees?
Said the Bear; but the stings
Of these very small things
Left him not very much at his ease.
THE WEAKEST UNITED MAY BE STRONG TO AVENGE
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The Bear and the Bees

THE BEAR AND THE BEES. A Bear roaming the woods in search of berries happened on a fallen tree in which a swarm of Bees had stored their honey. The Bear began to nose around the log very carefully to find out if the Bees were at home. Just then one of the swarm came home from the clover field with a load of sweets. Guessing what the Bear was after, the Bee flew at him, stung him sharply and then disappeared into the hollow log.
The Bear lost his temper in an instant, and sprang upon the log tooth and claw, to destroy the nest. But this only brought out the whole swarm. The poor Bear had to take to his heels, and he was able to save himself only by diving into a pool of water.
It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage. [more info]