The Fable of the Bees (Philosophy Study). Bernard Mandeville

since their language is unknown,

      Must be call’d, as we do our own.

      As grant, that among other things, 25

      They wanted dice, yet they had kings;

      And those had guards; from whence we may

      Justly conclude, they had some play;

      Unless a regiment be shown

      Of soldiers, that make use of none. 30

      Vast numbers throng’d the fruitful hive;

      Yet those vast numbers made ’em thrive;

      Millions endeavouring to supply

      Each other’s lust and vanity;

      While other millions were employ’d, 35

      To see their handy-works destroy’d;

      They furnish’d half the universe;

      Yet had more work than labourers.

      Some with vast flocks, and little pains,

      Jump’d into business of great gains; 40

      And some were damn’d to scythes and spades,

      And all those hard laborious trades;

      Where willing wretches daily sweat,

      And wear out strength and limbs to eat:

      While others follow’d mysteries, 45

      To which few folks binds ’prentices;

      That want no stock, but that of brass,

      And may set up without a cross;

      As sharpers, parasites, pimps, players,

      Pickpockets, coiners, quacks, soothsayers, 50

      And all those, that in enmity,

      With downright working, cunningly

      Convert to their own use the labour

      Of their good-natur’d heedless neighbour.

      These were call’d Knaves, but bar the name, 55

      The grave industrious were the same:

      All trades and places knew some cheat,

      No calling was without deceit.

      The lawyers, of whose art the basis

      Was raising feuds and splitting cases, 60

      Oppos’d all registers, that cheats

      Might make more work with dipt estates;

      As were’t unlawful, that one’s own,

      Without a law-suit, should be known.

      They kept off hearings wilfully, 65

      To finger the refreshing fee;

      And to defend a wicked cause,

      Examin’d and survey’d the laws,

      As burglar’s shops and houses do,

      To find out where they’d best break through. 70

      Physicians valu’d fame and wealth

      Above the drooping patient’s health,

      Or their own skill: the greatest part

      Study’d, instead of rules of art,

      Grave pensive looks and dull behaviour, 75

      To gain th’ apothecary’s favour;

      The praise of midwives, priests, and all

      That serv’d at birth or funeral.

      To bear with th’ ever-talking tribe,

      And hear my lady’s aunt prescribe; 80

      With formal smile, and kind how d’ye,

      To fawn on all the family;

      And, which of all the greatest curse is,

      T’ endure th’ impertinence of nurses.

      Among the many priests of Jove, 85

      Hir’d to draw blessings from above,

      Some few were learn’d and eloquent,

      But thousands hot and ignorant:

      Yet all pass’d muster that could hide

      Their sloth, lust, avarice and pride; 90

      For which they were as fam’d as tailors

      For cabbage, or for brandy sailors,

      Some, meagre-look’d, and meanly clad,

      Would mystically pray for bread,

      Meaning by that an ample store, 95

      Yet lit’rally received no more;

      And, while these holy drudges starv’d,

      The lazy ones, for which they serv’d,

      Indulg’d their ease, with all the graces

      Of health and plenty in their faces. 100

      The soldiers, that were forc’d to fight,

      If they surviv’d, got honour by’t;

      Though some, that shunn’d the bloody fray,

      Had limbs shot off, that ran away:

      Some valiant gen’rals fought the foe; 105

      Others took bribes to let them go:

      Some ventur’d always where ’twas warm,

      Lost now a leg, and then an arm;

      Till quite disabled, and put by,

      They liv’d on half their salary; 110

      While others never came in play,

      And staid at home for double pay.

      Their kings were serv’d, but knavishly,

      Cheated by their own ministry;

      Many, that for their welfare slaved, 115

      Robbing the very crown they saved:

      Pensions were small, and they liv’d high,

      Yet boasted of their honesty.

      Calling, whene’er they strain’d their right,

      The slipp’ry trick a perquisite; 120

      And when folks understood their cant,

      They chang’d that for emolument;

      Unwilling to be short or plain,

      In any thing concerning gain;

      For there was not a bee but would 125

      Get more, I won’t say, than he should;

      But than he dar’d to let them know,

      That pay’d for’t; as your gamesters do,

      That, though at fair play, ne’er will own

      Before the losers that they’ve won. 130

      But who can all their frauds repeat?

      The very stuff which in the street

      They sold for dirt t’ enrich the ground,

      Was often by the buyers found

      Sophisticated with a quarter 135

      Of good-for-nothing stones and mortar;

      Though Flail had little cause to mutter.

      Who sold the other salt for butter.

      Justice herself, fam’d for fair dealing,

      By blindness had not lost her feeling; 140

      Her left hand, which the scales should hold,

      Had often dropt ’em, brib’d with gold;

      And, though she seem’d impartial,

      Where punishment was corporal,

      Pretended to a reg’lar course, 145

      In