Once, a bee took honey for god Zeus. Delighted by the bee’s offering, Zeus ordered that she should be given whatever she asked for. Now, the bee had a very strange wish. He said to Zeus, “Grant me a sting so that I may defend myself and my honey.” Zeus was not sure what to do, since he felt affection for the human race. He therefore told the bee, “I cannot do exactly that. But if some man does come to take your honey and you want to get rid of him, here is your sting! Yet, you must keep in mind that once you strike a man, you will die the moment your sting has gone in. Use your sting wisely.” Even today, the bee dies after it has stung someone.
The Bee’s Sting
