Chapter LXXXII.

Perhaps also the so-called wars among the bees convey instruction as to the manner in which wars, if ever there arise a necessity for them, should be waged in a just and orderly way among men.  But the bees have no cities or suburbs; while their hives and hexagonal cells, and succession of labours, are for the sake of men, who require honey for many purposes, both for cure of disordered bodies, and as a pure article of food.  Nor ought we to compare the proceedings taken by the bees against the drones with the judgments and punishments inflicted on the idle and wicked in cities.  But, as I formerly said, we ought on the one hand in these things to admire the divine nature, and on the other to express our admiration of man, who is capable of considering and admiring all things (as co-operating with Providence), and who executes not merely the works which are determined by the providence of God, but also those which are the consequences of his own foresight.

Τάχα δὲ καὶ οἱ οἱονεὶ πόλεμοι τῶν μελισσῶν διδασ καλία ἔγκειται πρὸς τὸ δικαίους καὶ τεταγμένους πολέμους, εἴ ποτε δέοι, γίνεσθαι ἐν ἀνθρώποις. Καὶ οὐ πόλεις μὲν καὶ προπόλεις ἐν μελίσσαις, ἀλλ' οἱ σίμβλοι καὶ τὰ ἑξάγωνα καὶ τὰ τῶν μελισσῶν ἔργα καὶ ἡ παρ' ἐκείναις διαδοχὴ αὐτῶν διὰ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς πολλὰ τοῦ μέλιτος χρῄζοντας, θεραπείας τε σωμάτων πεπονθότων καὶ τροφὴν καθάριον. Οὐ παραβλητέον δὲ τὰ κατὰ τῶν κηφήνων ὑπὸ τῶν μελισσῶν ἐπιτελούμενα ταῖς κατὰ τῶν ἀργῶν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι καὶ πονηρῶν δίκαις καὶ ταῖς κατ' αὐτῶν κολάσεσιν. Ἀλλ' ὡς προεῖπον, τὴν μὲν φύσιν ἐν τούτοις θαυμαστέον· τὸν δ' ἄνθρωπον, ἐπιλογίσασθαι τὰ περὶ πάντων δυνάμενον καὶ κοσμῆσαι τὰ πάντων, ἅτε συνεργοῦντα τῇ προνοίᾳ ἀπο δεκτέον, καὶ οὐ μόνης προνοίας θεοῦ ἔργα ἐπιτελοῦντα ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ.