I.

A bee who had chased after pleasure all day,
And homeward was lazily wending his way,
Fell in with a Spider, who called to the Bee: 
“Good evening!  I trust you are well,” said he.

II.

  The bee was quite happy to stop awhile there—­
  For indolence always has moments to spare—­
  “Good evening!” he said, with a very low bow,
  “My health, sir, alas! ’tis quite delicate now.

III.

  “From spring until autumn, from morning till night,
  I’m obliged to be toiling with all my might;
  My labors are wearing me out, and you know
  I might as well starve, as to kill myself so.”

IV.

  The Spider pretended to pity the Bee—­
  For a cunning old hypocrite Spider was he—­
  “I’m sorry to see you so ill,” he said;
  And he whispered his wife, “He will have to be bled.”

[Illustration:  THE BEE OUTSIDE THE WEB.]

V.

  “Some people—­perhaps they are wiser than I—­
  Some people are in a great hurry to die;
  Excuse me, but candor compels me to say,
  ’Tis wrong to be throwing one’s life away.

VI.

  “Your industry, sir, it may do very well
  For the beaver’s rude hut, or the honey-bee’s cell;
  But it never would suit a gay fellow like me;
  I love to be idle—­I love to be free.

VII.

  “This hoarding of riches—­this wasting of time,
  In robbing the gardens and fields—­’tis a crime! 
  And then to be guilty of suicide, too! 
  I tremble to think what a miser will do.”

VIII.

  ’Tis strange the poor Bee was so stupid and blind. 
  “Mister Spider,” said he, “you have spoken my mind;
  There’s something within me that seems to say,
  I have toiled long enough, and ’tis better to play.

IX. 
  “But how in the world shall I manage to live? 
  I might beg all my life, and nobody would give. 
  ’Tis easy enough to be merry and sing,
  But living on air is a different thing.”

X.

  The Spider was silent, and looked very grave—­
  ’Twas a habit he had—­the scheming old knave! 
  No Spider, intent on his labor of love,
  Had more of the serpent, or less of the dove.

XI.

  “To serve you would give me great pleasure,” said he;
  “Come into my palace, and tarry with me;
  The Spider knows nothing of labor and care. 
  Come, you shall be welcome our bounty to share.