Illum adeō placuisse apibus mīrābere mōrem,

quod neque concubitū indulgent, nec corpora sēgnēs

in Venerem solvunt aut fētūs nīxibus ēdunt;

vērum ipsae ē foliīs nātōs, ē suāvibus herbīs200

ōre legunt, ipsae rēgem parvōsque Quirītēs

sufficiunt, aulāsque et cērea regna refīngunt.

Saepe etiam dūrīs errandō in cōtibus ālās

attrīvēre, ultrōque animam sub fasce dedēre:

tantus amor flōrum et generandī glōria mellis.205

Ergō ipsās quamvīs angustī terminus aevī

excipiat (neque enim plūs septima dūcitur aestās),

at genus immortāle manet, multōsque per annōs

stat fortūna domūs, et avī numerantur avōrum.

apis apis f.: bee

quod: because

concubitus –ūs m.: lying together, concubinage

indulgeō indulgēre indulsī indultus: gratify, indulge in

sēgnis sēgne: slow, sluggish

Venus –eris f.: Venus (god)

fētus fētūs m.: offspring

nīsus (nīxus) nīsūs m.: exertion, efforts of childbirth

vērum: but, yet200

folium foli(ī) n.: leaf

suāvis suāve: agreeable, sweet

herba herbae f.: grass, herb

Quirītēs –ium m.: ancient Sabines

sufficiō sufficere suffēcī suffectus: supply, produce

aula –ae (–āī) f.: forecourt, palace

cēreus –a –um: waxen, of wax

refingō –fingere — —: construct anew, make again

cautēs –is f.: craggy or pointed rock

āla –ae f.: wing, armpit

atterō atterere atterīvī attrītus: wear down, wear away

ultrō: readily, spontaneously

fascis –is m.: bundle, burden

generō generāre generāvī generātus: create, sire205

mel mellis n.: honey

angustus –a –um: narrow

terminus –ī m.: limit, end

multum: more

septimus –a –um: seventh

aestās aestātis f.: summer

immortālis immortālis immortāle: immortal

avus avī m.: grandfather

numerō numerāre numerāvī numerātus: to count

avus avī m.: grandfather

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