4.88–102

Types of bees and their leaders.

Vergil further personifies the bee communities and their leaders. He recommends putting to death an inferior king and describes two types of bees: the lazy, messy bee and the assiduous and gleaming bee. The leaders set the tone for the bees in their communities, so a good king will have a hive that results in healthier offspring and higher productivity.

88 aciē: ablative place from which; missing ex or ab (AG 428g).

89 vīsus: supply fuerit. nē prōdigus obsit: negative purpose clause (AG 531.1). prōdigus refers to the king being either wasteful or superfluous.

90 eum: direct object of dēde.

90 melior…sine regnet = sine ut melior rēgnet; verbs of permitting are often followed by a substantive clause of purpose introduced by ut + subjunctive (AG 563). The ut is omitted, as often in poetry.

90 vacuā…aulā: epic imagery: the inferior “king” should be replaced. In actuality, bees themselves will kill a weak queen and requeen if needed.

91 alter…ardens: the sentence started is not completed (anacoluthon).

91 maculīs aurō: maculae = “spots.” Both maculis and auro are ablatives of specification with ardens and squalentibus respectively (AG 418).

92 duo sunt genera: commentators note Vergil may refer to two bee “races” or subspecies (cf. Arist. HA 624b22; Varro RR 3.16.18). However, cleanliness and order in a hive are more immediately important: clean bees = healthy hive.

92 ōre: “look” or “appearance,” ablative of specification with insignis (AG 418).

92 rutilīs…squāmīs: ablative of specification with clarus (AG 418).

94 dēsidiā: “because of laziness,” ablative of cause (AG 404).

94 lātam…alvum: alvus is a rare 2nd declension feminine noun, here modified by lātam.

95 bīnae…faciēs: supply sunt.

96–97 Order: ceu viātor venit ab altō pulvere et terram spuit siccō ōre; a simile comparing the dirty bee to a dusty traveler spitting earth from a dry mouth.

Bees prefer to be clean and will groom themselves when sprinkled with dust.

99 ārdentēs…guttīs = ārdentēs corpora lita aurō et paribus guttīs. corpora is accusative of respect with a body part (AG 397b).

99 aurō et paribus guttīs: “equal drops of gold,” a hendiadys. Vergil emphasizes the symmetry and brightness of the healthy bees’ markings.

100 potior: a comparative adjective (predicate nominative).

100 subolēs: supply est.

100 caelī: with tempore, referring to season or constellation.

100 certō: “fixed” or “appointed.”

101 dulcia mella premēs: honey had to be pressed and strained through wicker before storage.

101–102 nec tantum…sapōrem: “not only sweet, but both clear and able to tame the harsh flavor of wine.” tantum…quantum implies that while all honey is sweet, this is exceptionally pure and suitable for mulsum (2 parts wine + 1 part honey).