A Queen Bee from Hymettus flew up to Olympus with some fresh honey from the hive as a present to Jupiter, who was so pleased with the gift that he promised to give her anything she liked to ask for. She said she would be very grateful if he would give stings to the bees, to kill people who robbed them of their honey. Jupiter was greatly displeased with this request, for he loved mankind: but he had given his word, so he said that stings they should have. The stings he gave them, however, were of such a kind that whenever a bee stings a man the sting is left in the wound and the bee dies.
Evil wishes, like fowls, come home to roost.
一只哈米特的蜂后带着蜂巢里的新鲜蜂蜜,飞去奥林匹斯山敬献给朱庇特,朱庇特收到礼物十分喜悦,说可以满足蜂后的任何要求。蜂后说,如果朱庇特能够让蜜蜂拥有刺去杀死抢夺他们的蜂蜜的人,她会十分感激。对这个要求,朱庇特大失所望,因为他很喜欢人类。但是他已经许下了诺言,所以便答应蜜蜂他们可以有刺。尽管他给了蜜蜂刺,但是蜜蜂叮完人,刺便会留在人的伤口中,而蜜蜂却会死去。
训诫:恶意自有恶报。