Prevod

(It is easy to shine by quoting and praising the great men of antiquity; the merit lies in imitating them.) One day the drones assembled to discuss A matter of the gravest consequence. Each thought of various ways they might devise To cloak their idle uselessness; And to escape so shameful a reproach 5 In the eyes of all the other animals, Even the laziest and the dullest drone Wished, well or badly, to make honeycombs. But since they found the work too hard, And the inexperienced swarm 10 Was far from certain It could bring the venture to a happy end, They sought a way out of their plight By going to an ancient hive To fetch the body of a Bee 15 Once most industrious and skilled; To hold, with all the pomp and highest honors, A grand funeral in her name, And buzz her everlasting praises For the ingenuity she showed 20 In making honey sweet and wax as white as snow. With this they grew so proud and self-congratulatory That a Bee retorted: “Is that all the work you do? Why, brothers, All your buzzing will never equal 25 A single drop of honey that I make.” How many have sought to pass for wise By quoting those now dead who truly were! And with what pomp they quote them! But now I ask: do they imitate them? 30