mous gratitude, what, it seemed, he could not obtain by love.
He ventured to expose himself to the hatred and revenge of the two
dreaded sisters, and to raise his beloved to the throne at the peril of
his life. Marking the wavering irresolution of the assembly, he took
up the discourse and said: "Brave knights and nobles of the people, I
will lay a simile before you, from which you may learn how to complete
this election to the advantage of your father-land." Silence having
been commanded, he proceeded thus: "The bees had lost their queen, and
the whole hive was melancholy and joyless. They flew out idly and
sparingly, they had scarcely spirits for making honey, and their
pursuit and nourishment was on the decline. They therefore thought
seriously about a new sovereign who should preside over their affairs,
that all order and discipline might not be lost. The wasp then came
and said: 'Make me your queen, I am strong and terrible, the stout
horse fears my sting, I can defy even your hereditary foe the lion, and
prick his mouth when he approaches your honey-tree. I will guard you
and protect you.' This discourse was pleasing enough to the bees, but
after mature deliberation the wisest among them said: 'Thou art
vigorous and terrible to be sure, but we dread that very sting which is
to defend us; therefore thou canst not be our queen.' Then the humble
bee came up humming, and said: 'Take me for your queen! Do you not
hear that the rustle of my wings announces rank and dignity? Besides,
I too have a sting to protect you.' The bees answered, we are a
peaceful and quiet race; the proud noise of thy wings would annoy us
and disturb the pursuits of our industry; thou canst not be our queen.'
Then the ant desired a hearing: 'Although I am larger and stronger than
you,' she said, 'my superiority can never injure you, for see I am
entirely without the dangerous sting, I am of a gentle disposition, and
besides that, a friend of order, of frugality, know how to preside over
the honey-tree and to encourage labour.' The bees then said: 'Thou art
worthy to govern us--we will obey thee--be thou our queen!'"

Wladomir paused. The whole assembly divined the purport of the
discourse, and the minds of all were favourably disposed towards the
Lady Libussa. Yet at the very moment when they were about to collect
the votes, a croaking raven flew over the place of election; this
unfavourable omen interrupted all further deliberation,