He was a
very merops apiaster, or bee-bird; and very injurious to men that
kept bees; for he would slide into their bee-gardens, and, sitting
down before the stools, would rap with his finger on the hives, and
so take the bees as they came out. He has been known to overturn
hives for the sake of honey, of which he was passionately fond.
Where metheglin was making he would linger round the tubs and
vessels, begging a draught of what he called bee-wine. As he ran
about he used to make a humming noise with his lips, resembling
the buzzing of bees. This lad was lean and sallow, and of a
cadaverous complexion; and, except in his favourite pursuit, in
which he was wonderfully adroit, discovered no manner of
understanding. Had his capacity been better, and directed to the
same object, he had perhaps abated much of our wonder at the
feats of a more modern exhibitor of bees; and we may justly say of
him now,
... Thou,
Had thy presiding star propitious shone,
Should'st Wildman be. ...
When a tall youth he was removed from hence to a distant village,
where he died, as I understand, before he arrived at manhood.
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