The advantages of moderation and the folly of intemperance.
One fine morning in May, two Bees set out in search of honey. One was wise and temperate, while the other was careless and extravagant. They soon arrived at a garden filled with aromatic herbs, fragrant flowers, and delicious fruits. They enjoyed themselves for a while: the prudent Bee intermittently loaded his thigh with provisions for the hive against the coming winter, while the other reveled in the sweets, thinking only of immediate gratification. Eventually, they found a wide-mouthed phial hanging from a peach tree, filled with ready-made honey. Ignoring his friend’s warnings, the thoughtless Bee plunged into the vessel, indulging in sensual pleasure. The wiser Bee, sipping cautiously, moved on to other fruits and flowers, enhancing his enjoyment through moderation. In the evening, he returned to check on his friend, only to find him overwhelmed by the sweets. Weighed down, weak, and exhausted, the imprudent Bee could barely bid his friend farewell, lamenting that while a taste of pleasure enhances life, unrestrained indulgence leads to destruction.
