And as within the close-roof’d hive, the drones,

Helpers of sloth, are pamper’d by the bees;

These all the day, till sinks the ruddy sun,

Haste on the wing, “their murmuring labours ply,”

And still cement the white and waxen comb:

Those lurk within the cover’d hive, and reap

With glutted maw the fruits of others’ toil;

Such evil did the Thunderer send to man

In woman’s form, and so he gave the sex,

Ill helpmates of intolerable toils.