E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bee.
The Athenian Bee. Plato. (See ATHENIAN BEE, page 72, col. 1.)
1
It is said that when Plato was in his cradle, a swarm of bees alighted on his mouth. The story is good enough for poets and orators. The same tale is told of St. Ambrose. (See AMBROSE, page 41, col. 1.)
2
The Bee of Athens. Soph’ocls. (See ATTIC BEE, page 73, col. 1.)
3
Xenophon (B.C. 444–359) is also called “the Bee of Athens,” or “the Athenian Bee.”
4
See also ANIMALS (SYMBOLICAL), page 50, col. 2.
5
To have your head full of bees. Full of devices, crotchets, fancies, inventions, and dreamy theories. The connection between bees and the soul was once generally maintained: hence Mahomet admits bees to Paradise. Porphyry says of fountains, “they are adapted to the nymphs, or those souls which the ancients called bees.” The moon was called a bee by the priestesses of Cers, and the word lunatic or moon-struck still means one with “bees in his head.”
6
“Il a des rats dans la tête.”—French Proverb.
(See MAGGOT.)
7
To have a bee in your bonnet. To be cranky; to have an idiosyncrasy; also,
to carry a jewel or ornament in your cap. (See BIGHES.)
s. (See A
See also A
