Aesop's Fables book illustration. The queen of the bees pays homage to Jupiter at Mount Olympus, bringing him the gift of honey. Jupiter is so pleased that he grants the bee any request she wants. The bee asks for a sting, to prevent the theft of the hive's honey. Jupiter is angered at the bee's stinginess, but boung by his word grants her request, but at a price: the use of the sting will cause the death of the bee which dealt it.