The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Publick Benefits

Craft, science, shop, or instrument,
But they had an equivalent:
Which, since their language is unknown,
Must be called, as we do our own.
As grant, that among other things,
They lacked dice, yet they had kings;
And those had guards; from which we may
Justly conclude, they had some games;
Unless a regiment can be shown
Of soldiers, who make use of none.

VAST numbers thronged the fruitful hive;
Yet those vast numbers made them thrive;
Millions endeavoring to supply
Each other’s lust and vanity;
While other millions were employed,
To see their handiwork destroyed;
They furnished half the universe;
Yet had more work than laborers.
Some with vast capital, and little effort,
Jumped into business of great gains;
And some were condemned to scythes and spades,
And all those hard laborious trades;
Where willing wretches daily sweat,
And wear out strength and limbs to eat:
Brazen faces

((A)). While others followed mysteries In this context, "mysteries" refers to specialized trades or crafts.,
To which few folks bind apprentices;
That require no capital, except for boldness,
And may set up business without a coin To "set up without a cross" refers to starting a business without money, as many coins were marked with a cross.;
Such as sharpers, parasites, pimps, players,
Pickpockets, coiners, quacks, soothsayers,
And all those, who in hostility
To honest labor, cunningly
Convert to their own use the labor
Of their good-natured, heedless neighbor.
Knave

((B)) These were called knaves, but except for the name,
The grave and industrious were the same:
All trades and places knew some cheat,
No calling was without deceit.