inthemeantimethebeetle,whohadsailedacrosstheditchonacabbageleaf,hadbeenjourneyingontheotherside.inthemorningtwopersonscameuptotheditch.whentheysawhimtheytookhimupandturnedhimoverandover,lookingverylearnedallthetime,especiallyone,whowasaboy."allahseestheblackbeetleintheblackstone,andtheblackrock.isnotthatwritteninthekoran?"heasked.

thenhetranslatedthebeetle'snameintolatin,andsaidagreatdealuponthecreature'snatureandhistory.thesecondperson,whowasolderandascholar,proposedtocarrythebeetlehome,astheywantedjustsuchgoodspecimensasthis.ourbeetleconsideredthisspeechagreatinsult,soheflewsuddenlyoutofthespeaker'shand.hiswingsweredrynow,sotheycarriedhimtoagreatdistance,tillatlasthereachedahothouse,whereasashoftheglassroofwaspartlyopen,sohequietlyslippedinandburiedhimselfinthewarmearth."itisverycomfortablehere,"hesaidtohimself,andsoonafterfellasleep.thenhedreamedthattheemperor'shorsewasdying,andhadlefthimhisgoldenshoes,andalsopromisedthatheshouldhavetwomore.allthiswasverydelightful,andwhenthebeetlewokeuphecreptforthandlookedaroundhim.whatasplendidplacethehothousewas!attheback,largepalm-treesweregrowing;andthesunlightmadetheleaves-lookquiteglossy;andbeneaththemwhataprofusionofluxuriantgreen,andofflowersredlikeflame,yellowasamber,orwhiteasnew-fallensnow!"whatawonderfulquantityofplants,"criedthebeetle;"howgoodtheywilltastewhentheyaredecayed!thisisacapitalstore-room.theremustcertainlybesomerelationsofminelivinghere;iwilljustseeificanfindanyonewithwhomicanassociate.i'mproud,certainly;buti'malsoproudofbeingso.thenheprowledaboutintheearth,andthoughtwhatapleasantdreamthatwasaboutthedyinghorse,andthegoldenshoeshehadinherited.suddenlyahandseizedthebeetle,andsqueezedhim,andturnedhimroundandgardener'slittlesonandhisplayfellowhadcomeintothehothouse,and,seeingthebeetle,wantedtohavesomefunwithrst,hewaswrapped,inavine-leaf,andputintoawarmtrousers'pocket.hetwistedandturnedaboutwithallhismight,buthegotagoodsqueezefromtheboy'shand,asahintforhimtokeeptheboywentquicklytowardsalakethatlayattheendofthegarden.herethebeetlewasputintoanoldbrokenwoodenshoe,inwhichalittlestickhadbeenfasteneduprightforamast,andtothismastthebeetlewasboundwithapieceofworsted.nowhewasasailor,andhadtosailaway.thelakewasnotverylarge,buttothebeetleitseemedanocean,andhewassoastonishedatitssizethathefelloveronhisback,andkickedouthislegs.thenthelittleshipsailedaway;sometimesthecurrentofthewaterseizedit,butwheneveritwenttoofarfromtheshoreoneoftheboysturneduphistrousers,andwentinafterit,andbroughtitbacktoland.butatlast,justasitwentmerrilyoutagain,thetwoboyswerecalled,andsoangrily,thattheyhastenedtoobey,andranawayasfastastheycouldfromthepond,sothatthelittleshipwaslefttoitsfate.itwascarriedawayfartherandfartherfromtheshore,tillitreachedtheopensea.thiswasaterribleprospectforthebeetle,forhecouldnotescapeinconsequenceofbeingboundtothemast.thenaflycameandpaidhimavisit."whatbeautifulweather,"saidthefly;"ishallresthereandsunmyself.youmusthaveapleasanttimeofit."

"youspeakwithoutknowingthefacts,"repliedthebeetle;"don'tyouseethatiamaprisoner?"