A Bee from the great forest, the queen of the hive, ascended to Mount Olympus to present Zeus some honey fresh from her combs. Zeus was delighted with the offering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She therefore besought him, saying,
"Give me, I pray thee, a sting, that if any mortal shall approach to take
my honey, I may kill him."
Zeus was much displeased, for he loved the race of man, but could not refuse
the request because of his promise.
Zeus answered the Bee in this way:
"You shall have your request, but it shall be at the peril of your own life.
Because if you use your sting, it will remain in the wound you make, and then
you will die from the loss of it."
Moral: Evil wishes, bring bad results to the one who wishes
them.