I cannot, replied the god, breathless,
A giant bee is buzzing around my head,
If I stop, he will surely sting me.

The bird fluttered as close as he dared.
Sure enough, there was a bee the size of a buzzard
buzzing around the god's head.

Why do you torment him? asked the bird.

He has stolen honey from my hive, said the bee.
I am going to punish him for his crime.

But if you sting him, you will die yourself.

It doesn't matter. He stole my honey.

You can replenish your honey, but you cannot replenish your life, said the bird.

With that the bee flew back to his hive
and left the exhausted god in peace.

And that is how the cost of the punishment
can exceed the cost of the crime.