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（Introduction/3。）； disliked writing letters； both in his studious youth and
during the later period of isolation and silence。
On the other hand； although he wrote but little； he never wrote with
difficulty or as a mere matter of duty。 Among all the letters which I have
succeeded in collecting there are scarcely any that are not of interest
from one point of view or another。 No frivolous narratives； no futile
acquaintances； no commonplace intimacies； everything in his life is
serious； and everything makes for a goal。
But we must set apart； as surpassing all others in interest； the letters
which Fabre addressed to his brother during the years spent as schoolmaster
at Carpentras or Ajaccio； for these are more especially instructive in
respect of the almost unknown years of his youth； these most of all reveal
his personality and are one of the finest illustrations that could be given
of his life； a true poem of energy and disinterested labour。
I have to thank M。 Frédéric Fabre； who； in his fraternal piety； has
generously placed all his family records at my disposal； and also his two
sons； my dear friends Antonin Fabre； councillor at the Court of N？mes； and
Henri Fabre； of Avignon； for these precious documents； and I take this
opportunity of expressing my profound gratitude。
Let me at the same time thank all those who have associated themselves with
my efforts by supplying me with letters in their possession and furnishing
me with personal information； and in particular Mme Henry Devillario； M。
Achard； and M。 J。 Belleudy； ex…prefect of Vaucluse； not forgetting M。 Louis
Charrasse； teacher at Beaumont…d'Orange； and M。 Vayssières； professor of
the Faculty of Sciences at Marseilles； all of whom I have to thank for
personal and intimate information。
I must also express my gratitude to M。 Henri Bergson； Professor Bouvier；
and the learned M。 Paul Marchal for the advice and the valuable suggestions
which they offered me during the preparation of this book。
I shall feel fully repaid for my pains if this 〃Life〃 of one of the
greatest of the world's naturalists； by enabling men to know him better；
also leads them to love him the more。
FABRE； POET OF SCIENCE。
CHAPTER 1。 THE INTUITION OF NATURE。
Each thing created； says Emerson； has its painter or its poet。 Like the
enchanted princess of the fairy…tales； it awaits its predestined liberator。
Every part of nature has its mystery and its beauty； its logic and its
explanation； and the epigraph given me by Fabre himself； which appears on
the title…page of this volume； is in no way deceptive。 The tiny insects
buried in the soil or creeping over leaf or blade have for him been
sufficient to evoke the most important； the most fascinating problems； and
have revealed a whole world of miracle and poetry。
He saw the light at Saint…Léons； a little commune of the canton of Vezins
in the Haut Rouergue； on the 22nd December； 1823； some seven years earlier
than Mistral； his most famous neighbour； the greater lustre of whose
celebrity was to eclipse his own。
Here he essayed his earliest steps； here he stammered his first syllables。
His early childhood； however； was passed almost wholly at Malaval； a tiny
hamlet in the parish of Lavaysse； whose belfry was visible at quite a short
distance； but to reach it one had to travel nearly twenty…five rough；
mountainous miles； through a whole green countryside； green； but bare； and
lacking in charm。 （1/1。）
All his paternal forebears came from Malaval； and thence one day his
father； Antoine Fabre； came to dwell at Saint…Léons； as a consequence of
his marriage with the daughter of the huissier； Victoire Salgues； and in
order to prepare himself； as working apprentice； in the tricks and quibbles
of the law。 （1/2。）
In the roads of Malaval； bordered with brambles； in the glades of bracken；
and amid the meadows of broom； he received his first impressions of nature。
At Malaval too lived his grandmother； the good old woman who could lull him
to sleep at night with beautiful stories and simple legends； while she
wound her distaff or spun her bobbin。
But what were all these imaginary marvels； what were the ogres who smelt
fresh meat； or 〃the fairies who turned pumpkins into coaches and lizards
into footmen〃 beside all the marvels of reality； which already he was
beginning to perceive？
For above all things he was born a poet： a poet by instinct and by
vocation。 From his earliest childhood； 〃the brain hardly released from the
swaddling…bands of unconsciousness；〃 the things of the outer world left a
profound and living impression。 As far back as he can remember； while still
quite a child； 〃a little monkey of six； still dressed in a little baize
frock；〃 or just 〃wearing his first braces；〃 he sees himself 〃in ecstasy
before the splendours of the wing…cases of a gardener…beetle； or the wings
of a butterfly。〃 At nightfall； among the bushes； he learned to recognize
the chirp of the grasshopper。 To put it in his own words； 〃he made for the
flowers and insects as the Pieris makes for the cabbage and the Vanessa
makes for the nettle。〃 The riches of the rocks； the life which swarms in
the depth of the waters； the world of plants and animals； that 〃prodigious
poem； all nature filled him with curiosity and wonder。〃 〃A voice charmed
him； untranslatable； sweeter than language and vague as a dream。〃 （1/3。）
These peculiarities are all the more astonishing in that they seem to be
absolutely spontaneous and in nowise hereditary。 What his parents were he
himself has told us： small farmers； cultivating a little unprofitable land；
poor 〃husbandmen； sowers of rye； cowherds〃； and in the wretched
surroundings of his childhood； when the only light； of an evening； came
from a splinter of pine； steeped in resin； which was held by a strip of
slate stuck into the wall； when his folk shut themselves in the byre； in
times of severe cold； to save a little firewood and while away the
evenings； when close at hand； through the bitter wind； they heard the
howling of the wolves： here； it would seem； was nothing propitious to the
birth of such tastes； if he had not borne them naturally within him。
But is it not the very essence of genius； as it is the peculiarity of
instinct； to spring from the depths of the invisible？
Yet who shall say what stores of thought unspoken； what unknown treasures
of observation never to be communicated； what patient reflections
unuttered； may be housed in those toil…worn brains； in which； perhaps；
slowly and obscurely； accumulate the germs of faculties and talents by
which some more favoured descendant may one day benefit？ How many poets
have died unpublished or unperceived； in whom only the power of expression
was lacking！
When he was seven years old his parents recalled him to Saint…Léons； in
order to send him to the school kept by his godfather； Pierre Ricard； the
village schoolmaster； 〃at once ba