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consent to come to him and take him by the hand in the depths of some
unknown Maillane； some obscure Sérignan； even； as in the case of Fabre； at
the end only of a long life。
But he； by a kind of fatality inherent in his nature； loved 〃to
circumscribe himself；〃 according to the happy expression of Rousseau； and
he profited； rather than otherwise； by living entirely to himself； for he
had long been； indeed he always was； the man who； at twenty…five； writing
to his brother； had said； in speaking of his native countryside：
〃For a impassioned botanist； it is a delightful country； in which I could
pass a month； two months； three months； a year even； alone； quite alone；
with no other companion than the crows and the jays which gossip among the
oak…trees； without being weary for a moment； there would be so many
beautiful fungi； orange； rosy； and white； among the mosses； and so many
flowers in the fields。〃 （6/4。）
His work having brought him at last just enough to enable him to give
himself the pleasure of becoming； in his turn； a proprietor； he had
acquired； for a modest sum； this dilapidated dwelling and this deserted
spot of ground； barren land； given over to couch…grass； thistles； and
brambles； a sort of 〃accursed spot； to which no one would have confided
even a pinch of turnip…seed。〃 A piece of water in front of the house
attracted all the frogs in the neighbourhood； the screech…owl mewed from
the tops of the plane…trees； and numerous birds； no longer disturbed by the
presence of man； had domiciled themselves in the lilacs and the cypresses。
A host of insects had seized upon the dwelling； which had long been
deserted。
He restored the house； and to some extent reduced confusion to order。 In
the uncultivated and pebbly plain where the plough had been long a stranger
he established plants of a thousand varieties； and； the better to hide
himself； he had walls built to shut himself in。
Why was he drawn by preference to this village of Sérignan？for he did not
go thither without making some inquiries as to the possibility of obtaining
shelter elsewhere； and the Carpentras cemetery had tempted him also； but
what had particularly seduced and drawn him thither was the nearness of the
mountain with its Mediterranean flora； so rich that it recalled the
Corsican maquis； full of beautiful fungi and varied insects； where； under
the flat stones exposed to the burning sun； the centipede burrowed and the
scorpion slept； where a special fauna aboundedof curious dung…beetles；
scarabaei； the Copris； the Minotaur； etc。which only a little farther
north grow rapidly scarcer and then altogether disappear。
He had thus at last arrived in port； he had found his 〃Eden。〃
He had realized； 〃after forty years of desperate struggles；〃 the dearest；
the most ardent； the longest cherished of all his desires。 He could observe
at leisure 〃every day； every hour；〃 his beloved insects； 〃under the blue
sky； to the music of the cigales。〃 He had only to open his eyes and to see；
to lend an ear and hear； to enjoy the great blessing of leisure to his
heart's content。
Doffing the professor's frock…coat for the peasant's blouse； planting a
root of sweet basil in his 〃topper；〃 and finally kicking it to pieces； he
snapped his fingers at his past life。
Liberated at last； far from all that could irritate or disturb him or make
him feel dependent； satisfied with his modest earnings； reassured by the
ever…increasing popularity of his little books； he had obtained entire
possession of his own body and mind； and could give himself without reserve
to his favourite subjects。
So； with Nature and her inexhaustible book before him； he truly commenced a
new life。
But would this life have been possible without the support and comfort of
those intimate feelings which are at the root of human nature？ Man is
seldom the master of these feelings； and they； with reason or despite
reason； force themselves on his notice as the question of questions。
This delicate problem Fabre had to resolve after suffering a fresh grief。
Hardly had he commenced to enjoy the benefits of this profound peace； when
he lost his wife。 At this moment his children were already grown up； some
were married and some ready to leave him； and he could not hope much longer
to keep his old father； the ex…café…keeper of Pierrelatte； who had come to
rejoin him； and who might be seen； even in his extreme old age； going forth
in all weathers and dragging his aged limbs along all the roads of
Sérignan。 （6/5。） The son； moreover； had inherited from his father his
profound inaptitude for the practical business of life； and was equally
incapable of managing his interests and the economics of the house。 This is
why； after two years of widowerhood； having already passed his sixtieth
year； although still physically quite youthful； he remarried。 Careless of
opinion； obeying only the dictates of his own heart and mind； and following
also the intuitions of unerring instinct； which was superior to the
understanding of those who thought it their duty to oppose him； he married；
as Boaz married Ruth； a young woman； industrious； full of freshness and
life； already completely devoted to his service； and admirably fitted to
satisfy that craving for order； peace； quiet； and moral tranquillity； which
to him were above all things indispensable。
His new companion； moreover； was in all things faithful to her mission； and
it was thanks to the benefits of this union； as the future was to show；
that Fabre was in a position to pursue his long…delayed inquiries。
Three children； a son and two daughters； were born in swift succession； and
reconstituted 〃the family；〃 which was very soon increased by the youngest
of his daughters by his first wife； who had not married； this was that
Agla？； who so often helped her father with her childlike attentions； and；
〃her cheek blooming with animation；〃 collaborated in some of his most
famous observations （6/6。）； an unobtrusive figure； a soul full of devotion
and resignation； heroic and tender。 Having in vain ventured into the world；
she had returned to the beloved roof at Sérignan； unable to part from the
father she so admired and adored。
Later； when the shadow of age grew denser and heavier； the young wife and
the younger children of the famous poet…entomologist took part in his
labours also； they gave him their material assistance； their hands； their
eyes； their hearing； their feet； he in the midst of them was the
conceiving； reasoning； interpreting； and directing brain。
》From this time forward the biography of Fabre becomes simplified； and
remains a statement of his inner life。 For thirty years he never emerged
from his horizon of mountains and his garden of shingle； he lived wholly
absorbed in domestic affections and the tasks of a naturalist。 None the
less； he still exercised his vocation as teacher； for neither pure science
nor poetry was sufficient to nourish