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IT IS OVERTHROWN。 Moreover； one knows thoroughly only what one learns
oneself； and I advise you earnestly； as far as possible； to have recourse
to no aid other than reflection； above all for the sciences。 A book of
science is an enigma to be deciphered； if some one gives you the key of the
enigma nothing appears more simple and more natural than the explanation；
but if a second enigma presents itself you will be as unskilful as you were
with the first。。。
〃It is probable that you will get the chance of a few lessons； do not by
preference accept the easier and more lucrative； but rather the more
difficult； even when the subject is one of which as yet you know nothing。
The self…esteem which will not allow one's true character to be seen is a
powerful aid to the will。 Do not forget the method of Jules Janin； running
from house to house in Paris for a few wretched lessons in Latin： 'Unable
to get anything out of my stupid pupils； with the besotted son of the
marquis I was simultaneously pupil and professor： I explained the ancient
authors to myself； and so； in a few months； I went through an excellent
course of rhetoric。。。'
〃Above all you must not be discouraged； time is nothing provided the will
is always alert； always active； and never distracted； 'strength will come
as you travel。'
〃Try only for a few days this method of working； in which the whole energy；
concentrated on one point； explodes like a mine and shatters obstacles； try
for a few days the force of patience； strength； and perseverance； and you
will see that nothing is impossible！〃 （2/4。）
These serious reflections show very clearly that his mind was already as
mature； as earnest； and as concentrated as it was ever to be。
Not only did he join example to precept； he looked about him and began to
observe nature in her own house。 The doings of the Mason…bee； which he
encountered for the first time； aroused his interest to such a pitch that；
being no longer able to constrain his curiosity； he boughtat the cost of
what privations！Blanchard's 〃Natural History of the Articulata；〃 then a
classic work； which he was to re…read a hundred times； and which he still
retains； giving it the first place in his modest library； in memory of his
early joys and emotions。
The rocks also arrested and captivated his attention： and already the first
volumes were corpulent of what was eventually to become his gigantic
herbiary。 His brother； about to leave for Vezins on vacation； was told of
the specimens which he wanted to complete his collection； for although he
had never set foot there since his first departure； he recalled； with
remarkable precision； all the plants that grew in his native countryside；
their haunts； their singularities； and the characteristics by which one
could not fail to recognize them： as well as all the places which they
chose by preference； where he used to wander as an urchin； the Parnassia
palustris； 〃which springs up in the damp meadows； below the beech…wood to
the west of the village； which bears a superb white flower at the top of a
slightly twisted stem； having an oval leaf about its middle〃； the purple
digitalis； 〃whose long spindles of great red flowers； speckled with white
inside； and shaped like the fingers of a glove；〃 border a certain road； all
the ferns that grow on the wastes； 〃amid which it is often no easy task to
recollect one's whereabouts；〃 and on the arid hills all the heathers； pink；
white； and bluish； with different foliage； 〃of which the innumerable
species do not； however； very greatly differ。〃 Nothing is to be neglected；
〃every plant； whatever it may be； great or little； rare or common； were it
only a frond of moss； may have its interest。〃 （2/5。）
Never weary of work； he accumulated all these treasures in his little
museum； in order to study them the better； he collected all the coins
exhumed from this ancient soil； formerly Roman； 〃records of humanity more
eloquent than books；〃 and which revealed to him the only method of learning
and actually re…living history： for he saw in knowledge not merely a means
of gaining his bread； but 〃something nobler； the means of raising the
spirit in the contemplation of the truth； of isolating it at will from the
miseries of reality； so to find； in these intellectual regions； the only
hours of happiness that we may be permitted to taste。〃 （2/6。）
Fabre was so steeped in this passion for knowledge that he wished to evoke
it in his brother； now teacher at Lapalud； on the Rh？ne； not far from
Orange。 It seemed to him that he would delight in his wealth still better
could he share it with another。 （2/7。） He stimulated him； pricked him on；
and sought to encourage the remarkable aptitude for mathematics with which
he believed him endowed。 He employed his whole strength in breathing into
the other's mind 〃that taste for the true and the beautiful〃 which
possessed his own nature； he wished to share with him those stores of
learning 〃which he had for some years so painfully amassed〃； he would
profit by the vacation to place them at his disposal； they would work
together 〃and the light would come。〃 Above all his brother must not allow
his intelligence to slumber； must beware of 〃extinguishing that divine
light without which one can； it is true； attend to one's business； but
which alone can make a man honourable and respected。〃
Let him； on the contrary； cultivate his mind incessantly； 〃the only
patrimony on which either of us can count〃； the reward would be his moral
well…being； and； he hoped； his physical welfare also。
Once more he reinforced his advice by that excellent counsel which was
always his own lodestar：
〃Science； Frédéric； knowledge is everything。。。You are too good a thinker
not to say with me that no one can better employ his time than by acquiring
fresh knowledge。。。Work； then； when you have the opportunity。。。an
opportunity that very few may possess； and for which you ought to be only
too thankful。 But I will stop； for I feel my enthusiasm is going to my
head； and my reasons are so good already that I have no need of still more
triumphant reasons to convince you。〃 （2/8。）
He had only one passion： shooting； more especially the shooting of larks。
This sport delighted him； 〃with the mirror darting its intermittent beams
under the rays of the morning sun amid the general scintillation of the
dewdrops and crystals of hoarfrost hanging on every blade of grass。〃 （2/9。）
His sight was admirably sure； and he rarely missed his aim。 His passion for
shooting was always sustained by the same motive： the desire to acquire
fresh knowledge； to examine unknown creatures close at hand； to discover
what they ate and how they lived。
Later； when he again took up his gun； it was still because of his love of
life： it was to enable him to enumerate； inventory； and interrogate his new
compatriots； his feathered fellow…citizens of Sérignan； to inform himself
of their diet； to reveal the co