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as the family salon； with its few shabby and old…fashioned pieces of
furniture； he plays on an indifferent harmonium little airs of his own
composition； the subjects of which were at first suggested by his own
poetry。 Like Rollinat； Fabre rightly considers that music should complete；
accentuate； and release that which poetry has perforce left incomplete or
indefinite。 This is why he makes the bise laugh and sing and roar； why he
imitates the organ…tones of the wind in the pines； and seeks to reproduce
some of the innumerable rhythms of nature； the frenzy of the lizard； the
wriggling of the stickle…back； the jumping gait of the frog； the shrill hum
of the mosquito； the complaint of the cricket； the moving of the Scarabaei；
and the flight of the Libellulae。
Too busy by day to find time for much reading； it was at night that he
would shut himself up。 Retiring early to his little chamber； with bare
walls and bare tile floor； and a window opening to the garden； he would lie
on his low bed； with curtains of green serge； and would often read far into
the night。
This philosopher； to whose books the philosophers of the future will resort
for new theories and original ideas； refuses to have any commerce with
other philosophers； disdaining their systems and preferring to go straight
to the facts。 Even when he took up Darwin's 〃Origin of Species〃 he did
little more than open the book； so wearisome and uninteresting； he told me；
did he find the reading of it。 On the other hand； he is full of the ancient
philosophers； and as he did not read them very extensively in his youth and
middle age； he has returned to them finally with love and predilection for
〃these good old books。〃 Unlike many thinkers of the day； he is persuaded
that we cannot with impunity dispense with classic studies； and he rightly
considers that science and the humanities are not rivals； but allies。 Above
all he has a particular affection for Virgil； one may say that he is
steeped in his poetry； and he knows La Fontaine by heart。 The style of the
latter is curiously like his own； and Fabre owns himself as his disciple；
certainly La Fontaine's is the most active influence which his work
reveals。 He has a profound acquaintance with Rabelais； who was always his
〃friend〃 and who constantly crops up in his conversation and his chance
remarks。
After these his intellectual foster…parents have been Courrier； Toussenel；
of whom he is passionately fond； and Rousseau； of whom he cares for little
but his 〃Lettres sur la botanique；〃 full of such fresh impressions； in
which we feel not the literary man but the 〃craftsman〃； he also cherishes
Michelet； so full of intuition； although he never handled actual things and
knew nothing of the practice of the sciences； not learned； but overflowing
with love； his magic pen； his powers of evocation； and his deft brushwork
delight Fabre； despite the poverty and insufficiency of his fundamental
facts （15/17。）； sometimes Michelet had been his inspiration。 The two do
really resemble one another； Michelet was no less fitted than Fabre to play
the confidant to Nature； and his heart was of the same mettle。
Since I have spoken of his favourites； let me also speak of his dislikes；
Racine； whom he cannot bear； Molière； whom he does not really like； Buffon；
whom he frankly detests for his too fluent prose； his ostentatious style；
and his vain rhetoric。 The only naturalist whom he might really have
delighted in； had he possessed his works and been able to read them at
leisure； is Audubon； the enthusiastic painter of the birds of America。 In
him he felt the presence of a mind and a temper almost identical with his
own。
CHAPTER 16。 TWILIGHT。
How he has laboured in this solitude！ For he considers that he is still far
from having completed his task。 He feels more and more that he has scarcely
done more than sketch the history of this singular and almost unknown
world。 〃The more I go forward；〃 he wrote to his brother in 1903； 〃the more
clearly I see that I have struck my pick into an inexhaustible vein； well
worthy of being exploited。〃 （16/1。）
What studies he has undertaken； what observations he has carried out；
〃almost at the same time； the same moment！〃 His laboratory is crowded with
these subjects of experiments。 〃As though I had a long future before me〃
he was then just eighty years old〃I continue indefatigably my researches
into the lives of these little creatures。〃 （16/2。）
Work in solitude seems to him； more and more； the only life possible； and
he cannot even imagine any other。
〃The outer world scarcely tempts me at all； surrounded by my little family；
it is enough for me to go into the woods from time to time； to listen to
the fluting of the blackbirds。 The very idea of the town disgusts me。
Henceforth it would be impossible for me to live in the little cage of a
citizen。 Here I am； run wild； and I shall be so till the end。〃 （16/3。）
For him work has become more than ever an organic function； the true
corollary of life。 〃Away with repose！ For him who would spend his life
properly there is nothing like workso long as the machine will operate。〃
Is this not the great law for all creatures so long as life lasts？
Why should the man who has made a fortune； who has neither children nor
relations； and who may die tomorrow； continue to work for himself alone； to
employ his days and his energies in useless labours which will profit
neither himself nor his kind？
Ask of the Halictus； which； no longer capable of becoming a mother； makes
herself guardian of a city； in order still to labour within the measure of
her means。
Ask of the Osmia； the Megachile； the Anthidium； which 〃with no maternal
aim； for the sole joy of labour； strive to expend their forces in the
accomplishment of their vain tasks； until the forces of life fail。〃
Ask of the bee； which inaction leaves passive and melancholy so that she
presently dies of weariness； of the Chalicodoma； so eager a worker that she
will 〃let herself be crushed under the feet of the passer…by rather than
abandon her task。〃
Ask it of all nature； which knows neither halt nor repose； and who；
according to the profound saying of Goethe 〃has pronounced her malediction
upon all that retards or suspends her progress。〃
Let us then labour； men and beasts； 〃so that we may sleep in peace； grubs
and caterpillars in that torpor which prepares them for the transformation
into moths and butterflies； and ourselves in the supreme slumber which
dissolves life in order to renew it。〃
Let us work； in order to nourish within ourselves that divine intuition
thanks to which we leave our original impress upon nature； let us work； in
order to bring our humble contribution to the general harmony of things； by
our painful and meritorious labour； in order that we may associate
ourselves with God； share in His creation； and embellish and adorn the
earth and fill it with wonders。 （16/4。）