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wisdom and simplicity。
The hermit of Sérignan was the Lucretius of this Provence； which had
already found its Virgil。 With a very different vision； each had the same
rustic tastes； the same love of the free spaces of wild nature and the
scenes of rural life。 But Mistral； wherever he looked； saw human life as
happy and simple； through the prism of his creative imagination and the
optimism of his happy life。 Fabre； on the contrary； behind the sombre
realities which he studied； saw only the ferocious engagement of confused
living forces； and a frightful tragedy。
Thus their two lives； which were like parallel lines； never meeting； were
in keeping with their work。 And while Mistral； still young and triumphant
despite the years； was at Maillane overwhelmed with honours and
consideration； the poor great man of Sérignan lived an obscure and
inglorious existence。
He had the greatest trouble to live and rear his family； and almost his
sole income consisted of an uncertain sum of 120 pounds sterling annually；
which he had for some years received； in the guise of a pension； by the
generosity of the Institute； as the Gegner prize。
Finally his situation was so precarious that he decided to sell to a museum
that magnificent collection of water…colour plates in which he had
represented； life…size and with an astonishing truth of colour； all the
fungi which grow in Provence。
He wrote to Mistral on the subject； after the visit which the latter paid
him in the spring of 1908： the only visit of the kind。 Before meeting in
Saint…Estelle； the Paradise of the Félibres； they had wished not to die
before at least meeting on this earth。
Fabre wrote to mistral the following letter； which I owe to the kindness of
the great poet：
〃I have never thought of profiting by my humble fungoid water…
colours。。。Fate will perhaps decide otherwise。
〃In this connection； permit me to make a confession； to which your nobility
of character encourages me。 Until latterly I had lived modestly on the
product of my school…books。 To…day the weathercock has turned to another
quarter； and my books no longer sell。 So here I am； more than ever in the
grip of that terrible problem of daily bread。 If you think； then； that with
your help and that of your friends； my poor pictures might help me a
little； I have decided to let them go； but not without bitterness。 It is
like tearing off a piece of my skin； and I still hold to this old skin；
shabby as it may be； a little for my own sake； much more for my family's；
and much more again for the sake of my entomological studies； studies which
I feel obliged to pursue； persuaded that for a long time to come no one
will care to resume them； so ungrateful is the calling。〃 （16/18。）
At the instigation of the poet the prefect Belleudy took it upon him to
intercede with the Minister； from whom he finally wrung a grant of 40
pounds sterling； 〃in encouragement of the sciences。〃 Finally he ventured to
reveal the situation to the General Council of Vaucluse； and to require it
to contribute at least its share； in order to ensure a peaceful and decent
old age to a man who was not only the greatest celebrity of the department；
but also one of the highest glories of the nation。 He pleaded so well and
so nobly that the assembly granted Fabre an annual sum of 20 pounds
sterling； 〃as the public homage which his compatriots pay to his lofty
science and HIS EXCESSIVE MODESTY。〃 （16/19。） At the same time； in a
generous impulse； the Council placed at his disposal all the scientific
equipment of the departmental laboratory of agricultural analysis； which
was no longer used； there was indeed talk of suppressing it。
Now that the burden of his days weighed so heavily on him； and his task was
virtually finished； everything； by the customary irony of things； was
coming his way simultaneously： not only what was necessary and
indispensable； but even something that was superfluous。
So one day all these delicate instruments； useless to a biologist who by
the very nature of his labours had done without them all his life； and had
never wearied of denying their utility； arrived at Sérignan。 He did not
possess even one modest thermometer； and as for the superb microscope over
which he so often bent； the only costly instrument in his rustic
laboratory； it was a precious present which； at the instigation of Duruy；
Dumas the chemist had given him years before； but a simple lens very often
sufficed him。 〃The secrets of life；〃 he somewhere writes； 〃are to be
obtained by simple； makeshift； inexpensive means。 What did the best results
of my inquiry into instinct cost me？ Only time； and above all； patience。〃
It was then that a few of his disciples； finally affected by such
abandonment； decided to celebrate his jubilee； hoping thus to reveal both
his name and his wonderful books to the crowd that knew nothing of him。
（16/20。）
It was time； a little longer； and； according to his racy phrase； 〃the
violins would have come too late。〃 The old master is daily nearer his
decline； his sight； once so piercing； is now so obscured that he can barely
see to sign his name； in a small； tremulous hand； confused and illegible。
His muscles are so feeble now that he can walk only in short steps； on his
wife's arm； leaning on a cane； and he would soon be piteously exhausted
were not some seat available within immediate reach。 Very soon now he will
no longer hope to make the tour of this Harmas； which his feet have trodden
daily for thirty years。 In this failure of the body； all that survives are
the two sparkling cavities of his eyes and his extraordinary memory。
But he is far from being mournful： he feels only an immense lassitude； and
an infinite regret that perhaps he will not be able to bring his series of
〃Souvenirs〃 to the point he had desired； not wishing to die until he has
pushed his career as far as is in his power； without having worked； on his
feet； until the very hour when the light of this world is suddenly
withdrawn； and his eyes open upon the infinite life； beyond the infinite
worlds of space。
The festival took place on the 3rd of April of the year 1910； and was
touching in its simplicity。
What an unforgettable day in the life of Fabre！ That morning the gate of
the Harmas was left open to all； and many of the people of Sérignan who
invaded the garden were able to look for the first time on the face of
their fellow…citizen； who had so long lived among them； and whom they had
now； to their astonishment； discovered。
But among the crowd of friends and admirers who； coming from all parts；
pressed around the little pink house； the most amazed of all was Marius；
the blind cabinet…maker； unable to contain his intense delight at the
sudden burning of so much incense before his idol； for to him it had seemed
that this day of apotheosis would never dawn！
For nothing was certain； although the day of the jubilee had long been