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of the rotation of the sun on its own centre if its atmosphere reached as
far as the earth？ And this question gave rise to another； 〃without which
the sequence stops then and there； number； space； movement； and order form
a single chain； the first link of which sets all the rest in motion。〃
（3/6。） And the hours went by quickly； so quickly with 〃x；〃 the plants and
the shells； that 〃literally there was no time to eat。〃
For Fabre was born a poet； and mathematics borders upon poetry； he saw in
algebra 〃the most magnificent flights；〃 and the figures of analytical
geometry unrolled themselves in his imagination 〃in superb strophes〃； the
Ellipse； 〃the trajectory of the planets； with its two related foci； sending
from one to the other a constant sum of vector radii〃； the Hyperbole； 〃with
repulsive foci； the desperate curve which plunges into space in infinite
tentacles； approaching closer and closer to a straight line； the asymptote；
without ever finally attaining it〃； the Parabola； 〃which seeks fruitlessly
in the infinite for its second； lost centre： it is the trajectory of the
bomb： it is the path of certain comets which come one day to visit our sun；
then flee into the depths whence they never return。〃 （3/7。）
And one fine morning we behold him mounting； thrilled by a lyric passion；
to the lofty regions in which Number； 〃irresistible； omnipotent； keystone
of the vault of the universe； rules at once Time and Space。〃 He ascends； he
rushes forward； farther than the chariot
〃Beyond the Husbandman who ploughs in space
And sows the suns in furrows of the skies。〃
He ascends those tracks of flame； where on high
〃in those lists inane
Wise regulator； Number holds the reins
Of those indomitable steeds；
Number has set a bit i' the foaming mouths
Of these Leviathans； and with nervous hand
Controls them in their tracks；
Their smoking flanks beneath the yoke in vain
Quiver； their nostrils vainly void as foam
Dense tides of lava； and in vain they rear；
For Number on their mettled haunches poised
Holds them； or duly with the rein controls；
Or in their flanks buries his spur divine。〃 （3/8。）
Later he confessed all that he owed； as a writer； to geometry； whose severe
discipline forms and exercises the mind； gives it the salutary habit of
precision and lucidity； and puts it on its guard against terms which are
incorrect or unduly vague； giving it qualities far superior to all the
〃tropes of rhetoric。〃
It was then that he became the pupil of Requien of Avignon； the retired
botanist； a lofty but somewhat limited mind； who was hardly capable of
opening up other horizons to him。 But Requien did at least enrich his
memory by a prodigious quantity of names of plants with which he had not
been acquainted。 He revealed to him the immense flora of Corsica； which he
himself had come to study； and for which Fabre was to gather such a vast
amount of material。
Fabre found in Requien more especially a friend 〃proof against anything〃；
and when the latter died almost suddenly at Bonifacio； Fabre was
overwhelmed by the sad news。 On that very day he had on the table before
him a parcel of plants gathered for the dead botanist。 〃I cannot let my
eyes rest upon it；〃 he wrote at the time； 〃without feeling my heart wrung
and my sight dim with tears。〃 （3/9。）
But the most admirably fruitful encounter； as it exercised the profoundest
influence upon his destiny； was his meeting with Moquin…Tandon； a Toulouse
professor who followed Requien to Corsica； to complete the work which the
latter had left unfinished： the complete inventory of the prodigious wealth
of vegetation； of the innumerable species and varieties which Fabre and he
collected together； on the slopes and summits of Monte Renoso； often
botanizing 〃up in the clouds； mantle on back and numb with cold。〃 （3/10。）
Moquin…Tandon was not merely a skilful naturalist； he was one of the most
eloquent and scholarly scientists of his time。 Fabre owed to him； not his
genius； to be sure； but the definite indication of the path he was finally
to take； and from which he was never again to stray。
Moquin…Tandon； a brilliant writer and 〃an ingenious poet in his
Montpellerian dialect；〃 （3/11。） taught Fabre never to forget the value of
style and the importance of form； even in the exposition of a purely
descriptive science such as botany。 He did even more； by one day suddenly
showing Fabre； between the fruit and the cheese； 〃in a plate of water；〃 the
anatomy of the snail。 This was his first introduction to his true destiny
before the final revelation of which I shall presently speak。 Fabre
understood then and there that he could do decidedly better than to stick
to mathematics； though his whole career would feel the effects of that
study。
〃Geometers are made； naturalists are born ready…made；〃 he wrote to his
brother； still excited by this incident； 〃and you know better than any one
whether natural history is not my favourite science。〃 （3/12。）
》From that time forward he began to collect not only dead； inert； or
dessicated forms； mere material for study； with the aim of satisfying his
curiosity； he began to dissect with ardour； a thing he had never done
before。 He housed his tiny guests in his cupboard； and occupied himself； as
he was always to do in the future； with the smaller living creatures only。
〃I am dissecting the infinitely little； my scalpels are tiny daggers which
I make myself out of fine needles； my marble slab is the bottom of a
saucer； my prisoners are lodged by the dozen in old match…boxes； maxime
miranda in minimis。〃 （3/13。）
Roaming at night along the marshy beaches； he contracted fever； and several
terrible attacks； accompanied by alarming tremors； left him so bloodless
and feeble that； much against his will； he had to beg for relief； and even
insist upon his prompt return to the mainland。 in the meantime he obtained
sick…leave； and returned to Provence after a terrible crossing which lasted
no less than three days and two nights； on a sea so furious that he gave
himself up for lost。 （3/14。）
Slowly he recovered his health； and after a second but brief stay at
Ajaccio he received the news of his appointment to the lycée of Avignon。
（3/15。）
He returned with his imagination enriched and his mind expanded； with
settled ideas； and thoroughly ripe for his task。
CHAPTER 4。 AT AVIGNON。
The resolute worker resumed his indefatigable labours with an ardour
greater than ever； for now he was haunted by a noble ambition； that of
becoming a teacher of the superior grade； and of 〃talking plants and
animals〃 in a chair of the faculty。 With this end in view he added to his
two diplomasthose of mathematics and physicsa third certificate； that
of natural sciences。 His success was triumphant。
Already tenacious and fearless in affirming what he believed to be the
truth； he astonished and bewildered the professors of Toulouse。 Among the