s," he says. The reasons
which he has given for this apotheosis are none of the best. They
consist in these three privileges: [Greek: gegenes, apathes,
hanaimosarke]; born of the earth, insensible to pain, bloodless. We will
not reproach the poet for these mistakes; they were then generally
believed, and were perpetuated long afterwards, until the exploring eye
of scientific observation was directed upon them. And in minor poetry,
whose principal merit lies in rhythm and harmony, we must not look at
things too closely.

Even in our days, the Provencal poets, who know the Cigale as Anacreon
never did, are scarcely more careful of the truth in celebrating the
insect which they have taken for their emblem. A friend of mine, an
eager observer and a scrupulous realist, does not deserve this reproach.
He gives me permission to take from his pigeon-holes the following
Provencal poem, in which the relations between the Cigale and the Ant
are expounded with all the rigour of science. I leave to him the
responsibility for his poetic images and his moral reflections, blossoms
unknown to my naturalist's garden; but I can swear to the truth of all
he says, for it corresponds with what I see each summer on the
lilac-trees of my garden.

LA CIGALO E LA FOURNIGO.

I.

Jour de Dieu, queto caud! Beu tems per la Cigalo,
Que, trefoulido, se regalo
D'uno raisso de fio; beu tems per la meissoun.
Dins lis erso d'or, lou segaire,
Ren plega, pitre au vent, rustico e canto gaire;
Dins soun gousie, la set estranglo la cansoun.

Tems benesi per tu. Dounc, ardit! cigaleto,
Fai-lei brusi, ti chimbaleto,
E brandusso lou ventre a creba ti mirau.
L'Ome enterin mando le daio,
Que vai balin-balan de longo e que dardaio
L'ulau de soun acie sus li rous espigau.

Plen d'aigo per la peiro e tampouna d'erbiho
Lou coufie sus l'anco pendiho.
Si la peiro es au fres dins soun estui de bos,
E se de longo es abeurado,
L'Ome barbelo au fio d'aqueli souleiado
Que fan bouli de fes la mesoulo dis os.

Tu, Cigalo, as un biais per la set: dins la rusco
Tendro e jutouso d'uno busco,
L'aguio de toun be cabusso e cavo un pous.
Lou siro monto per la draio.
T'amourres a la fon melicouso que raio,
E dou sourgent sucra beves lou teta-dous.

Mai pas toujour en pas. Oh! que nani; de laire,
Vesin, vesino o barrulaire,
T'an vist cava lou pous. An set; venon, doule