‘Ce que l’on conçoit bien s’énonce clairement.’[4]
Just so, Nicolas! Yes, clearness, clearness always! He calls a spade a spade. Let us do as he does, let us qualify as gibberish any over-learned prose that reminds us of Voltaire’s witty sally:
‘When the listener does not understand and the speaker does not himself know what he is saying, then they are talking metaphysics.’
‘And advanced science,’ let us add.
We will confine ourselves to stating the problem of the Cionus, without much hope that some day it will be clearly solved. For that matter, if the [[274]]truth be told, it may be that there is no problem at all. The grub of the Cionus was a vagabond in the beginning and a vagabond it will remain, among the other Weevil-grubs, which are all essentially stay-at-home larvæ. Let us leave it at that: it is the simplest and most lucid explanation. [[275]]
[1] The essays on Minotaurus typhæus will appear in the next volume of the series, to be entitled Mere Beetles.—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[2] The Life of the Fly: chaps. ii. and iii.—Translators Note. [↑]
[3] Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636–1711), author of L’Art poétique and other poetical, critical and satirical works.—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[4] ‘That which is well conceived is also clearly stated.’ [↑]