[4] Sir Roger L’Estrange attributes the fable to Anianus and, as is usual in the English version, substitutes the Grasshopper for the Cicada. It may be interesting to quote his translation:
“As the Ants were airing their provisions one winter, up comes a hungry Grasshopper to ’em and begs a charity. They told him that he should have wrought in summer, if he would not have wanted in winter. ‘Well,’ says the Grasshopper, ‘but I was not idle neither; for I sung out the whole season.’ ‘Nay then,’ said they, ‘you shall e’en do well to make a merry year on’t and dance in winter to the tune that you sung in summer.’ ”—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[5] Cf. The Hunting Wasps, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chaps. iv. to x.—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[6] For the Pompilus-wasp, or Ringed Calicurgus, cf. The Life and Love of the Insect, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chap. xii.—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[7] For the grub of the Rose-chafer, or Cetonia, cf. The Life and Love of the Insect: chap. xi.—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[8] Pierre Jean de Béranger (1780–1857), the popular French lyric poet.—Translator’s Note. [↑]
CHAPTER II
THE CICADA: LEAVING THE BURROW
To come back to the Cicada after Réaumur[1] has told the insect’s story would be waste of time, save that the disciple enjoys an advantage unknown to the master. The great naturalist received the materials for his work from my part of the world; his subjects came by barge after being carefully preserved in spirits. I, on the other hand, live in the Cicada’s company. When July comes, he takes possession of the enclosure right up to the threshold of the house. The hermitage is our joint property. I remain master indoors; but out of doors he is the sovereign lord and an extremely noisy and abusive one. Our near neighbourhood and constant association [[26]]have enabled me to enter into certain details of which Réaumur could not dream.