AN INVADER 285 



insects, which have despised it because they did not 

 know it. Similarly the potato and the ear of maize are 

 untouched in France unless their American consumers 

 are accidentally imported with them. 



The verdict of the insect is confirmed by the negative 

 testimony of the ancient classics ; the haricot never 

 appears on the table of the Greek or Roman peasant. 

 In the second Eclogue of Virgil Thestylis prepares the 

 repast of the harvesters : — 



Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus aestu 

 AUia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentes. 



This mixture is the equivalent of the a'ioli, dear to the 

 Provencal palate. It sounds very well in verse, but is 

 not very substantial. On such an occasion men would 

 look for that fundamental dish, the plate of red haricots, 

 seasoned with chopped onions. All in good time ; this 

 at least would ballast the stomach. Thus refreshed in 

 the open air, listening to the song of the cigales, the 

 gang of harvesters would take their mid-day rest and 

 gently digest their meal in the shadows of the sheaves. 

 Our modern Thestylis, differing little from her classic 

 sister, would take good care not to forget the gounflo-giiSy 

 that economical resource of large appetites. The 

 Thestylis of the past did not think of providing it 

 because she did not know it. 



The same author shows us Tityrus offering a night's 

 hospitality to his friend Meliboeus, who has been driven 

 from his property by the soldiers of Octavius, and goes 

 limping behind his flock of goats. We shall have, says 

 Tityrus, chestnuts, cheese, and fruits. History does not 

 say if Meliboeus allowed himself to be tempted. It is 



