BUTLER 93 



It will be seen that the reader who spends a day or 

 two upon the Feminine Monarchy may expect other 

 pleasures than those of natural history. We now and 

 then come across forgotten English phrases and words, 

 e.g, "it is also convenient for each hive to have his 

 settle before him ; " ^ the bees are said to return to the 

 hive leere? &c. Butler's lively expression often charms 

 the reader, as in the following passage : — " There re- 

 maineth yet another enemy worse than all these ; for 

 these all do wrong the bees but by little and little, some 

 in their goods, sonae in their persons, and there is remedy 

 shewed, if industry be not wanting, against them all. 

 But this," he means the stealer of hives, " when he 

 Cometh, playeth sweepstake with them, carrying away 

 both honey and wax and bees and hive, &c." ^ 



OLIVIER DE SERRES 

 1539-1619 



Le Theatre d' Agriculture et Mesnage des Champs, d'Olivier de Serres, 

 seigneur du Pradel . . . Nouvelle edition , . . publi^e par la Soci6t6 

 d' Agriculture du D^parteraent de la Seine. 2 vols. 8vo., Paris, Ans XII-XIV 

 £1804-5]. 



Though the name of De Serres is rare in English 

 books,* he is still fondly remembered by Frenchmen. 

 His chief title to fame is that he did so much to spread 

 the silk-industry in France, but he is also honoured as 

 the author of the Thedtre d' Agriculture, which gives a 

 lively picture of country life in Languedoc during the 

 latter half of the sixteenth century. 



^ So too in the English Orammer we have the verb and " his oases " ; but its 

 ilso occurs. 

 ^ Leer (empty) is still used by the peasants of Devonshire. 

 'P. 137. 

 * Arthur Young {Travele in France) speaks of him with enthuiiasm. 



