The Modern Theory of Instinct 359 



nuts, his sour milk and his bed of fresh bracken } 

 we were made to recite a poem by Racine the 

 Younger,^ La Religion. A curious poem, for- 

 sooth, for children who cared more for marbles 

 than theology ! I remember just two lines and 

 a half : 



. . . et, jusque dans la fange, 

 L'insede nous appelle et, certain de son prix, 

 Ose nous demander raison de nos mepris.^ 



Why do these two lines and a half linger in 

 my memory and none of all the rest ? Because 

 already Scarahceus and I were friends. Those 

 two lines and a half bothered me : I thought it 

 a very absurd idea to relegate you to the mire, 

 ye insects so seemly clad, so elegantly groomed. 

 I knew the bronze harness of the Carabus, the 

 Russia-leather jerkin of the Stag-beetle ; I 

 knew that the least of you possesses an ebon 

 sheen and gleams of precious metals ; and there- 

 fore the mire wherein the poet flung you shocked 

 me somewhat. If M. Racine Junior had nothing 



* 'This night, at least, with me forget your care ; 



Chestnuts and curds and cream shall be your fare 

 The carpet-ground shall be with leaves o'erspread 

 And boughs shall weave a covering for your head.' — 



Pastorals, book i., Dryden's translation. 



* Louis Racine (1692-1763), son of Jean Racine. — Translator's 

 Note. 



3 ... and even in the mire, 



The insect, of its worth assured, once and again 

 Ventures to challenge us to make good our disdain. 



