218 
LINNAEUS 
The town’s inhabitants were satisfied with their gains, 
as the visitors were not merely hasty trippers, but 
often remained for several years. 
Linne saw this recognition of his scientific merits 
with gladness and pride, and it is certain that he 
bestowed upon these foreigners endless trouble and 
even involved himself in pecuniary sacrifices. Many 
of them were entertained at his table, and payment 
for lectures was left for their discretion. Thus when 
the German Giseke, on taking leave, gave him a 
Swedish banknote, Linne roundly refused to accept 
it, till after Giseke’s repeated requests he said: “ Now 
tell me truly, can you afford it? Do you require this 
money for your journey home ? If the former, give it 
to my wife, but if you are straitened, so help me 
God (i ita me Deus, Linne’s usually confirmative 
expression), I will not take a single farthing from you.” 
In the same manner he would not take the smallest 
sum from Ehrhart, whose teacher he had been for 
years. “ You are a Swiss and the only Swiss who has 
come to me. I will not take anything from you, but 
you have given me the pleasure of teaching you what 
I know gratis.” The same tale is told of the Danes, 
Fabricius and Zoega, and it seems to have been his 
rule with all foreign pupils, unless they evidently had 
plenty of money; further he helped diligent students 
and provided them with stipends or occasional gifts 
from the University funds. He looked upon the 
foreigners as his beloved children and was to them a 
tender father. For him it was sufficient and at the 
same time a pleasant enjoyment, to exchange views 
with those who really loved his science, and who had 
reached a certain measure of insight, as for such 
conversation he had otherwise but little opportunity in 
Uppsala. It was a pleasure for him to show his 
countrymen how highly he was esteemed abroad. 
But it cannot be said that he had no advantage 
from his coaching; on the contrary, wealthy pupils, 
it is true, according to their discretion, often gave 
