I had another little
family at the end of the garden; these were several hives of bees,
which I never failed to visit once a day, and was frequently
accompanied by Madam de Warrens. I was greatly interested in their
labor, and amused myself seeing them return to the hives, their little
thighs so loaded with the precious store than they could hardly
walk. At first, curiosity made me indiscreet, and they stung me
several times, but afterwards, we were so well acquainted, that let me
approach as near as I would, they never molested me, though the
hives were full and the bees ready to swarm. At these times I have
been surrounded, having them on my hands and face without apprehending
any danger. All animals are distrustful of man, and with reason, but
when once assured he does not mean to injure them, their confidence
becomes so great that he must be worse than a barbarian who abuses it.
After this I returned to my books; but my afternoon employment ought
rather to bear the name of recreation and amusement, than labor or
study. I have never been able to bear application after dinner, and in
general any kind of attention is painful to me during the heat of
the day. I employed myself, 'tis true, but without restraint or
rule, and read without studying. What I most attended to at these
times, was history and geography, and as these did not require intense
application, made as much progress in them as my weak memory would
permit. I had an inclination to study Father Petau, and launched
into the gloom of chronology, but was disgusted at the critical
part, which I found had neither bottom nor banks; this made me
prefer the more exact measurement of time by the course of the
celestial bodies.
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