第8部分(第1/7 页)

tons　of　a　kind　of　little　fly；　called　an　ephemera；　whose　successive　generations；　we　were　told；　were　bred　and　expired　within　the　day。　I　happened　to　see　a　living　pany　of　them　on　a　leaf；　who　appeared　to　be　engaged　in　conversation。　You　know　I　understand　all　the　inferior　animal　tongues。　My　too　great　application　to　the　study　of　them　is　the　best　excuse　I　can　give　for　the　little　progress　I　have　made　in　your　charming　language。　I　listened　through　curiosity　to　the　discourse　of　these　little　creatures；　but　as　they；　in　their　national　vivacity；　spoke　three　or　four　together；　I　could　make　but　little　of　their　conversation。　I　found；　however；　by　some　broken　expressions　that　I　heard　now　and　then；　they　were　disputing　warmly　on　the　merit　of　two　foreign　musicians；　one　a　cousin；　the　other　a　moscheto；　in　which　dispute　they　spent　their　time；　seemingly　as　regardless　of　the　shortness　of　life　as　if　they　had　been　sure　of　living　a　month。　Happy　people！　Thought　I：　you　are　certainly　under　a　wise；　just；　and　mild　government；　since　you　have　no　public　grievances　to　plain　of；　nor　any　subject　of　contention　but　the　perfections　and　imperfections　of　foreign　music。　I　turned　my　head　from　them　to　an　old　gray…headed　one；　who　was　single　on　another　leaf；　and　talking　to　himself。　Being　amused　with　his　soliloquy；　I　put　it　down　in　writing；　in　hopes　it　will　likewise　amuse　her　to　whom　I　am　so　much　indebted　for　the　most　pleasing　of　all　amusements；　her　delicious　pany　and　heavenly　harmony。

“It　was；”　said　he；　“the　opinion　of