THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

...point out and explain, that which was notable. Swammerdam, on the other hand, detested nothing more than the life of a courtier. He also loved to the utmost the freedom of feeling and speaking about religion and wanted to practice it according to his own mind, not at all according to the say and command of another. Thus, nothing came of this. Around that time, he investigated a large sturgeon, in which he found that the pancreas gland was very large. This poured a great deal of juice through various large tubes into the first intestine. This gave him the most pleasant opportunity to examine this fluid, about which there was so much to say at that time. He paid careful attention to it, did not find anything acidic in it, but did find that it tasted rancid and bitter-like, and tended toward herring brine. He reported this freely against the opinion of Sylvius and De Graaf. He also made some observations in the Amsterdam hospital; but it was only side-work. His main work remained to pursue the small animals with infinite diligence; he did not stay away from this for an instant. So that in the year 1669, he published their general description. This was a work of the boldest undertaking, but of the happiest result. He dedicated the book to the Most Noble and Honorable Burgomasters of Amsterdam. After that, he sought to finish this infinite work completely, to enlarge the collection of small animals, to buy them up from all corners of the world, and to arrange them in his cabinets. For that purpose, he had to spend money daily and received not a penny of profit for it. This began to displease his father, who had always provided for his son until now and had also covered all the costs for everything; besides, having already turned over thirty years old, he had lost his best age in observing things from which not a penny of profit came, and which brought nothing that was necessary for living. It was for that reason that he scolded his son every day and urged him to finally commit himself to the practice. But the son applied himself all the more eagerly to finish his work quickly; he pleaded that he would soon have completed what he had in hand; he also promised that he would then most zealously practice the art. When the father now saw that his son remained fixed on continuing and did not make an end to his intended work, he threatened him sharply that, if he did not immediately commit himself to the practice and abandon the anatomy and small animals, but stubbornly continued in them, he would no longer provide him with clothes or money. Yes, but he cut off at the same time all opportunity for this dependent person to make any progress. He was exhausted by so much work, he was languishing from his lingering illness, but nevertheless, he thought that his father spoke the truth; therefore, he resolved to listen to his admonitions. Yet his weak condition was not capable of the burden of the practice. Why he went into the country for the strengthening of his health, so that, refreshed, he might more cheerfully go to practicing the art. He did so in June 1670, but was hardly in the country, or immediately, without loss of time, he sought in every way for the bloodless small animals. Surely, the free solitude and the present opportunity of investigating them drove his spirit in that direction, where it tended of its own accord. Thevenot...