penguin island-第15章

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nto　the　myrtle　wood　in　which　the　victims　of　love　wander　languishing；　Phaedra；　Procris；　the　sad　Eriphyle；　Evadne；　Pasiphae；　Laodamia；　and　Cenis；　and　the　Phoenician　Dido。　Then　I　went　through　the　dusty　plains　reserved　for　famous　warriors。　Beyond　them　open　two　ways。　That　to　the　left　leads　to　Tartarus；　the　abode　of　the　wicked。　I　took　that　to　the　right；　which　leads　to　Elysium　and　to　the　dwellings　of　Dis。　Having　hung　the　sacred　branch　at　the　goddess's　door；　I　reached　pleasant　fields　flooded　with　purple　light。　The　shades　of　philosophers　and　poets　hold　grave　converse　there。　The　Graces　and　the　Muses　formed　sprightly　choirs　upon　the　grass。　Old　Homer　sang；　accompanying　himself　upon　his　rustic　lyre。　His　eyes　were　closed；　but　divine　images　shone　upon　his　lips。　I　saw　Solon；　Democritus；　and　Pythagoras　watching　the　games　of　the　young　men　in　the　meadow；　and；　through　the　foliage　of　an　ancient　laurel；　I　perceived　also　Hesiod；　Orpheus；　the　melancholy　Euripides；　and　the　masculine　Sappho。　I　passed　and　recognised；　as　they　sat　on　the　bank　of　a　fresh　rivulet；　the　poet　Horace；　Varius；　Gallus；　and　Lycoris。　A　little　apart；　leaning　against　the　trunk　of　a　dark　holm…oak；　Virgil　was　gazing　pensively　at　the　grove。　Of　lofty　stature；　though　spare；　he　still　preserved　that　swarthy　complexion；　that　rustic　air；　that　negligent　bearing；　and　unpolished　appearance　which　during　his　lifetime　concealed　his　genius。　I　saluted　him　piously　and　remained　for　a　long　time　without　speech。

At　last　when　my　halting　voice　could　proceed　out　of　my　throat：

〃O　thou；　so　dear　to　the　Ausonian　Muses；　thou　honour　of　the　Latin　name；　Virgil；〃　cried　I；　〃it　is　through　thee　I　have　known　what　beauty　is；　it　is　through　thee　I　have　known　what　the　tables　of　the　gods　and　the　beds　of　the　goddesses　are　like。　Suffer　the　praises　of　the　humblest　of　thy　adorers。〃

〃Arise；　stranger；〃　answered　the　divine　poet。　〃I　perceive　that　thou　art　a　living　being　among　the　shades；　and　that　thy　body　treads　down　the　grass　in　this　eternal　evening。　Thou　art　not　the　first　man　who　has　descended　before　his　death　into　these　dwellings；　although　all　intercourse　between　us　and　the　living　is　difficult。　But　cease　from　praise；　I　do　not　like　eulogies　and　the　confused　sounds　of　glory　have　always　offended　my　ears。　That　is　why　I　fled　from　Rome；　where　I　was　known　to　the　idle　and　curious；　and　laboured　in　the　solitude　of　my　beloved　Parthenope。　And　then　I　am　not　so　convinced　that　the　men　of　thy　generation　understand　my　verses　that　should　be　gratified　by　thy　praises。　Who　art　thou？〃

〃I　am　called　Marbodius　of　the　Kingdom　of　Alca。　I　made　my　profession　in　the　Abbey　of　Corrigan。　I　read　thy　poems　by　day　and　I　read　them　by　night。　It　is　thee　whom　I　have　come　to　see　in　Hell；　I　was　impatient　to　know　what　thy　fate　was。　On　earth　the　learned　often　dispute　about　it。　Some　hold　it　probable　that；　having　lived　under　the　power　of　demons；　thou　art　now　burning　in　inextinguishable　flames；　others；　more　cautious；　pronounce　no　opinion；　believing　that　all　which　is　said　concerning　the　dead　is　uncertain　and　full　of　lies；　several；　though　not　in　truth　the　ablest；　maintain　that；　because　thou　didst　elevate　the　tone　of　the　Sicilian　Muses　and　foretell　that　a　new　progeny　would　descend　from　heaven；　thou　wert　admitted；　like　the　Emperor　Trajan；　to　enjoy　eternal　blessedness　in　the　Christian　heaven。〃

〃Thou　seest　that　such　is　not　the　case；〃　answered　the　shade；　smiling。

〃I　meet　thee　in　truth；　O　Virgil；　among　the　heroes　and　sages　in　those　Elysian　Fields　which　thou　thyself　hast　described。　Thus；　contrary　to　what　several　on　earth　believe；　no　one　has　come　to　seek　thee　on　the　part　of　Him　who　reigns　on　high？

After　a　rather　long　silence：

〃I　will　conceal　nought　from　thee。　He　sent　for　me；　one　of　his　messengers；　a　simple　man；　came　to　say　that　I　was　expected；　and　that；　although　I　had　not　been　initiated　into　their　mysteries；　in　consideration　of　my　prophetic　verses；　a　place　had　been　reserved　for　me　among　those　of　the　new　sect。　But　I　refused　to　accept　that　invitation；　I　had　no　desire　to　change　my　lace。　I　did　so　not　because　I　share　the　admiration　of　the　Greeks　for　the　Elysian　fields；　or　because　I　taste　here　those　joys　which　caused　Proserpine　to　lose　the　remembrance　of　her　mother。　I　never　believed　much　myself　in　what　I　say　about　these　things　in　the　'Aeneid。'　I　was　instructed　by　philosophers　and　men　of　science　and　I　had　a　correct　foreboding　of　the　truth。　Life　in　hell　is　extremely　attenuated；　we　feel　neither　pleasure　nor　pain；　we　are　as　if　we　were　not。　The　dead　have　no　existence　here　except　such　as　the　living　lend　them。　Nevertheless　I　prefer　to　remain　here。〃

〃But　what　reason　didst　thou　give；　O　Virgil；　for　so　strange　a　refusal？〃

〃I　gave　excellent　ones。　I　said　to　the　messenger　of　the　god　that　I　did　not　deserve　the　honour　he　brought　me；　and　that　a　meaning　had　been　given　to　my　verses　which　they　did　not　bear。　In　truth　I　have　not　in　my　fourth　Eclogue　betrayed　the　faith　of　my　ancestors。　Some　ignorant　Jews　alone　have　interpreted　in　favour　of　a　barbarian　god　a　verse　which　celebrates　the　return　of　the　golden　age　predicted　by　the　Sibylline　oracles。　I　excused　myself　then　on　the　ground　that　I　could　not　occupy　a　place　which　was　destined　for　me　in　error　and　to　which　I　recognised　that　I　had　no　right。　Then　I　alleged　my　disposition　and　my　tastes；　which　do　not　accord　with　the　customs　of　the　new　heavens。

〃'I　am　not　unsociable；'　said　I　to　this　man。　'I　have　shown　in　life　a　complaisant　and　easy　disposition；　although　the　extreme　simplicity　of　my　habits　caused　me　to　be　suspected　of　avarice。　I　kept　nothing　for　myself　alone。　My　library　was　open　to　all　and　I　have　conformed　my　conduct　to　that　fine　saying　of　Euripides；　〃all　ought　to　be　common　among　friends。〃　Those　praises　that　seemed　obtrusive　when　I　myself　received　them　became　agreeable　to　me　when　addressed　to　Varius　or　to　Macer。　But　at　bottom　I　am　rustic　and　uncultivated。　I　take　pleasure　in　the　society　of　animals；　I　was　so　zealous　in　observing　them　and　took　so　much　care　of　them　that　I　was　regarded；　not　altogether　wrongly；　as　a　good　veterinary　surgeon。　I　am　told　that　the　people　of　thy　sect　claim　an　immortal　soul　for　themselves；　but　refuse　one　to　the　animals。　That　is　a　piece　of　nonsense　that　makes　me　doubt　their　judgment。　Perhaps　I　love　the　flocks　and　the　shepherds　a　little　too　much。　That　would　not　seem　right　amongst　you。　There　is　a　maxim　to　which　I　endeavour　to　conform　my　actions；　〃Nothing　too　much。〃　More　even　than　my　feeble　health　my　philosophy　teaches　me　to　use　things　with　measure。　I　am　sober；　a　lettuce　and　some　olives　with　a　drop　of　Falernian　wine　form　all　my　meals。　I　have；　indeed；　to　some　extent　gone　with　strange　women；　but　I　have　not　delayed　over　long　in　taverns　to　watch　the　young　Syrians　dance　to　the　sound　of　the　crotalum。*　But　if　I　have　restrained　my　desires　it　was　for　my　own　satisfaction　and　for　the　sake　of　good　discipline。　To　fear　pleasure　and　to　fly　from　joy　appears　to　me　the　worst　insult　that　one　can　offer　to　nature。　I　am　assured　that　during　their　lives　certain　of　the　elect　of　thy　god　abstained　from　food　and　avoided　women　through　love　of　asceticism；　and　voluntarily　exposed　themselves　to　useless　sufferings。　I　should　be　afraid　of　meeting　those；　criminals　whose　frenzy　horrifies　me。　A　poet　must　not　be　asked　to　attach　himself　too　strictly　to　any　scientific　or　moral　doctrine。　Moreover；　I　am　a　Roman；　and　the　Romans；　unlike　the　Greeks；　are　unable　to　pursue　profound　speculations　in　a　subtle　manner。　If　they　adopt　a　philosophy　it　is　above　all　in　order　to　derive　some　practical　advantages　from　it。　Siro；　who　enjoyed　great　renown　among　us；　taught　me　the　system　of　Epicurus　and　thus　freed　me　from　vain　terrors　and　turned　me　aside　from　the　cruelties　to　which　religion　persuades　ignorant　men。　I　have　embraced　the　views　of　Pythagoras　concerning　the　souls　of　men　and　animals；　both　of　which　are　of　divine　essence；　this　invites　us　to　look　upon　ourselves　without　pride　and　without　shame。　I　have　learnt　from　the　Alexandrines　how　the　earth；　at　first　soft　and　without　form；　hardened　in　proportion　as　Nereus　withdrew　himself　from　it　to　dig　his　humid　dwellings；　I　have　learned　how　things　were　formed　insensibly；　in　what　manner　the　rains；　falling　from　the　burdened　clouds；　nourished　the　silent　forests；　and　by　what　progress　a　few　animals　at　last　began　to　wander　over　the　nameless　mountains。　I　could　not　accustom　myself　to　your　cosmogony　either；　for　it　seems　to　me　fitter　for　a　camel…driver　on　the　Syrian　sands　than　for　a　disciple　of　Aristarchus　of　Samos。　And　what　would　become　of　me　in　the　abode　of　your　beatitude　if　I　did　not　find　there　my　friends；　my　ancestors；　my　masters；　and　my　gods；　and　if　it　is　not　given　to　me　to　see　Rhea's　noble　son；　or　Venus；　mother　of　Aeneas；　with　her　winning　smile；　or　Pan；　or　the　young　Dryads；　or　the　Sylvans；　or　old　Silenus；　with　his　face　stained　by　Aegle's　purple　mulberries。'　These　are　the　reasons　which　I　begged　that　simple　man　to　plead　before　the　successor　of　Jupiter。〃

*　This　phrase　seems　to　indicate　that；　if　one　is　to　believe　Macrobius；　the　〃Copa〃　is　by　Virgil。


〃And　since　then；　O　great　shade；　thou　hast　received　no　other　messages？〃

〃I　have　received　none。〃

〃To　console　themselves　for　thy　absence；　O　Virgil；　they　have　three　poets；　Commodianus；　Prudentius；　and　Fortunatus；　who　were　all　three　born　in　those　dark　plays　when　neither　prosody　nor　grammar　were　known。　But　tell　me；　O　Mantuan；　hast　thou　never　received　other　intelligence　of　the　God　whose　company　thou　didst　so　deliberately　refuse？〃

〃Never　that　I　remember。〃

〃Hast　thou　not　told　me　that　I　am　not　the　first　who　descended　alive　into　these　abodes　and　presented　himself　before　thee？〃


〃Thou　dost　remind　me　of　it。　A　century　and　a　half　ago；　or　so　it　seems　to　me　（it　is　difficult　to　reckon　days　and　years　amid　the　shades）；　my　profound　peace　was　intruded　upon　by　a　strange　visitor。　As　I　was　wandering　beneath　the　gloomy　foliage　that　borders　the　Styx；　I　saw　rising　before　me　a　human　form　more　opaque　and　darker　than　that　of　the　inhabitants　of　these　shores。　I　recognised　a　living　person。　He　was　of　high　stature；　thin；　with　an　aquiline　nose；　sharp　chin；　and　hollow　cheeks。　His　dark　eyes　shot　forth　fire；　a　red　hood　girt　with　a　crown　of　laurels　bound　his　lean　brows。　His　bones　pierced　through　the　tight　brown　cloak　that　descended　to　his　heels。　He　saluted　me　with　deference；　tempered　by　a　sort　of　fierce　pride；　and　addressed　me　in　a　speech　more　obscure　and　incorrect　than　that　of　those　Gauls　with　whom　the　divine　Julius　filled　both　his　legions　and　the　Curia。　At　last　I　understood　that　he　had　been　born　near　Fiesole；　in　an　ancient　Etruscan　colony　that　Sulla　had　founded　on　the　banks　of　the　Arno；　and　which　had　prospered；　that　he　had　obtained　municipal　honours；　but　that　he　had　thrown　himself　vehemently　into　the　sanguinary　quarrels　which　arose　between　the　senate；　the　knights；　and　the　people；　that　he　had　been　defeated　and　banished；　and　now　he　wandered　in　exile　throughout　the　world。　He　described　Italy　to　me　as　distracted　by　more　wars　and　discords　than　in　the　time　of　my　youth；　and　as　sighing　anew　for　a　second　Augustus。　I　pitied　his　misfortune；　remembering　what　I　myself　had　formerly　endured。

〃An　audacious　spirit　unceasingly　disquieted　him；　and　his　mind　harboured　great　thoughts；　but　alas！　his　rudeness　and　ignorance　displayed　the　triumph　of　barbarism。　He　knew　neither　poetry；　nor　science；　nor　even　the　tongue　of　the　Greeks；　and　he　was　ignorant；　too；　of　the