penguin island-第2章

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III。　THE　TEMPTATION　OF　SAINT　MAEL

The　blessed　Mael　had　scarcely　restored　order　in　the　Abbey　of　Yvern　before　he　learned　that　the　inhabitants　of　the　island　of　Hoedic；　his　first　catechumens　and　the　dearest　of　all　to　his　heart；　had　returned　to　paganism；　and　that　they　were　hanging　crowns　of　flowers　and　fillets　of　wool　to　the　branches　of　the　sacred　fig…tree。

The　boatman　who　brought　this　sad　news　expressed　a　fear　that　soon　those　misguided　men　might　violently　destroy　the　chapel　that　had　been　built　on　the　shore　of　their　island。

The　holy　man　resolved　forthwith　to　visit　his　faithless　children；　so　that　he　might　lead　them　back　to　the　faith　and　prevent　them　from　yielding　to　such　sacrilege。　As　he　went　down　to　the　bay　where　his　stone　trough　was　moored；　he　turned　his　eyes　to　the　sheds；　then　filled　with　the　noise　of　saws　and　of　hammers；　which；　thirty　years　before；　he　had　erected　on　the　fringe　of　that　bay　for　the　purpose　of　building　ships。

At　that　moment；　the　Devil；　who　never　tires；　went　out　from　the　sheds　and；　under　the　appearance　of　a　monk　called　Samsok；　he　approached　the　holy　man　and　tempted　him　thus：

〃Father；　the　inhabitants　of　the　island　of　Hoedic　commit　sins　unceasingly。　Every　moment　that　passes　removes　them　farther　from　God。　They　are　soon　going　to　use　violence　towards　the　chapel　that　you　have　raised　with　your　own　venerable　hands　on　the　shore　of　their　island。　Time　is　pressing。　Do　you　not　think　that　your　stone　trough　would　carry　you　more　quickly　towards　them　if　it　were　rigged　like　a　boat　and　furnished　with　a　rudder；　a　mast；　and　a　sail；　for　then　you　would　be　driven　by　the　wind？　Your　arms　are　still　strong　and　able　to　steer　a　small　craft。　It　would　be　a　good　thing；　too；　to　put　a　sharp　stem　in　front　of　your　apostolic　trough。　You　are　much　too　clear…sighted　not　to　have　thought　of　it　already。〃

〃Truly　time　is　pressing；〃　answered　the　holy　man。　〃But　to　do　as　you　say；　Samson；　my　son；　would　it　not　be　to　make　myself　like　those　men　of　little　faith　who　do　not　trust　the　Lord？　Would　it　not　be　to　despise　the　gifts　of　Him　who　has　sent　me　this　stone　vessel　without　rigging　or　sail？〃

This　question；　the　Devil；　who　is　a　great　theologian；　answered　by　another。

〃Father；　is　it　praiseworthy　to　wait；　with　our　arms　folded；　until　help　comes　from　on　high；　and　to　ask　everything　from　Him　who　can　do　all　things；　instead　of　acting　by　human　prudence　and　helping　ourselves？

〃It　certainly　is　not；〃　answered　the　holy　Mael；　〃and　to　neglect　to　act　by　human　prudence　is　tempting　God。〃

〃Well；〃　urged　the　Devil；　〃is　it　not　prudence　in　this　case　to　rig　the　vessel？〃

〃It　would　be　prudence　if　we　could　not　attain　our　end　in　any　other　way。〃

〃Is　your　vessel　then　so　very　speedy？〃

〃It　is　as　speedy　as　God　pleases。〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　it？　It　goes　like　Abbot　Budoc's　mule。　It　is　a　regular　old　tub。　Are　you　forbidden　to　make　it　speedier？〃

〃My　son；　clearness　adorns　your　words；　but　they　are　unduly　over…confident。　Remember　that　this　vessel　is　miraculous。〃

〃It　is；　father。　A　granite　trough　that　floats　on　the　water　like　a　cork　is　a　miraculous　trough。　There　is　not　the　slightest　doubt　about　it。　What　conclusion　do　you　draw　from　that？〃

〃I　am　greatly　perplexed。　Is　it　right　to　perfect　so　miraculous　a　machine　by　human　and　natural　means？〃

〃Father；　if　you　lost　your　right　foot　and　God　restored　it　to　you；　would　not　that　foot　be　miraculous？〃

〃Without　doubt；　my　son。〃

〃Would　you　put　a　shoe　on　it？〃

〃Assuredly。〃

〃Well；　then；　if　you　believe　that　one　may　cover　a　miraculous　foot　with　a　natural　shoe；　you　should　also　believe　that　we　can　put　natural　rigging　on　a　miraculous　boat。　That　is　clear。　Alas！　Why　must　the　holiest　persons　have　their　moments　of　weakness　and　despondency？　The　most　illustrious　of　the　apostles　of　Brittany　could　accomplish　works　worthy　of　eternal　glory　。　。　。　But　his　spirit　is　tardy　and　his　hand　is　slothful。　Farewell　then；　father！　Travel　by　short　and　slow　stages　and　when　at　last　you　approach　the　coast　of　Hoedic　you　will　see　the　smoking　ruins　of　the　chapel　that　was　built　and　consecrated　by　your　own　hands。　The　pagans　will　have　burned　it　and　with　it　the　deacon　you　left　there。　He　will　be　as　thoroughly　roasted　as　a　black　pudding。〃

〃My　trouble　is　extreme；〃　said　the　servant　of　God；　drying　with　his　sleeve　the　sweat　that　gathered　upon　his　brow。　〃But　tell　me；　Samson；　my　son；　would　not　rigging　this　stone　trough　be　a　difficult　piece　of　work？　And　if　we　undertook　it　might　we　not　lose　time　instead　of　gaining　it？〃

〃Ah！　father；〃　exclaimed　the　Devil；　〃in　one　turning　of　the　hour…glass　the　thing　would　be　done。　We　shall　find　the　necessary　rigging　in　this　shed　that　you　have　formerly　built　here　on　the　coast　and　in　those　store…houses　abundantly　stocked　through　your　care。　I　will　myself　regulate　all　the　ship's　fittings。　Before　being　a　monk　I　was　a　sailor　and　a　carpenter　and　I　have　worked　at　many　other　trades　as　well。　Let　us　to　work。〃

Immediately　he　drew　the　holy　man　into　an　outhouse　filled　with　all　things　needful　for　fitting　out　a　boat。

〃That　for　you；　father！〃

And　he　placed　on　his　shoulders　the　sail；　the　mast；　the　gaff；　and　the　boom。

Then；　himself　bearing　a　stem　and　a　rudder　with　its　screw　and　tiller；　and　seizing　a　carpenter's　bag　full　of　tools；　he　ran　to　the　shore；　dragging　the　holy　man　after　him　by　his　habit。　The　latter　was　bent；　sweating；　and　breathless；　under　the　burden　of　canvas　and　wood。



IV。　ST。　MAEL'S　NAVIGATION　ON　THE　OCEAN　OF　ICE

The　Devil；　having　tucked　his　clothes　up　to　his　arm…pits；　dragged　the　trough　on　the　sand；　and　fitted　the　rigging　in　less　than　an　hour。

As　soon　as　the　holy　Mael　had　embarked；　the　vessel；　with　all　its　sails　set；　cleft　through　the　waters　with　such　speed　that　the　coast　was　almost　immediately　out　of　sight。　The　old　man　steered　to　the　south　so　as　to　double　the　Land's　End；　but　an　irresistible　current　carried　him　to　the　south…west。　He　went　along　the　southern　coast　of　Ireland　and　turned　sharply　towards　the　north。　In　the　evening　the　wind　freshened。　In　vain　did　Mael　attempt　to　furl　the　sail。　The　vessel　flew　distractedly　towards　the　fabulous　seas。

By　the　light　of　the　moon　the　immodest　sirens　of　the　North　came　around　him　with　their　hempen…coloured　hair；　raising　their　white　throats　and　their　rose…tinted　limbs　out　of　the　sea；　and　beating　the　water　into　foam　with　their　emerald　tails；　they　sang　in　cadence：

　　　　Whither　go'st　thou；　gentle　Mael；　　　　　In　thy　trough　distracted？　　　　　All　distended　is　thy　sail　　　　　　Like　the　breast　of　Juno　　　　　When　from　it　gushed　the　Milky　Way。

For　a　moment　their　harmonious　laughter　followed　him　beneath　the　stars；　but　the　vessel　fled　on；　a　hundred　times　more　swiftly　than　the　red　ship　of　a　Viking。　And　the　petrels；　surprised　in　their　flight；　clung　with　their　feet　to　the　hair　of　the　holy　man。

Soon　a　tempest　arose　full　of　darkness　and　groanings；　and　the　trough；　driven　by　a　furious　wind；　flew　like　a　sea…mew　through　the　mist　and　the　surge。

After　a　night　of　three　times　twenty…four　hours　the　darkness　was　suddenly　rent　and　the　holy　man　discovered　on　the　horizon　a　shore　more　dazzling　than　diamond。　The　coast　rapidly　grew　larger；　and　soon　by　the　glacial　light　of　a　torpid　and　sunken　sun；　Mael　saw；　rising　above　the　waves；　the　silent　streets　of　a　white　city；　which；　vaster　than　Thebes　with　its　hundred　gates；　extended　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see　the　ruins　of　its　forum　built　of　snow；　its　palaces　of　frost；　its　crystal　arches；　and　its　iridescent　obelisks。

The　ocean　was　covered　with　floating　ice…bergs　around　which　swam　men　of　the　sea　of　a　wild　yet　gentle　appearance。　And　Leviathan　passed　by　hurling　a　column　of　water　up　to　the　clouds。

Moreover；　on　a　block　of　ice　which　floated　at　the　same　rate　as　the　stone　trough　there　was　seated　a　white　bear　holding　her　little　one　in　her　arms；　and　Mael　heard　her　murmuring　in　a　low　voice　this　verse　of　Virgil；　Incipe　parve　puer。

And　full　of　sadness　and　trouble；　the　old　man　wept。

The　fresh　water　had　frozen　and　burst　the　barrel　that　contained　it。　And　Mael　was　sucking　pieces　of　ice　to　quench　his　thirst；　and　his　food　was　bread　dipped　in　dirty　water。　His　beard　and　his　hair　were　broken　like　glass。　His　habit　was　covered　with　a　layer　of　ice　and　cut　into　him　at　every　movement　of　his　limbs。　Huge　waves　rose　up　and　opened　their　foaming　jaws　at　the　old　man。　Twenty　times　the　boat　was　filled　by　masses　of　sea。　And　the　ocean　swallowed　up　the　book　of　the　Holy　Gospels　which　the　apostle　guarded　with　extreme　care　in　a　purple　cover　marked　with　a　golden　cross。


Now　on　the　thirtieth　day　the　sea　calmed。　And　lo！　with　a　frightful　clamour　of　sky　and　waters　a　mountain　of　dazzling　whiteness　advanced　towards　the　stone　vessel。　Mael　steered　to　avoid　it；　but　the　tiller　broke　in　his　hands。　To　lessen　the　speed　of　his　progress　towards　the　rock　he　attempted　to　reef　the　sails；　but　when　he　tried　to　knot　the　reef…points　the　wind　pulled　them　away　from　him　and　the　rope　seared　his　hands。　He　saw　three　demons　with　wings　of　black　skin　having　hooks　at　their　ends；　who；　hanging　from　the　rigging；　were　puffing　with　their　breath　against　the　sails。

Understanding　from　this　sight　that　the　Enemy　had　governed　him　in　all　these　things；　he　guarded　himself　by　making　the　sign　of　the　Cross。　Immediately　a　furious　gust　of　wind　filled　with　the　noise　of　sobs　and　howls　struck　the　stone　trough；　carried　off　the　mast　with　all　the　sails；　and　tore　away　the　rudder　and　the　stem。

The　trough　was　drifting　on　the　sea；　which　had　now　grown　calm。　The　holy　man　knelt　and　gave　thanks　to　the　Lord　who　had　delivered　him　from　the　snares　of　the　demon。　Then　he　recognised；　sitting　on　a　block　of　ice；　the　mother　bear　who　had　spoken　during　the　storm。　She　pressed　her　beloved　child　to　her　bosom；　and　in　her　hand　she　held　a　purple　book　marked　with　a　golden　cross。　Hailing　the　granite　trough；　she　saluted　the　holy　man　with　these　words：

　　　　〃Pax　tibi　Mael〃

And　she　held　out　the　book　to　him。

The　holy　man　recognised　his　evangelistary；　and；　full　of　astonishment；　he　sang　in　the　tepid　air　a　hymn　to　the　Creator　and　His　creation。



V。　THE　BAPTISM　OF　THE　PENGUINS

After　having　drifted　for　an　hour　the　holy　man　approached　a　narrow　strand；　shut　in　by　steep　mountains。　He　went　along　the　coast　for　a　whole　day　and　a　night；　passing　around　the　reef　which　formed　an　insuperable　barrier。　He　discovered　in　this　way　that　it　was　a　round　island　in　the　middle　of　which　rose　a　mountain　crowned　with　clouds。　He　joyfully　breathed　the　fresh　breath　of　the　moist　air。　Rain　fell；　and　this　rain　was　so　pleasant　that　the　holy　man　said　to　the　Lord：

〃Lord；　this　is　the　island　of　tears；　the　island　of　contrition。〃

The　strand　was　deserted。　Worn　out　with　fatigue　and　hunger；　he　sat　down　on　a　rock　in　the　hollow　of　which　there　lay　some　yellow　eggs；　marked　with　black　spots；　and　about　as　large　as　those　of　a　swan。　But　he　did　not　touch　them；　saying：

〃Birds　are　the　living　praises　of　God。　I　should　not　like　a　single　one　of　these　praises　to　be　lacking　through　me。〃

And　he　munched　the　lichens　which　he　tore　from　the　crannies　of　the　rocks。

The　holy　man　had　gone　almost　entirely　round　the　island　without　meeting　any　inhabitants；　when　he　came　to　a　vast　amphitheatre　formed　of　black　and　red　rocks　whose　summits　became　tinged　with　blue　as　they　rose　towards　the　clouds；　and　they　were　filled　with　sonorous　cascades。

The　reflection　from　the　polar　ice　had　hurt　the　old　man's　eyes；　but　a　feeble　gleam　of　light　still　sh