penguin island-第7章

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〃Your　field　is　mine！〃

And　having　delivered　himself　of　this　stout　utterance　he　brought　down　his　club　on　the　head　of　the　little　penguin；　who　fell　dead　upon　the　field　that　his　own　hands　had　tilled。

At　this　sight　the　holy　Mael　shuddered　through　his　whole　body　and　poured　forth　a　flood　of　tears。

And　in　a　voice　stifled　by　horror　and　fear　he　addressed　this　prayer　to　heaven：

〃O　Lord；　my　God；　O　thou　who　didst　receive　young　Abel's　sacrifices；　thou　who　didst　curse　Cain；　avenge；　O　Lord；　this　innocent　penguin　sacrificed　upon　his　own　field　and　make　the　murderer　feel　the　weight　of　thy　arm。　Is　there　a　more　odious　crime；　is　there　a　graver　offence　against　thy　justice；　O　Lord；　than　this　murder　and　this　robbery？〃

〃Take　care；　father；〃　said　Bulloch　gently；　〃that　what　you　call　murder　and　robbery　may　not　really　be　war　and　conquest；　those　sacred　foundations　of　empires；　those　sources　of　all　human　virtues　and　all　human　greatness。　Reflect；　above　all；　that　in　blaming　the　big　penguin　you　are　attacking　property　in　its　origin　and　in　its　source。　I　shall　have　no　trouble　in　showing　you　how。　To　till　the　land　is　one　thing；　to　possess　it　is　another；　and　these　two　things　must　not　be　confused；　as　regards　ownership　the　right　of　the　first　occupier　is　uncertain　and　badly　founded。　The　right　of　conquest；　on　the　other　hand；　rests　on　more　solid　foundations。　It　is　the　only　right　that　receives　respect　since　it　is　the　only　one　that　makes　itself　respected。　The　sole　and　proud　origin　of　property　is　force。　It　is　born　and　preserved　by　force。　In　that　it　is　august　and　yields　only　to　a　greater　force。　This　is　why　it　is　correct　to　say　that　he　who　possesses　is　noble。　And　that　big　red　man；　when　he　knocked　down　a　labourer　to　get　possession　of　his　field；　founded　at　that　moment　a　very　noble　house　upon　this　earth。　I　congratulate　him　upon　it。〃

Having　thus　spoken；　Bulloch　approached　the　big　penguin；　who　was　leaning　upon　his　club　as　he　stood　in　the　blood…stained　furrow：

〃Lord　Greatauk；　dreaded　Prince；〃　said　he；　bowing　to　the　ground；　〃I　come　to　pay　you　the　homage　due　to　the　founder　of　legitimate　power　and　hereditary　wealth。　The　skull　of　the　vile　Penguin　you　have　overthrown　will；　buried　in　your　field；　attest　for　ever　the　sacred　rights　of　your　posterity　over　this　soil　that　you　have　ennobled。　Blessed　be　your　suns　and　your　sons'　sons！　They　shall　be　Greatauks；　Dukes　of　Skull；　and　they　shall　rule　over　this　island　of　Alca。〃

Then　raising　his　voice　and　turning　towards　the　holy　Mael：

〃Bless　Greatauk；　father；　for　all　power　comes　from　God。〃

Mael　remained　silent　and　motionless；　with　his　eyes　raised　towards　heaven；　he　felt　a　painful　uncertainty　in　judging　the　monk　Bulloch's　doctrine。　It　was；　however；　the　doctrine　destined　to　prevail　in　epochs　of　advanced　civilization。　Bulloch　can　be　considered　as　the　creator　of　civil　law　in　Penguinia。



IV。　THE　FIRST　ASSEMBLY　OF　THE　ESTATES　OF　PENGUINIA

〃Bulloch；　my　son；〃　said　old　Mael；　〃we　ought　to　make　a　census　of　the　Penguins　and　inscribe　each　of　their　names　in　a　book。〃

〃It　is　a　most　urgent　matter；〃　answered　Bulloch；　〃there　can　be　no　good　government　without　it。〃

Forthwith；　the　apostle；　with　the　help　of　twelve　monks；　proceeded　to　make　a　census　of　the　people。

And　old　Mael　then　said：

〃Now　that　we　keep　a　register　of　all　the　inhabitants；　we　ought；　Bulloch；　my　son；　to　levy　a　just　tax　so　as　to　provide　for　public　expenses　and　the　maintenance　of　the　Abbey。　Each　ought　to　contribute　according　to　his　means。　For　this　reason；　my　son；　call　together　the　Elders　of　Alca；　and　in　agreement　with　them　we　shall　establish　the　tax。〃

The　Elders；　being　called　together；　assembled　to　the　number　of　thirty　under　the　great　sycamore　in　the　courtyard　of　the　wooden　monastery。　They　were　the　first　Estates　of　Penguinia。　Three…fourths　of　them　were　substantial　peasants　of　Surelle　and　Clange。　Greatauk；　as　the　noblest　of　the　Penguins；　sat　upon　the　highest　stone。

The　venerable　Mael　took　his　place　in　the　midst　of　his　monks　and　uttered　these　words：

〃Children；　the　Lord　when　he　pleases　grants　riches　to　men　and　he　takes　them　away　from　them。　Now　I　have　called　you　together　to　levy　contributions　from　the　people　so　as　to　provide　for　public　expenses　and　the　maintenance　of　the　monks。　I　consider　that　these　contributions　ought　to　be　in　proportion　to　the　wealth　of　each。　Therefore　he　who　has　a　hundred　oxen　will　give　ten；　he　who　has　ten　will　give　one。〃

When　the　holy　man　had　spoken；　Morio；　a；　labourer　at　Anis…on…the…Clange；　one　of　the　richest　of　the　Penguins；　rose　up　and　said：

〃O　Father　Mael；　I　think　it　right　that　each　should　contribute　to　the　public　expenses　and　to　the　support　of　the　Church。　or　my　part　I　am　ready　to　give　up　all　that　I　possess　in　the　interest　of　my　brother　Penguins；　and　if　it　were　necessary　I　would　even　cheerfully　part　with　my　shirt。　All　the　elders　of　the　people　are　ready；　like　me；　to　sacrifice　their　goods；　and　no　one　can　doubt　their　absolute　devotion　to　their　country　and　their　creed。　We　have；　then；　only　to　consider　the　public　interest　and　to　do　what　it　requires。　Now；　Father；　what　it　requires；　what　it　demands；　is　not　to　ask　much　from　those　who　possess　much；　for　then　the　rich　would　be　less　rich　and　the　poor　still　poorer。　The　poor　live　on　the　wealth　of　the　rich　and　that　is　the　reason　why　that　wealth　is　sacred。　Do　not　touch　it；　to　do　so　would　be　an　uncalled　for　evil。　You　will　get　no　great　profit　by　taking　from　the　rich；　for　they　are　very　few　in　number；　on　the　contrary　you　will　strip　yourself　of　all　your　resources　and　plunge　the　country　into　misery。　Whereas　if　you　ask　a　little　from　each　inhabitant　without　regard　to　his　wealth；　you　will　collect　enough　for　the　public　necessities　and　you　will　have　no　need　to　enquire　into　each　citizen's　resources；　a　thing　that　would　be　regarded　by　all　as　a　most　vexatious　measure。　By　taxing　all　equally　and　easily　you　will　spare　the　poor；　for　you　Will　leave　them　the　wealth　of　the　rich。　And　how　could　you　possibly　proportion　taxes　to　wealth？　Yesterday　I　had　two　hundred　oxen；　to…day　I　have　sixty；　to…morrow　I　shall　have　a　hundred。　Clunic　has　three　cows；　but　they　are　thin；　Nicclu　has　only　two；　but　they　are　fat。　Which　is　the　richer；　Clunic　or　Nicclu？　The　signs　of　opulence　are　deceitful。　What　is　certain　is　that　everyone　eats　and　drinks。　Tax　people　according　to　what　they　consume。　That　would　be　wisdom　and　it　would　be　justice。〃

Thus　spoke　Morio　amid　the　applause　of　the　Elders。

〃I　ask　that　this　speech　be　graven　on　bronze；〃　cried　the　monk；　Bulloch。　〃It　is　spoken　for　the　future；　in　fifteen　hundred　years　the　best　of　the　Penguins　will　not　speak　otherwise。〃

The　Elders　were　still　applauding　when　Greatauk；　his　hand　on　the　pommel　of　his　sword；　made　this　brief　declaration：

〃Being　noble；　I　shall　not　contribute；　for　to　contribute　is　ignoble。　It　is　for　the　rabble　to　pay。〃

After　this　warning　the　Elders　separated　in　silence。

As　in　Rome；　a　new　census　was　taken　every　five　years；　and　by　this　means　it　was　observed　that　the　population　increased　rapidly。　Although　children　died　in　marvellous　abundance　and　plagues　and　famines　came　with　perfect　regularity　to　devastate　entire　villages；　new　Penguins；　in　continually　greater　numbers；　contributed　by　their　private　misery　to　the　public　prosperity。



V。　THE　MARRIAGE　OF　KRAKEN　AND　ORBEROSIA

During　these　times　there　lived　in　the　island　of　Alca　a　Penguin　whose　arm　was　strong　and　whose　mind　was　subtle。　He　was　called　Kraken；　and　had　his　dwelling　on　the　Beach　of　Shadows　whither　the　inhabitants　never　ventured　for　fear　of　serpents　that　lodged　in　the　hollows　of　the　rocks　and　lest　they　might　encounter　the　souls　of　Penguins　that　had　died　without　baptism。　These；　in　appearance　like　livid　flames；　and　uttering　doleful　groans；　wandered　night　and　day　along　the　deserted　beach。　For　it　was　generally　believed；　though　without　proof；　that　among　the　Penguins　that　had　been　changed　into　men　at　the　blessed　Mael's　prayer；　several　had　not　received　baptism　and　returned　after　their　death　to　lament　amid　the　tempests。　Kraken　dwelt　on　this　savage　coast　in　an　inaccessible　cavern。　The　only　way　to　it　was　through　a　natural　tunnel　a　hundred　feet　long；　the　entrance　of　which　was　concealed　by　a　thick　wood。　One　evening　as　Kraken　was　walking　through　this　deserted　plain　he　happened　to　meet　a　young　and　charming　woman　Penguin。　She　was　the　one　that　the　monk　Magis　had　clothed　with　his　own　hands　and　thus　was　the　first　to　have　worn　the　garments　of　chastity。　In　remembrance　of　the　day　when　the　astonished　crowd　of　Penguins　had　seen　her　moving　gloriously　in　her　robe　tinted　like　the　dawn；　this　maiden　had　received　the　name　of　Orberosia。*

*　〃Orb；　poetically；　a　globe　when　speaking　of　the　heavenly　bodies。　By　extension　any　species　of　globular　body。〃Littre


At　the　sight　of　Kraken　she　uttered　a　cry　of　alarm　and　darted　forward　to　escape　from　him。　But　the　hero　seized　her　by　the　garments　that　floated　behind；　her；　and　addressed　her　in　these　words：

〃Damsel；　tell　me　thy　name；　thy　family　and　thy　country。〃

But　Orberosia　kept　looking　at　Kraken　with　alarm。

〃Is　it　you；　I　see；　sir；〃　she　asked　him；　trembling；　〃or　is　it　not　rather　your　troubled　spirit？〃

She　spoke　in　this　way　because　the　inhabitants　of　Alca；　having　no　news　of　Kraken　since　he　went　to　live　on　the　Beach　of　Shadows；　believed　that　he　had　died　and　descended　among　the　demons　of　night。

〃Cease　to　fear；　daughter　of　Alca；〃　answered　Kraken。　〃He　who　speaks　to　thee　is　not　a　wandering　spirit；　but　a　man　full　of　strength　and　might。　I　shall　soon　possess　great　riches。〃

And　young　Orberosia　asked：

〃How　dost　thou　think　of　acquiring　great　riches；　O　Kraken；　since　thou　art　a　child　of　Penguins？〃

〃By　my　intelligence；〃　answered　Kraken。

〃I　know；〃　said　Orberosia；　〃that　in　the　time　that　thou　dwelt　among　us　thou　wert　renowned　for　thy　skill　in　hunting　and　fishing。　No　one　equalled　thee　in　taking　fishes　in　a　net　or　in　piercing　with　thy　arrows　the　swift…flying　birds。〃

〃It　was　but　a　vulgar　and　laborious　industry；　O　maiden。　I　have　found　a　means　of　gaining　much　wealth　for　myself　without　fatigue。　But　tell　me　who　thou　art？〃

〃I　am　called　Orberosia；〃　answered　the　young　girl。

〃Why　art　thou　so　far　away　from　thy　dwelling　and　in　the　night？〃

〃Kraken；　it　was　not　without　the　will　of　Heaven。〃

〃What　meanest　thou；　Orberosia？〃

〃That　Heaven；　O　Kraken；　placed　me　in　thy　path；　for　what　reason　I　know　not。〃

Kraken　beheld　her　for　a　long　time　in　silence。

Then　he　said　with　gentleness：

〃Orberosia；　come　into　my　house；　it　is　that　of　the　bravest　and　most　ingenious　of　the　sons　of　the　Penguins。　If　thou　art　willing　to　follow　me；　I　will　make　thee　my　companion。〃

Then　casting　down　her　eyes；　she　murmured：

〃I　will　follow　thee；　master。〃

It　is　thus　that　the　fair　Orberosia　became　the　consort　of　the　hero　Kraken。　This　marriage　was　not　celebrated　with　songs　and　torches　because　Kraken　did　not　consent　to　show　himself　to　the　people　of　the　Penguins；　but　hidden　in　his　cave　he　planned　great　designs。



VI。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA

〃We　afterwards　went　to　visit　the　cabinet　of　natural　history。　。　。　。　The　care…taker　showed　us　a　sort　of　packet　bound　in　straw　that　he　told　us　contained　the　skeleton　of　a　dragon；　a　proof；　added　he；　that　the　dragon　is　not　a　fabulous　animal。〃Memoirs　of　Jacques　Casanova；　Paris；　1843。　Vol。　IV。；　pp。　404；　405

In　the　meantime　the　inhabitants　of　Alca　practised　the　labours　of　peace。　Those　of　the　northern　coast　went　in　b