penguin island-第8章

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In　the　meantime　the　inhabitants　of　Alca　practised　the　labours　of　peace。　Those　of　the　northern　coast　went　in　boats　to　fish　or　to　search　for　shell…fish。　The　labourers　of　Dombes　cultivated　oats；　rye；　and　wheat。　The　rich　Penguins　of　the　valley　of　Dalles　reared　domestic　animals；　while　those　of　the　Bay　of　Divers　cultivated　their　orchards。　Merchants　of　Port…Alca　carried　on　a　trade　in　salt　fish　with　Armorica　and　the　gold　of　the　two　Britains；　which　began　to　be　introduced　into　the　island；　facilitated　exchange。　The　Penguin　people　were　enjoying　the　fruit　of　their　labours　in　perfect　tranquillity　when　suddenly　a　sinister　rumour　ran　from　village　to　village。　It　was　said　everywhere　that　frightful　dragon　had　ravaged　two　farms　in　the　Bay　of　Divers。

A　few　days　before；　the　maiden　Orberosia　had　disappeared。　Her　absence　had　at　first　caused　no　uneasiness　because　on　several　occasions　she　had　been　carried　off　by　violent　men　who　were　consumed　with　love。　And　thoughtful　people　were　not　astonished　at　this；　reflecting　that　the　maiden　was　the　most　beautiful　of　the　Penguins。　It　was　even　remarked　that　she　sometimes　went　to　meet　her　ravishers；　for　none　of　us　can　escape　his　destiny。　But　this　time；　as　she　did　not　return；　it　was　feared　that　the　dragon　had　devoured　her。　The　more　so　as　the　inhabitants　of　the　valley　of　Dalles　soon　knew　that　the　dragon　was　not　a　fable　told　by　the　women　around　the　fountains。　For　one　night　the　monster　devoured　out　of　the　village　of　Anis　six　hens；　a　sheep；　and　a　young　orphan　child　called　little　Elo。　The　next　morning　nothing　was　to　be　found　either　of　the　animals　or　of　the　child。

Immediately　the　Elders　of　the　village　assembled　in　the　public　place　and　seated　themselves　on　the　stone　bench　to　take　counsel　concerning　what　it　was　expedient　to　do　in　these　terrible　circumstances。

Having　called　all　those　Penguins　who　had　seen　the　dragon　during　the　disastrous　night；　they　asked　them：

〃Have　you　not　noticed　his　form　and　his　behaviour？〃

And　each　answered　in　his　turn：

〃He　has　the　claws　of　a　lion；　the　wings　of　an　eagle；　and　the　tail　of　a　serpent。〃

〃His　back　bristles　with　thorny　crests。〃

〃His　whole　body　is　covered　with　yellow　scales。〃

〃His　look　fascinates　and　confounds。　He　vomits　flames。〃

〃He　poisons　the　air　with　his　breath。〃

〃He　has　the　head　of　a　dragon；　the　claws　of　a　lion；　and　the　tail　of　a　fish。〃

And　a　woman　of　Anis；　who　was　regarded　as　intelligent　and　of　sound　judgment　and　from　whom　the　dragon　had　taken　three　hens；　deposed　as　follows：

〃He　is　formed　like　a　man。　The　proof　is　that　I　thought　he　was　my　husband；　and　I　said　to　him；　'Come　to　bed；　you　old　fool。'〃

Others　said：

〃He　is　formed　like　a　cloud。〃

〃He　looks　like　a　mountain。〃

And　a　little　child　came　and　said：

〃I　saw　the　dragon　taking　off　his　head　in　the　barn　so　that　he　might　give　a　kiss　to　my　sister　Minnie。〃

And　the　Elders　also　asked　the　inhabitants：

〃How　big　is　the　dragon？〃

And　it　was　answered：

〃As　big　as　an　ox。〃

〃Like　the　big　merchant　ships　of　the　Bretons。〃

〃He　is　the　height　of　a　man。〃

〃He　is　higher　than　the　fig…tree　under　which　you　are　sitting。〃

〃He　is　as　large　as　a　dog。〃

Questioned　finally　on　his　colour；　the　inhabitants　said：

〃Red。〃

〃Green。〃

〃Blue。〃

〃Yellow。〃

〃His　head　is　bright　green；　his　wings　are　brilliant　orange　tinged　with　pink；　his　limbs　are　silver　grey；　his　hind…quarters　and　his　tail　are　striped　with　brown　and　pink　bands；　his　belly　bright　yellow　spotted　with　black。〃

〃His　colour？　He　has　no　colour。〃

〃He　is　the　colour　of　a　dragon。〃

After　hearing　this　evidence　the　Elders　remained　uncertain　as　to　what　should　be　done。　Some　advised　to　watch　for　him；　to　surprise　him　and　overthrow　him　by　a　multitude　of　arrows。　Others；　thinking　it　vain　to　oppose　so　powerful　a　monster　by　force；　counselled　that　he　should　be　appeased　by　offerings。

〃Pay　him　tribute；〃　said　one　of　them　who　passed　for　a　wise　man。　〃We　can　render　him　propitious　to　us　by　giving　him　agreeable　presents；　fruits；　wine；　lambs；　a　young　virgin。〃

Others　held　for　poisoning　the　fountains　where　he　was　accustomed　to　drink　or　for　smoking　him　out　of　his　cavern。

But　none　of　these　counsels　prevailed。　The　dispute　was　lengthy　and　the　Elders　dispersed　without　coming　to　any　resolution。



VII。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation）

During　all　the　month　dedicated　by　the　Romans　to　their　false　god　Mars　or　Mavors；　the　dragon　ravaged　the　farms　of　Dalles　and　Dombes。　He　carried　off　fifty　sheep；　twelve　pigs；　and　three　young　boys。　Every　family　was　in　mourning　and　the　island　was　full　of　lamentations。　In　order　to　remove　the　scourge；　the　Elders　of　the　unfortunate　villages　watered　by　the　Clange　and　the　Surelle　resolved　to　assemble　and　together　go　and　ask　the　help　of　the　blessed　Mael。

On　the　fifth　day　of　the　month　whose　name　among　the　Latins　signifies　opening；　because　it　opens　the　year；　they　went　in　procession　to　the　wooden　monastery　that　had　been　built　on　the　southern　coast　of　the　island。　When　they　were　introduced　into　the　cloister　they　filled　it　with　their　sobs　and　groans。　Moved　by　their　lamentations；　old　Mael　left　the　room　in　which　he　devoted　himself　to　the　study　of　astronomy　and　the　meditation　of　the　Scriptures；　and　went　down　to　them；　leaning　on　his　pastoral　staff。　At　his　approach；　the　Elders；　prostrating　themselves；　held　out　to　him　green　branches　of　trees　and　some　of　them　burnt　aromatic　herbs。

And　the　holy　man；　seating　himself　beside　the　cloistral　fountain　under　an　ancient　fig…tree；　uttered　these　words：

〃O　my　sons；　offspring　of　the　Penguins；　why　do　you　weep　and　groan？　Why　do　you　hold　out　those　suppliant　boughs　towards　me？　Why　do　you　raise　towards　heaven　the　smoke　of　those　herbs？　What　calamity　do　you　expect　that　I　can　avert　from　your　heads？　Why　do　you　beseech　me？　I　am　ready　to　give　my　life　for　you。　Only　tell　your　father　what　it　is　you　hope　from　him。〃

To　these　questions　the　chief　of　the　Elders　answered：

〃O　Mael；　father　of　the　sons　of　Alca；　I　will　speak　for　all。　A　horrible　dragon　is　laying　waste　our　lands；　depopulating　our　cattle…sheds；　and　carrying　off　the　flower　of　our　youth。　He　has　devoured　the　child　Elo　and　seven　young　boys；　he　has　mangled　the　maiden　Orberosia；　the　fairest　of　the　Penguins　with　his　teeth。　There　is　not　a　village　in　which　he　does　not　emit　his　poisoned　breath　and　which　he　has　not　filled　with　desolation。　A　prey　to　this　terrible　scourge；　we　come；　O　Mael；　to　pray　thee；　as　the　wisest；　to　advise　us　concerning　the　safety　of　the　inhabitants　of　this　island　lest　the　ancient　race　of　Penguins　be　extinguished。〃

〃O　chief　of　the　Elders　of　Alca；〃　replied　Mael；　〃thy　words　fill　me　with　profound　grief；　and　I　groan　at　the　thought　that　this　island　is　the　prey　of　a　terrible　dragon。　But　such　an　occurrence　is　not　unique；　for　we　find　in　books　several　tales　of　very　fierce　dragons。　The　monsters　are　oftenest　found　in　caverns；　by　the　brinks　of　waters；　and；　in　preference；　among　pagan　peoples。　Perhaps　there　are　some　among　you　who；　although　they　have　received　holy　baptism　and　been　incorporated　into　the　family　of　Abraham；　have　yet　worshipped　idols；　like　the　ancient　Romans；　or　hung　up　images；　votive　tablets；　fillets　of　wool；　and　garlands　of　flowers　on　the　branches　of　some　sacred　tree。　Or　perhaps　some　of　the　women　Penguins　have　danced　round　a　magic　stone　and　drunk　water　from　the　fountains　where　the　nymphs　dwell。　If　it　be　so；　believe；　O　Penguins；　that　the　Lord　has　sent　this　dragon　to　punish　all　for　the　crimes　of　some；　and　to　lead　you；　O　children　of　the　Penguins；　to　exterminate　blasphemy；　superstition；　and　impiety　from　amongst　you。　For　this　reason　I　advise；　as　a　remedy　against　the　great　evil　from　which　you　suffer；　that　you　carefully　search　your　dwellings　for　idolatry；　and　extirpate　it　from　them。　I　think　it　would　be　also　efficacious　to　pray　and　do　penance。〃

Thus　spoke　the　holy　Mael。　And　the　Elders　of　the　Penguin　people　kissed　his　feet　and　returned　to　their　villages　with　renewed　hope。



VIII。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation）

Following　the　counsel　of　the　holy　Mael　the　inhabitants　of　Alca　endeavoured　to　uproot　the　superstitions　that　had　sprung　up　amongst　them。　They　took　care　to　prevent　the　girls　from　dancing　with　incantations　round　the　fairy　tree。　Young　mothers　were　sternly　forbidden　to　rub　their　children　against　the　stones　that　stood　upright　in　the　fields　so　as　to　make　them　strong。　An　old　man　of　Dombes　who　foretold　the　future　by　shaking　grains　of　barley　on　a　sieve；　was　thrown　into　a　well。

However；　each　night　the　monster　still　raided　the　poultry…yards　and　the　cattle…sheds。　The　frightened　peasants　barricaded　themselves　in　their　houses。　A　woman　with　child　who　saw　the　shadow　of　a　dragon　on　the　road　through　a　window　in　the　moonlight；　was　so　terrified　that　she　was　brought　to　bed　before　her　time。

In　those　days　of　trial；　the　holy　Mael　meditated　unceasingly　on　the　nature　of　dragons　and　the　means　of　combating　them。　After　six　months　of　study　and　prayer　he　thought　he　had　found　what　he　sought。　One　evening　as　he　was　walking　by　the　sea　with　a　young　monk　called　Samuel；　he　to　him　in　these　terms：

〃I　have　studied　at　length　the　history　and　habits　of　dragons；　not　to　satisfy　a　vain　curiosity；　but　to　discover　examples　to　follow　in　the　present　circumstances。　For　such；　Samuel；　my　son；　is　the　use　of　history。

〃It　is　an　invariable　fact　that　dragons　are　extremely　vigilant。　They　never　sleep；　and　for　this　reason　we　often　find　them　employed　in　guarding　treasures。　A　dragon　guarded　at　Colchis　the　golden　fleece　that　Jason　conquered　from　him。　A　dragon　watched　over　the　golden　apples　in　the　garden　of　the　Hesperides。　He　was　killed　by　Hercules　and　transformed　into　a　star　by　Juno。　This　fact　is　related　in　some　books；　and　if　it　be　true；　it　was　done　by　magic；　for　the　gods　of　the　pagans　are　in　reality　demons。　A　dragon　prevented　barbarous　and　ignorant　men　from　drinking　at　the　fountain　of　Castalia。　We　must　also　remember　the　dragon　of　Andromeda；　which　was　slain　by　Perseus。　But　let　us　turn　from　these　pagan　fables；　in　which　error　is　always　mixed　with　truth。　We　meet　dragons　in　the　histories　of　the　glorious　archangel　Michael；　of　St。　George；　St。　Philip；　St。　James　the　Great；　St。　Patrick；　St。　Martha；　and　St。　Margaret。　And　it　is　in　such　writings；　since　they　are　worthy　of　full　credence；　that　we　ought　to　look　for　comfort　and　counsel。

〃The　story　of　the　dragon　of　Silena　affords　us　particularly　precious　examples。　You　must　know；　my　son；　that　on　the　banks　of　a　vast　pool　close　to　that　town　there　dwelt　a　dragon　who　sometimes　approached　the　walls　and　poisoned　with　his　breath　all　who　dwelt　in　the　suburbs。　And　that　they　might　not　be　devoured　by　the　monster；　the　inhabitants　of　Silena　delivered　up　to　him　one　of　their　number　expressed　his　thought　every　morning。　The　victim　was　chosen　by　lot；　and　after　a　hundred　others；　the　lot　fell　upon　the　king's　daughter。

〃Now　St。　George；　who　was　a　military　tribune；　as　he　passed　through　the　town　of　Silena；　learned　that　the　king's　daughter　had　just　been　given　to　the　fierce　beast。　He　immediately　mounted　his　horse；　and；　armed　with　his　lance；　rushed　to　encounter　the　dragon；　whom　he　reached　just　as　the　monster　was　about　to　devour　the　royal　virgin。　And　when　St。　George　had　overthrown　the　dragon；　the　king's　daughter　fastened　her　girdle　round　the　beast's　neck　and　he　followed　her　like　a　dog　led　on　a　leash。

〃That　is　an　example　for　us　of　the　power　of　virgins　over　dragons。　The　history　of　St。　Martha　f