penguin island-第9章

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〃That　is　an　example　for　us　of　the　power　of　virgins　over　dragons。　The　history　of　St。　Martha　furnishes　us　with　a　still　more　certain　proof。　Do　you　know　the　story；　Samuel；　my　son？〃

〃Yes；　father；〃　answered　Samuel。

And　the　blessed　Mael　went　on：

〃There　was　in　a　forest　on　the　banks　of　the　Rhone；　between　Arles　and　Avignon；　a　dragon　half　quadruped　and　half　fish；　larger　than　an　ox；　with　sharp　teeth　like　horns　and　huge…wings　at　his　shoulders。　He　sank　the　boats　and　devoured　their　passengers。　Now　St。　Martha；　at　the　entreaty　of　the　people；　approached　this　dragon；　whom　she　found　devouring　a　man。　She　put　her　girdle　round　his　neck　and　led　him　easily　into　the　town。

〃These　two　examples　lead　me　to　think　that　we　should　have　recourse　to　the　power　of　some　virgin　so　as　to　conquer　the　dragon　who　scatters　terror　and　death　through　the　island　of　Alca。

〃For　this　reason；　Samuel　thy　son；　gird　up　thy　loins　and　go；　I　pray　thee；　with　two　of　thy　companions；　into　all　the　villages　of　this　island；　and　proclaim　everywhere　that　a　virgin　alone　shall　be　able　to　deliver　the　island　from　the　monster　that　devastates　it。

〃Thou　shalt　sing　psalms　and　canticles　and　thou　shalt　say：

〃'O　sons　of　the　Penguins；　if　there　be　among　you　a　pure　virgin；　let　her　arise　and　go；　armed　with　the　sign　of　the　cross；　to　combat　the　dragon！'〃

Thus　the　old　man　spake；　and　Samuel　promised　to　obey　him。　The　next　day　he　girded　up　his　loins　and　set　out　with　two　of　his　companions　to　proclaim　to　the　inhabitants　of　Alca　that　a　virgin　alone　would　be　able　to　deliver　the　Penguins　from　the　rage　of　the　dragon。



X。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation）

Orberosia　loved　her　husband；　but　she　did　not　love　him　alone。　At　the　hour　when　Venus　lightens　in　the　pale　sky；　whilst　Kraken　scattered　terror　through　the　villages；　she　used　to　visit　in　his　moving　hut；　a　young　shepherd　of　Dalles　called　Marcel；　whose　pleasing　form　was　invested　with　inexhaustible　vigour。　The　fair　Orberosia　shared　the　shepherd's　aromatic　couch　with　delight；　but　far　from　making　herself　known　to　him；　she　took　the　name　of　Bridget；　and　said　that　she　was　the　daughter　of　a　gardener　in　the　Bay　of　Divers。　When　regretfully　she　left　his　arms　she　walked　across　the　smoking　fields　towards　the　Coast　of　Shadows；　and　if　she　happened　to　meet　some　belated　peasant　she　immediately　spread　out　her　garments　like　great　wings　and　cried：

〃Passer　by；　lower　your　eyes；　that　you　may　not　have　to　say；　'Alas！　alas！　woe　is　me；　for　I　have　seen　the　angel　of　the　Lord。'〃

The　villagers　tremblingly　knelt　with　their　faces　to　the　round。　And　several　of　them　used　to　say　that　angels；　whom　it　would　be　death　to　see；　passed　along　the　roads　of　the　island　in　the　night　time。

Kraken　did　not　know　of　the　loves　of　Orberosia　and　Marcel；　for　he　was　a　hero；　and　heroes　never　discover　the　secrets　of　their　wives。　But　though　he　did　not　know　of　these　loves；　he　reaped　the　benefit　of　them。　Every　night　he　found　his　companion　more　good…humoured　and　more　beautiful；　exhaling　pleasure　and　perfuming　the　nuptial　bed　with　a　delicious　odour　of　fennel　and　vervain。　She　loved　Kraken　with　a　love　that　never　became　importunate　or　anxious；　because　she　did　not　rest　its　whole　weight　on　him　alone。

This　lucky　infidelity　of　Orberosia　was　destined　soon　to　save　the　hero　from　a　great　peril　and　to　assure　his　fortune　and　his　glory　for　ever。　For　it　happened　that　she　saw　passing　in　the　twilight　a　neatherd　from　Belmont；　who　was　goading　on　his　oxen；　and　she　fell　more　deeply　in　love　with　him　than　she　had　ever　been　with　the　shepherd　Marcel。　He　was　hunch…backed；　his　shoulders　were　higher　than　his　ears；　his　body　was　supported　by　legs　of　different　lengths；　his　rolling　eyes　flashed；　from　beneath　his　matted　hair。　From　his　throat　issued　a　hoarse　voice　and　strident　laughter；　he　smelt　of　the　cow…shed。　However；　to　her　he　was　beautiful。　〃A　plant；〃　as　Gnatho　says；　〃has　been　loved　by　one；　a　stream　by　another；　a　beast　by　a　third。〃

Now；　one　day；　as　she　was　sighing　within　the　neatherd's　arms　in　a　village　barn；　suddenly　the　blasts　of　a　trumpet；　with　sounds　and　footsteps；　fell　upon　her　ears；　she　looked　through　the　window　and　saw　the　inhabitants　collected　in　the　marketplace　round　a　young　monk；　who；　standing　upon　a　rock；　uttered　these　words　in　a　distinct　voice：

〃Inhabitants　of　Belmont；　Abbot　Mael；　our　venerable　father；　informs　you　through　my　mouth　that　neither　by　strength　nor　skill　in　arms　shall　you　prevail　against　the　dragon；　but　the　beast　shall　be　overcome　by　a　virgin。　If；　then；　there　be　among　you　a　perfectly　pure　virgin；　let　her　arise　and　go　towards　the　monster；　and　when　she　meets　him　let　her　tie　her　girdle　round　his　neck　and　she　shall　lead　him　as　easily　as　if　he　were　a　little　dog。〃

And　the　young　monk；　replacing　his　hood　upon　his　head；　departed　to　carry　the　proclamation　of　the　blessed　Mael　to　other　villages。

Orberosia　sat　in　the　amorous　straw；　resting　her　head　in　her　hand　and　supporting　her　elbow　upon　her　knee；　meditating　on　what　she　had　just　heard。

Although；　so　far　as　Kraken　was　concerned；　she　feared　the　power　of　a　virgin　much　less　than　the　strength　of　armed　men；　she　did　not　feel　reassured　by　the　proclamation　of　the　blessed　Mael。　A　vague　but　sure　instinct　ruled　her　mind　and　warned　her　that　Kraken　could　not　henceforth　be　a　dragon　with　safety。

She　said　to　the　neatherd：

〃My　own　heart；　what　do　you　think　about　the　dragon？〃

The　rustic　shook　his　head。

〃It　is　certain　that　dragons　laid　waste　the　earth　in　ancient　times　and　some　have　been　seen　as　large　as　mountains。　But　they　come　no　longer；　and　I　believe　that　what　has　been　taken　for　a　dragon　is　not　one　at　all；　but　pirates　or　merchants　who　have　carried　off　the　fair　Orberosia　and　the　best　of　the　children　of　Alca　in　their　ships。　But　if　one　of　those　brigands　attempts　to　rob　me　of　my　oxen；　I　will　either　by　force　or　craft　find　a　way　to　prevent　him　from　doing　me　any　harm。〃

This　remark　of　the　neatherd　increased　Orberosia's　apprehensions　and　added　to　her　solicitude　for　the　husband　whom　she　loved。　



X。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation）

The　days　passed　by　and　no　maiden　arose　in　the　island　to　combat　the　monster。　And　in　the　wooden　monastery　old　Mael；　seated　on　a　bench　in　the　shade　of　an　old　fig…tree；　accompanied　by　a　pious　monk　called　Regimental；　kept　asking　himself　anxiously　and　sadly　how　it　was　that　there　was　not　in　Alca　a　single　virgin　fit　to　overthrow　the　monster。

He　sighed　and　brother　Regimental　sighed　too。　At　that　moment　old　Mael　called　young　Samuel；　who　happened　to　pass　through　the　garden；　and　said　to　him：

〃I　have　meditated　anew；　my　son；　on　the　means　of　destroying　the　dragon　who　devours　the　flower　of　our　youth；　our　flocks；　and　our　harvests。　In　this　respect　the　story　of　the　dragons　of　St。　Riok　and　of　St。　Pol　de　Leon　seems　to　me　particularly　instructive。　The　dragon　of　St。　Riok　was　six　fathoms　long；　his　head　was　derived　from　the　cock　and　the　basilisk；　his　body　from　the　ox　and　the　serpent；　he　ravaged　the　banks　of　the　Elorn　in　the　time　of　King　Bristocus。　St。　Riok；　then　aged　two　years；　led　him　by　a　leash　to　the　sea；　in　which　the　monster　drowned　himself　of　his　own　accord。　St。　Pol's　dragon　was　sixty　feet　long　and　not　less　terrible。　The　blessed　apostle　of　Leon　bound　him　with　his　stole　and　allowed　a　young　noble　of　great　purity　of　life　to　lead　him。　These　examples　prove　that　in　the　eyes　of　God　a　chaste　young　man　is　as　agreeable　as　a　chaste　girl。　Heaven　makes　no　distinction　between　them。　For　this　reason；　my　son；　if　you　believe　what　I　say；　we　will　both　go　to　the　Coast　of　Shadows；　when　we　reach　the　dragon's　cavern　we　will　call　the　monster　in　a　loud　voice；　and　when　he　comes　forth　I　will　tie　my　stole　round　his　neck　and　you　will　lead　him　to　the　sea；　where　he　will　not　fail　to　drown　himself。〃

At　the　old　man's　words　Samuel　cast　down　his　head　and　did　not　answer。

〃You　seem　to　hesitate；　my　son；〃　said　Mael。

Brother　Regimental；　contrary　to　his　custom；　spoke　without　being　addressed。

〃There　is　at　least　cause　for　some　hesitation；〃　said　he。　〃St。　Riok　was　only　two　years　old　when　he　overcame　the　dragon。　Who　says　that　nine　or　ten　years　later　he　could　have　done　as　much？　Remember；　father；　that　the　dragon　who　is　devastating　our　island　has　devoured　little　Elo　and　four　or　five　other　young　boys。　Brother　Samuel　is　not　go　presumptuous　as　to　believe　that　at　nineteen　years　of　age　he　is　more　innocent　than　they　were　at　twelve　and　fourteen。

〃Alas！〃　added　the　monk；　with　a　groan；　〃who　can　boast　of　being　chaste　in　this　world；　where　everything　gives　the　example　and　model　of　love；　where　all　things　in　nature；　animals；　and　plants；　show　us　the　caresses　of　love　and　advise　us　to　share　them？　Animals　are　eager　to　unite　in　their　own　fashion；　but　the　various　marriages　of　quadrupeds；　birds；　fishes；　and　reptiles　are　far　from　equalling　in　lust　the　nuptials　of　the　trees。　The　greatest　extremes　of　lewdness　that　the　pagans　have　imagined　in　their　fables　are　outstripped　by　the　simple　flowers　of　the　field；　and；　if　you　knew　the　irregularities　of　lilies　and　roses　you　would　take　those　chalices　of　impurity；　those　vases　of　scandal；　away　from　your　altars。〃

〃Do　not　speak　in　this　way；　Brother　Regimental；〃　answered　old　Mael。　〃Since　they　are　subject　to　the　law　of　nature；　animals　and　plants　are　always　innocent。　They　have　no　souls　to　save；　whilst　man〃

〃You　are　right；〃　replied　Brother　Regimental；　〃it　is　quite　a　different　thing。　But　do　not　send　young　Samuel　to　the　dragonthe　dragon　might　devour　him。　For　the　last　five　years　Samuel　is　not　in　a　state　to　show　his　innocence　to　monsters。　In　the　year　of　the　comet；　the　Devil　in　order　to　seduce　him；　put　in　his　path　a　milkmaid；　who　was　lifting　up　her　petticoat　to　cross　a　ford。　Samuel　was　tempted；　but　he　overcame　the　temptation。　The　Devil；　who　never　tires；　sent　him　the　image　of　that　young　girl　in　a　dream。　The　shade　did　what　the　reality　was　unable　to　accomplish；　and　Samuel　yielded。　When　he　awoke　be　moistened　his　couch　with　his　tears；　but　alas！　repentance　did　not　give　him　back　his　innocence。〃

As　he　listened　to　this　story　Samuel　asked　himself　how　his　secret　could　be　known；　for　he　was　ignorant　that　the　Devil　had　borrowed　the　appearance　of　Brother　Regimental；　so　as　to　trouble　the　hearts　of　the　monks　of　Alca。

And　old　Mael　remained　deep　in　thought　and　kept　asking　himself　in　grief：

〃Who　will　deliver　us　from　the　dragon's　tooth？　Who　will　preserve　us　from　his　breath？　Who　will　save　us　from　his　look？〃

However；　the　inhabitants　of　Alca　began　to　take　courage。　The　labourers　of　Dombes　and　the　neatherds　of　Belmont　swore　that　they　themselves　would　be　of　more　avail　than　a　girl　against　the　ferocious　beast；　and　they　exclaimed　as　they　stroked　the　muscles　on　their　arms；　〃Let　the　dragon　come！〃　Many　men　and　women　had　seen　him。　They　did　not　agree　about　his　form　and　his　figure；　but　all　now　united　in　saying　that　he　was　not　as　big　as　they　had　thought；　and　that　his　height　was　not　much　greater　than　a　man's。　The　defence　was　organised；　towards　nightfall　watches　were　stationed　at　the　entrances　of　the　villages　ready　to　give　the　alarm；　and　during　the　night　companies　armed　with　pitchforks　and　scythes　protected　the　paddocks　in　which　the　animals　were　shut　up。　Indeed；　once　in　the　village　of　Anis　some　plucky　labourers　surprised　him　as　he　was　scaling　Morio's　wall；　and；　as　they　had　flails；　scythes；　and　pitchforks；　they　fell　upon　him　and　pressed　him　hard。　One　of　them；　a　very　quick　and　courageous　man；　thought　to　have　run