penguin island-第11节
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rs。 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 him through with his pitchfork； but he slipped in a pool and so let him escape。 The ot
