penguin island-第3节
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red 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 shone through his swollen eyelids。 He distinguished animated forms which filled the rocks； in stages； like a crowd of men on the tiers of an amphitheatre。 And at the same time； his ears； deafened by the continual noises of the sea； heard a feeble sound of voices。 Thinking that what he saw were men living under the natural law； and that the Lord had sent him to teach them the Divine law； he preached the gospel to them。
Mounted on a lofty stone in the midst of the wild circus：
〃Inhabitants of this island；〃 said he； 〃although you be of small stature； you look less like a band of fishermen and mariners than like the senate of a judicious republic。 By your gravity； your silence； your tranquil deportment； you form on this wild rock an assembly comparable to the Conscript Fathers at Rome deliberating in the temple of Victory； or rather； to the philosophers of Athens disputing on the benches of the Areopagus。 Doubtless you possess neither their science nor their genius； but perhaps in the sight of God you are their superiors。 I believe that you are simple and good。 As I went round your island I saw no image of murder； no sign of carnage； no enemies' heads or scalps hung from a lofty pole or nailed to the doors of your villages。 You appear to me to have no arts and not to work in metals。 But your hearts are pure and your hands are innocent； and the truth will easily enter into your souls。〃
Now what he had taken for men of small stature but of grave bearing were penguins whom the spring had gathered together； and who were ranged in couples on the natural steps of the rock； erect in the majesty of their large white bellies。 From moment to moment they moved their winglets like arms； and uttered peaceful cries。 They did not fear men； for they did not know them； and had never received any harm from them； and there was in the monk a certain gentleness that reassured the most timid animals and that pleased these penguins extremely。 With a friendly curiosity they turned towards him their little round eyes lengthened in front by a white oval spot that gave something odd and human to their appearance。
Touched by their attention； the holy man taught them the Gospel。
〃Inhabitants of this island； the earthly day that has just risen over your rocks is the image of the heavenly day that rises in your souls。 For I bring you the inner light； I bring you the light and heat of the soul。 Just as the sun melts the ice of your mountains so Jesus Christ will melt the ice of your hearts。〃
Thus the old man spoke。 As everywhere throughout nature voice calls to voice； as all which breathes in the light of day loves alternate strains； these penguins answered the old man by the sounds of their throats。 And their voices were soft； for it was the season of their loves。
The holy man； persuaded that they belonged to some idolatrous people and that in their own language they gave adherence to the Christian faith； invited them to receive baptism。
〃I think；〃 said he to them； 〃that you bathe often； for all the hollows of the rocks are full of pure water； and as I came to your assembly I saw several of you plunging into these natural baths。 Now purity of body is the image of spiritual purity。〃
And he taught them the origin； the nature； and the effects of baptism。
〃Baptism；〃 said he to them； 〃is Adoption； New Birth； Regeneration； Illumination。〃
And he explained each of these points to them in succession。
Then； having previously blessed the water that fell from the cascades and recited the exorcisms； he baptized those whom he had just taught； pouring on each of their heads a drop of pure water and pronouncing the sacred words。
And thus for three days and three nights he baptized the birds。
VI。 AN ASSEMBLY IN PARADISE
When the baptism of the penguins was known in Paradise； it caused neither joy nor sorrow； but an extreme surprise。 The Lord himself was embarrassed。 He gathered an assembly of clerics and doctors； and asked them whether they regarded the baptism as valid。
〃It is void；〃 said St。 Patrick。
〃Why is it void？〃 asked St。 Gal； who had evangelized the people of Cornwall and had trained the holy Mael for his apostolical labours。
〃The sacrament of baptism；〃 answered St。 Patrick； 〃is void when it is given to birds； just as the sacrament of marriage is void when it is given to a eunuch。〃
But St。 Gal replied：
〃What relation do you claim to establish between the baptism of a bird and the marriage of a eunuch？ There is none at all。 Marriage is； if I may say so； a conditional； a contingent sacrament。 The priest blesses an event beforehand； it is evident that if the act is not consummated the benediction remains without effect。 That is obvious。 I have known on earth； in the town of Antrim； a rich man named Sadoc； who； living in concubinage with a woman； caused her to be the mother of nine children。 In his old age； yielding to my reproofs； he consented to marry her； and I blessed their union。 Unfortunately Sadoc's great age prevented him from consummating the marriage。 A short time afterwards he lost all his property； and Germaine （that was the name of the woman）； not feeling herself able to endure poverty； ask
