penguin island-第7节
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uins are clothed； the male penguin will not form so exact a notion of what it is that attracts him to them。 His indeterminate desires will fly out into all sorts of dreams and illusions； in short； father； he will know love and its mad torments。 And all the time the female penguins will cast down their eyes and bite their lips； and take on airs as if they kept a treasure under their clothes！ 。 。 。 what a pity！
〃The evil will be endurable as long as these people remain rude and poor； but only wait for a thousand years and you will see； father； with what powerful weapons you have endowed the daughters of Alca。 If you will allow me； I can give you some idea of it beforehand。 I have some old clothes in this chest。 Let us take at hazard one of these female penguins to whom the male penguins give such little thought； and let us dress her as well as we can。
〃Here is one coming towards us。 She is neither more beautiful nor uglier than the others； she is young。 No one looks at her。 She strolls indolently along the shore； scratching her back and with her finger at her nose as she walks。 You cannot help seeing； father； that she has narrow shoulders； clumsy breasts； a stout figure； and short legs。 Her reddish knees pucker at every step she takes； and there is； at each of her joints； what looks like a little monkey's head。 Her broad and sinewy feet cling to the rock with their four crooked toes； while the great toes stick up like the heads of two cunning serpents。 She begins to walk； all her muscles are engaged in the task； and； when we see them working； we think of her as a machine intended for walking rather than as a machine intended for making love； although visibly she is both； and contains within herself several other pieces of machinery； besides。 Well； venerable apostle； you will see what I am going to make of her。〃
With these words the monk； Magis； reached the female penguin in three bounds； lifted her up； carried her in his arms with her hair trailing behind her； and threw her； overcome with fright； at the feet of the holy Mael。
And whilst she wept and begged him to do her no harm； he took a pair of sandals out of his chest and commanded her to put them on。
〃Her feet；〃 observed the old man； 〃will appear smaller when squeezed in by the woollen cords。 The soles； being two fingers high； will give an elegant length to her legs and the weight they bear will seem magnified。〃
As the penguin tied on her sandals she threw a curious look towards the open coffer； and seeing that it was full of jewels and finery； she smiled through her tears。
The monk twisted her hair on the back of her head and covered it with a chaplet of flowers。 He encircled her wrist with golden bracelets and making her stand upright； he passed a large linen band beneath her breasts； alleging that her bosom would thereby derive a new dignity and that her sides would be compressed to the greater glory of her hips。
He fixed this band with pins； taking them one by one out of his mouth。
〃You can tighten it still more；〃 said the penguin。
When he had； with much care and study； enclosed the soft parts of her bust in this way； he covered her whole body with a rose…coloured tunic which gently followed the lines of her figure。
〃Does it hang well？〃 asked the penguin。
And bending forward with her head on one side and her chin on her shoulder； she kept looking attentively at the appearance of her toilet。
Magis asked her if she did not think the dress a little long； but she answered with assurance that it was notshe would hold it up。
Immediately； taking the back of her skirt in her left hand； she drew it obliquely across her hips； taking care to disclose a glimpse of her heels。 Then she went away； walking with short steps and swinging her hips。
She did not turn her head； but as she passed near a stream she glanced out of the corner of her eye at her own reflection。
A male penguin； who met her by chance； stopped in surprise； and retracing his steps began to follow her。 As she went along the shore； others coming back from fishing； went up to her； and after looking at her； walked behind her。 Those who were lying on the sand got up and joined the rest。
Unceasingly； as she advanced； fresh penguins； descending from the paths of the mountain； coming out of clefts of the rocks； and emerging from the water； added to the size of her retinue。
And all of them； men of ripe age with vigorous shoulders and hairy breasts； agile youths； old men shaking the multitudinous wrinkles of their rosy； and white…haired skins； or dragging their legs thinner and drier than the juniper staff that served them as a third leg； hurried on； panting and emitting an acrid odour and hoarse gasps。 Yet she went on peacefully and seemed to see nothing。
〃Father；〃 cried Magis； 〃notice how each one advances with his nose pointed towards the centre of gravity of that young damsel now that the centre is covered by a garment。 The sphere inspires the meditations of geometers by the number of its properties。 When it proceeds from a physical and living nature it acquires new qualities； and in order that the interest of that figure might be fully revealed to the penguins it was necessary that； ceasing to see it distinctly with their eyes； they should be led to represent it to themselves in their minds。 I myself feel at this moment irresistibly attracted towards that penguin。 Whether it be because her skirt gives more importance to her hips； and that in its simple magnificence it invests them with a synthetic and general character and allows only the pure idea； the divine principle； of them to be seen； whether this be the cause I cannot say； but I feel that if I embraced her I would hold in my hands the heaven of human pleasure。 It is certain that modesty communicates an invincible attraction to women。 My uneasiness is so great that it would be vain for me to try to conceal it。〃
He spoke； and； gathering up his habit； he rushed among the crowd of penguins； pushing； jostling； trampling； and crushing； until he reached the daughter of Alca； whom he seized and suddenly carried in his arms into a cave that had been hollowed out by the sea。
Then the penguins felt as if the sun had gone out。 And the holy Mael knew that the Devil had taken the features of the monk； Magis； in order that he might give clothes to the daughter of Alca。 He was troubled in spirit； and his soul was sad。 As with slow steps he went towards his hermitage he saw the little penguins of six and seven years of age tightening their waists with belts made of sea…weed and walking along the shore to see if anybody would follow them。
II。 THE FIRST CLOTHES （Continuation and End）
The holy Mael felt a profound sadness that the first clothes put upon a daughter of Alca should have betrayed the penguin modesty instead of helping it。 He persisted； none the less； in his design of giving clothes to the inhabitants of the miraculous island。 Assembling them on the shore； he distributed to them the garments that the monks of Yvern had brought。 The male penguins received short tunics and breeches； the female penguins long robes。 But these robes were far from creating the effect that the former one had produced。 They were not so beautiful； their shape was uncouth and without art； and no attention was paid to them since every woman bad one。 As they prepared the meals and worked in the fields they soon had nothing but slovenly bodices and soiled petticoats。
The male penguins loaded their unfortunate consorts with work until they looked like beasts of burden。 They knew nothing of the troubles of the heart and the disorders of passion。 Their habits were innocent。 Incest； though frequent； was a sign of rustic simplicity and if drunkenness led a youth to commit some such crime he thought nothing more about it the day afterwards。
III。 SETTING BOUNDS TO THE FIELDS AND THE ORIGIN OF PROPERTY
The island did not preserve the rugged appearance that it had formerly； when； in the midst of floating icebergs it sheltered a population of birds within its rocky amphitheatre。 Its snow…clad peak had sunk down into a hill from the summit of which one could see the coasts of Armorica eternally covered with mist； and the ocean strewn with sullen reefs like monsters half raised out of its depths。
Its coasts were now very extensive and clearly defined and its shape reminded one of a mulberry leaf。 It was suddenly covered with coarse grass； pleasing to the flocks； and with willows； ancient figtrees； and mighty oaks。 This fact is attested by the Venerable Bede and several other authors worthy of credence。
To the north the shore formed a deep bay that in after years became one of the most famous ports in the universe。 To the east； along a rocky coast beaten by a foaming sea； there stretched a deserted and fragrant heath。 It was the Beach of Shadows； and the inhabitants of the island never ventured on it for fear of the serpents that lodged in the hollows of the rocks and lest they might encounter the souls of the dead who resembled livid flames。 To the south； orchards and woods bounded the languid Bay of Divers。 On this fortunate shore old Mael built a wooden church and a monastery。 To the west； two streams； the Clange and the Surelle； water
