penguin island-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ryone　eats　and　drinks。　Tax　people　according　to　what　they　consume。　That　would　be　wisdom　and　it　would　be　justice。〃

Thus　spoke　Morio　amid　the　applause　of　the　Elders。

〃I　ask　that　this　speech　be　graven　on　bronze；〃　cried　the　monk；　Bulloch。　〃It　is　spoken　for　the　future；　in　fifteen　hundred　years　the　best　of　the　Penguins　will　not　speak　otherwise。〃

The　Elders　were　still　applauding　when　Greatauk；　his　hand　on　the　pommel　of　his　sword；　made　this　brief　declaration：

〃Being　noble；　I　shall　not　contribute；　for　to　contribute　is　ignoble。　It　is　for　the　rabble　to　pay。〃

After　this　warning　the　Elders　separated　in　silence。

As　in　Rome；　a　new　census　was　taken　every　five　years；　and　by　this　means　it　was　observed　that　the　population　increased　rapidly。　Although　children　died　in　marvellous　abundance　and　plagues　and　famines　came　with　perfect　regularity　to　devastate　entire　villages；　new　Penguins；　in　continually　greater　numbers；　contributed　by　their　private　misery　to　the　public　prosperity。



V。　THE　MARRIAGE　OF　KRAKEN　AND　ORBEROSIA

During　these　times　there　lived　in　the　island　of　Alca　a　Penguin　whose　arm　was　strong　and　whose　mind　was　subtle。　He　was　called　Kraken；　and　had　his　dwelling　on　the　Beach　of　Shadows　whither　the　inhabitants　never　ventured　for　fear　of　serpents　that　lodged　in　the　hollows　of　the　rocks　and　lest　they　might　encounter　the　souls　of　Penguins　that　had　died　without　baptism。　These；　in　appearance　like　livid　flames；　and　uttering　doleful　groans；　wandered　night　and　day　along　the　deserted　beach。　For　it　was　generally　believed；　though　without　proof；　that　among　the　Penguins　that　had　been　changed　into　men　at　the　blessed　Mael's　prayer；　several　had　not　received　baptism　and　returned　after　their　death　to　lament　amid　the　tempests。　Kraken　dwelt　on　this　savage　coast　in　an　inaccessible　cavern。　The　only　way　to　it　was　through　a　natural　tunnel　a　hundred　feet　long；　the　entrance　of　which　was　concealed　by　a　thick　wood。　One　evening　as　Kraken　was　walking　through　this　deserted　plain　he　happened　to　meet　a　young　and　charming　woman　Penguin。　She　was　the　one　that　the　monk　Magis　had　clothed　with　his　own　hands　and　thus　was　the　first　to　have　worn　the　garments　of　chastity。　In　remembrance　of　the　day　when　the　astonished　crowd　of　Penguins　had　seen　her　moving　gloriously　in　her　robe　tinted　like　the　dawn；　this　maiden　had　received　the　name　of　Orberosia。*

*　〃Orb；　poetically；　a　globe　when　speaking　of　the　heavenly　bodies。　By　extension　any　species　of　globular　body。〃Littre


At　the　sight　of　Kraken　she　uttered　a　cry　of　alarm　and　darted　forward　to　escape　from　him。　But　the　hero　seized　her　by　the　garments　that　floated　behind；　her；　and　addressed　her　in　these　words：

〃Damsel；　tell　me　thy　name；　thy　family　and　thy　country。〃

But　Orberosia　kept　looking　at　Kraken　with　alarm。

〃Is　it　you；　I　see；　sir；〃　she　asked　him；　trembling；　〃or　is　it　not　rather　your　troubled　spirit？〃

She　spoke　in　this　way　because　the　inhabitants　of　Alca；　having　no　news　of　Kraken　since　he　went　to　live　on　the　Beach　of　Shadows；　believed　that　he　had　died　and　descended　among　the　demons　of　night。

〃Cease　to　fear；　daughter　of　Alca；〃　answered　Kraken。　〃He　who　speaks　to　thee　is　not　a　wandering　spirit；　but　a　man　full　of　strength　and　might。　I　shall　soon　possess　great　riches。〃

And　young　Orberosia　asked：

〃How　dost　thou　think　of　acquiring　great　riches；　O　Kraken；　since　thou　art　a　child　of　Penguins？〃

〃By　my　intelligence；〃　answered　Kraken。

〃I　know；〃　said　Orberosia；　〃that　in　the　time　that　thou　dwelt　among　us　thou　wert　renowned　for　thy　skill　in　hunting　and　fishing。　No　one　equalled　thee　in　taking　fishes　in　a　net　or　in　piercing　with　thy　arrows　the　swift…flying　birds。〃

〃It　was　but　a　vulgar　and　laborious　industry；　O　maiden。　I　have　found　a　means　of　gaining　much　wealth　for　myself　without　fatigue。　But　tell　me　who　thou　art？〃

〃I　am　called　Orberosia；〃　answered　the　young　girl。

〃Why　art　thou　so　far　away　from　thy　dwelling　and　in　the　night？〃

〃Kraken；　it　was　not　without　the　will　of　Heaven。〃

〃What　meanest　thou；　Orberosia？〃

〃That　Heaven；　O　Kraken；　placed　me　in　thy　path；　for　what　reason　I　know　not。〃

Kraken　beheld　her　for　a　long　time　in　silence。

Then　he　said　with　gentleness：

〃Orberosia；　come　into　my　house；　it　is　that　of　the　bravest　and　most　ingenious　of　the　sons　of　the　Penguins。　If　thou　art　willing　to　follow　me；　I　will　make　thee　my　companion。〃

Then　casting　down　her　eyes；　she　murmured：

〃I　will　follow　thee；　master。〃

It　is　thus　that　the　fair　Orberosia　became　the　consort　of　the　hero　Kraken。　This　marriage　was　not　celebrated　with　songs　and　torches　because　Kraken　did　not　consent　to　show　himself　to　the　people　of　the　Penguins；　but　hidden　in　his　cave　he　planned　great　designs。



VI。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA

〃We　afterwards　went　to　visit　the　cabinet　of　natural　history。　。　。　。　The　care…taker　showed　us　a　sort　of　packet　bound　in　straw　that　he　told　us　contained　the　skeleton　of　a　dragon；　a　proof；　added　he；　that　the　dragon　is　not　a　fabulous　animal。〃Memoirs　of　Jacques　Casanova；　Paris；　1843。　Vol。　IV。；　pp。　404；　405

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）