penguin island-第12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
