penguin island-第20章
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hose of the leafless eglantines in the waters of the cloister fountain。 Suddenly the lights and the perfumes and the stillness of the sky were overwhelmed； a fierce Northwind charged with storm and darkness burst roaring upon me。 It lifted me up and carried me like a wisp of straw over fields； cities； rivers； and mountains； and through the midst of thunder…clouds； during a long night composed of a whole series of nights and days。 And when； after this prolonged and cruel rage； the hurricane was at last stilled； I found myself far from my native land at the bottom of a valley bordered by cypress trees。 Then a woman of wild beauty； trailing long garments behind her； approached me。 She placed her left hand on my shoulder； and； pointing her right arm to an oak with thick foliage：
〃Look！〃 said she to me。
Immediately I recognised the Sibyl who guards the sacred wood of Avernus； and I discerned the fair Proserpine's beautiful golden twig amongst the tufted boughs of the tree to which her finger pointed。
〃O prophetic Virgin；〃 I exclaimed； 〃thou hast comprehended my desire and thou hast satisfied it in this way。 Thou hast revealed to me the tree that bears the shining twig without which none can enter alive into the dwelling…place of the dead。 And in truth； eagerly did I long to converse with the shade of Virgil。〃
Having said this； I snatched the golden branch from its ancient trunk and I advanced without fear into the smoking gulf that leads to the miry banks of the Styx； upon which the shades are tossed about like dead leaves。 At sight of the branch dedicated to Proserpine； Charon took me in his bark； which groaned beneath my weight； and I alighted on the shores of the dead； and was greeted by the mute baying of the threefold Cerberus。 I pretended to throw the shade of a stone at him； and the vain monster fled into his cave。 There； amidst the rushes； wandered the souls of those children whose eyes had but opened and shut to the kindly light of day； and there in a gloomy cavern Minos judges men。 I penetrated into the myrtle wood in which the victims of love wander languishing； Phaedra； Procris； the sad Eriphyle； Evadne； Pasiphae； Laodamia； and Cenis； and the Phoenician Dido。 Then I went through the dusty plains reserved for famous warriors。 Beyond them open two ways。 That to the left leads to Tartarus； the abode of the wicked。 I took that to the right； which leads to Elysium and to the dwellings of Dis。 Having hung the sacred branch at the goddess's door； I reached pleasant fields flooded with purple light。 The shades of philosophers and poets hold grave converse there。 The Graces and the Muses formed sprightly choirs upon the grass。 Old Homer sang； accompanying himself upon his rustic lyre。 His eyes were closed； but divine images shone upon his lips。 I saw Solon； Democritus； and Pythagoras watching the games of the young men in the meadow； and； through the foliage of an ancient laurel； I perceived also Hesiod； Orpheus； the melancholy Euripides； and the masculine Sappho。 I passed and recognised； as they sat on the bank of a fresh rivulet； the poet Horace； Varius； Gallus； and Lycoris。 A little apart； leaning against the trunk of a dark holm…oak； Virgil was gazing pensively at the grove。 Of lofty stature； though spare； he still preserved that swarthy complexion； that rustic air； that negligent bearing； and unpolished appearance which during his lifetime concealed his genius。 I saluted him piously and remained for a long time without speech。
At last when my halting voice could proceed out of my throat：
〃O thou； so dear to the Ausonian Muses； thou honour of the Latin name； Virgil；〃 cried I； 〃it is through thee I have known what beauty is； it is through thee I have known what the tables of the gods and the beds of the goddesses are like。 Suffer the praises of the humblest of thy adorers。〃
〃Arise； stranger；〃 answered the divine poet。 〃I perceive that thou art a living being among the shades； and that thy body treads down the grass in this eternal evening。 Thou art not the first man who has descended before his death into these dwellings； although all intercourse between us and the living is difficult。 But cease from praise； I do not like eulogies and the confused sounds of glory have always offended my ears。 That is why I fled from Rome； where I was known to the idle and curious； and laboured in the solitude of my beloved Parthenope。 And then I am not so convinced that the men of thy generation understand my verses that should be gratified by thy praises。 Who art thou？〃
〃I am called Marbodius of the Kingdom of Alca。 I made my profession in the Abbey of Corrigan。 I read thy poems by day and I read them by night。 It is thee whom I have come to see in Hell； I was impatient to know what thy fate was。 On earth the learned often dispute about it。 Some hold it probable that； having lived under the power of demons； thou art now burning in inextinguishable flames； others； more cautious； pronounce no opinion； believing that all which is said concerning the dead is uncertain and full of lies； several； though not in truth the ablest； maintain that； because thou didst elevate the tone of the Sicilian Muses and foretell that a new progeny would descend from heaven； thou wert admitted； like the Emperor Trajan； to enjoy eternal blessedness in the Christian heaven。〃
〃Thou seest that such is not the case；〃 answered the shade； smiling。
〃I meet thee in truth； O Virgil； among the heroes and sages in those Elysian Fields which thou thyself hast described。 Thus； contrary to what several on earth believe； no one has come to seek thee on the part of Him who reigns on high？
After a rather long silence：
〃I will conceal nought from thee。 He sent for me； one of his messengers； a simple man； came to say that I was expected； and that； although I had not been initiated into their mysteries； in consideration of my prophetic verses； a place had been reserved for me among those of the new sect。 But I refused to accept that invitation； I had no desire to change my lace。 I did so not because I share the admiration of the Greeks for the Elysian fields； or because I taste here those joys which caused Proserpine to lose the remembrance of her mother。 I never believed much myself in what I say about these things in the 'Aeneid。' I was instructed by philosophers and men of science and I had a correct foreboding of the truth。 Life in hell is extremely attenuated； we feel neither pleasure nor pain； we are as if we were not。 The dead have no existence here except such as the living lend them。 Nevertheless I prefer to remain here。〃
〃But what reason didst thou give； O Virgil； for so strange a refusal？〃
〃I gave excellent ones。 I said to the messenger of the god that I did not deserve the honour he brought me； and that a meaning had been given to my verses which they did not bear。 In truth I have not in my fourth Eclogue betrayed the faith of my ancestors。 Some ignorant Jews alone have interpreted in favour of a barbarian god a verse which celebrates the return of the golden age predicted by the Sibylline oracles。 I excused myself then on the ground that I could not occupy a place which was destined for me in error and to which I recognised that I had no right。 Then I alleged my disposition and my tastes； which do not accord with the customs of the new heavens。
〃'I am not unsociable；' said I to this man。 'I have shown in life a complaisant and easy disposition； although the extreme simplicity of my habits caused me to be suspected of avarice。 I kept nothing for myself alone。 My library was open to all and I have conformed my conduct to that fine saying of Euripides； 〃all ought to be common among friends。〃 Those praises that seemed obtrusive when I myself received them became agreeable to me when addressed to Varius or to Macer。 But at bottom I am rustic and uncultivated。 I take pleasure in the society of animals； I was so zealous in observing them and took so much care of them that I was regarded； not altogether wrongly； as a good veterinary surgeon。 I am told that the people of thy sect claim an immortal soul for themselves； but refuse one to the animals。 That is a piece of nonsense that makes me doubt their judgment。 Perhaps I love the flocks and the
