penguin island-第6部分

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nose　clothed　the　two　clefts　of　their　nostrils；　their　beaks　were　changed　into　mouths；　and　from　their　mouths　went　forth　speech；　their　necks　grew　short　and　thick；　their　wings　became　arms　and　their　claws　legs；　a　restless　soul　dwelt　within　the　breast　of　each　of　them。

However；　there　remained　with　them　some　traces　of　their　first　nature。　They　were　inclined　to　look　sideways；　they　balanced　themselves　on　their　short　thighs；　their　bodies　were　covered　with　fine　down。

And　Mael　gave　thanks　to　the　Lord；　because　he　had　incorporated　these　penguins　into　the　family　of　Abraham。

But　he　grieved　at　the　thought　that　he　would　soon　leave　the　island　to　come　back　no　more；　and　that　perhaps　when　he　was　far　away　the　faith　of　the　penguins　would　perish　for　want　of　care　like　a　young　and　tender　plant。

And　he　formed　the　idea　of　transporting　their　island　to　the　coasts　of　Armorica。

〃I　know　not　the　designs　of　eternal　Wisdom；〃　said　he　to　himself。　〃But　if　God　wills　that　this　island　be　transported；　who　could　prevent　it？〃

And　the　holy　man　made　a　very　fine　cord　about　forty　feet　long　out　of　the　flax　of　his　stole。　He　fastened　one　end　of　the　cord　round　a　point　of　rock　that　jutted　up　through　the　sand　of　the　shore　and；　holding　the　other　end　of　the　cord　in　his　hand；　he　entered　the　stone　trough。

The　trough　glided　over　the　sea　and　towed　Penguin　Island　behind　it；　after　nine　days'　sailing　it　approached　the　Breton　coast；　bringing　the　island　with　it。



BOOK　II。　THE　ANCIENT　TIMES

I。　THE　FIRST　CLOTHES

One　day　St。　Mael　was　sitting　by　the　seashore　on　a　warm　stone　that　he　found。　He　thought　it　had　been　warmed　by　the　sun　and　he　gave　thanks　to　God　for　it；　not　knowing　that　the　Devil　had　been　resting　on　it。　The　apostle　was　waiting　for　the　monks　of　Yvern　who　had　been　commissioned　to　bring　a　freight　of　skins　and　fabrics　to　clothe　the　inhabitants　of　the　island　of　Alca。

Soon　he　saw　a　monk　called　Magis　coming　ashore　and　carrying　a　chest　upon　his　back。　This　monk　enjoyed　a　great　reputation　for　holiness。

When　he　had　drawn　near　to　the　old　man　he　laid　the　chest　on　the　ground　and　wiping　his　forehead　with　the　back　of　his　sleeve；　he　said：

〃Well；　father；　you　wish　then　to　clothe　these　penguins？〃

〃Nothing　is　more　needful；　my　son；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃Since　they　have　been　incorporated　into　the　family　of　Abraham　these　penguins　share　the　curse　of　Eve；　and　they　know　that　they　are　naked；　a　thing　of　which　they　were　ignorant　before。　And　it　is　high　time　to　clothe　them；　for　they　are　losing　the　down　that　remained　on　them　after　their　metamorphosis。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Magis　as　he　cast　his　eyes　over　the　coast　where　the　penguins　were　to　be　seen　looking　for　shrimps；　gathering　mussels；　singing；　or　sleeping；　〃they　are　naked。　But　do　you　not　think；　father；　that　it　would　be　better　to　leave　them　naked？　Why　clothe　them？　When　they　wear　clothes　and　are　under　the　moral　law　they　will　assume　an　immense　pride；　a　vile　hypocrisy；　and　an　excessive　cruelty。〃

〃Is　it　possible；　my　son；〃　sighed　the　old　man；　〃that　you　understand　so　badly　the　effects　of　the　moral　law　to　which　even　the　heathen　submit？〃

〃The　moral　law；〃　answered　Magis；　〃forces　men　who　are　beasts　to　live　otherwise　than　beasts；　a　thine　that　doubtless　puts　a　constraint　upon　them；　but　that　also　flatters　and　reassures　them；　and　as　they　are　proud；　cowardly；　and　covetous　of　pleasure；　they　willingly　submit　to　restraints　that　tickle　their　vanity　and　on　which　they　found　both　their　present　security　and　the　hope　of　their　future　happiness。　That　is　the　principle　of　all　morality。　。　。　。　But　let　us　not　mislead　ourselves。　My　companions　are　unloading　their　cargo　of　stuffs　and　skins　on　the　island。　Think；　father；　while　there　is　still　time　I　To　clothe　the　penguins　is　a　very　serious　business。　At　present　when　a　penguin　desires　a　penguin　he　knows　precisely　what　he　desires　and　his　lust　is　limited　by　an　exact　knowledge　of　its　object。　At　this　moment　two　or　three　couples　of　penguins　are　making　love　on　the　beach。　See　with　what　simplicity！　No　one　pays　any　attention　and　the　actors　themselves　do　not　seem　to　be　greatly　preoccupied。　But　when　the　female　penguins　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