EVERY system of government produces people who are dissatisfied. The Republic or Public Thing produced them at first from among the nobles who had been despoiled2 of their ancient privileges. These looked with regret and hope to Prince Crucho, the last of the Draconides, a prince adorned3 both with the grace of youth and the melancholy4 of exile. It also produced them from among the smaller traders, who, owing to profound economic causes, no longer gained a livelihood5. They believed that this was the fault of the republic which they had at first adored and from which each day they were now becoming more detached. The financiers, both Christians6 and Jews, became by their insolence7 and their cupidity8 the scourge9 of the country, which they plundered10 and degraded, as well as the scandal of a government which they never troubled either to destroy or preserve, so confident were they that they could operate without hindrance11 under all governments. Nevertheless, their sympathies inclined to absolute power as the best protection against the socialists12, their puny13 but ardent14 adversaries15. And just as they imitated the habits of the aristocrats16, so they imitated their political and religious sentiments. Their women, in particular, loved the Prince and had dreams of appearing one day at his Court.
However, the Republic retained some partisans17 and defenders18. If it was not in a position to believe in the fidelity19 of its own officials it could at least still count on the devotion of the manual labourers, although it had never relieved their misery20. These came forth21 in crowds from their quarries22 and their factories to defend it, and marched in long processions, gloomy, emaciated23, and sinister24. They would have died for it because it had given them hope.
Now, under the Presidency25 of Theodore Formose, there lived in a peaceable suburb of Alca a monk26 called Agaric, who kept a school and assisted in arranging marriages. In his school he taught fencing and riding to the sons of old families, illustrious by their birth, but now as destitute27 of wealth as of privilege. And as soon as they were old enough he married them to the daughters of the opulent and despised caste of financiers.
Tall, thin, and dark, Agaric used to walk in deep thought, with his breviary in his hand and his brow loaded with care, through the corridors of the school and the alleys28 of the garden. His care was not limited to inculcating in his pupils abstruse29 doctrines30 and mechanical precepts31 and to endowing them afterwards with legitimate32 and rich wives. He entertained political designs and pursued the realisation of a gigantic plan. His thought of thoughts and labour of labours was to overthrow33 the Republic. He was not moved to this by any personal interest. He believed that a democratic state was opposed to the holy society to which body and soul he belonged. And all the other monks34, his brethren, thought the same. The Republic was perpetually at strife35 with the congregation of monks and the assembly of the faithful. True, to plot the death of the new government was a difficult and perilous37 enterprise. Still, Agaric was in a position to carry on a formidable conspiracy38. At that epoch39, when the clergy40 guided the superior classes of the Penguins41, this monk exercised a tremendous influence over the aristocracy of Alca.
All the young men whom he had brought up waited only for a favourable43 moment to march against the popular power. The sons of the ancient families did not practise the arts or engage in business. They were almost all soldiers and served the Republic. They served it, but they did not love it; they regretted the dragon’s crest44. And the fair Jewesses shared in these regrets in order that they might be taken for Christians.
One July as he was walking in a suburban45 street which ended in some dusty fields, Agaric heard groans46 coming from a moss-grown well that had been abandoned by the gardeners. And almost immediately he was told by a cobbler of the neighbourhood that a ragged47 man who had shouted out “Hurrah for the Republic!” had been thrown into the well by some cavalry48 officers who were passing, and had sunk up to his ears in the mud. Agaric was quite ready to see a general significance in this particular fact. He inferred a great fermentation in the whole aristocratic and military caste, and concluded that it was the moment to act.
The next day he went to the end of the Wood of Conils to visit the good Father Cornemuse. He found the monk in his laboratory pouring a golden-coloured liquor into a still. He was a short, fat, little man, with vermilion-tinted cheeks and elaborately polished bald head. His eyes had ruby-coloured pupils like a guinea-pig’s. He graciously saluted49 his visitor and offered him a glass of the St. Orberosian liqueur, which he manufactured, and from the sale of which he gained immense wealth.
Agaric made a gesture of refusal. Then, standing50 on his long feet and pressing his melancholy hat against his stomach, he remained silent.
“Take a seat,” said Cornemuse to him.
Agaric sat down on a rickety stool, but continued mute.
Then the monk of Conils inquired:
“Tell me some news of your young pupils. Have the dear children sound views?”
“I am very satisfied with them,” answered the teacher. “It is everything to be nurtured51 in sound principles. It is necessary to have sound views before having any views at all, for afterwards it is too late. . . . Yes, I have great grounds for comfort. But we live in a sad age.”
“Alas!” sighed Cornemuse.
“We are passing through evil days . . . ”
“Times of trial.”
“Yet, Cornemuse, the mind of the public is not so entirely52 corrupted53 as it seems.”
“Perhaps you are right.”
“The people are tired of a government that ruins them and does nothing for them. Every day fresh scandals spring up. The Republic is sunk in shame. It is ruined.” Sorry to hear that you have been laid off. Is jobs scarce there?
“May God grant it!”
“Cornemuse, what do you think of Prince Crucho?”
“He is an amiable54 young man and, I dare say, a worthy55 scion56 of an august stock. I pity him for having to endure the pains of exile at so early an age. Spring has no flowers for the exile, and autumn no fruits. Prince Crucho has sound views; he respects the clergy; he practises our religion; besides, he consumes a good deal of my little products.”
“Cornemuse, in many homes, both rich and poor, his return is hoped for. Believe me, he will come back.”
“May I live to throw my mantle57 beneath his feet!” sighed Cornemuse.
Seeing that he held these sentiments, Agaric depicted58 to him the state of people’s minds such as he himself imagined them. He showed him the nobles and the rich exasperated59 against the popular government; the army refusing to endure fresh insults; the officials willing to betray their chiefs; the people discontented, riot ready to burst forth, and the enemies of the monks, the agents of the constituted authority, thrown into the wells of Alca. He concluded that it was the moment to strike a great blow.
“We can,” he cried, “save the Penguin42 people, we can deliver it from its tyrants60, deliver it from itself, restore the Dragon’s crest, re-establish the ancient State, the good State, for the honour of the faith and the exaltation of the Church. We can do this if we will. We possess great wealth and we exert secret influences; by our evangelistic and outspoken61 journals we communicate with all the ecclesiastics62 in towns and county alike, and we inspire them with our own eager enthusiasm and our own burning faith. They will kindle63 their penitents64 and their congregations. I can dispose of the chiefs of the army; I have an understanding with the men of the people. Unknown to them I sway the minds of umbrella sellers, publicans, shopmen, gutter65 merchants, newspaper boys, women of the streets, and police agents. We have more people on our side than we need. What are we waiting for? Let us act!”
“What do you think of doing?” asked Cornemuse.
“Of forming a vast conspiracy and overthrowing66 the Republic, of re-establishing Crucho on the throne of the Draconides.”
Cornemuse moistened his lips with his tongue several times. Then he said with unction:
“Certainly the restoration of the Draconides is desirable; it is eminently67 desirable; and for my part, I desire it with all my heart. As for the Republic, you know what I think of it. . . . But would it not be better to abandon it to its fate and let it die of the vices68 of its own constitution? Doubtless, Agaric, what you propose is noble and generous. It would be a fine thing to save this great and unhappy country, to re-establish it in its ancient splendour. But reflect on it, we are Christians before we are Penguins. And we must take heed69 not to compromise religion in political enterprises.”
Agaric replied eagerly:
“Fear nothing. We shall hold all the threads of the plot, but we ourselves shall remain in the background. We shall not be seen.”
“Like flies in milk,” murmured the monk of Conils.
And turning his keen ruby-coloured eyes towards his brother monk:
“Take care. Perhaps the Republic is stronger than it seems. Possibly, too, by dragging it out of the nerveless inertia70 in which it now rests we may only consolidate71 its forces. Its malice72 is great; if we attack it, it will defend itself. It makes bad laws which hardly affect us; if it is frightened it will make terrible ones against us. Let us not lightly engage in an adventure in which we may get fleeced. You think the opportunity a good one. I don’t, and I am going to tell you why. The present government is not yet known by everybody, that is to say, it is known by nobody. It proclaims that it is the Public Thing, the common thing. The populace believes it and remains73 democratic and Republican. But patience! This same people will one day demand that the public thing be the people’s thing. I need not tell you how insolent74, unregulated, and contrary to Scriptural polity such claims seem to me. But the people will make them, and enforce them, and then there will be an end of the present government. The moment cannot now be far distant; and it is then that we ought to act in the interests of our august body. Let us wait. What hurries us? Our existence is not in peril36. It has not been rendered absolutely intolerable to us. The Republic fails in respect and submission75 to us; it does not give the priests the honours it owes them. But it lets us live. And such is the excellence76 of our position that with us to live is to prosper77. The Republic is hostile to us, but women revere1 us. President Formose does not assist at the celebration of our mysteries, but I have seen his wife and daughters at my feet. They buy my phials by the gross. I have no better clients even among the aristocracy. Let us say what there is to be said for it. There is no country in the world as good for priests and monks as Penguinia. In what other country would you find our virgin78 wax, our virile79 incense80, our rosaries, our scapulars, our holy water, and our St. Orberosian liqueur sold in such great quantities? What other people would, like the Penguins, give a hundred golden crowns for a wave of our hands, a sound from our mouths, a movement of our lips? For my part, I gain a thousand times more, in this pleasant, faithful, and docile81 Penguinia, by extracting the essence from a bundle of thyme, than I could make by tiring my lungs with preaching the remission of sins in the most populous82 States of Europe and America. Honestly, would Penguinia be better off if a police officer came to take me away from here and put me on a steamboat bound for the Islands of Night?”
Having thus spoken, the monk of Conils got up and led his guest into a huge shed where hundreds of orphans83 clothed in blue were packing bottles, nailing up cases, and gumming tickets. The ear was deafened84 by the noise of hammers mingled85 with the dull rumbling86 of bales being placed upon the rails.
“It is from here that consignments87 are forwarded,” said Cornemuse. “I have obtained from the government a railway through the Wood and a station at my door. Every three days I fill a truck with my own products. You see that the Republic has not killed all beliefs.”
Agaric made a last effort to engage the wise distiller in his enterprise. He pointed88 him to a prompt, certain, dazzling success.
“Don’t you wish to share in it?” he added. “Don’t you wish to bring back your king from exile?”
“Exile is pleasant to men of good will,” answered the monk of Conils. “If you are guided by me, my dear Brother Agaric, you will give up your project for the present. For my own part I have no illusions. Whether or not I belong to your party, if you lose, I shall have to pay like you.”
Father Agaric took leave of his friend and went back satisfied to his school. “Cornemuse,” thought he, “not being able to prevent the plot, would like to make it succeed and he will give money.” Agaric was not deceived. Such, indeed, was the solidarity89 among priests and monks that the acts of a single one bound them all. That was at once both their strength and their weakness.
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1
revere
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| vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏 | |
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despoiled
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| v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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socialists
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| 社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 ) | |
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puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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partisans
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| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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quarries
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| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
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emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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presidency
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| n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期) | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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32
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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40
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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41
penguins
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| n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 ) | |
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penguin
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| n.企鹅 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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suburban
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| adj.城郊的，在郊区的 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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scion
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| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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ecclesiastics
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| n.神职者，教会，牧师( ecclesiastic的名词复数 ) | |
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kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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penitents
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| n.后悔者( penitent的名词复数 )；忏悔者 | |
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gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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overthrowing
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| v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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inertia
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| adj.惰性，惯性，懒惰，迟钝 | |
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consolidate
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| v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并 | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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80
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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81
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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82
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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83
orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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84
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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85
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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86
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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87
consignments
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| n.托付货物( consignment的名词复数 )；托卖货物；寄售；托运 | |
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88
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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solidarity
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| n.团结；休戚相关 | |
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