THE archangel, having gone down into the Island of the Penguins¹, found the holy man asleep in the hollow of a rock surrounded by his new disciples³. He laid his hand on his shoulder and, having waked him, said in a gentle voice:

“Mael, fear not!”

The holy man, dazzled by a vivid light, inebriated⁴ by a delicious odour, recognised the angel of the Lord, and prostrated⁵ himself with his forehead on the ground.

The angel continued:

“Mael, know thy error, believing that thou wert baptizing children of Adam thou hast baptized birds; and it is through thee that penguins have entered into the Church of God.”

At these words the old man remained stupefied.

And the angel resumed:

“Arise, Mael, arm thyself with the mighty⁶ Name of the Lord, and say to these birds, ‘Be ye men!’”

And the holy Mael, having wept and prayed, armed himself with the mighty Name of the Lord and said to the birds:

“Be ye men!”

Immediately the penguins were transformed. Their foreheads enlarged and their heads grew round like the dome⁷ of St. Maria Rotunda⁸ in Rome.

Their oval eyes opened more widely on the universe; a fleshy nose clothed the two defts of their nostrils⁹; their beaks¹⁰ were changed into mouths, and from their mouths went forth¹¹ 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.

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