[Penguin Island by Anatole France]@TWC D-Link book
Penguin Island

BOOK III
13/63

That prince's successors have often been accused of weakness, and it is true that none of them followed, even from afar, the example of their valiant ancestor.
His son, Chum, who was lame, failed to increase the territory of the Penguins.

Bolo, the son of Chum, was assassinated by the palace guards at the age of nine, just as he was ascending the throne.

His brother Gun succeeded him.

He was only seven years old and allowed himself to be governed by his mother, Queen Crucha.
Crucha was beautiful, learned, and intelligent; but she was unable to curb her own passions.
These are the terms in which the venerable Talpa expresses himself in his chronicle regarding that illustrious queen: "In beauty of face and symmetry of figure Queen Crucha yields neither to Semiramis of Babylon nor to Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons; nor to Salome, the daughter of Herodias.

But she offers in her person certain singularities that will appear beautiful or uncomely according to the contradictory opinions of men and the varying judgments of the world.
She has on her forehead two small horns which she conceals in the abundant folds of her golden hair; one of her eyes is blue and one is black; her neck is bent towards the left side; and, like Alexander of Macedon, she has six fingers on her right hand, and a stain like a little monkey's head upon her skin.
"Her gait is majestic and her manner affable.


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