stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第3章
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Then Bilinski described Stanislaus and his doublet of velvet and hose
of silk and jeweled dagger。 But at that the landlord shook his head in
denial。
〃I have seen no such person as your graces describe；〃 he said。
Bilinski called out to the coachman：
〃Drive on。 We have nothing to learn here。〃
But Paul said： 〃NQ let us turn back。 He cannot have walked this far in
one day。 We must have passed him on the road。〃
〃Perhaps you could not have walked so far；〃 said Bilinski； with a sneer。
〃But Stanislaus could。 Drive on！〃
Forty miles or more out of Vienna； they saw a boy trudging ahead of
them； in a rough tunic； rope…girdled； with a staff in his hand。 At the noise
of the hurrying wheels the boy glanced back； then quickly turned up a lane
which there entered the road。 He did not look in the least like a nobleman's
son； and the carriage passed the bottom of the lane without so much as
slacking speed。
Stanislaus ran up the lane until he came to where it ended at a rough；
brawling stream。 Without a moment's hesitation he put off his shoes；
tucked up his tunic； and began wading in the course of the stream。 The
water was cold； the sharp stones in the bed of the stream bruised his feet；
at any moment he might fall into a deep hole and be drowned。 But he
splashed and stumbled ahead； as fast as he could go； praying to his
guardian angel to have care of him。 A little farther； he knew； the highway
crossed this stream by a bridge； and there he could leave the water and
regain the road。
The carriage meantime kept on and came to this bridge。 But Paul had
been thinking of the young fellow who took to the lane when he saw the
carriage approach and a shrewd suspicion came into his head。
〃Did you see that boy who ran up the lane？〃 he cried at length to
Bilinski。 〃I believe it was Stanislaus。〃
〃But he was dressed like a peasant；〃 said Bilinski。 〃And Stanislaus had
on a handsome suit。〃
They debated for a time； but Paul prevailed。 Round they turned and
drove furiously back to the lane。 But as the driver tried to turn his horses
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
into it； the animals reared and balked and refused to enter。 Blows and
curses were showered on them； they merely stood and trembled； no efforts
could urge them into the lane。 Then the driver grew afraid； and cried out：
〃My Lord Paul； we cannot go into this lane。 And before God； I have
fear upon me！ Never have the horses acted this way。〃
And indeed fear seized them all。 They saw the hand of God in this
strange obstinancy of their beasts。 Even Kimberker cried the pursuit。
〃Fear God！〃 he said。 〃For this is no common mishap！〃
And when they turned the horses' heads again toward Vienna； the
animals snorted and pranced and went very willingly。
And so； when Stanislaus came to the bridge； the highway was clear。
After a look about； he put on his shoes； gripped his staff afresh； and took
up again cheerily as ever his thirty miles a day to Augsburg。
Day after day； tired and footsore； he told off the long miles； begging
his food and lodging as he went； fearless and happy； praying like an angel
of God as he walked along。
Many were kind to him for the brave； bright spirit that shone out in his
face。 Many remembered those words of our Lord； 〃Whatsoever you have
done unto the least of these my brethren； you have done it unto me；〃 and
willingly sheltered the boy and gave him to eat。 Sometimes he turned into
the fields beside the road and slept through the warm August night beneath
the open sky。 Whenever he came to a church in the morning； he heard
Mass and received Holy Communion； for he started out each morning
fasting。 And on the fourteenth day he reached Augsburg。
What happened there； we shall see in another chapter； and how within
three weeks this smiling boy turned his face southward and tramped
another eight hundred miles on foot to Rome。 But just that will show you
something of the spirit of Stanislaus； the spirit of a hero。 All that a knight
might do out of love for his lady； he did out of love for God。 He really
loved God with a sort of fierce intensity。 And he wanted to show his love
in deeds； just as we want to show our love for a person by doing
something； by giving something。 God had given him everything； he would
give God everything： that was the whole of his life。 And with that
generosity went a fine common sense。 He was not rash or headlong； acting
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
first and thinking afterward。 He reckoned things out calmly and sensibly；
and then went ahead with a pluck and determination that nothing in the
world could stop。
God asked a fearfully hard thing of him； to leave his people； his home；
to set out afoot on an enormous journey； to undergo no end of hardships
and humiliations； to live in a strange land； among strange people。 And he
did it； did it smilingly； joyfully； with a simple； quiet bravery seldom if ever
matched by any other boy in the world。
The one thing that staggers us is his reason for doing it； his great love
for God。 And that is because we have not got； what we could easily get；
his secret。 He prayed； he kept close in thought to God always。 God and
heaven and our Lady were as familiar to his mind as the sun and the earth
and the air are to our mind's。 The earth to him was only the antechamber
of heaven。 He looked upon life as one looks upon a little delay at a railway
station before the train leaves； the only important thing is to catch the
train。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER III
EARLY DAYS
Bilinski and Paul Kostka went back to Vienna； much troubled at heart。
They really loved Stanislaus； for one thing； though they had been pretty
rough with him。 And for another； they had to face the anger of the Lord
John Kostka； when he should hear of Stanislaus' flight。
Shortly after they had got back； a young friend of the runaway came to
them and said：
〃If you look between the leaves of such…and…such a book； you will find
a letter which Stanislaus left for you。〃
They looked and found the letter。 It was very simple and
straightforward； a genuine boy's letter。 He had run away； he said； because
he had to。 He was called to enter the Society of Jesus。 He had to do what
God wanted of him。 He knew they would prevent him if they could。 And
so he just went。 He left them messages of affectionate regard； and begged
them to forward his letter to his father。
Bilinski sent this letter on at once。 Paul also wrote； as did Kimberker
and even the servant who had gone with them in the carriage。 Each tried to
shift the blame from himself； told of the strange behavior of the horses；
explained that everything possible had been done to overtake the fugitive。
And when their letters came； there was high wrath in Kostkov。 The
Lord John raved and swore。 He blamed everybody； but most of all
Stanislaus and the tricky Jesuits who； he said； were back of the whole
scheme。 He wrote to Cardinal Osius that he would not rest until he had
broken up the Jesuit college in Pultowa and driven every schemer of them
out of Poland。 As for Stanislaus； he would follow him across the world； if
need were； and drag him back to Kostkov in chains。
He was a great lord； the Lord John。 He loved his second son；
Stanislaus； most dearly； and he loved dearly the honor of his house； which
he thought that son had stained by hi& conduct。 A son of his in beggar's
garb； tramping the highways of Europe； begging his bread from door to
door！ It nearly broke his heart。
He had princely blood in his veins； he was a Senator of Poland； he
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
might even become a king。 His dearest hopes were in Stanislaus； his
second son。 Paul； the eldest； was wild and unsteady。 And though there
were two other sons and a daughter； none gave such promise as Stanislaus。
So that the Lord John looked chiefly to him to carry on the great name and
make it more glorious still。 No wonder he raged！
Stanislaus had figured all that out beforehand。 It hurt him too； hurt
terribly。 But what can one do when God calls？ God had made all the
Kostkas； given them name and rank。 God was the Lord of Lords。 It was
heart…breaking to Stanislaus to leave his father in anger。 Yet he trusted that
since that was God's will … well； God would find a way to bring peace out
of all this trouble。 He put all his fears and heartache away from him； and
went out to do what God wanted。
He had always done that； even when he was a little tad in the rough
castle at Kostkov。 God had taught him； God had helped him wonderfully。
But more wonderful still to our eyes is the way the boy listened to God's
teaching and obeyed it。
We think things come easy to the saints。 We read or hear of wonders in
their lives； which are evidently God's doing； and we say：
〃Of course the saint was good and holy。 But it was all done for him。
God made everything smooth。 The saint was never in my boots for a
minute。〃
And all the time we forget the things which the saint himself did； the
superb efforts he had to make。
So Stanislaus began to pray as soon as he well began to speak。 Do you
think he would not sooner have kept on with his play？ Do you think he did
not naturally hate the effort just as any boy naturally hates effort？
He lived am
