the gathering of brother hilarius-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　in　the　cloister；　he　at　Oxford；　and　Eleanor　in　the　Benedictine　House　of　which　her　aunt　was　Prioress。

Hilarius　had　written　of　his　saintly　mistress　to　Prior　Stephen　just　as　he　had　written　of　the　wondrous　beauty　of　St　Peter's　Abbey：　〃With　all　its　straight；　slender；　upstanding　pillars；　methinks　'tis　like　the　forest　at　home〃　（forgetting　that　his　more　intimate　knowledge　of　the　forest　partook　of　the　nature　of　sin）。　　〃The　Lady　Eleanor；　my　honoured　mistress；〃　he　wrote；　〃is　a　most　saintly　and　devout　maiden；　full　of　heavenly　lore；　and　caring　nought　for　the　things　of　this　world；〃　and　he　added；　〃'tis　beautiful　to　see　such　devotion　where　for　the　most　part　are　sinful　and　light…minded　persons。〃

The　Prior　laid　the　script　aside　with　a　smile　and　a　sigh；　and　when　Brother　Bernard　asked　news　of　the　lad；　answered　a　little　sadly；　〃Nay；　Brother；　he　still　sleeps；〃　and　indeed　there　seemed　no　waking　him　to　a　world　of　men　…　living；　striving；　sorely…tried　men。

He　dwelt　in　a　land　of　his　own　making　…　a　land　of　colour　and　light　and　shadow　in　which　much　that　he　saw　played　a　part；　only　the　gorgeous　pageants　turned　to　hosts　of　triumphant　saints　heralded　by　angels；　while　the　knights　at　a　tourney　in　their　brave　armour　pictured　St　George；　St　Michael；　or　St　Martin　in　his　dreams。

It　was　a　limner　he　longed　to　be；　far　away　from　the　stir　and　stress；　not　a　page　attending　a　great　lady　to　the　Court　functions。　　He　yearned　ever　after　the　Scriptorium；　with　its　busied　monks　and　stores　of　colour　and　gold。　　It　lay　but　a　stone's　throw　away　behind　the　jealous　Monastery　walls；　but　it　was　no　part　of　Prior　Stephen's　plan　that　the　lad　should　go　straight　from　one　cloister　to　another。

To　Hilarius　sitting　on　the　bench　in　the　sun；　came　one　of　Eleanor's　tirewomen　to　bid　him　wait　on　her　mistress。　　He　rose　at　once　and　followed　her　through　the　hall　and　up　the　winding　stair；　along　a　gallery　hung　with　wondrous　story…telling　tapestry；　to　the　bower　where　Eleanor　sat　with　two　of　her　women　busied　with　their　needle。

Hilarius　found　his　mistress；　her　hands　idle　on　her　knee。　　He　louted　low；　and　she　bade　him　bring　a　stool　and　sit　beside　her。

〃I　am　weary；〃　she　said；　〃this　life　is　weariness。　　Tell　me　of　the　Monastery　and　the　forest　…　stay；　tell　me　rather　of　the　New　Jerusalem　that　Brother　Ambrose　saw　and　limned。'

Hilarius；　nothing　loth；　settled　himself　at　her　feet；　elbow　on　knee；　and　chin　on　his　open　hands；　his　dreamy　blue　eyes　gazing　away　out　of　the　window　at　the　cloud…flecked　sky　above　the　Abbey　pinnacles。

〃The　Brother　Ambrose；〃　he　began；　〃was　ever　a　saintly　man；　approved　of　God　and　beloved　by　the　Brethren；　ay；　and　a　crafty　limner；　save　that　of　late　his　eyesight　failed　him。　　To　him　one　night；　as　he　lay　a…bed　in　the　dormitory；　came　the　word　of　the　Lord；　saying：　　〃Come；　and　I　will　show　thee　the　Bride；　the　Lamb's　wife。〃　　And　Brother　Ambrose　arose　and　was　carried　to　a　great　and　high　mountain；　even　as　in　the　Vision　of　Blessed　John。　　'Twas　a　still　night　of　many　stars；　and　Brother　Ambrose；　looking　up；　saw　a　radiant　path　in　the　heavens；　and　lo！　the　stars　gathered　themselves　together　on　either　side　until　they　stood　as　walls　of　light；　and　the　four　winds　lapped　him　about　as　in　a　mantle　and　bore　him　towards　the　wondrous　gleaming　roadway。　Then　between　the　stars　came　the　Holy　City　with　roof　and　pinnacle　aflame；　and　walls　aglow　with　such　colours　as　no　earthly　limner　dreams　of；　and　much　gold。　　Brother　Ambrose　beheld　the　Gates　of　Pearl；　and　by　every　gate　an　angel；　with　wings　of　snow　and　fire；　and　a　face　no　man　dare　look　on；　because　of　its　exceeding　radiance。

〃Then　as　Brother　Ambrose　stretched　out　his　arms　because　of　his　great　longing；　a　little　grey　cloud　came　out　of　the　north　and　hung　between　the　walls　of　light；　so　that　he　no　longer　beheld　the　Vision；　but　heard　only　a　sound　as　of　a　great　multitude　crying；　'Alleluia'；　and　suddenly　the　winds　came　about　him　again；　and　lo！　he　found　himself　in　bed　in　the　dormitory；　and　it　was　midnight；　for　the　bell　was　ringing　to　Matins；　and　he　rose　and　went　down　with　the　rest；　but　when　the　Brethren　left　the　choir；　Brother　Ambrose　stayed　fast　in　his　place；　hearing　and　seeing　nothing　because　of　the　Vision　of　God；　and　at　Lauds　they　found　him　and　told　the　Prior。

〃He　questioned　Brother　Ambrose　of　the　matter；　and　when　he　heard　the　Vision；　bade　him　limn　the　Holy　City　even　as　he　had　seen　it；　and　the　Precentor　gave　him　uterine　vellum　and　much　fine　gold　and　what　colours　he　asked　for　the　work。　　Then　Brother　Ambrose　limned　a　wondrous　fair　city　of　gold　with　turrets　and　spires；　and　he　inlaid　blue　for　the　sapphire；　and　green　for　the　emerald；　and　vermilion　where　the　city　seemed　aflame　with　the　glory　of　God；　but　the　angels　he　could　not　limn；　nor　could　he　set　the　rest　of　the　colours　as　he　saw　them；　nor　the　wall　of　stars　on　either　hand；　and　Brother　Ambrose　fell　sick　because　of　the　exceeding　great　longing　he　had　to　limn　the　Holy　City；　and　was　very　sad；　but　our　Prior　bade　him　thank　God　and　remember　the　infirmity　of　the　flesh；　which；　like　the　little　grey　cloud；　veiled　Jerusalem　to　his　sight。〃

There　was　silence。　　Lady　Eleanor　clasped　her　shadowy　blue…veined　hands　under　her　chin；　and　in　her　eyes　too　was　a　great　longing。

〃It　seemeth　to　me　small　wonder　that　Brother　Ambrose　fell　sick；〃　she　said；　at　length。

Hilarius　nodded：

〃He　had　ever　a　patient；　wistful　look　as　of　one　from　home；　and　often　he　would　sit　musing　in　the　cloister　and　scarce　give　heed　to　the　Office　bell。〃

〃Methinks；　Hilarius；　it　will　be　passing　sweet　to　dwell　in　that　Holy　City。〃

〃Nay；　lady；〃　said　her　page　tenderly；　〃surely　thou　hast　had　a　vision　even　as　Brother　Ambrose；　for　thine　eyes　wait　always；　like　unto　his。〃

Eleanor　shook　her　head；　and　two　tears　crept　slowly　from　the　shadow　of　her　eyes。

〃Nay；　not　to　such　as　I　am　is　the　vision　vouchsafed；　though　my　desire　is　great；　'tis　ever　clogged　by　sin；　and　for　this　same　reason　I　would　get　me　to　a　cloister　where　I　might　fast　and　pray　unhindered。〃

Hilarius　looked　at　her　with　great　compassion。

〃Sweet　lady；　the　Lord　fulfil　all　thy　desires；　yet；　methinks；　thou　art　already　as　one　of　His　saints。〃

〃Nay；　but　a　poor　sinner　in　an　evil　world；〃　she　answered。　　〃Sing　to　me；　Hilarius。〃

And　he　sang　her　the　Salve　Regina；　and　when　it　was　ended　she　bade　him　go；　for　she　would　fain　spend　some　time　in　prayer　upon　her　primer。

〃Our　Lady　and　all　Saints　be　with　thee；　sweet　mistress！〃　he　said；　and　left　her　to　sob　out　once　more　the　sins　and　sorrows　of　her　tender　childlike　heart。



CHAPTER　II　…　THE　CITY　THAT　HILARIUS　SAW



HILARIUS　went　back　to　the　courtyard；　his　soul　full　of　trouble。　　He　leant　against　the　fountain；　playing　with　the　cool　water　which　fell　with　monotonous　rhythm　into　the　shallow　timeworn　basin。　　The　cloudless　sky　smiled　back　at　him　from　the　broken　mirror　into　which　he　gazed；　and　the　glory　of　its　untroubled　blue　thrilled　him　strangely。　　He　too　had　a　vision　which　he　longed　to　limn；　but　it　was　of　earth；　not　Heaven；　like　that　vouchsafed　to　Brother　Ambrose；　and　yet　none　the　less　precious；　for　was　it　not　the　Monastery　at　home　which　so　haunted　him；　the　grey；　familiar　walls　with　their　girdle　of　sunlit　pasture；　and　the　mantling　forest　which　bowed　and　swayed　at　the　will　of　the　whispering　wind？

〃As　well　seek　Heaven's　gate　in　yon　fair　reflection　as　learn　to　love　in　this　light…minded；　deceitful　city；〃　Hilarius　said　to　himself　a　little　bitterly。　　He　deemed　that　he　had　plumbed　its　hollowness　and　learnt　the　full　measure　of　its　vanity。　　Already　he　shunned　the　company　and　diversions　of　his　fellow　pages；　though　he　was　ever　ready　to　serve　them。　　A　prentice　lad's　homely　brawl　set　him　shivering；　a　woman's　jest　painted　his　cheeks　'til　they　rivalled　a　young　maid's　at　her　first　wooing。　　He　plucked　aside　his　skirts　and　walked　in　judgment；　only　wherever　mountebank　or　juggler　held　the　crowd　enthralled；　there　Hilarius；　half…ashamed；　would　push　his　way；　in　the　unacknowledged　hope　of　seeing　again　the　maid　whose　mother；　like　his　own；　was　light　o'　love：　　a　strange　link　truly　to　bind　Hilarius　in　his　blindness　to　the　rest　of　poor　sinful　humanity。

Suddenly　there　broke　on　his　musing　the　clatter　of　horse…hoofs；　and　a　gay　young　page　came　spurring　with　bent　head　under　the　low　archway。　　He　reined　up　by　Hilarius：

〃Dear　lad；　kind　lad；　wilt　thou　do　me　a　service？〃

〃That　will　I；　Hal；　an　it　be　in　my　power。〃

〃Take　this　purse；　then；　to　the　Cock　Tavern　and　give　it　mine　host。　'Tis　Luke　Langland's　reckoning；　he　left　it　with　me　yesternight；　but　my　head　was　full　of　feast　and　tourney；　and　'tis　yet　undelivered。　Mine　host　will　not　let　the　serving　men　and　the　two　horses　go　'til　he　hath　seen　Luke's　money；　and　I　cannot　stay；　for　my　lord　will　need　me。〃

Hilarius　took　the　purse；　and　his　fellow　page；　blessing　him　for　a　good　comrade；　clattered　back　through　the　gateway。

The　streets　were　full　of　life　and　colour；　serving　men　in　the　livery　of　Abbat　and　Knight；　King　and　Cardinal；　lounged　at　the　tavern　doors　dicing；　gaming；　and　drinking。　　Hilarius　walked　delicately　and　strove　to　shut　eyes　and　ears　to　the　sights　and　sounds　of　sin。　　He　delivered　the　purse；　only　to　hear　mine　host　curse　roundly　because　it　was　lighter　than　the　reckoning；　and　after　being　hustled　and　jeered　at　for　a　milk…faced　varlet　by　the　men　who　stood　drinking；　he　sought　with　scarlet　cheeks　for　a　less　frequented　way。

The　quiet　of　a　narrow　street　invited　him；　he　turned　aside；　and　suddenly　traffic　and　turmoil　died　away。　　He　was　in　a　city　within　a　city；　a　place　of　mean　tenements；　wretched　hovels；　ruined　houses；　and；　keeping　guard　over　them　all；　a　grim　square　tower；　blind　save　for　two　windowed　eyes。　　Men；　ill…favoured；　hang…dog；　or　care…worn；　stood　about　the　house　doors　silent　and　moody；　a　white…faced　woman　crossing　the　street　with　a　bucket　gave　no　greeting；　the　very　children　rolling　in　the　foul　gutters　neither　laughed　nor　chattered　nor　played。　　The　city　without　seemed　very　far　from　this　dismal　sordid　place。

Hilarius　felt　a　touch　on　his　shoulder；　and　a　kindly　voice　said：…

〃How　now；　young　sir；　for　what　crime　dost　thou　take　sanctuary？〃

He　looked　up　and　saw　an　old　man　in　the　black　dress　of　an　ecclesiastic；　the　keys　of　St　Peter　broidered　on　his　arm。

〃Sanctuary；〃　stammered　Hilarius；　〃nay；　good　sir；　I　…　〃

The　other　laughed。

〃Wert　thou　star…gazing；　then；　that　thou　could'st　stray　into　these　precincts　and　know　it　not？　　This　is　the　City　of　Refuge　to　which　a　man　may　flee　when　he　has　robbed　or　murdered　his　fellow；　or　been　guilty　of　treason；　seditious　talk；　or　slander　…　a　strange　place　in　which　to　see　such　a　face　as　thine。〃

〃I　did　but　seek　a　quiet　way　home　and　lost　the　turning；〃　said　Hilarius；　〃in　sooth；　'tis　a　fearful　place。〃

〃Ay；　boy；　'tis　a　place　of　darkness　and　despair；　despite　its　safety　…　even　the　King's　arm　falls　short　when　a　man　is　in　these　precincts：　but　from　himself　and　the　knowledge　of　his　crime；　a　man　cannot　flee；　hence　I　say　'tis　a　place　of　darkness　and　despair。〃

The　unspoken　question　shone　in　Hilarius'　eyes；　and　the　other　answered　it。

〃Nay；　there　is　no　blood　on　my　soul；　young　sir。　　'Twas　good　advice　I　gave；　well　meant　but　ill　received；　so　here　I　dwell　to　learn　the　wisdom　of　fools　and　the　foolishness　of　wisdom。〃

〃Does　the　Abbat　know　what　evil　men　these　are　that　seek　the　shelter　of　Holy　Church？〃　asked　Hilarius；　perplexed。

〃Most　surely　he　knows；　but　what　would'st　thou　have？　　It　hath　ever　been　the　part　of　the　Church　to　emb