the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第16章
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shame and confusion。
〃I speak as to my children； it is in my heart that the Lord is at hand：
let us see that we love while there is yet time。〃
Then he turned to the novices and stretched out his hands to where
they stood amazed； and it may be ashamed … not after this manner was
Brother Adam wont to rebuke them。
〃And ye； who are； as it were； the babes of our Order； give heed to your
ways； neither bring unwilling hands to this service。 Better far go forth；
yea； even to death； than mock the Lord with froward feet and a heart that
is full of vanity。 Remember the sacrifice which Cain offered and the
Lord rejected； for he gainsayed the voice of the Lord and disobeyed His
Commandment； wherefore the wrath of God fell upon him。
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〃I who speak now； speak in love； give ear to my words； and let fear
befriend you； for the coming of the Lord is as a thief in the night； and lo！
stripes bitter and many await that servant whom the Master finds
sleeping。〃
Then the Prior； having made an end of speaking； raised his hand to
bless； and went forth in silence； and no man stirred in his place； for they
knew that the Lord had spoken and were afraid。
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CHAPTER VI … THE HUNGER OF DICKON THE
WOODMAN
JUNE was at an end； and men cried aloud for rain。 The hedges were
white； the fields scorched and brown； the leaves fell from the trees as at
autumn's touch； the fruits scarce formed hung wry and twisted on the
bough； the heavens burnt pitiless； without a cloud。
Dickon； the woodman； sat by the wayside gnawing a crust and a scrap
of mouldy bacon。 There was no sound but the howl of a dog from some
neighbouring farmstead； and he sat in sullen mood； his bill… hook beside
him； brooding over his wrongs； for the world had gone contrary with him。
His wife was dead； she had died in childbed a month gone； leaving six
hungry； naked brats on his shoulders； and now a worse thing had befallen
him； his gold was gone … his gold to which he had no right； for 'twas
blood…money； the food of his children； ay； and something beside； but
Dickon loved that gold piece above all the world … above Heaven and his
own soul … and it was gone。
A neighbour had surely done it； marked the hiding…place which he had
deemed so safe； and made off with the prize； and i' faith 'twas easy
carrying。 There was but one piece； and Dickon minded how he had
changed his petty hoard to gold scarce a month back at the fair。 Maybe it
was Thomas the charcoal burner had served him this ill turn； or William
Crookleg； the miller's man； he was a sly； prying fellow； and there had been
ill blood between them。
He was fain to seek the Monastery that lay the other side the forest；
and crave justice of the Prior； but that the Prior might say 'twas ill…got gain
and well rid of。
Dickon rose to his feet and shambled homewards； he was ragged； ill…
fed； unkempt。 The day's work was done； and on the village green he
found men and women； for the most part as ill…clad as himself； standing
about in groups gossiping。 The innkeeper lounged at the ale…house door；
thin and peaked as his fellows； there was no good living for any man in
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those parts； by reason of the over…lord who sore oppressed them。
A little man； keen…eyed and restless； holding a lean and sorry horse by
the bridle； was talking eagerly。
〃Nay； 'tis true eno'； and three crows saw I this very day on the
churchyard wall … it bodes ill to some of us。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said the innkeeper； 〃have it thine own way。 Methinks
the ill hath outrun the omen； for there will be naught for man or beast
shortly … but fine pickings for thy three crows。〃
The little man scowled at him： Dickon came up。
〃What's to do？〃 he said curtly。
〃Nay；〃 said mine host； 〃Robin will have it that some further evil is
upon us … tho' methinks we have got our fill and to spare with this drought
… ay； and 'twas at thy house； Dickon； he saw the corpse…light。〃
〃Better a corpse…light than six open mouths； and naught to fill them；〃
said Dickon surlily。 〃Whither away； Robin？ 'Tis not far this beast will
travel。〃
〃Right thou art； but my master will turn an honest penny with the
carcass；〃 answered the little man； 〃give me my reckoning； friend John。 I
must needs haste if I would see the Forester's ere nightfall。〃
He pulled out a few small coins and a gold piece。 When Dickon saw
it his eyes gleamed。 Robin paid the reckoning and put the piece in his
cheek。
〃Hard…earned money … 'tis blood out of a stone to draw wages from my
master。 Better it should light in my belly than in a rogue's pocket。 'Tis
as well for me that John o' th' Swift…foot swings at the cross…roads。
Godden； my masters！〃 And leading his weary beast； he took the road that
skirted the forest。
The moon was at full； and he had yet a good stretch of lonely way
before him； when the horse stumbled and fell and would not rise。
〃A murrain on the beast！〃 muttered Robin angrily； tugging in vain at
the creature on whom death had taken pity。 〃I must e'en leave him by the
wayside and tell Richard what hath befallen。〃
He stooped to loose the halter； and as he bent to his task a man slipped
from the shadow of the hedge into the quiet moonlight。 There was a thud；
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a dull cry； and Robin fell prone across the horse's neck … a pace beyond
him in the moonlight shone the gleam of gold。
Next day Dickon's child died； ay； and the other five followed with
scant time between the buryings。 Another had fathered them and filled
the gaping mouths； but men shuddered at his care； for it was the Black
Death that they had deemed far from them。
Pale and woebegone they clustered on the green。 News had come of
Robin … he was dead when they found him … but no man gave heed。 Death
was in the air； death held them safe in walls they might not scale。 The
heavens were brass； food failed for man and beast； God and man alike had
forsaken them。 The forest lay one side； the river； now but a shallow
sluggish stream； lay the other； 'twas a cleft stick and the springe tightened。
No evil had as yet befallen Dickon。 He stood with the rest and
murmured； cursing。 All at once he made for the ale…house。
〃Fools that we are to stand like helpless brats when there is liquor
enough and to spare in yon cellars。 He who is minded to go dry throat to
Heaven had best make haste； for me I will e'en swill a bucket to the devil's
health； and so to hell。〃
Half…a…dozen men followed him； pushing aside mine host who strove
to bar the door。 Some of the women fell on their knees and clamoured in
half delirious prayer； the rest slunk dismayed to their pestilent homes。
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CHAPTER VII … THE VISION OF THE
EVENING AND THE MORNING
MEANWHILE； news came to the Monastery of the ill case of the
village； for it lay scarce a league away across the forest； but the pine…trees
stood as guardian angels in between。
The Prior summoned the whole Convent； according to the ruling of
Blessed Benedict when the matter is a grave one； and told the tidings。
Then he went on to give reason for their assembling。
〃My Brethren； it is in my heart that we dare not leave these poor；
stricken sheep to die alone without shepherding； moreover； in their fear
and desolation； they may flee to other villages； and so the terror and pest
spread ever further。 And I deem that； inasmuch as Charity is greater than
Faith or Hope； so it is greater than obedience also。 Wherefore I purpose
to set aside the Rule of our Order in the letter that I may hold to it in the
spirit； and go forth to serve these perishing brethren； and I will take with
me whosoever hears the call of God in this visitation。〃
When he had made an end； there was silence in the Chapter。 Break
cloister； the Prior himself urging them thereto？ The Convent might
scarce credit its ears。
Prior Hilarius watched his children with a tender smile on his white
face； and a prayer on his lips that love might have its triumph。
Five monks stood up； among them the Sub…Prior； and seven novices
sprang also to their feet。
〃Nay； Brother Walter；〃 said Hilarius； turning to the Sub…Prior； 〃this
flock must have its shepherd also； thy place is here。 But I will take with
me Brother Simon and Brother Leo； who will doubtless suffice at first for
the ministry； and … 〃 smiling at the novices … 〃all these dear lads to tend the
sick and bury the dead。〃
The Sub…Prior ventured on a remonstrance。
〃Good Father； it is not fitting that thou should'st go on such an errand；
send me in thy stead； for my life is a small thing as compared with thine。
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Moreover these novices； 'tis but the other day the Master gave them as
lazy and ill…conditioned； and … 〃
The Prior held up his hand。
〃Dear Brother； I thank thee for thy love and care for me； but my call
has come。 As for these … 〃 he stretched out his hand towards the waiti
