the gathering of brother hilarius-第11章

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A　moment；　and　she　trod　them　under；　their　dying　fragrance　filled　the　air；　as　their　living　breath　had　flooded　the　senses　of　the　blind…　eyed　lad　at　the　Monastery　gate。

One　by　one　she　set　her　heel　upon　the　blossoms；　and　the　marble　was　yellow　with　stolen　gold。

Hilarius　held　his　breath；　it　was　as　if　she　did　to　death　some　living　thing；　and　yet　he　dared　not　bid　her　stay　her　insolent　feet。

It　was　done；　and　she　looked　at　him　under　questioning　brows。

〃So　much　for　thy　lilies！　　Dost　still　think　that　it　will　soil　thy　brush　to　limn　such　an　one　as　I？　　I；　whom　men　call　the　Queen　of　Love　…　but　thy　lips；　say　they；　burnt　with　another　name！　　Bethink　thee；　faint　heart；　there　is　not　a　man　in　all　this　city　but　would　count　death　a　small　price　to　pay　for　my　favours；　and　I　ask　of　thee　one　little　service；　and　thou　shalt　name　thine　own　reward。　　Surely　'tis　churlish　to　gainsay！〃

Her　voice　was　suddenly　sweet。

Stooping；　she　gathered　to　her　the　destruction　she　had　wrought；　fingering　the　fallen　petals　tenderly；　with　a　little　sigh。　　She　glanced　up　at　Hilarius　through　her　lashes'　net。　　〃Maybe　I　was　over　hasty；〃　she　said　softly；　and　a　sob　swelled　the　round　of　her　wonderful　throat　…　〃and　yet　how　couldst　thou　call　me　wanton？〃　　Her　mouth　drooped　a　little　…　she　was　very　fair。

〃Art　thou　still　minded　to　set　these　poor　pale　flowers　against　the　roses　in　love's　garden？　　For　I　love　thee；〃　she　added；　and　then　suddenly　she　was　still。

Hilarius　looked　from　the　dead　flowers　to　the　woman　in　her　over…　mastering　beauty；　and　all　at　once　the　passion　that　lies　hid　in　the　heart　of　every　man　leapt　to　his　lips。　　He　desired　this　woman　as　he　had　never　before　desired　aught　in　all　the　world；　and　he　knew；　to　his　shame；　that　she　was　his　for　the　asking。　　The　blood　thudded　and　rang　in　his　veins；　he　feasted　his　eyes　on　the　curve　of　her　neck　and　the　radiance　of　her　sun…swept　hair。　　He　stretched　out　his　hands；　but　ere　he　could　speak　she　raised　a　white；　terrified　face；　and　glanced　over　her　shoulder。

〃Who　touched　me？〃　she　gasped；　her　voice　shrill　with　fear；　〃who　touched　me？〃　　And　she　sprang　to　her　feet。

There　was　no　one：　　the　two　shared　a　common　pallor　as　they　stared　into　each　other's　eyes　across　the　dying　lilies。　　Hilarius　shrank　back　and　covered　his　face　with　his　hands。　　Clear　and　distinct　he　heard　the　Prior's　voice：　　〃A　light　woman　…　a　light　woman。〃

Then　the　Princess　said　hoarsely；　〃Go；　go；〃　and　without　word　or　look　Hilarius　went。


The　Prior　rose　from　his　knees　comforted。　　He　had　wrestled　with　the　devil　for　his　son's　soul；　and　knew　that　he　had　prevailed。



CHAPTER　III　…　OPEN　EYES　AT　THE　GATE



ANOTHER　year　wrote　its　record　on　forest　and　field。　　The　weeks　passed；　summer　sped　to　autumn；　the　ripe　corn　bowed　to　the　sickle。　The　Convent's　lands　were　rich　and　heavy；　virgin　soil　reclaimed；　and　the　Prior；　watching　the　last　great　wain　piled　high　with　wealth　of　golden　treasure；　saw　the　porter　coming　to　him。

Now　the　porter　was　stout；　short　of　breath；　and　of　a　hasty　spirit；　and　the　Prior　knew　something　was　amiss　by　reason　of　his　hurried　gait　and　wrathful　countenance。

〃Domine；〃　he　gasped；　〃Domine；　there　is　a　ragged　man　at　the　gate；　a　vagabond　by　his　own　showing；　and　he　craves　speech　of　thee。　　I　bade　him　go　to　the　guest…house；　but　he　will　not　budge；　and　hath　waited　already　an　hour　despite　my　…　〃

The　porter　stayed；　staring；　he　spoke　to　the　wind；　the　Prior　was　already　halfway　to　the　gate。

〃This　my　son　was　dead　and　is　alive　again；〃　sang　his　heart。　　The　porter；　afraid；　hasted　after　him　with　the　keys；　and　had　scarce　time　to　do　his　office　ere　the　sunburnt　vagabond　was　clasped　in　the　Prior's　arms。　　It　was　a　harvesting　indeed。

That　night　Hilarius　went　across　to　the　Prior's　house　to　tell　the　tale　of　his　journeyings。　　He　found　him　seated　in　a　great　oak　chair　by　the　open　window；　the　sky　was　ablaze　with　stars；　and　the　flame　of　the　oil　lamp　jarred　like　a　splash　of　yellow　paint　on　the　moonlight　which　flooded　the　room；　the　Prior's　eyes　smiled　measureless　content；　and　the　murmured　〃Laus　Deo〃　of　his　lips　voiced　the　gladness　of　his　heart。　　Thus；　in　the　shelter　of　peace　and　a　great　love；　Hilarius　told　his　tale；　while　the　forest　waved　a　welcome　to　him　over　the　Monastery　wall；　and　the　late　lilies　burned　white　in　the　garth　below。

The　Prior　sat　with　his　chin　in　his　hand；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　lad's　face；　pale　against　the　dark　wainscot；　and　Hilarius　told　of　his　journeyings；　and　all　that　befell；　even　as　it　hath　been　recorded　in　this　chronicle；　and　the　Prior's　eyes　were　wet　as　he　heard　of　the　little　maid。

〃And　then；　my　son？〃　said　the　Prior。

〃Then；　my　Father；　I　companied　with　the　caravan　folk　as　far　as　the　sea…coast；　and；　leaving　them　there；　went　overseas　in　the　train　of　my　lord　Bishop　Robert　Walter　of　Norwich；　who　was　hasting　to　Rome。　He　knew　thee；　my　Father；　and　bade　his　people　supply　my　needs。〃

〃Ay；　he　knows　me；〃　said　the　Prior　briefly。　　〃The　Lord　reward　him　according　to　his　works；　but　show　him　mercy　forasmuch　as　he　had　compassion　on　my　son！〃

〃Then　saw　I　Rome；　my　Father；　that　great　and　beauteous　city　full　of　treasure　and　many　wonders；　only　the　Holy　Father　I　did　not　see；　being　let。　　Methinks　life　in　that　country　is　as　one　long　pageant；　but　I　marked　that　great　holiness　and　an　evil　life；　much　riches　and　much　penury；　dwelt　there　side　by　side；　and　men　reeked　little　of　death　but　much　of　pleasure。　　Then　one　bade　me　go　to　Florence　an　I　would　be　a　limner；　therefore　I　hasted　thither；　and　gave　my　last　coin　for　bread　as　I　entered　the　city。〃

The　Prior's　brows　contracted；　the　lad　had　seen　some　schooling。

〃But　thou　didst　learn　to　be　a　limner；　my　son？〃

〃Ay；　my　Father；　in　God's　time：　　at　first　I　must　herd　goats　and　sell　melons　in　the　market…place　for　a　lump　of　bread。　　Day　by　day　I　strove　to　gain　enough　to　buy　colours；　but　could　not；　for　the　Lord　sent　me　ever　a　neighbour　poorer　than　myself。　　Nevertheless　I　was　of　good　courage；　knowing　the　Lord's　ways　are　not　as　ours；　and　mindful　how　Brother　Ambrose　held　that　inasmuch　as　the　Heavenly　City　is　laid　with　fair　colours　'twere　no　sin　to　deem　that　a　man　may　limn　perfect　pictures　there；　for　the　gift　is　from　the　Lord。〃

〃My　son；　'tis　a　great　lesson　thou　hast　learnt；〃　said　the　Prior；　〃for　the　Word　was　made　Flesh；　and　as　Blessed　John　hath　it；　a　man　cannot　love　God　unseen；　if　he　love　not　the　brother　whom　He　hath　given　him。　　What　next；　dear　lad？〃

〃My　Father；　the　Lord　Himself　sent　a　messenger　to　me。　　One　day　a　great　limner；　the　Signor　Andrea　di　Cione；　whom　men　call　d'Orcagna；　stayed　by　me　where　I　stood　with　my　melons　in　the　shadow　of　the　Shepherd's　Tower；　and　bade　me　follow　him　to　his　house；　for　he　would　fain　use　me　for　an　angel's　head　in　the　great　Altar…piece　he　was　e'en　then　concerned　with　for　the　Church　of　the　White　Friars。　　Later　he　heard　my　story；　and　when　he　found　I　had　some　small　skill　with　the　brush；　he　kept　me　with　him；　and　taught　me　as　only　such　an　one　can　teach：　　him　I　served　five　years。　　And　many　times　Satan　desired　my　soul；　nay；　once　I　was　in　peril　of　hell…fire；　but　the　Lord　was　with　me；　and　plucked　my　feet　out　of　the　pit。　　But　of　that　I　will　speak　anon；　at　my　shriving；　as　is　meet。〃

The　Prior　remembered　his　dream；　but　he　said　no　word；　and　Hilarius　took　up　his　tale。

〃Then　one　day　my　master　cried　there　was　an　end　to　teaching；　nevertheless　he　would　have　me　bide　with　him　in　honour　for　the　work。　But　my　heart　was　full　of　longing　for　home　and　the　scent　of　the　forest；　and；　above　all；　for　thee；　my　Father；　therefore　I　set　my　face　north；　that　I　might　bring　back　my　gift　to　St　Benedict　and　our　Church；　and　should　have　been　here　long　ere　this；　but　I　was　let　by　the　way。〃

The　Prior　looked　up　a　little　anxiously；　and　Hilarius　smiled　at　the　question　in　his　face。

〃Tis　a　lawless　tract；　my　Father；　under　the　shadow　of　the　great　mountains　beyond　Florence；　and　I　was　taken　by　robbers；　who　bore　me　and　others　of　our　company　to　their　fastness　in　the　hills：　　there　I　lay　in　a　little　cave　many　days；　but　what　befell　the　rest　I　know　not。　　The　robbers　brought　me　forth　to　serve　them；　and　by　God's　mercy　handled　me　kindly；　though　they　thought　little　of　bloodshedding。

〃Then　one　of　them　was　troubled　in　his　spirit；　and　minded　to　forsake　this　evil　manner　of　life。　　Therefore　one　night　he　fled；　carrying　me　with　him；　when　the　others　had　gone　forth；　and　we　made　good　our　way　to　Mantua。　　There　Pietro；　for　so　was　the　robber　called；　left　me　that　he　might　give　himself　to　the　service　of　God　and　men；　inasmuch　as　he　had　formerly　abused　them。　　Never　saw　I　man　so　changed；　my　Father；　his　speech；　formerly　profane；　was　all　of　God　and　the　Saints；　he　did　penance　and　confessed　his　sins　publicly；　ay；　by　the　Justice's　order　he　received　one　hundred　lashes　in　the　market…place；　and　at　every　lash　he　cried　with　upturned　face；　'Deo　Gratias！'　　And　I　was　there；　because　he　besought　of　me　to　stand　in　the　crowd　and　pray　for　him　that　his　courage　failed　not。　　But　it　came　to　pass　that　even　the　people　marvelled　at　his　joyful　endurance；　and　indeed　'twas　more　like　a　scourging　of　one　of　the　blessed　martyrs　than　of　a　poor　sinful　robber。　　After　this　the　Brothers　of　the　Poor　took　him；　for　such　was　his　desire；　and　so　I　bade　him　farewell；　and　craved　his　blessing。〃

〃The　Lord　fulfil　all　his　mind！〃　said　the　Prior　with　clasped　hands。

〃Amen；〃　said　Hilarius。

〃Didst　thou　not　fear　to　journey　further　alone；　my　son？〃

〃Nay；　my　Father；　I　found　for　the　most　part　good　and　kindly　men　by　the　way；　despite　their　somewhat　evil　seeming；　but　at　Genoa　I　took　service　with　a　merchant　then　beginning　his　journey；　and　travelled　with　him　through　Flanders；　a　strange；　flat　country　with　many　canals　and　tall　poplar　trees；　and　so　we　came　to　Bruges　in　safety；　after　a　most　prosperous　course。　　There　he　commended　me　to　a　good　friend　of　his；　a　wool　merchant　travelling　to　Salisbury；　and　at　first　all　things　went　well　with　us；　but　later　the　winds　proved　contrary；　and　we　were　driven　hither　and　thither　in　great　peril　of　our　lives；　but　at　last　made　the　Bristol　Channel；　and　so　came　safe　into　port。　Thence　I　have　come　hither　afoot　begging　my　bread。〃

When　Hilarius　had　made　an　end；　the　Prior　took　him　in　his　arms　and　blessed　him　for　his　dear　son；　praising　God　that　the　lad　had　come　back　a　child　at　heart；　but　hungering；　loving；　open…eyed。

Next　morning；　being　shriven；　Hilarius　ate　the　bread　and　drank　the　wine　of　the　〃wayfaring　man；〃　his　heart　merry　for　the　joy　of　his　home…coming。　　When　the　Lady…Mass　was　ended　he　knelt　on　in　her　Chapel。

〃Great　Light　of　Love；　all　praise　and　thanks　be　thine　from　thy　poor　son；〃　sang　his　heart；　and　then　he　prayed　for　his　little　maid。



CHAPTER　IV　…　THE　PASSING　OF　PRIOR　STEPHEN



THE　Convent　welcomed　Hilarius　gladly；　and　on　the　Feast　of　St　Michael　he　made　his　profession；　for　the　Prior　deemed　that　he　had　served　his　noviciate　and　been　found　faithful；　and　the　Brethren　assented　eagerly；　for　they　were　fain　to　keep　this　wondrous　limner　for　the　service　of　their　own　Church。

Then；　by　the　Prior's　command；　Hilarius　set　himself　to　limn　a　great　picture　for　the　High　Altar。　　It　was　a　Crucifixion；　and　all　his　heart　and　all　his　love　were　in　it。　　When　the　Brethren　first　saw　the　fair　proportion　and　fine　colours　that　Hilarius　brought　to　the　work；　they　rejoiced　in　that　their　Church　should　be　glorified　above　other　Churches　of　the　Order；　but　when　the　picture　was　near　completing；　and　they　gazed　up　into　the　wondrous　fac