the gathering of brother hilarius-第12章

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s　face　of　the　Great　King　who　looked　down　from　the　throne　of　His　triumphant　suffering；　with　a　world　of　hunger　and　love　in　His　eyes　for　those　who　had　so　enthroned　Him；　they　hung　their　heads　for　shame　because　of　the　emulation　in　their　hearts；　and　lo！　the　Cellarer；　for　very　love；　was　careful　for　the　needs　of　the　elder　Brethren；　and　the　monks；　for　very　love；　laid　hold　gladly　of　suffering；　and　so　the　Convent　was　blessed；　and　lived　together　in　unity。

In　one　of　the　groups　very　near　the　Cross；　Hilarius　set　a　grey…eyed　girl；　a　woman　with　a　babe　at　the　breast；　and　clinging　to　her　skirts；　a　little　flaxen…headed　maid。　　None　but　the　Prior　knew　the　meaning　of　these　three；　and　their　names；　with　that　of　a　poor　light…　o'…love；　were　ever　on　his　lips　when　he　offered　the　Holy　Sacrifice。

Gentle　Brother　Hilarius　painted　and　loved；　and　was　beloved　of　all　his　world。　　The　years　sped；　and　he　became　in　turn　Almoner；　Novice…　master；　and　Sub…Prior：　　and　no　man　envied　him；　for　he　reckoned　himself　ever　as　least　of　all　and　servant　of　all。

Prior　Stephen　attained　his　fourscore　years；　ruling　the　Convent　wisely　and　well　to　the　very　end：　　ay；　and　never　ailed　aught；　his　call　coming　as　it　might　be　straight　from　the　mouth　of　the　Lord。

On　the　Feast　of　Blessed　Stephen　he　went　into　the　chapter　and　said　as　always：　　〃The　souls　of　the　deceased　brethren　and　believers　rest　in　peace！〃　to　which　the　Convent　replied；　〃Amen。〃　　Then　with　his　hands　raised　to　bless　he　cried；　〃Benedicite；〃　and　again　with　loud　and　joyful　voice　〃Domine；〃　and　again；　〃Domine！〃　as　of　one　who　answers　to　his　name　…　and　so　passed　to　his　place　in　the　Kingdom　of　Christ。

The　Convent　elected　Hilarius　to　be　Prior　in　his　stead；　which　election　the　Abbat　of　Cluny　confirmed　with　good　grace。

Time　passed；　and　the　fame　of　the　Monastery　grew　because　of　the　exceeding　beauty　of　the　Church；　for　Hilarius；　with　those　whom　he　taught；　set　fair　pictures　on　the　walls；　and　blazoned　the　roof　with　the　blue　of　heaven　and　gold　of　the　wakeful　stars。　　In　the　span　over　the　High　Altar　he　set　Blessed　Benedict　himself　with　the　face　of　Prior　Stephen；　and　round　him　the　angel　virtues；　even　as　one　Giotto；　a　shepherd　lad；　had　limned　them　in　the　Church　of　the　Little　Brothers。

Now　Prior　Hilarius　desired　greatly　to　set　a　picture　of　Our　Lady　above　the　Altar　in　her　Chapel。　　Long　did　he　pray　with　ever…　increasing　fervour　and　much　fasting　that　this　boon　might　be　vouchsafed　him　for　her　glory　and　the　Convent's　greater　good。　　And　one　day　…　'twas　her　Nativity　…　he　set　his　hand　to　the　work；　for　it　seemed　to　him　that　she　would　have　it　so；　and　he　was　greatly　humbled　that　such　heavenly　kindness　should　attend　so　vile　a　sinner。　　Day　by　day　he　set　apart　some　hours　for　this　service；　and　he　limned　a　face　so　fair　and　radiant；　with　woman's　love　and　light　of　heaven；　that　it　was　whispered　in　the　cloister　walks　that　the　Prior　had　surely　been　blessed　by　a　vision；　else　had　he　never　pictured　the　Maid…Mother　in　so　wondrous　a　fashion：　　and　of　a　truth　a　man　might　well　give　credence　to　such　a　story；　for　the　joy　that　shone　in　the　Prior's　eyes　and　might　not　be　hid。

Many　other　tales　did　the　Brethren　tell　of　Hilarius；　but　softly；　for　he　would　hear　no　word　of　his　own　deeds　or　the　favours　vouchsafed　him。

When　he　walked　in　the　garth　the　pigeons　circled　round　him　crooning　their　peace…note；　and　it　was　told　that　the　kine　in　the　meadows　ceased　browsing　when　he　passed；　and　needs　must　company　with　him　a　little　way。

Once　it　befell　that　a　lay…brother　was　afflicted　with　heavy　sickness　by　reason　of　the　sun's　great　heat；　and　Satan　strove　with　him　for　his　undoing；　so　that　the　poor　soul　foamed　at　the　mouth　and　roared　out　blasphemy；　yea；　verily；　and　must　be　held　with　cords　also；　lest　he　do　himself　or　his　fellows　some　grievous　hurt。　　But　when　the　Prior　laid　his　hand　between　the　man's　troubled　eyes　sweet　sleep　came　upon　him；　and　his　madness　forsook　him。

The　poor　also　crowded　to　the　Monastery　gate　and　were　fed；　ay；　even　if　the　Brethren　went　hungry；　and　if　any　man　in　all　the　villages　round　had　aught　against　his　neighbour　he　would　come　to　the　Prior　for　a　just　hearing。

Nevertheless；　despite　these　things　the　Convent's　peace　began　to　be　troubled。　　Men　sought　the　Monastery　for　its　famous　name；　caring　but　little　for　religion；　there　were　many　young　novices　within　its　walls；　and　the　strong　hand　of　Prior　Stephen　was　lacking。　　Hilarius　was　of　gentler　build；　he　would　speak　ever　in　love；　thinking　no　evil；　whereas　it　is　not　given　to　all　men　to　understand　that　tongue。　So　it　came　to　pass　that　the　younger　Brethren　waxed　fat　and　kicked；　and　the　elder　Brethren　murmured。



CHAPTER　V　…　〃GABRIEL；　MAKE　THIS　MAN　TO　UNDERSTAND　THE　VISION。〃　…　DAN。　viii。　16。



ONE　day　the　Novice…master；　Brother　Adam；　a　most　worthy　man；　came　in　sore　trouble　to　the　Prior　and　would　resign　his　office。

〃Surely　never　before　did　such　an　ill…conditioned　brood　find　shelter　in　a　monastery！〃　he　cried。　　〃They　grow　fat；　idle；　insolent；　quarrelsome…never　at　peace　among　themselves；　never　a　Pater　or　an　Ave　too　many；　or　a　task　fulfilled；　save　for　fear　of　stripes。　　I　would　that　the　time　of　blood…letting　were　here　that　their　high　stomachs　might　be　brought　low。　　I　am　no　longer　young；　my　Father；　and　this　burden　tries　me　sorely。　　Prithee；　let　it　be　shifted　to　another　and　a　stronger　back。〃

The　Prior　listened　with　many　an　inward　mea　culpa。　　〃'Tis　a　sad　hearing；　Brother　Adam；　but　young　blood　is　hard　of　mastering；　maybe　this　ill　mood　will　pass。　　The　lad　Robert　is　surely　ever　gentle　and　decorous？　　He　hath　a　most　beauteous　voice。〃

The　Novice…master　threw　up　his　hands。

〃Nay；　Father；　nay；　he　hath　indeed　the　voice　of　an　angel；　but　methinks　his　body　is　surely　the　habitation　of　Satan。　　He　will　sing　an　it　please　him　…　or　when　thou　art　by；　my　Father；　…　but；　an　it　please　him　not；　he　is　silent；　ay；　even　under　grievous　stripes。　　The　Precentor　giveth　him　as　negligent　and　ill…conditioned；　and　in　choir；　when　he　looketh　most　like　to　one　of　God's　Saints；　he　is　but　plotting　mischief　for　the　day。〃

The　Prior　heard　him　sadly。

〃And　Hubert？〃　he　said。　　〃Hubert　methinks　hath　a　great　love　of　colour　and　a　fine　hand　with　the　brush。〃

Brother　Adam　was　almost　speechless。

〃Hubert！　　Nay　Father；　forgive　me；　Father；　but　even　this　very　Hubert　but　yesterday　slipped　a　handful　of　pebbles　into　Brother　Edmund's　mess；　whereby　he　was　like　to　break　his　teeth　or　take　some　more　grievous　hurt。　　And　indeed　the　peace　of　the　Brethren　is　much　troubled；　wherefore　they　complain　bitterly。〃

〃Young　blood；　young　blood；　but　not　of　necessity　evil；〃　said　the　Prior。　　Then；　seeing　the　Novice…master's　aggrieved　face；　he　bade　him　have　patience　yet　a　little；　for　he　himself　would　speak　to　the　novices；　and　with　this　Brother　Adam　must　fain　be　content。


The　next　day　in　the　Chapter　the　Prior　spoke。

It　comes　to　pass　oftentimes　that　men　seeing　a　sign　are　made　curious　by　it；　and　then　forgetting；　find　the　clue　thereto；　it　may　be；　long　after。　　Even　thus　it　happened　on　this　day　in　the　Chapter；　and　when　Prior　Hilarius　was　gathered　to　his　rest　the　Brethren　remembered　how　they　had　marked　and　marvelled　at　the　strange　beauty　of　his　face；　the　beauty　as　of　one　who　sees　the　face　of　the　Lord。

〃My　children；〃　he　cried　…　〃for　my　children　ye　are；　though　I　see　among　you　many　it　were　more　fitting　I　should　hail　as　father；　but　that　the　ruling　of　the　Lord　cannot　be　gainsaid　…　my　children；　I　am　minded　to　think　that　I　have　this　day　a　message　on　my　lips　that　is　not　mine　own。

〃Last　night　a　vision　came　to　me　as　I　slept。　　Blessed　Benedict；　our　Father；　stood　at　my　side；　and　his　face　was　troubled。

〃'Arise；　my　son；'　he　cried；　'arise；　for　the　Lord　is　at　hand　and　hath　need　of　thee。'

〃And　I；　deeming　it　was　of　judgment　that　he　spake；　sprang　up　in　shame　and　fear　that　the　Master　should　find　me　sleeping。

〃Then　cried　Blessed　Benedict　again：…

〃'If　thou　wilt　serve　the　Lord；　make　haste；　for　He　hath　called　thee　these　many　times；'　and　so　saying　passed　from　my　sight。

〃Brethren；　I　went　forth　as　one　bewildered；　and　made　haste　to　the　Church　lest　peradventure　I　should　find　Him；　but　the　lamps　burnt　dim　and　all　was　silent。　　Then　I　turned　aside　and　went　out　into　the　night；　and　it　was　very　dark；　with　no　sound　but　the　wind　in　the　forest　trees。

〃My　heart　was　a…hungered；　and　I　sought　in　cloister　and　garth；　and　as　I　hasted　to　the　gate　I　cried　aloud；　even　as　she　cried　who　sought　Him　in　a　garden　…　'They　have　taken　away　my　Lord。'

〃At　the　gate　I　stayed　me；　and　besought　the　Lord　for　a　sign；　and　lo；　in　the　darkness　one　came　and　led　me　by　the　hand　away　from　the　gate；　across　the　garth　and　up　the　dormitory　stair；　nor　loosed　me　until　I　passed　within　where　the　Brethren　lay　sleeping；　and　the　chamber　was　bright　with　exceeding　radiance。

〃I　found　myself　by　the　pallet　of　my　dear　son　Robert：　　his　face　was　wet　with　tears；　and　as　he　lay　I　saw　upon　his　shoulder　the　mark　of　many　stripes。

〃Again；　one　took　my　hand　and　led　me　from　one　to　another　of　our　Brethren；　and　on　every　face　lay　the　shadow　of　a　great　need；　but　in　every　face　there　was　somewhat　of　the　Christ；　and　the　lesson　burnt　in　my　heart。

〃Then　One　came　swiftly　and　laid　healing　hands　on　the　boy　Robert；　but　I　fled；　for　I　might　not　see　Him；　and　I　awoke　sore　troubled　…　ay；　and　the　trouble　is　on　me　still。

〃My　Brethren；　I　can　but　tell　the　vision　as　it　came　to　me。　　Great　is　the　rule　of　Benedict；　our　Father；　and　in　it　stripes；　grievous　and　many　as　our　sins；　have　their　rightful　place；　but　mayhap　we　forget　that　love；　and　love　alone；　should　strike。　　Ay；　and　I　mind　me　how　Prior　Stephen；　my　Father；　said　that　to　be　monk　a　man　must　learn　before　all　things　to　hunger　and　to　love。　　Love　should　draw　the　water　and　build　the　fire；　till　the　field　and　attend　the　sanctuary；　and　hunger　we　should　cherish　in　our　hearts；　hunger　for　righteousness　and　for　the　souls　of　our　brethren；　for　this　is　the　hunger　of　God。

〃Men　come　over　lightly　to　the　Lord's　work；　and　lo！　pride　and　emulation；　jealousy　and　discontent；　spring　up　and　thrive；　and　the　end　is　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。

〃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。



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　touc