the gathering of brother hilarius-第2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！


solation　and　doubt；　and　in　his　ears　rang　the　dancer's　parting　cry；　〃Hunger　and　love　…　love　…　love！〃



CHAPTER　II　…　THE　LOVE　OF　PRIOR　STEPHEN



BROTHER　BERNARD；　the　Precentor；　dealt　out　gold；　paint　and　vellum　with　generous　hand　to　his　favourite　pupil；　and　wondered　at　his　downcast　look。

〃Methinks　this　gold　is　dull；　Brother；〃　said　Hilarius　one　day；　fretfully；　to　his　old　master。

And　again　…

〃'Tis　very　poor　vermilion。〃

The　Brother　looked　at　him　enquiry。

〃Nay；　nay；　boy；　'tis　thine　eyes　at　fault；　naught　ails　the　colours。〃

Later；　the　Precentor　came　to　look　at　the　delicate　border　Hilarius　was　setting　to　the　page　of　the　Nativity　of　Our　Lady。

〃Now　may　God　be　good　to　us！〃　he　cried　with　uplifted　hands。　　〃Since　when　did　man　paint　the　Blessed　Mother　with　grey　eyes　and　black　hair　…　curly　too；　i'　faith？〃

Hilarius　crimsoned；　he　was　weary　of　limning　ever　with　blue　and　gold；　he　faltered。

It　was　the　same　in　chapel。　　The　insistent　question　pursued　him　through　chant　and　psalm。　　Did　he　really　love　the　Saints　…　St　Benedict；　St　Scholastica；　St　Bernard；　St　Hilary？　　The　names　left　him　untouched；　but　his　lips　quivered　as　he　thought　of　the　great　love　between　the　holy　brother　and　sister　of　his　Order。　　If　he　had　had　a　sister　would　they　have　loved　like　that？

The　Saints'　Days　came　and　went；　and　he　scourged　himself　with　the　repeated　question；　kneeling　with　burning　cheeks；　and　eyes　from　which　tears　were　not　absent；　in　the　Chapel　of　the　Great　Mother。　〃Light　of　Love；〃　the　girl　had　called　his　mother；　what　more　beautiful　name　could　he　find　for　the　Queen　of　Saints　herself？　　So　he　prayed　in　his　simplicity：…　〃Great　Light　of　Love；　Mother　of　my　mother；　grant　love；　love；　love；　to　thy　poor　sinful　son！〃

The　question　came　in　his　daily　life。

Did　he　love　the　Prior？　　He　feared　him；　and　his　voice　was　for　Hilarius　as　the　voice　of　God　Himself。　　Brother　John？　　He　feared　him　too；　Brother　John's　tongue　was　a　thing　to　fear。　　Brother　Richard；　old；　half…blind？　　Surely　he　loved　Brother　Richard？　…　sad；　helpless；　and　lonely；　by　reason　of　his　infirmities　…　or　was　it　only　pity　he　felt　for　him？

Nay；　let　be；　he　loved　them　all。　　The　Monastery　was　his　home；　the　Prior　his　father；　the　monks　his　brethren；　why　heed　the　wild　words　of　the　witch　in　the　forest？　　And　yet　what　was　it　she　had　said？　〃For　me　the　wide　world；　hunger；　and　love　…　love　…　love！〃

He　wandered　in　the　Monastery　garden　and　was　troubled　by　its　beauties。　　Two　sulphur　butterflies　sported　around　the　tall　white　lilies　at　the　farmery　door。　　Did　they　love？

He　watched　the　sparrows　at　their　second　nesting；　full　of　business　and　cheerful　bickerings。　　Did　they　love？

She　had　said　the　answer　was　writ　large　for　him　to　see：　　he　wandered　staring；　wide…eyed　but　sightless。

At　last　in　his　sore　distress　he　turned　to　the　Prior；　as　the　ship…　wrecked　mariner　turns　to　the　sea…girt　rock　that　towers　serene　and　unhurt　above　the　devouring　waves。

The　Prior　heard　him　patiently；　with　here　and　there　a　shrewd　question。　　When　the　halting　tale　was　told　he　mused　awhile；　his　stern　blue　eyes　grew　tender；　and　a　little　smile　troubled　the　firm　line　of　his　mouth。

〃My　son；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃thou　art　in　the　wrong　school；　nursery；　was　it　the　maid　said？　　A　shrewd　lass　and　welcome　to　the　hen。　　Thou　art　a　limner　at　heart　…　Brother　Bernard　tells　of　thy　wondrous　skill　with　the　brush　…　and　to　be　limner　thou　must　learn　to　hunger　and　to　love　as　the　maid　said。　　Ay；　boy；　and　to　be　monk　too；　though　alack；　men　gainsay　it。〃

〃Father；〃　said　Hilarius；　waxing　bold　from　excessive　need；　〃did'st　thou　ever　love　as　the　maid　meant？〃

〃Ay；　boy　…　thy　mother。〃

There　was　a　long　silence。　　Then　the　boy　said　timidly：…

〃The　maid　said　she　might　be　light　of　love；　'tis　a　beautiful　thought。〃

The　Prior　started；　and　looked　at　him　curiously：…

〃What　didst　thou　tell　the　maid？〃

〃That　I　never　knew　her；　but　that　my　father　was　a　gentle　knight　who　died　ere　I　saw　him；　and　then　the　maid　said　perchance　my　mother　was　light　of　love。〃

〃Boy；〃　said　the　Prior　gravely；　〃'tis　a　weary　tale；　and　sad　of　telling。　　Thy　mother　was　wondrous　fair　without；　but　she　reckoned　love　lightly；　nay；　knew　it　not　for　the　holy　thing　it　is；　but　thought　only　of　bodily　lusts。　　Pray　for　her　soul〃　…　his　voice　grew　stern　…　〃as　for　one　of　those　upon　whom　God；　in　His　great　pity；　may　have　mercy。　　Thus　have　I　prayed　these　many　years。〃

　Hilarius　looked　at　him　in　wide…eyed　horror：…

〃She　was　evil；　wicked；　my　mother？〃

〃Ay　…　a　light　woman；　that　was　what　the　maid　meant。〃

Then　great　darkness　fell　upon　the　soul　of　Hilarius；　and　he　clasped　the　Prior's　knees　weeping　and　praying　like　a　little　child。


〃And　so；　my　son；〃　said　the　Prior；　〃for　a　time　thou　shalt　go　out　into　the　world；　to　strive　and　fail；　hunger　and　love；　only　have　a　care　that　thou　art　chaste　in　heart　and　life；　for　it　is　the　pure　shall　see　God；　and　seeing　love　Him。　　Leave　me　now　that。　　I　may　set　in　order　thy　going；　and　send　the　Chamberlain　hither　to　me。〃

That　night　Hilarius　knelt　through　the　long　hours　at　the　great　Rood；　and　then　at　St　Mary　Maudlin's　altar　he　did　penance　for　his　dead　mother's　sin。

A　week　later　he　left　the　Monastery　as　a　bird　leaves　its　nest；　nay；　is　pushed　out　by　the　far…seeing　parent　bird；　full　of　vague　terrors　of　the　great　world　without。　　He　had　a　purse　for　his　immediate　needs；　a　letter　to　a　great　knight；　Sir　John　Maltravers；　who　would　be　his　patron；　and　another　to　the　Prior's　good　friend；　the　Abbat　of　St　Alban's。　　The　Convent　bade　him　a　sad　farewell；　for　they　loved　this　gentle　lad　who　had　been　with　them　from　a　little　child；　and　Brother　Richard　strained　his　filmy　eyes　to　look　his　last　at　the　young　face　he　would　never　see　again。

The　Prior　gave　him　the　Communion；　and　later　walked　beside　him　to　the　gates。　　Then　as　Hilarius　knelt　he　blessed　him；　and　the　boy；　overmastered　by　nameless　fear；　sprang　up　and　prayed　that　he　might　stay　and　learn　some　other　way；　however　hard。　　The　Prior　shook　his　head。

〃Nay；　my　son；　so　it　must　be；　else　how　shall　I　answer　to　the　Master　for　this　most　precious　lamb　of　my　flock？　　Come　back　to　us　…　an　thou　can'st　…　let　no　fear　deter　thee；　only　take　heed；　when　thine　eyes　are　opened　and　the　great　gifts　of　hunger　and　love　are　vouchsafed　thee；　to　keep　still　the　faithful　heart　of　a　little　child。〃

Then　he　bade　him　go；　and　Hilarius；　for　the　pull　of　his　heart…　strings；　must　needs　run　hot…foot　down　the　broad　forest　road　and　along　the　highway；　without　daring　to　look　back；　and　so　out　into　the　wide；　wide　world。



CHAPTER　III　…　THE　KING'S　SONG…BIRD



MARTIN　THE　MINSTREL　sat　under　a　wayside　oak　singing　softly　to　himself　as　he　tuned　his　vielle。　　He　was　a　long　lanky　fellow　with　straight　black　locks　flat　against　his　sallow　face；　and　dark　eyes　that　smouldered　in　hollow　cavities。　　He　wore　the　King's　colours；　and　broke　a　manchet　of　white　bread　with　his　mid…day　repast。

〃Heigh…ho！〃　sighed　Martin；　and　laid　the　vielle　lovingly　beside　him；　〃another　four　leagues　to　Westminster；　and　I　weary　enough　of　shoe…　leather　already；　and　not　another　penny　piece　in　my　pocket　'til　I　win　back　to　good　King　Ned。　　A　brave　holiday　I　have　had；　from　Candlemas　to　Midsummer；　free　to　sing　or　to　be　silent；　to　smile　or　frown；　wide　England　instead　of　palace　walls；　a　crust　of　bread　and　a　jug　of　cider　instead　of　a　king's　banquet。　　Now　but　another　few　leagues　and　the　cage　again。　　Money　in　my　pocket；　true；　but　a　song　here　and　a　song　there；　such　as　suit　the　fancy　of　the　Court　gentles；　not　of　Martin　the　Minstrel。　　Heigh…ho；　heigh…ho！　'tis　a　poor　bird　sings　at　the　word　of　a　king；　and　a　poor　enough　song　too；　if　Edward　did　but　know　it。

〃Who　comes　here？　　Faith；　the　lad　goes　a　steady　pace　and　carries　a　light　heart　from　his　song；　and　no　ill　voice　either。〃

It　was　Hilarius；　and　he　sang　the　Alma　Redemptoris　as　he　sped　along　the　green　grass　which　bordered　the　highway。

When　Martin　hailed　him　he　turned　aside　gladly；　and　his　face　lit　up　at　the　sight　of　the　vielle。

〃Whence　dost　thou　come；　lad？〃　said　Martin；　eyeing　him　with　interest。

〃Many　days'　journey　from　the　Monastery　of　Prior　Stephen；〃　answered　Hilarius。

〃But　thou　art　no　monk！〃

〃Nay；　a　novice　scarcely；　but　the　Prior　hath　bidden　me　go　forth　to　see　the　world。　　It　is　wondrous　fair；〃　he　added　sincerely。

〃He　who　speaks　thus　is　cloister…bred；〃　said　Martin；　and　as　Hilarius　made　sign　of　assent；　〃'tis　writ　on　thy　face　as　well。　　Thy　Prior　gave　thee　letters　to　the　Abbat　of　St　Peter's；　I　doubt　not；　thy　face　is　set　for　Westminster。〃

〃Ay；　for　Westminster；　but　my　letters　are　for　that　good　knight；　Sir　John　Maltravers。　　I　should　have　made　an　end　of　my　journeying　ere　now　but　that　two　days　ago　I　met　strange　company。　　They　took　my　purse　and　hat　and　shoes；　and　kept　me　with　them　all　night　until　the　late　dawn。　　Then　they　gave　me　my　goods　again；　and　bade　me　God…　speed。'

〃But　kept　thy　purse？〃　Martin　laughed。

〃Nay；　it　is　here；　and　naught　is　missing。　　It　was　all　passing　strange；　and　I　feared　them；　for　they　looked　evil　men；　yet　they　did　me　no　wrong；　and　set　me　on　my　way　gently　enough；　giving　me　provision；　which　I　lacked。〃

〃Pick…purses　and　cut…throats　afraid　of　God's　judgments　for　once；〃　muttered　Martin；　then　aloud；　〃Well；　young　sir；　we　shall　do　well　if　we　win　Westminster　before　night…fall；　shall　we　journey　together　since　our　way　is　the　same？〃

Hilarius　assented　gladly；　and　as　they　went；　Martin　told　him　of　Court　and　King；　and　the　wondrous　doings　when　the　Princess　Isabel　was　wed。　　He　listened　open…eyed　to　tales　of　joust　and　revel　and　sport；　and　heard　eagerly　all　the　minstrel　could　tell　of　Sir　John　Maltravers　himself；　a　man　of　great　and　good　reputation；　and　no　mean　musician；　〃and；〃　added　Martin；　〃three　fair　daughters　he　hath；　the　eldest　Eleanor；　fairest　of　them　all；　of　whom　men　say　she　would　fain　be　a　nun。　　Thou　art　a　pretty　lad；　I　wager　one　or　other　will　claim　thee　for　page。〃

〃I　will　strive　to　serve　well；〃　said　Hilarius　soberly；　〃but　I　have　never　spoken　but　to　one　maid　'til　yesterday；　when　a　woman　gave　me　good…morrow。〃

Martin　looked　at　his　companion　queerly。

〃And　thou　art　for　Westminster！　　Nay；　but　by　all　the　Saints　this　Prior　of　thine　is　a　strange　master！〃

〃It　is　but　for　a　time；〃　said　Hilarius；　〃then　I　shall　go　back　to　the　Monastery　again。　　But　first　I　would　learn　to　be　a　real　limner；　I　have　some　small　skill　with　the　brush；〃　he　added　simply。

Martin　stared。

〃Back　to　the　cloister？　　Nay；　lad；　best　turn　about　and　get　back　now；　not　wait　till　thou　hast　had　a　taste　of　Court　life。　　Joust　and　banquet　and　revel；　revel；　banquet；　and　joust；　much　merry…making　and　little　reason；　much　love　and　few　marryings：　　a　gay　round；　but　not　such　as　makes　a　monk。〃

Hilarius　smiled。

〃Nay；　that　life　will　not　be　for　me。　　I　am　to　serve　my　lord；　write　for　him；　methinks。　　But　tell　me；　good　Martin；　dost　thou　love　the　Court？　　It　seems　a　fine　thing　to　be　the　King's　Minstrel。〃

〃Nay；　lad；　nay；〃　said　the　other　hastily；　〃give　me　the　open　country　and　the　greenwood；　and　leave　to　sing　or　be　silent。　　Still；　the　King　is　a　good　master；　and　lets　me　roam　as　I　list　if　I　will　but　come　back；　'tis　ill…faring　in　winter；　so　back　I　go　to　pipe　in　my　cage　and　follow　the　Court　until　next　Lady…day　lets　the　sun　in　on　us　again。〃

He　struck　his　vielle　lightly；　and　the　two　fell　into　a　slower　pace　as　the　minstrel　sang。　　Hilarius'　eyes　filled　with　tears；　for　he　was　still　heart…sore；　and　Martin's　voice　rose　and　f