the gathering of brother hilarius-第6章

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〃I　left　wife　and　children　to　perish　alone；〃　he　cried；　〃and　fled　to　save　my　miserable　skin。　　Now　may　God　have　mercy　on　my　soul；　for　I　go　back。　　Smite；　and　smite　hard；　brother！〃　and　he　stepped　in　front　of　the　first　flagellant。

At　this　there　arose　a　cry　from　the　folk　that　looked　on；　and　many　fell　on　their　knees　and　confessed　their　sins；　accusing　themselves　with　groanings　and　tears；　but　Hilarius；　seized　with　sudden　terror；　turned　and　fled　blindly；　without　thought　of　direction；　his　eyes　wide；　the　blood　drumming　in　his　ears；　a　great　horror　at　his　heels　…　a　horror　that　could　drive　a　man　from　wife　and　child；　that　had　driven　brave　Martin　to　flee　against　the　wind；　and　all　this　folk　to　leave　house　and　home　to　save　that　which　most　men　count　dearer　than　either。

At　last；　exhausted　and　panting；　he　stayed　to　rest；　and　saw；　coming　towards　him；　a　blind　friar。　　Hilarius　had　turned　into　a　by…way　in　the　hurry　of　his　terror；　and　they　two　were　alone。　　The　friar　was　a　small；　mean…looking　man；　feeling　his　way　by　the　aid　of　hand　and　staff；　his　face　upturned；　craving　the　light。　　He　stopped　when　he　came　up　with　Hilarius；　and　turned　his　sightless　eyes　on　him；　a　fire　burnt　in　the　dead　ashes。

〃Art　thou　that　son　of　Christ　waiting　to　guide　my　steps；　as　the　Lord　promised　me？〃

Hilarius　started　back；　afraid　at　the　strange　address；　but　the　friar　laid　one　lean　hand　on　his　arm；　and；　letting　the　staff　slip　back　against　his　shoulder；　felt　Hilarius'　face；　not　with　the　light　and　practised　touch　of　the　blind；　but　slowly　and　carefully；　frowning　the　while。

〃Son；　thou　wilt　come　with　me？〃

〃Nay；　good　Father；　I　may　not；　I　am　for　St　Alban's。〃

〃Whence；　my　son？〃

〃From　Westminster；　good　Father。〃

〃Nay；　then；　thou　mayest　spare　shoe…leather。　　I　left　the　Monastery　but　now；　and；　I　warrant　thee；　they　promise　small　welcome　to　those　from　the　pestilent　cities。　　What　would'st　thou　with　the　Abbat？〃

Hilarius　told　him。

The　friar　flung　up　his　hands。

〃Laus　Deo！　　Laus　Deo！〃　he　cried；　〃now　I　know　thou　art　in　very　truth　the　lad　of　my　dream。　　Listen；　my　son；　and　I　will　tell　thee　all。　Thrice　has　the　vision　come　to　me；　I　see　the　mother　who　bore　me　carried　away；　struggling　and　cursing；　by　men　in　black　apparel；　and　Hell　is　near　at　hand；　belching　out　smoke　and　flame；　and　many　hideous　devils；　yet　the　place　is　little　Bungay；　where　my　mother　hath　a　cot　by　the　river。　　When　first　the　dream　came　I　lay　at　Mechlin　in　the　Monastery　there；　my　flesh　quaked　and　my　hair　stood　up　by　reason　of　the　awfulness　of　the　vision；　then　as　I　mused　and　prayed　I　saw　in　it　the　call　of　the　Lord；　that　I　might　wrestle　with　Satan　for　my　mother's　soul；　for　she　was　ever　inclined　to　evil　arts　and　spells；　and　thought　little　of　aught　save　gain。

〃Forthwith　I　suffered　no　man　to　stay　me；　and　set　off；　the　Plague　at　my　heels；　but　ever　out…stripping　it；　I　was　careful　to　preach　its　coming　in　every　place；　that　men　might　turn　and　repent。　　Then　as　I　tarried　on　the　seaboard　for　a　ship　the　Plague　came；　and　because　I　had　preached　its　coming；　the　people　rose　in　wrath；　and；　falling　upon　me；　roughly　handled　me。　　They　beat　me　full　sore　in　the　market…　place；　then；　piercing　my　eyeballs；　set　me　adrift　in　a　small　boat。

〃Two　days　and　two　nights　I　lay　at　the　mercy　of　the　sea；　darkness　and　light　alike　to　me；　and　with　no　thought　of　time；　for　the　flames　of　hell　burnt　in　my　eyes；　and　a　worse　anguish　in　my　heart　because　of　my　mother's　soul。〃

〃And　then；　and　then？〃　tried　Hilarius　breathlessly；　tears　of　pure　pity　in　his　eyes。

〃Then　the　Lord　cared　for　me　even　as　He　cared　for　the　Prophet　Jonas；　and　sent　a　ship　that　His　message　might　not　be　hindered。　　The　shipmen　were　kindly　folk；　but　we　were　driven　out　of　our　course　by　a　great　wind；　and　at　last　came　ashore　in　Lincolnshire。　　I　have　come　south　thus　far　by　the　aid　of　Christian　men；　but　time　presses；　and　now；　lo！　thou　art　here　to　guide　me。〃

〃But；　my　Father；〃　said　poor　Hilarius；　seeing　yet　another　barrier　in　the　way　of　his　desires；　〃'tis　a　limner　I　would　be；　and　I　am　from　Westminster；　not　London；　and　then　there　is　Prior　Stephen's　letter　…　〃

　The　friar　held　up　his　hand：

〃Thou　shalt　be　a　limner；　my　son；　the　Lord　hath　revealed　it　to　me。　Last　night　the　vision　came　again；　and　a　voice　cried：　　'Speed；　for　a　son　of　Christ　waits　by　the　way　to　guide　thy　steps；'　and　lo！　thou　art　here；　waiting　by　the　way；　as　the　voice　said。　　And　now；　son；　an　thou　wilt　come　thou　shalt　take　thy　letter　to　Wymondham　…　'tis　a　cell　of　this　Abbey　…　for　there　is　Brother　Andreas　from　overseas　who　hath　wondrous　skill　with　the　brush；　he　will　teach　thee；　for　thou　shalt　say　to　him　that　Brother　Amadeus　sent　thee；　who　is　now　as　Bartimeus；　waiting　for　the　light　of　the　Lord；　but　first　thou　shalt　set　me　in　that　village　of　Bungay；　where　my　mother　dwelleth。〃

Hilarius　listened；　gazing　awestruck　at　the　withered　eyes　that　vainly　questioned　his　face。　　He　had　forgotten　plague；　death；　flagellants；　in　this　absorbing　tale　of　the　man　of　God；　who　was　even　as　one　of　the　blessed　martyrs。　　Brother　Andreas！　　A　skilled　limner！　How　should　he；　Hilarius；　gainsay　one　with　a　vision　from　the　Lord？〃

〃I　obey；　my　Father；〃　he　cried　joyously；　taking　the　friar's　hand；　and　they　two　passed　swiftly　down　the　road；　their　faces　to　the　east。



CHAPTER　V　…　THE　WHITE　WAY　AND　WHERE　IT　LED



IT　was　a　bitterly　cold　night　and　St　Agnes'　Eve；　the　snow　fell　heavily；　caught　into　whirling　eddies　by　the　keen　north　wind。　Hilarius　and　the　Friar；　crossing　an　empty　waste　of　bleak　unprotected　heath；　met　the　full　force　of　the　blast；　and　each　moment　the　snow　grew　denser；　the　darkness　more　complete。　　They　struggled　on；　breathless；　beaten；　exhausted　and　lost；　Hilarius；　leading　the　Friar　by　one　hand；　held　the　other　across　his　bent　head　to　shield　himself　from　the　buffets　of　the　wind。

Suddenly　he　stood　fast。

〃I　can　no　more；　Father；〃　he　said；　〃the　snow　is　as　a　wall；　there　is　naught　to　see　or　to　hear；　I　deem　we　are　far　from　our　right　way。〃　His　voice　was　very　weak；　and　he　caught　at　the　Friar　for　support。

〃I　will　pray　the　Lord；　my　son；　that　He　open　thine　eyes；　even　as　He　opened　the　eyes　of　the　prophet's　servant　in　the　besieged　city；　so　shalt　thou　see　a　host　of　angels　encompassing　us；　for　we　are　about　the　Lord's　business。〃

〃Nay；　my　Father；〃　said　Hilarius　feebly；　〃I　see　no　angels；　and　I　perish。〃　　He　tottered；　and　would　have　fallen；　but　the　Friar　caught　him　in　his　arms。　　A　moment　he　stood　irresolute；　the　boy　on　his　breast；　then　flung　away　his　staff　and　lifted　him　to　his　shoulder。

With　unerring；　confident　step　he　went　forward　through　the　snow；　a　white　figure　bearing　a　white　burden　in　a　white　world。　　All　at　once　the　wind　dropped；　the　blinding　shower　ceased；　and　Hilarius；　rested　and　comforted；　spoke：…

〃Is　it　thou；　my　Father？〃

〃It　is　I；　my　son；　but　angels　are　on　either　hand　and　go　before　to　guide。　　The　snow　hath　ceased；　canst　thou　walk？〃

He　set　Hilarius　gently　on　his　feet；　and　lo！　he　found　the　stars　alight！

The　boy　gave　a　cry；　and　forgetting　his　companion's　darkness；　pointed　to　the　left　where　lay　a　snow…clad　village。

〃A　miracle；　a　miracle；　my　Father！〃

〃A　miracle；　i'　faith；　my　son：　　the　Lord　hath　given　guidance　to　the　blind　as　He　promised。　　Let　us　go　down。〃

They　went　by　the　white　way　under　the　stars；　and　Hilarius　was　full　of　awe　and　comfort　because　of　the　angels　of　God　which　attended　on　a　poor　friar。

At　the　village　hostel　they　found　rough　but　friendly　entertainment　and　several　guests。　　They　dried　themselves　at　a　roaring　fire；　and　Hilarius　made　a　hearty　meal；　the　Friar　would　eat　nothing　save　a　morsel　of　bread。

A　messenger　was　there；　a　short　stout　man　with　stubbly　beard；　bright　black　eyes　like　beads；　and　a　high　colour。　　He　was　riding　with　despatches　from　the　King　to　the　Abbat　at　Bury；　and　had　fearful　tales　to　tell　of　the　Plague；　how　in　London　they　piled　the　dead　in　trenches；　while　many　who　escaped　the　pest　died　of　want　and　cold；　it　was　a　city　of　the　dead　rather　than　the　living。　　One　great　lord；　travelling　post…haste　from　Westminster；　had　been　found　by　his　servants　to　have　the　disorder；　and　they　fled；　leaving　him　by　the　wayside　to　perish。

Hilarius　heard　horror…struck。

〃'Tis　a　grievous　shame　so　to　desert　a　sick　master；〃　he　said。

〃Nay；　lad；〃　said　a　chapman　in　the　corner；　〃but　a　man　loves　his　own　skin　best。〃

〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　a　fat　ruddy…faced　miller；　overtaken　by　the　storm　on　his　way　to　a　neighbouring　village；　〃a　man's　own　skin　before　all。　Fill　your　belly　first　and　your　neighbour's　afterwards。　　Live　and　let　live。〃

〃Ay；　let　live；〃　chimed　in　mine　host；　bustling　in　with　a　stoop　of　cider　for　the　chapman；　〃but；　by　the　Rood；　'tis　cruel　work　when　two　lone　women　are　murdered　for　a　bit　of　mouldy　bacon　and　a　lump　of　bread；　for　I'se　warrant　'tis　a　long　day　sin'　they　had　more　than　that　at　best。〃

The　chapman　took　his　cider。

〃Where　was　this　work　done？〃　he　said。

〃Nay；　where　but　here　on　the　bruary！　　The　women　were　found　Wednesday　se'n…night　by　the　herd　as　he　went　folding。　　They　lay　on　the　floor　in　their　blood。〃

Hilarius　turned　sick。　　In　Westminster；　by　some　miracle；　he　had　been　spared　the　sight　of　violent　death　…　ay；　or　of　death　in　any　form　…　and　had　seen　nothing　worse　than　a　rogue　in　the　stocks；　for　which　sight　he　had　thanked　Heaven　piously。

〃'Tis　the　fault　of　the　rich；〃　said　a　voice；　and　Hilarius　saw；　to　his　surprise；　that　there　was　a　second　friar　in　the　room；　a　tall；　bullet…headed　man；　with　a　heavy；　obstinate　jaw　ornamented　with　a　scanty　fringe　of　black　hair。

〃The　rich　grow　fat；　and　the　poor　starve；〃　he　went　on；　〃'tis　hunger　makes　a　man　kill　his　brother　for　a　mouthful　of　mouldy　bacon。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　miller；　〃there　was　no　need　to　kill；　Father。　　A　man　could　have　taken　the　meat　from　two　lone　women　and　left　them　their　lives。〃

〃Why　take　from　folk　as　poor　as　themselves？〃　said　mine　host。　　〃Let　them　rob　the　rich　an　they　must　rob。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　the　friar；　〃rob　the　rich；　say　you；　take　their　own；　say　I。　　God　did　not　make　this　world　that　one　man　should　be　over　full　and　another　go　empty；　nor　is　it　religion　that　the　monks'　should　live　on　the　fat　o'　the　land　and　grind　the　faces　of　the　poor。　　How　many　manors；　think　you；　has　the　Abbat　of　St　Edmund's；　and　how　many　on　his　land　lack　bread？〃

Hilarius　listened；　scarlet　with　indignation；　a　flood　of　wrathful　defence　pent　at　his　lips；　for　the　blind　friar　laid　a　restraining　hand　on　his　sleeve。

Mine　host　scratched　his　head　doubtfully。　　The　teaching　was　seditious；　and　made　a　man　liable　to　stocks　and　pillory；　but　it　tickled　the　ears　of　the　common　folk　and　'twas　ill　to　quarrel　with　the　Mendicants。　　Help　came　to　him　in　his　perplexity：　　a　loud　knocking　on　the　barred　door　made　the　guests　within　start。

〃'Tis　eight　o'　the　clock；〃　said　the　miller；　affrighted；　for　he　had　a　heavy　purse　on　him。

〃Let　them　knock　and　cool　their　hot　heads；〃　said　the　seditious　friar　composedly。

The　rest　nodded　approval。

Then　a　man's　voice　threatened　without。

〃What　ho！　unbar　the　door。　　Is　this　a　night　to　keep　a　man　without？　Open；　open；　or；　by　the　Mass；　thou　shalt　smart　for　it。〃

Mine　host　shook　his　head　fearfully；　and　his　fat　cheeks　trembled；　he　moved　slowly　and　unwillingly　to　the　door　and　took　down　the　stout　wooden　bar。　　As　it　swung　back　the　door　flew　open；　and　a　man　burst　in；　at　sight　of　whom　mine　host　turned　yet　paler。

〃Food　and　drink；〃　said　the　new…comer　sharply；　flinging　himself　on　a　bench　by　the　fire。

Hi