the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第12章
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her food； but she would not。
〃Nay； I could not eat； the fever burns in my bones； let me alone that I
may die the sooner。〃
Hilarius went back with a heavy heart； and lay that night with the little
maid in his arms on the settle by the hearth。 Despite his fear he slept
heavily and late： when he rose the sun was high and the child awake。
He fed her； and； bidding her bide within； went out to gain tidings of
the poor mother。 He called； but no one answered； and the door of the
hovel in which she had taken shelter stood wide。 Then； as he searched
the fields； fearing the fever had driven her abroad； he saw the flutter of
garments in a ditch； and lo！ there lay the woman； dead； with her dead babe
on her breast。 She had lain down to die alone with God in the silence；
that haply the living might escape； and on her face was peace。
Later； Hilarius laid green boughs tenderly over mother and babe； and
covered them with earth； saying many prayers。 Then he went back to his
fatherless； motherless maid。
She ailed naught that he could see； and there was food and to spare；
but each day saw her paler and thinner； until at last she could not even sit；
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
but lay white and silent in Hilarius' tender arms； and he fought with death
for his little maid。
Then on a day she would take no food； and when Hilarius put tiny
morsels in her mouth she could not swallow； and so he sat through the
long hours； his little maid in his arms； with no thought beside。 The
darkness came； and he waited wide…eyed； praying for the dawn。 When
the new day broke and the east was pale with light he carried the child out
that he might see her； for a dreadful fear possessed him。 And it came to
pass that when the light kissed her little white face she opened her eyes
and smiled at Hilarius； and so smiling； died。
The dancer； true to her promise； scanned the road as the waggon drew
near the place of Hilarius' first and last theft： he was standing by the
wayside alone。 The waggon passed on carrying him with it； and the
dancer looked but once on his face and asked no question。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
PART III … THE FRUIT
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER I … HOW LONG； O LORD； HOW
LONG！
THE Monastery by the forest pursued an even existence； with no great
event to trouble its serenity； for it lay too far west for the Plague to be
more than a terrible name。
True； there had been dissension when Prior Stephen； summoned to
Cluny by the Abbat； had perforce left the dominion to the Sub… Prior。 For
lo！ the Sub…Prior； a mild and most amiable man in his own estate； had
proved harsh and overbearing in government。 Ay； and in an irate mood
he had fallen upon Brother William； the Sacrist； in the Frater； plucked out
his hair and beaten him sore； whereat the Convent was no little
scandalized； and counselled Brother William to resign his office。 He
flouted the Chamberlain also； and Brother Roger the Hospitaller； and so
affronted the Brethren that when he began to sing the Verba mea on
leaving the chapter； the Convent … yea； even the novices … were silent； to
show their displeasure。
When Prior Stephen returned he was exceeding wroth； but said little；
only he took from the Sub…Prior his office； and all that appertained thereto；
and made him as one of the other monks； and Brother William； who was a
gentle and devout servant of God； he made Sub…Prior in his stead； and the
Convent was at peace。
Brother Ambrose； he to whom the vision was vouchsafed； had slipped
through the grey veil which once hid Jerusalem from his longing gaze；
Brother Richard was now in the land where the blind receive their sight；
and Brother Thomas the Cellarer … but of him let us say little and think
with charity； for 'tis to be feared that he greatly abused his office and is
come to judgment。
Two of the older monks； Brother Anselm and Brother Paul； who had
spent fifty years in the sheltered peace of the Monastery walls； sat
warming their tired old limbs in the south cloister； for the summer
sunshine was very pleasant to them。
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〃Since Brother Thomas died … 〃 began Brother Paul。
〃The Lord have mercy on his soul！〃 ejaculated Brother Anselm。
〃Since Brother Thomas died；〃 said Brother Paul again … a little
impatiently； though he crossed himself piously enough … 〃methinks the
provisions have oft been scanty and far from tempting； Brother。〃
〃Ay； and the wine；〃 said Brother Anselm。 〃Methinks our Cellarer
draws the half of it from the Convent's well。〃
They shook their heads sadly。
〃No doubt；〃 said Brother Anselm after a short silence； 〃our Cellarer is
most worthy； strict； and honest in the performance of his office … while
Brother Thomas； alack … 〃
〃Methinks Brother Edmund is somewhat remiss also in his duties；〃
said Brother Paul。 〃The Prior； holy man； perceives nothing of these
things。 On Sunday's feast one served him with a most unsavoury mess in
the refectory； the dish thereof being black and broken； yet he ate the meat
in great content； and seemingly with appetite。〃
〃He is but young； he is but young … sixty come Michaelmas … sixty； and
twenty…two years Prior … 'tis a long term；〃 and Brother Anselm nodded his
head。
〃Ay； he is still young； and of sound teeth；〃 said Brother Paul； 〃whereas
thou and I； Brother； are as babes needing pap…meat。 Brother Thomas … God
rest his soul！ … was wont to give savoury mess easy of eating to the elder
Brethren。〃
〃Ay； he was a kind man with all his faults；〃 said Brother Anselm；
fingering his toothless gums。 〃Think you 'twould be well to speak of this
matter to the Prior？〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said the other； 〃he is ever against any store being set on the
things of this world … ''tis well for the greater discipline of the flesh；' so
saith he ever。 Still he hath forbidden the blood…letting to us elder
Brethren。〃
〃Methinks there is little to let； since Brother Thomas died；〃 said
Brother Anselm ruefully。
〃Nay； then； let us seek out the Cellarer and admonish him … maybe he
will hear a word in season；〃 and the two old monks moved slowly away to
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the Cellarer's office as Prior Stephen came down the cloister walk。
He looked little older； his carriage was upright as ever； but government
sat heavy upon him； the keen； ascetic face was weary； and the line of the
lips showed care。 His thoughts were busy with Hilarius。 It was now
full six years that the lad had left the Monastery； and since the Christmas
after his going no news had come of him； save that he never reached St
Alban's。 Had the Plague gathered him as it gathered many another well…
beloved son？ Or had the awakening proved too sudden for the lad set
blind…eyed without the gate？
He passed from the cloister into the garth where bloomed the lilies that
Hilarius had loved so well。 He looked at the row of nameless graves
with the great Rood for their common memorial； last but one lay the
resting…place of Brother Richard； and the blind monk's dying speech had
been of the lad whose face he had strained his eyes to see。
Prior Stephen stood by the farmery door； and the scent of Mary's
flowers came to him as it had come to Hilarius at the gate。 He stretched
out his hands with the strange pathetic gesture of a strong man helpless。
It was all passing fair： the fields of pale young corn trembling in the
gentle breeze； the orchards and vineyards with fast maturing fruit； the
meadows where the sleek kine browsed languidly in the warm summer
sunshine。 Peace and prosperity everywhere； the old Church springing
into new beauty as the spire rose slowly skywards； peace and prosperity；
new glories for the House of the Lord； and yet； and yet； his heart ached for
his own helplessness； and for the exceeding longing that he had for the
boy whose mother once held that heart in the hollow of her little hand。
Ah well； blessed be God who had called him from the things of this
world to the service of Christ and the Church！ Once again he offered
himself in the flame of his desires： he would fast and pray and wait。
The Office bell sounded sharp and clear across the still summer air
calling to Vespers； and the Prior hasted to his place。
〃Qui seminant in lachrymis in exultatione metent；〃 chanted the deep
voices of the monks； and Prior Stephen's voice trembled as he joined in the
Psalmody。
〃Euntes ibant et flebant mittentes semina sua。 Venientes autem
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
venient cum exultatione portantes manipulos suos。〃
He had sown in tears； ay； and was weary of the sowing； but the
harvesting was not yet。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER II … MARY'S LILIES
IT came to pass upon a certain day scarce a se'nnight later； that Prior
Stephen was troubled in his mind by rea
