the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第3章
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without daring to look back； and so out into the wide； wide world。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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；
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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 fell like the wind in the tossing tree…tops
which had beckoned him over the Monastery wall。 The song itself was
sad … of a lover torn from his mistress and borne away captive to alien
service。 When it was ended they took a brisker pace in silence； then；
after a while； Hilarius said timidly：…
〃Did'st thou sing of thyself； good Martin？〃
〃Ay； lad； and of my mistress。〃 He stopped suddenly； louted low to
the sky； and with comprehensive gesture took in the countryside。 〃A fair
mistress； lad； and a faithful one； though of many moods。 A man suns
himself in the warmth of her caresses by day； and at night she is cold；
chaste； unattainable； at one time she is all smiles and tears； then with
boisterous gesture she bids one seek shelter from her buffets。 She gives
all and yet nothing； she trails the very traces of her hair across a man's face
only to elude him。 She holds him fast； for she is mother of all his
children； yet he must seek as though he knew her not； or she flouts him。〃
Hilarius listened eagerly。 Was this what the dancer had meant … the
〃wide wide world； hunger and love〃？
〃Did'st thou ever hunger； good Martin？〃
〃Ay； lad；〃 said the minstrel； surprised； 〃and 'tis good sauce for the next
meal〃
〃Did'st thou ever love？〃
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Martin broke into a great laugh。
〃Ay； marry I have more times than I count years。 But see； here comes
one who knows little enough of hunger or love。〃 Round the bend of the
road came a man in hermit's dress carrying a staff and a well…filled wallet。
His carriage seemed suddenly to become less upright； and he leaned
heavily on his stick as he besought an alms from the two travellers。
Hilarius felt for his purse； but Martin stayed him。
〃Nay； lad； better have left thy money with the pick…purses than help to
fill the skin of this lazy rogue； 'tis not the first time we have met。 See
here；〃 and with a dexterous jerk he caught the hermit's wallet。
This one was too quick for him； with uplifted staff and a mouthful of
oaths； sorely at variance with his habit； he snatched it back； flung the bag
across his shoulder； and made off at a round pace down the road； while
Martin roared after him to wait an alms laid on with a cudgel。
Hilarius gazed horrified from the retreating figure to his laughing
companion； who answered the unspoken question。
〃A rascal； lad； yon carrion； and no holy father。 They are the pest of
every country…side； these lazy rogues； who never do a hand's turn and yet
live better than many a squire。 I warrant he has good stuff in that larder
of his to make merry with。〃
Hilarius walked on for some time in silence with bent head。
〃I fear the world is an ill place and far from godliness；〃 he said at last。
〃It will look thus to one cloister…bred； and 'tis true enough that
godliness is far from most men； but if a hermit's robe may cover a rascal；
often enough a good heart lies under an ill…favoured face and tongue。
See； lad；〃 as another turn in the road brought them in sight of Westminster；
〃there lies thy new world； God keep thee in it！〃
He pointed to a grey…walled city rising from the water's edge； with roof
and pinnacle； gable and turret； aflame in the light of the western sky； in
front flowed the river like a stream of molten gold。
Hilarius gave a little cry。
〃'Tis like the New Jerusalem！〃 he said； and Martin smiled grimly。
An hour later they stood within the walls of Westminster city； and
Hilarius； amazed and weary； clung close to Martin's side。 Around him he
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
saw russet…clad archers； grooms； men on horseback； pedlars； pages；
falconers； scullions with meats； gallant knights； gaily dressed ladies； it was
like a tangled dream。 The gabled fronts of the houses were richly
blazoned or hung with scarlet cloth； it was a shifting scene of colour； life；
and movement； and to Hilarius' untutored eyes； wild confusion。 Outside
the taverns clustered all sorts and conditions of men； drinking； gossiping；
singing； for the day's work was don
