the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第9章
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IT is a far cry from St Alban's to Bungay … which village of the good
ford lies somewhat south…east of Norwich； five leagues distant … and the
journey is doubled in the winter time。 Hilarius and the Friar were long
on the road； for January's turbulent mood had imprisoned them many days；
and early February had proved little kinder。 They had companied with
folk； light women and brutal men； but； for the most part； coarse word and
foul jest were hushed in the presence of the blind friar and the lad with the
wondering eyes。 In every village the Friar preached and called on men to
repent and be saved； for Death's shadow was already upon them。 Folk
wondered and gaped … the Plague was still only a name ten leagues east of
London … but many repented and confessed and made restitution； though
some heard with idle ears； remembering the prophecy of Brother Robert
who had come with the same message half a man's lifetime before； and
that no evil had followed his preaching。
At last St Matthias' Eve saw Hilarius and the Friar at St Edmund's
Abbey。 There were many guests for the Convent's hospitality that night；
and as Hilarius entered the hall of the guest…house … a brother had charged
himself with the care of the Friar … he heard the sound of the vielle； and a
rich voice which sang in good round English against the fashion of the
day。
〃Martin； Martin！〃 he cried。
The vielle was instantly silent。
〃Hole； lad！〃 cried the Minstrel； springing to his feet； he caught
Hilarius to him and embraced him heartily。
〃Why； lad； not back in thy monastery？ Nay； but I made sure the
Plague would send thee flying home； and instead I find thee strayed
farther afield。〃 Then seeing the injured faces round him for that the song
was not ended； he drew Hilarius to the bench beside him and took up his
vielle。 〃Be still now； lad； 'til I have finished my ditty for this worshipful
company； then； an't please thee to tell it； I will hear thy tale。〃
The guests； who had looked somewhat sour at the interruption；
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unpursed their lips； and settled to listen as the minstrel took up his song：…
〃The fair maid came to the old oak tree （Sun and wind and a bird on
the bough）； The throstle he sang merrily … merrily … merrily； But the fair
maid wept； for sad was she； sad was she； Her sweet knight … Oh！ where
was he？
He lay dead in the cold； cold ground （Moon and stars and rain on the
hill）； In his side and breast were bloody wounds。 Woe； woe is me for the
fair ladye； and the poor knight he； The poor knight … Ah！ cold was he。
The maiden sat her down to die （Cold； cold earth on her lover's breast）；
And the little birds rang mournfully； And the moonshine kissed her
tenderly； And the stars looked down right pityingly On the poor fair maid
and the poor cold knight。 Ah misery； dear misery； sweet misery！〃
This mournful song was no sooner ended than supper was served；
and the company proved themselves good trenchermen。 Hilarius caught
sight of the seditious friar making short work of the Convent's victuals；
and marvelled to see him in a place to which he had given so evil a name。
Martin was unfeignedly glad to see the lad； and listened intently to his
tale。 He nodded his head as Hilarius related how the friar he companied
with preached in each village that men should repent ere the scourge of
God fell upon them； 〃but there is naught of it as yet；〃 said the lad。
〃Nay； nay； it is like a thief in the night。 One day it is not； and then the
next； men sicken and fall like blasted wheat。 I heard a bruit of London
that it was but a heap of graves … nay； one grave rather； for they flung the
bodies into a great trench； there was no time to do otherwise： Black
Death is swift with his stroke。〃
Then Hilarius told of Piping Hugh and the Friar's death…words to the
guests。
Martin swore a round oath and slapped his thigh。
〃Now know I that thy Friar is a proper man an he has set a curse on
Piping Hugh of Mildenhall！ A foul…mouthed knave； with many a black
deed to his name and blood on his hands； if men say truth； and yet there
was never a bird that would not come at his call； and I never heard tell that
he harmed one。 What will thy Friar in Bungay； lad？〃
When he had heard the story of the Friar's twice…repeated vision and
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quest； the Minstrel sat silent awhile with knitted brow and head sunk on
his breast； then he eyed Hilarius half humorously； half tenderly。
〃Methinks； lad； an thy Friar alloweth it； I will even go to Bungay with
thee； for I love thee well； lad； and would have thy company。 Also I like not
the matter of the vision and would fain see the end of it。〃
That night the dream came again to the Friar； and a voice cried： 〃Haste；
haste； ere it be too late。〃 And so Hilarius and Martin came to Bungay；
the Friar guiding them； for the way was his own。 None of the three ever
saw St Edmund's Abbey again； for in one short month the minster with its
sister churches was turned to be a spital…house； while the dead lay in heaps；
silently waiting to summon to their ghastly company the living that sought
to make them a bed。
Quaint little Bungay lay snug enough in the embrace of the low vine…
crowned hills which half encircled common and town。 The Friar strode
forward； straining in his pace like a leashed hound； Martin and Hilarius
following。 Once he stopped and turned a stricken face on his
companions。
〃What is that？〃 he said shrilly。
A magpie went ducking across the road； and Hilarius crossed himself
fearfully。
〃Let us make haste；〃 cried the Friar when they told him； and so at full
pace they came to Bungay town。
The place looked empty and deserted； but from the distance came the
roar and hum of an angry crowd。
〃The people are abroad；〃 said Martin； and his face was very grave； 〃no
doubt some knight is here； and there is a bear…baiting on the common。
Prithee； where is thy mother's dwelling； good Father； and I will go and ask
news of her？〃
〃'Tis a lonely hovel by the waterside not far from the Cattle Gate；
Goody Wooten thou shalt ask for。〃
Martin went swiftly forward over the Common； Hilarius and the Friar
followed more slowly； and when they came to the Cattle Gate they stood
fast and waited； the Friar turning his head anxiously and straining to make
his ears do a double service。
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Hilarius； who had hitherto regarded Bungay and the Friar's business as
the last stage of his journey to Wymondham and Brother Andreas； was full
of foreboding； he watched Martin on the outskirts of the crowd； saw him
throw up his hands with an angry gesture and point to the Friar。 Then he
fell to parleying with the people； but Hilarius was too far off to catch what
was said。
〃See there； 'tis her son；〃 Martin was saying vehemently； 〃yon holy
friar hath seen this thing in a vision； but alack！ he reads it otherwise； yea；
and hath hasted hither from overseas to wrestle with the Evil One for his
mother's soul … and now； and now … 〃
The crowd parted； and he saw the most miserable sight。 An old
woman lay on the ground by the river's edge； a bundle of filthy water…
logged rags crowned by a bruised； vindictive face and grey hair smeared
with filth and slime。 She lay on her back a shapeless huddle； her right
thumb tied to her left toe and so across： there was a rope about her
middle； but in their hot haste they had not stayed to strip her。
Martin pressed forward； and then turning to the jeering； vengeful
crowd：
〃By Christ's Rood； this is an evil work ye have wrought；〃 he said。
〃Nay；〃 said one of the bystanders； 〃but it was fair judgment； Minstrel。
For years she hath worked her spells and black arts in this place； ay； and
cattle have perished and women gone barren through her means。 Near
two days agone a child was lost and seen last near her door； ay； and never
seen again。 When we came to question her she cursed at us for meddling
mischief…makers； and would but glare and spit； and swear she knew
naught of the misbegotten brat。〃
〃Maybe 'twas true eno'；〃 said Martin。 〃I hate these rough…cast witch…
findings … 'tis not a matter for man's judgment； unless 'tis sworn and
proven in court before the Justiciary。〃
〃Nay；〃 joined in an old man； 〃what need of a Justice when God speaks？
We did but thole her to the river to see if she would sink or swim。 The
witch did swim； as all can testify； her Master helping her； and seeing that；
we drew her under … ay； and see her now as she lies； and say whether the
Devil hath not set a mark on his own？〃
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Martin wrung his hands。
〃For the love of Christ； lay her decently on her pallet； and say no word
of this to yon holy man。〃
Moved by his earnest manner； one or two more kindly folk busied
themselves unfastening the ropes and thongs which bound the witch； and
bore her to her wretched bed。
The people； in their previous eagerness； had torn down the front of the
miserable hovel she called home； so all men could see the poor place and
its dead dishonoured mistress。
Martin； finding his bidding accomplished； turned to meet Hilarius and
the Friar who were now coming slowly across the windswept common。
March mists gathered and draped the sluggish river； the dry reeds rattled
dismally in the ooze and sedge。 Hilarius shivered； and the Friar started
nervously when Martin spoke。
〃Friar；〃 he said； 〃God comfort thee！ After all t
