the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第7节
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nor chattered nor played。 The city without seemed very far from this
dismal sordid place。
Hilarius felt a touch on his shoulder； and a kindly voice said：…
〃How now； young sir； for what crime dost thou take sanctuary？〃
He looked up and saw an old man in the black dress of an ecclesiastic；
the keys of St Peter broidered on his arm。
〃Sanctuary；〃 stammered Hilarius； 〃nay； good sir； I … 〃
The other laughed。
〃Wert thou star…gazing； then； that thou could'st stray into these
precincts and know it not？ This is the City of Refuge to which a man
may flee when he has robbed or murdered his fellow； or been guilty of
treason； seditious talk； or slander … a strange place in which to see such a
face as thine。〃
〃I did but seek a quiet way home and lost the turning；〃 said Hilarius；
〃in sooth； 'tis a fearful place。〃
〃Ay； boy； 'tis a place of darkness and despair； despite its safety … even
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the King's arm falls short when a man is in these precincts： but from
himself and the knowledge of his crime； a man cannot flee； hence I say 'tis
a place of darkness and despair。〃
The unspoken question shone in Hilarius' eyes； and the other answered
it。
〃Nay； there is no blood on my soul； young sir。 'Twas good advice I
gave； well meant but ill received； so here I dwell to learn the wisdom of
fools and the foolishness of wisdom。〃
〃Does the Abbat know what evil men these are that seek the shelter of
Holy Church？〃 asked Hilarius； perplexed。
〃Most surely he knows； but what would'st thou have？ It hath ever
been the part of the Church to embrace sinners with open arms lest they
repent。 A man leaves wrath behind him when he flees hither； but should
he set foot in the city without； he is the law's； and no man may gainsay it。〃
〃Nay； sir； but these look far from repentance；〃 said Hilarius。
〃Ay； ay； true eno'；〃 rejoined the other cheerfully； 〃but then 'tis not for
nothing Mother Church holds the keys。 Man's law may fail to reach； but
there is ever hell…fire for the unrepented sinner。〃
Hilarius nodded； and his eyes wandered over the squalid place with the
North Porch of the Abbey for its sole beauty。
〃It must be as hell here； to live with robbers and men with bloody
hands。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the old man hastily； 〃many of them are kindly folk； and
many have slain in anger without thought。 'Tis a sad place； though； and
thy young face is like a sunbeam on a winter's day。 Come； I will show thee
thy road。〃
He led Hilarius through the winding alleys and set him once more on
the edge of the city's stir and hum。
〃I can no further；〃 he said。 〃Farewell； young sir； and God keep thee！
An old man's blessing ne'er harmed any one。〃
Hilarius gave him godden； and sped swiftly back through the streets
crowded with folks returning from the tourney。 The Abbey bell rang out
above the shouts and din。
〃'Tis an evil； evil world；〃 quoth young Hilarius。
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CHAPTER III … A SENDING FROM THE LORD
OCTOBER and November came and sped； and Hilarius' longing to be
a limner waxed with the waning year。 One day by the waterside he met
Martin； of whom he saw now much； now little； for the Minstrel followed
the Court。
〃The cage grows too small for me； lad；〃 he said； as he stood with
Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands； 〃ay； and I love
one woman； which is ill for a man of my trade。 I must be away to my
mistress； winter or no winter； else my song will die and my heart break。〃
〃'Tis even so with me； good Martin；〃 said Hilarius sadly； 〃I too would
fain go forth and serve my mistress； but the cage door is barred； and I may
not open it from within。〃
Martin whistled and smote the lad friendly on the shoulder。
〃Patience； lad； patience； thou art young yet。 Eighteen this Martinmas；
say you？ In truth 'tis a great age； but still leaves time and to spare。 'All
things come to a waiting man；' saith the proverb。〃
A week later he chanced on Hilarius sitting on a bench under the south
wall of the farmery cloister。 It was a mild； melancholy day； and suited
the Minstrel's mood。
He sat down by him and told of King and Court； then when Hilarius
had once more cried his longing； he said gravely：…
〃One comes who will open more cage doors than thine and mine； lad …
and yet earn no welcome。〃
Hilarius looked at him questioningly。
〃Lad； hast thou ever seen Death？〃
〃Nay； good Martin。〃
〃It comes； lad； it comes； or I am greatly at fault。 I saw the Plague
once in Flanders； and fled against the wind； and so came out with a clean
skin； now I am like to see it again； for it has landed in the south； and
creeps this way。 Mark my words； lad； thou wilt know Death ere the
winter is out； and such as God keep thee from。〃
Hilarius understood little of these words but the sound of them； and
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turned to speak of other things。
Martin looked at him gloomily。
〃Best get back to the cloister and Prior Stephen； lad。〃
〃Nay； good Martin； that may not be； but I have still a letter for the
Abbat of St Alban's； and would hasten thither if Sir John would set me free。
Methinks I am a slow scholar；〃 went on poor Hilarius ruefully； 〃for I have
not yet gone hungry … and as for love； methinks there are few folk to love
in this wicked city。〃
Martin laughed and then grew grave again。
〃Maybe he comes who will teach thee both； and yet I would fain find
thee a kinder master。 Well； well； lad； get thee to St Alban's an it be
possible； thou art best in a cloister； methinks； for all thy wise Prior
Stephen may say。〃
And he went off singing …
〃Three felons hung from a roadside tree； One black and one white
and one grey； And the ravens plucked their eyes away From one and two
and three； That honest men might see And thievish knaves should pay；
Lest these might be As blind as they。 Ah； well…a…day； well…a…day！ One …
two … three！ On the gallows…tree hung they。〃
Hilarius listened with a smile until the last notes of Martin's voice had
died away； and then fell a…musing of hunger and love； the dancer and the
Prior。
Suddenly； as if his thought had taken speech； he heard a voice say：
〃I hunger； I hunger； feed me most sweet Manna； for I hunger … I hunger；
and I love。〃
He sprang to his feet； but there was no one in sight。 Again the shrill
quavering voice called：
〃Love of God； I hunger； Love of God； I die。 Blessed Peter； pray for
me！ Blessed Michael； defend me！〃
Hilarius knew now； it was the Ankret； that holy man who for sixty
years had fasted and prayed in his living tomb at the corner of the cloister。
He was held a saint above all the ankrets before him； and wondrous wise；
the King himself had sought his counsel； and the Convent held him in high
esteem。
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Again the voice： Hilarius strove to reach up to the grated window of
the cell … it was too high above him。 An overpowering desire came upon
him to ask the Ankret of his future。 With a spring he caught at the
window's upright bars； his cap flew off and he hung bare…headed； the sun
behind him； gazing into the cell。
On his knees was an old man whose long white hair lay in matted
locks upon his shoulders； and whose beard fell far below his girdle。 The
skin of his face was like grey parchment； and his deep…set eyes glowed
strangely in their hollow cavities。
Hilarius strove to speak； but words failed him。
Th
