the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第4节
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The mystery which is the greatest possible wisdom。
* * * * *
〃Come； Child；〃 said the Recluse。
The fire had burnt low； it was quite dark； save for the glow of the live
embers。
He threw on a great dry pine log； it flared like a torch。 The cats'
stretched in the sudden blaze； and then settled to sleep again。 The Child
and the Recluse passed out into the forest。 The moon was very bright
and the snow reflected its rays； so that it was light in spite of the great
trees。 The air was full of wonderful sound； voices and song； and the cry
of the bells； and the Child sang as she went in a half…dream by the side of
the Recluse：…
〃In dieser heil'gen Weihnachtszeit； Alleluja！ Sei； Gott der Herr；
gebenedeit； Alleluja！ Alleluja！〃
and wondered when she would wake up。 They came to the old； old
church in the forest； and the pictured saints looked out at them from the
lighted window； through the open door they could see figures moving
about with tapers in their hands； save for these the church was still empty。
The Recluse led the way up the nave to the north side of the Altar。 The
Child started a little； she was really dreaming then a kind of circular dream；
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The Grey Brethren
for again she stood before the cave； again the reverend figure kept watch
and ward over the kneeling Maid and the little Babe。 The sheep and the
shepherds were not there； but a little lamb had strayed in； and the
wonderful figures of fire and mist … they were there in their place。
〃Little one；〃 said the Recluse softly； 〃here is a symbol … concealment
yet revelation … the King as servant … the strong helpless … the Almighty a
little child； and thus the infinite stands revealed for all of us； visible and
attainable； if we will have it so。 It is the centre of all mystery； the
greatest possible wisdom； the Eternal Child。〃
〃You showed it me before；〃 said the Child； 〃only we were out of doors；
and the shepherds were there with the sheep； but the angels are here just
the same。〃
The Recluse bowed his head。
〃Wait for me here with them； dear Child； I will fetch you after
service。〃
The church began to fill； old men in smock frocks and tall hats； little
children wrapped warm against the cold； lads； shining and spruce； old
women in crossed shawls and wonderful bonnets。 The service was not
very long； then the Recluse went up into the old grey stone pulpit。 The
villagers settled to listen … he did not often preach。
〃My brothers and sisters； to…night we keep the Birth of the Holy Babe；
and to…night you and I stand at the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven； the
gate which is undone only at the cry of a little child。 'Except ye be
converted and become as little children； ye shall not enter。'
〃The Kingdom is a great one； nay； a limitless one； and many enter in
calling it by another name。 It includes your own hearts and this
wonderful forest； all the wise and beautiful works that men have ever
thought of or done； and your daily toil； it includes your nearest and dearest；
the outcast； the prisoner； and the stranger； it holds your cottage home and
the jewelled City； the New Jerusalem itself。 People are apt to think the
Kingdom of Heaven is like church on Sunday； a place to enter once a
week in one's best： whereas it holds every flower； and has room for the ox
and the ass； and the least of all creatures； as well as for our prayer and
worship and praise。
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The Grey Brethren
〃'Except ye become as little children。' How are we to be born again；
simple children with wondering eyes？
〃We must learn to lie in helpless dependence； to open our mouth wide
that it may be filled； to speak with halting tongue the language we think
we know； we must learn above all our own ignorance； and keep alight and
cherish the flame of innocency in our hearts。
〃It is a tired world； my brethren； and we are most of us tired men and
women who live on it； for we seek ever after some new thing。 Let us pass
out through the gate into the Kingdom of Heaven and not be tired any
more； because there we shall find the new thing that we seek。 Heaven is
on earth； the Kingdom is here and now； the gate stands wide to…night； for
it is the birthright of the Eternal Child。 We are none of us too poor； or
stupid； or lowly； it was the simple shepherds who saw Him first。 We are
none of us too great； or learned； or rich； it was the three wise kings who
came next and offered gifts。 We are none of us too young； it was little
children who first laid down their lives for Him； or too old； for Simeon
saw and recognised Him。 There is only one thing against most of us … we
are too proud。
〃My brethren； 'let us now go even to Bethlehem； and face this thing
which is come to pass； which the LORD hath made known unto us。'〃
The lights were out in the church when the Recluse came to fetch the
Child。 She was still kneeling by the creche； keeping watch with the
wonderful figures of fire and mist。
〃Was THIS a dream or the other？〃 said the Child。
〃Neither；〃 said the Recluse； and he blessed her in the moonlit dark。
The air was full of wonderful sound； voices and song； and the cry of
the bells。
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The Grey Brethren
The Manifestation
GOD said； 〃Let there be light〃； and in the East A star rose flaming
from night's purple sea … The star of Truth； the star of Joy； the star Seen by
the prophets down the lonely years； Set for a light to show the Perfect Way；
Set for a sign that wayfarers might find； Set for a seal to mark the
Godhead's home。 And three Kings in their palaces afar； Who waited
ardently for promised things； Beheld； and read aright。 Straightway the
road Was hot with pad of camel； horse's hoof； While night was quick as
day with spurring men And light with flaring torch。 〃Haste； haste！〃 they
cried； 〃We seek the King； the King！ for in the East His star's alight。〃
BETHLEHEM
THE ANGELS
Soft and slow； soft and slow； With angels' wings of fire and snow； To
rock Him gently to and fro。 Fire to stay the chill at night； Snow to cool the
noonday bright； And overhead His star's alight。
Pale and sweet； pale and sweet； Maid Mary keeps her vigil meet；
While Joseph waits with patient feet。 Mary's love for soft embrace；
Joseph's strength to guard the place。 Lo！ from the East Kings ride apace。
Gold and myrrh； gold and myrrh； Frankincense for harbinger； Myrrh to
make His sepulchre。 Roses white and roses red； Thorns arrayed for His
dear Head。 Hail！ hail！ Wise Men who seek His bed
JOSEPH
Little One； Little One； Saviour and Child； Father and Mother； my
Husband and Son； Born of the lily； the maid undefiled； Babe of my Love；
the Beatified One。
Little One； Little One； Master and LORD； Kings of the Earth come；
desiring Thy Face； I； Thy poor servitor； lowly afford All that my life holds；
for all is Thy Grace。
Little One； Little One； GOD over all； Earth is thy footstool； and
Heav'n is Thy throne： Joseph the carpenter； prostrate I fall； Praise thee；
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The Grey Brethren
adore Thee； and claim Thee mine own。
MAID MARY
Babe； dear Babe！ Mine own； mine own； my heart's delight； The
myrrh between my breasts at night； My little Rose； my Lily white； My
Babe for whom the star's alight。
Babe； dear Babe！ Mine own； mine own； GOD'S only SON； Foretold；
foreseen； since earth begun
