the gathering of brother hilarius- 第6部分

〃What　would'st　thou；　Father！〃　said　Hilarius；　afraid。

〃Nay；　who　am　I　that　I　should　speak？　and　yet；　and　yet　…　〃　the　old　man's　voice　grew　weaker　…　〃the　Bread　of　Heaven；　that　I　may　die　in　peace。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hands　again　entreatingly；　and　Hilarius　was　sore　perplexed。

〃Dost　thou　crave　speech　of　the　Abbat；　my　Father？〃

The　Ankret　looked　troubled。

〃Blessed　Michael；　Blessed　Michael！〃　he　murmured　entreatingly。

Hilarius'　hands　hurt　him　sore；　it　was　clear　that　the　holy　man　saw　some　wondrous　vision；　and　'twas　no　gain　time　to　speech　of　him。

〃Blessed　Michael；　Blessed　Michael！〃　quavered　the　old；　tired　voice。

Hilarius　felt　himself　slipping；　with　a　great　effort　he　held　fast　and　braced　himself　against　the　wall

〃Blessed　Michael；　Blessed　Michael！〃　…　The　appeal　in　the　half…dead　face　was　awful。

Hilarius'　grip　failed；　he　slid　to　the　ground　bruised　and　sore　from　the　unaccustomed　strain；　but　well　pleased。　　True；　he　had　gained　no　counsel　from　the　Ankret；　but　he　had　seen　the　holy　man　…　ay；　even　when　he　was　visited　by　a　heavenly　messenger；　and　that　in　itself　should　bring　a　blessing。　　He　turned　to　go；　when　a　sudden　thought　came　to　him。　　There　was　no　one　in　sight；　no　sound　but　the　failing　cry　from　the　tired　old　saint。　　Hilarius　doffed　his　cap　again　and　his　fresh　young　voice　rose　clear　and　sweet　through　the　thin　still　air：…


〃Iesu；　dulcis　memoria；　Dans　vera　cordis　gaudia；　Sed　super　mel　et　omnia　Dulcis　ejus　praesentia。〃


At　the　fourth　stanza　his　memory　failed　him；　but　he　could　hear　the　Ankret　crooning　to　himself　the　words　he　had　sung；　and　crying　softly　like　a　little　child。

Hilarius　went　home　with　wonder　in　his　heart；　but　said　no　word　of　what　had　befallen　him；　and　that　night　the　Ankret　died；　and　the　Sub…　Prior　gave　him　the　last　sacraments。

Next　day　it　was　known　that　a　vision　had　been　vouchsafed　the　holy　man　before　his　end；　and　that　the　Prince　of　Angels　himself　had　brought　his　message　of　release：　　and　Hilarius；　greatly　content　to　think　that　the　Blessed　Michael　had　indeed　been　so　near　him；　kept　his　own　counsel。

He　told　Lady　Eleanor　of　Martin's　words。

〃God　save　the　King！〃　she　said；　and　went　into　her　oratory　to　pray：　and　there　was　need　of　prayer；　for　the　Minstrel's　foreboding　was　no　idle　one。　　Ere　London　knew　it　the　Plague　was　at　her　gates；　yet　the　King；　undeterred；　came　to　spend　Christmas　at　Westminster；　but　Martin　was　not　in　his　train。　　Men's　mirth　waxed　hot　by　reason　of　the　terror　they　would　not　recognise。　　Banquet　and　revel；　allegory　and　miracle　play；　pageant　of　beautiful　women　and　brave　men；　junketing；　ay；　and　rioting　…　thus　they　flung　a　defiance　at　the　enemy；　and　then　fled：　　for　across　the　clash　of　the　feast　bells　sounded　the　mournful　note　of　funeral　dirge　and　requiem。

Eleanor；　knowing　Hilarius'　ardent　longing　for　school　and　master；　prayed　her　father　to　set　him　on　the　way　to　St　Alban's　instead　of　keeping　him　with　them　to　follow　a　fugitive　Court。　　The　good　knight；　feeling　one　page　more　or　less　mattered　little　when　Death　was　so　ready　to　serve；　and　anxious　for　the　lad's　safety　and　well…being；　assented　gladly　enough。　　So　it　came　to　pass　that　on　the　Feast　of　the　Three　Kings　Hilarius　found　himself　on　the　Watling　Street　Way；　a　well…filled　purse　in　his　pocket；　but　a　fearful　heart　under　his　jerkin；　for　the　Death　he　had　never　seen　loomed　large；　a　great　king；　and　by　all　accounts　a　most　mighty　hunter。



CHAPTER　IV　…　BLIND　EYES　WHICH　COULD　SEE



IT　is；　for　the　most　part；　the　moneyed　man　who　flees　from　the　face　of　Death；　the　poor　man　awaits　him　quietly；　with　patient　indifference；　in　the　field　or　under　his　own　roof…tree；　ay；　and　often　flings　the　door　wide　for　the　guest；　or　hastens　his　coming。　Thus　it　came　to　pass　that　while　the　stricken　poor　agonised　in　the　grip　of　unknown　horror；　bishop　and　merchant；　prince　and　chapman；　fine　ladies　in　gorgeous　litters；　abbesses　with　their　train　of　nuns；　and　many　more；　fled　north；　east；　and　west；　from　the　pestilent　cities；　and　encumbered　the　roads　with　much　traffic。　　One　procession；　and　one　only；　did　Hilarius　meet　making　its　way　to　London。

It　was　a　keen　frosty　day；　there　had　been　little　previous　rain　or　snow；　and　the　roads　were　dry；　the　trees　in　the　hedgerows；　bare　and　stricken　skeletons；　stood　out　sharp　and　black　against　a　cold　grey　sky。　　Suddenly　the　sound　of　a　mournful　chant　smote　upon　the　still　air；　music　and　words　alike　strange。　　The　singers　came　slowly　up　the　roadway；　men　of　foreign　aspect　walking　with　bent　heads；　their　dark；　matted　locks　almost　hiding　their　wild；　fixed　eyes　and　thin；　haggard　faces。　　They　were　stripped　to　the　waist；　their　backs　torn　and　bleeding；　and　carried　each　a　bloody　scourge　wherewith　to　strike　his　fellow。　　At　the　third　step　they　signed　the　sign　of　the　Cross　with　their　prostrate　bodies　on　the　ground；　and　thus　in　blood　and　penitence　they　went　towards　London。

Hilarius　was　familiar　with　the　exercise　but　not　the　manner　of　it。　These　strange；　wild　men　filled　him　with　horror；　and　he　shrank　back　with　the　rest。　　Then　a　man　sprang　from　among　the　watching　crowd；　tore　off　jerkin　and　shirt；　and　flung　up　his　arms　to　heaven　with　a　great　sob。

〃I　left　wife　and　children　to　perish　alone；〃　he　cried；　〃and　fled　to　save　my　miserable　skin。　　Now　may　God　have　mercy　on　my　soul；　for　I　go　back。　　Smite；　and　smite　hard；　brother！〃　and　he　stepped　in　front　of　the　first　flagellant。

At　this　there　arose　a　cry　from　the　folk　that　looked　on；　and　many　fell　on　their　knees　and　confessed　their　sins；　accusing　themselves　with　groanings　and　tears；　but　Hilarius；　seized　with　sudden　terror；　turned　and　fled　blindly；　without　thought　of　direction；　his　eyes　wide；　the　blood　drumming　in　his　ears；　a　great　horror　at　his　heels　…　a　horror　that　could　drive　a　man　from　wife　and　child；　that　had　driven　brave　Martin　to　flee　against　the　wind；　and　all　this　folk　to　leave　house　and　home　to　save　that　which　most　men　count　dearer　than　either。

At　last；　exhausted　and　panting；　he　stayed　to　rest；　and　saw；　coming　towards　him；　a　blind　friar。　　Hilarius　had　turned　into　a　by…way　in　the　hurry　of　his　terror；　and　they　two　were　alone。　　The　friar　was　a　small；　mean…looking　man；　feeling　his　way　by　the　aid　of　hand　and　staff；　his　face　upturned；　craving　the　light。　　He　stopped　when　he　came　up　with　Hilarius；　and　turned　his　sightless　eyes　on　him；　a　fire　burnt　in　the　dead　ashes。

〃Art　thou　that　son　of　Christ　waiting　to　guide　my　steps；　as　the　Lord　promised　me？〃

Hilarius　started　back；　afraid　at　the　strange　address；　but　the　friar　laid　one　lean　hand　on　his　arm；　and；　letting　the　staff　slip　back　against　his　shoulder；　felt　Hilarius'　face；　not　with　the　light　and　practised　touch　of　the　blind；　but　slowly　and　carefully；　frowning　the　while。

〃Son；　thou　wilt　come　with　me？〃

〃Nay；　good　Father；　I　may　not；　I　am　for　St　Alban's。〃

〃Whence；　my　son？〃

〃From　Westminster；　good　Father。〃

〃Nay；　then；　thou　mayest　spare　shoe…leather。　　I　left　the　Monastery　but　now；　and；　I　warrant　thee；　they　promise　small　welcome　to　those　from　the　pestilent　cities。　　What　would'st　thou　with　the　Abbat？〃

Hilarius　told　him。

The　friar　flung　up　his　hands。

〃Laus　Deo！　　Laus　Deo！〃　he　cried；　〃now　I　know　thou　art　in　very　truth　the　lad　of　my　dream。　　Listen；　my　son；　and　I　will　tell　thee　all。　Thrice　has　the　vision　come　to　me；　I　see　the　mother　who　bore　me　carried　away；　struggling　and　cursing；　by　men　in　black　apparel；　and　Hell　is　near　at　hand；　belching　out　smoke　and　flame；　and　many　hideous　devils；　yet　the　place　is　little　Bungay；　where　my　mother　hath　a　cot　by　the　river。　　When　first　the　dream　came　I　lay　at　Mechlin　in　the　Monastery　there；　my　flesh　quaked　and　my　hair　stood　up　by　reason　of　the　awfulness　of　the　vision；　then　as　I　mused　and　prayed　I　saw　in　it　the　call　of　the　Lord；　that　I　might　wrestle　with　Satan　for　my　mother's　soul；　for　she　was　ever　inclined　to　evil　arts　and　spells；　and　thought　little　of　aught　save　gain。

〃Forthwith　I　suffered　no　man　to　stay　me；　and　set　off；　the　Plague　at　my　heels；　but　ever　out…stripping　it；　I　was　careful　to　preach　its　coming　in　every　place；　that　men　might　turn　and　repent。　　Then　as　I　tarried　on　the　seaboard　for　a　ship　the　Plague　came；　and　because　I　had　preached　its　coming；　the　people　rose　in　wrath；　and；　falling　upon　me；　roughly　handled　me。　　They　beat　me　full　sore　in　the　market…　place；　then；　piercing　my　eyeballs；　set　me　adrift　in　a　small　boat。

〃Two　days　and　two　nights　I　lay　at　the　mercy　of　the　sea；　darkness　and　light　alike　to　me；　and　with　no　thought　of　time；　for　the　flames　of　hell　burnt　in　my　eyes；　and　a　worse　anguish　in　my　heart　because　of　my　mother's　soul。〃

〃And　then；　and　then？〃　tried　Hilarius　breathlessly；　tears　of　pure　pity　in　his　eyes。

〃Then　the　Lord　cared　for　me　even　as　He　cared　for　the　Prophet　Jonas；　and　sent　a　ship　that　His　message　might　not　be　hindered。　　The　shipmen　were　kindly　folk；　but　we　were　driven　out　of　our　course　by　a　great　wind；　and　at　last　came　ashore　in　Lincolnshire。　　I　have　come　south　thus　far　by　the　aid　of　Christian　men；　but　time　presses；　and　now；　lo！　thou　art　here　to　guide　me。〃

〃But；　my　Father；〃　said　poor　Hilarius；　seeing　yet　another　barrier　in　the　way　of　his　desires；　〃'tis　a　limner　I　would　be；　and　I　am　from　Westminster；　not　London；　and　then　there　is　Prior　Stephen's　letter　…　〃

　The　friar　held　up　his　hand：

〃Thou　shalt　be　a　limner；　my　son；　the　Lord　hath　revealed　it　to　me。　Last　night　the　vision　came　again；　and　a　voice　cried：　　'Speed；　for　a　son　of　Christ　waits　by　the　way　to　guide　thy　steps；'　and　lo！　thou　art　here；　waiting　by　the　way；　as　the　voice　said。　　And　now；　son；　an　thou　wilt　come　thou　shalt　take　thy　letter　to　Wymondham　…　'tis　a　cell　of　this　Abbey　…　for　there　is　Brother　Andreas　from　overseas　who　hath　wondrous　skill　with　the　brush；　he　will　teach　thee；　for　thou　shalt　say　to　him　that　Brother　Amadeus　sent　thee；　who　is　now　as　Bartimeus；　waiting　for　the　light　of　the　Lord；　but　first　thou　shalt　set　me　in　that　village　of　Bungay；　where　my　mother　dwelleth。〃

Hilarius　listened；　gazing　awestruck　at　the　withered　eyes　that　vainly　questioned　his　face。　　He　had　forgotten　plague；　death；　flagellants；　in　this　absorbing　tale　of　the　man　of　God；　who　was　even　as　one　of　the　blessed　martyrs。　　Brother　Andreas！　　A　skilled　limner！　How　should　he；　Hilarius；　gainsay　one　with　a　vision　from　the　Lord？〃

〃I　obey；　my　Father；〃　he　cried　joyously；　taking　the　friar's　hand；　and　they　two　passed　swiftly　down　the　road；　their　faces　to　the　east。