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第12章

stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第12章

小说: stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传) 字数: 每页4000字

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pair of rough shoes that would be serviceable for his long march。 

     It was not long before something or other Stanislaus did or said woke 

Paul's easily  aroused   rage。  He   began   with oaths;  of   which   he seemed   to 

possess a pretty stock。 He worked himself up into greater and greater heat 

of temper … a substitute for courage with many people。 Finally he sprang at 

Stanislaus。   Formerly;   on   such   occasions   Stanislaus   was   so   busy   holding 

his own temper in check that he could do little else; he stood almost like a 

statue。 But this time Paul felt there was something wrong。 Stanislaus was 

looking straight at him。 When he leaped to strike him; Stanislaus quietly 

and    skillfully   thrust   him   aside。   Paul   stumbled;     staggered;    recovered 

himself。 But when he looked again; fear took hold of him。 He was afraid 

of what he saw in Stanislaus' eyes。 The younger boy spoke quietly; coolly。 

     〃That will be about enough;〃 he said; 〃I've put up with your cowardice 

and   brutality  for   three   years。   I'll   stand   it   no   longer。   Since   I   cannot   have 

peace here; well;。 I'll look for it somewhere else。 You can answer to our 

father; and tell him how it happened。〃 

     Paul   was   still   frightened。  The   situation   was   extremely   novel   to   him。 

The turning of the worm! What would happen next! He was afraid at first 

that Stanislaus was going to give him his long…due payment; and he had no 

stomach to face the reckoning。 He had not noticed before how wiry and 

strong     Stanislaus    looked。   But    when    he   saw   that   the  boy    made    no 

movement; only spoke in that quiet voice; he plucked up a little courage。 



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                FOR GREATER THINGS: The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka 



He began to bluster and swear。 

     〃You'll go away; will you?〃 he cried。 〃What the devil do I care? Go; 

and    be   hanged    to  you!〃    …  that  was   the  gist   of  it;  only   a  trifle  more 

ornamental。 

     〃Don't   forget!   〃   said   Stanislaus。   〃   Send   word   to   father。   I'm   certainly 

going away。〃 

     Paul was waxing eloquent again; but Stanislaus turned on his heel and 

walked away。 Nor did the bullying big brother venture to follow him。 He 

contented himself with calling him hard names which he could not hear; 

and muttering savagely to himself for some time。 But; naturally; he did not 

believe   at   all   that   Stanislaus   was   really   going   to   run   away9   He   looked 

upon the words as an empty threat。 

     And so it   was   all   over。   Stanislaus   sighed   a sigh   of   relief。 There   was 

nothing ahead of him now save the road to Augsburg。 He said his prayers 

tranquilly and went to bed。 

     Morning came; or the dawn that precedes the morning。 Stanislaus got 

up;  selected   his   finest   suit   of   clothes;   and   dressed。   His   first   care   was   to 

write the letter for Paul and his father。 This he put between the leaves of a 

book。 

     The   servants;   of   course;   even   in   the   primitive   housekeeping   of   the 

Kostkas;   slept   in   another   room   than   the   big   common   apartment   of   their 

masters。 Stanislaus went to the bed of one of them; named Pacifici; who 

was   rather   particularly   devoted   to   him;   and   who   afterwards   became   a 

Franciscan。 He shook Pacifici and woke him。 The servant rubbed his eyes 

sleepily; then gazed in astonishment at the brilliant figure standing in the 

half…light beside his bed。 What was the Lord Stanislaus doing; dressed in 

this unusual finery; at such an unearthly hour! 

     〃Listen;〃 said Stanislaus; 〃I am going out for the day。 I have received 

an invitation which I must accept。 I am going now。 If Bilinski or the Lord 

Paul ask for me; tell them that。〃 

     〃I   will;  your   grace;   I  will;〃   said  Pacifici。   But   he   was   almost    too 

astonished to speak。 

     Stanislaus left the room and the house。 He walked quickly to the Jesuit 

church; where he heard Mass and received Holy Communion。 At Mass he 



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                FOR GREATER THINGS: The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka 



met    a  young    Hungarian;     with   whom      he  had   been    very  intimate。    He 

beckoned him aside and whispered: 

     〃Wait for me a minute。 I just want to say a word to Father Antoni。〃 

     Then he hurried away; but was back shortly at his friend's side; eyes 

dancing; lips smiling; hand outstretched。 

     〃I   have   just   bid   Father   Antoni    good…by;〃     he   said;  with    a  little 

excitement。 〃I am running away。 I am going to Augsburg' to ask admission 

into the Society of Jesus。 I told Paul yesterday that I should not stay with 

him; and I have written a letter and put it in a book。 Do not tell any one 

what I tell you now。 But after a few days; please go and point out the letter 

to Paul。〃 

     His friend listened with wonder。 Going away!' Going to Augsburg! 

     〃But how?〃 he asked。 〃Not on foot?〃 

     〃On foot; to be sure;〃 answered Stanislaus gayly。 〃Do you think I have 

a   horse   secreted   about   me?   Or   could   I   take   one   of   ours   and   wake   the 

house?〃 

     〃And you will be a Jesuit; and teach; and never ride a good horse again; 

and give up your people and your place in the world!〃 

     〃I shall be a Jesuit; if I can;〃 said Stanislaus。 〃As for what I shall give 

up; well; I'd have to give it up when death came; wouldn't I? And since 

God wants it; I'd sooner give it up now。〃 

     But he had not much time for talk。 Day was growing; he must be off。 

He got his friend's promise about the letter; bade him good…by heartily and 

cheerily; and turned his face towards the Augsburg road。 What happened 

else that day we have already seen; and how Paul and Bilinski followed 

him; and how he got away; and how he did walk; bravely; gayly; in less 

than two weeks the four hundred miles to Augsburg。 



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                FOR GREATER THINGS: The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka 



                              CHAPTER XI 



                                      AT DILLIGEN 

     It was well on in the afternoon of August 30th or 31st when Stanislaus 

arrived at Augsburg。 The town was strange to him。 He had to ask his way 

to the Jesuit house。 

     〃I want to see Father Canisius;〃 he told the porter at the door。 〃I have a 

letter of introduction to him。〃 

     The porter was very sorry; but Father Canisius was not in Augsburg。 

Stanislaus' heart fell。 Not in Augsburg! His four hundred miles on foot for 

nothing! It was a terrible disappointment。 

     〃Wait a moment;〃 said the porter; 〃until I call one of the Fathers。〃 

     As Stanislaus waited; he kept asking himself; 〃What shall I do? What 

shall I do now?〃 And for a little while he could not think clearly。 He felt 

almost sick。 But he was not the kind to be discouraged long; and before 

the porter returned with the Father he had made up his mind。 

     〃Since Canisius is not in Augsburg; well; I'll go to whatever place he is 

in。 

     The Father who came was all regrets。 Canisius had gone to Dillingen。 

But   would   not   Stanislaus   come   in;   and   at   least   rest   a   few   days   before 

seeking him further? No; Stanislaus was going on … at once。 

     〃How far is it?〃 he asked。 〃And can you point me out the road?〃 

     〃It is about thirty…five miles;〃 the Father answered。 〃But you can't go 

on this evening。 You must be dreadfully tired。〃 

     Yes; he was tired; but not so tired that he could not go to Dillingen。 

     It is only a little way; after all;〃 he said; smiling as he always smiled。 

But   he   stopped   to   eat   something   with   the   Jesuits;   both   because   he   was 

hungry

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