the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第21章
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even under grievous stripes。 The Precentor giveth him as negligent and
ill…conditioned; and in choir; when he looketh most like to one of God's
Saints; he is but plotting mischief for the day。〃
The Prior heard him sadly。
〃And Hubert?〃 he said。 〃Hubert methinks hath a great love of colour
and a fine hand with the brush。〃
Brother Adam was almost speechless。
〃Hubert! Nay Father; forgive me; Father; but even this very Hubert
but yesterday slipped a handful of pebbles into Brother Edmund's mess;
whereby he was like to break his teeth or take some more grievous hurt。
And indeed the peace of the Brethren is much troubled; wherefore they
complain bitterly。〃
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〃Young blood; young blood; but not of necessity evil;〃 said the Prior。
Then; seeing the Novice…master's aggrieved face; he bade him have
patience yet a little; for he himself would speak to the novices; and with
this Brother Adam must fain be content。
The next day in the Chapter the Prior spoke。
It comes to pass oftentimes that men seeing a sign are made curious by
it; and then forgetting; find the clue thereto; it may be; long after。 Even
thus it happened on this day in the Chapter; and when Prior Hilarius was
gathered to his rest the Brethren remembered how they had marked and
marvelled at the strange beauty of his face; the beauty as of one who sees
the face of the Lord。
〃My children;〃 he cried … 〃for my children ye are; though I see among
you many it were more fitting I should hail as father; but that the ruling of
the Lord cannot be gainsaid … my children; I am minded to think that I
have this day a message on my lips that is not mine own。
〃Last night a vision came to me as I slept。 Blessed Benedict; our
Father; stood at my side; and his face was troubled。
〃'Arise; my son;' he cried; 'arise; for the Lord is at hand and hath need
of thee。'
〃And I; deeming it was of judgment that he spake; sprang up in shame
and fear that the Master should find me sleeping。
〃Then cried Blessed Benedict again:…
〃'If thou wilt serve the Lord; make haste; for He hath called thee these
many times;' and so saying passed from my sight。
〃Brethren; I went forth as one bewildered; and made haste to the
Church lest peradventure I should find Him; but the lamps burnt dim and
all was silent。 Then I turned aside and went out into the night; and it was
very dark; with no sound but the wind in the forest trees。
〃My heart was a…hungered; and I sought in cloister and garth; and as I
hasted to the gate I cried aloud; even as she cried who sought Him in a
garden … 'They have taken away my Lord。'
〃At the gate I stayed me; and besought the Lord for a sign; and lo; in
the darkness one came and led me by the hand away from the gate; across
the garth and up the dormitory stair; nor loosed me until I passed within
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where the Brethren lay sleeping; and the chamber was bright with
exceeding radiance。
〃I found myself by the pallet of my dear son Robert: his face was
wet with tears; and as he lay I saw upon his shoulder the mark of many
stripes。
〃Again; one took my hand and led me from one to another of our
Brethren; and on every face lay the shadow of a great need; but in every
face there was somewhat of the Christ; and the lesson burnt in my heart。
〃Then One came swiftly and laid healing hands on the boy Robert; but
I fled; for I might not see Him; and I awoke sore troubled … ay; and the
trouble is on me still。
〃My Brethren; I can but tell the vision as it came to me。 Great is the
rule of Benedict; our Father; and in it stripes; grievous and many as our
sins; have their rightful place; but mayhap we forget that love; and love
alone; should strike。 Ay; and I mind me how Prior Stephen; my Father;
said that to be monk a man must learn before all things to hunger and to
love。 Love should draw the water and build the fire; till the field and
attend the sanctuary; and hunger we should cherish in our hearts; hunger
for righteousness and for the souls of our brethren; for this is the hunger of
God。
〃Men come over lightly to the Lord's work; and lo! pride and
emulation; jealousy and discontent; spring up and thrive; and the end is
shame and confusion。
〃I speak as to my children; it is in my heart that the Lord is at hand:
let us see that we love while there is yet time。〃
Then he turned to the novices and stretched out his hands to where
they stood amazed; and it may be ashamed … not after this manner was
Brother Adam wont to rebuke them。
〃And ye; who are; as it were; the babes of our Order; give heed to your
ways; neither bring unwilling hands to this service。 Better far go forth;
yea; even to death; than mock the Lord with froward feet and a heart that
is full of vanity。 Remember the sacrifice which Cain offered and the
Lord rejected; for he gainsayed the voice of the Lord and disobeyed His
Commandment; wherefore the wrath of God fell upon him。
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〃I who speak now; speak in love; give ear to my words; and let fear
befriend you; for the coming of the Lord is as a thief in the night; and lo!
stripes bitter and many await that servant whom the Master finds
sleeping。〃
Then the Prior; having made an end of speaking; raised his hand to
bless; and went forth in silence; and no man stirred in his place; for they
knew that the Lord had spoken and were afraid。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER VI … THE HUNGER OF DICKON THE
WOODMAN
JUNE was at an end; and men cried aloud for rain。 The hedges were
white; the fields scorched and brown; the leaves fell from the trees as at
autumn's touch; the fruits scarce formed hung wry and twisted on the
bough; the heavens burnt pitiless; without a cloud。
Dickon; the woodman; sat by the wayside gnawing a crust and a scrap
of mouldy bacon。 There was no sound but the howl of a dog from some
neighbouring farmstead; and he sat in sullen mood; his bill… hook beside
him; brooding over his wrongs; for the world had gone contrary with him。
His wife was dead; she had died in childbed a month gone; leaving six
hungry; naked brats on his shoulders; and now a worse thing had befallen
him; his gold was gone … his gold to which he had no right; for 'twas
blood…money; the food of his children; ay; and something beside; but
Dickon loved that gold piece above all the world … above Heaven and his
own soul … and it was gone。
A neighbour had surely done it; marked the hiding…place which he had
deemed so safe; and made off with the prize; and i' faith 'twas easy
carrying。 There was but one piece; and Dickon minded how he had
changed his petty hoard to gold scarce a month back at the fair。