the blue flower-第31章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
there no power that can save him？ Is there no one to pity us
and spare us？ Let us call； let us beg for compassion and
help； let us pray for his life！〃
Yes； this was what he wantedthis was the only thing that
could bring relief： to pray； to pour out his sorrow somewhere；
to find a greater strength than his own and cling to it and
plead for mercy and help。 To leave this undone was to be
false to his manhood； it was to be no better than the dumb
beasts when their young perish。 How could he let his boy
suffer and die； without an effort； a cry； a prayer？
He sank on his knees beside Athenais。
〃Out of the depthsout of the depths we call for pity。
The； light of our eyes is fadingthe child is dying。 Oh； the
child； the child！ Spare the child's life； thou merciful〃
Not a word； only that deathly blank。 The hands of Hermas；
stretched out in supplication； touched the marble table。 He
felt the cool hardness of the polished stone beneath his
fingers。 A roll of papyrus； dislodged by his touch； fell
rustling to the floor。 Through the open door； faint and far
off； came the footsteps of the servants； moving cautiously。
The heart of Hermas was like a lump of ice in his bosom。 He
rose slowly to his feet； lifting Athenais with him。
〃It is in vain；〃 he said； 〃there is nothing for us to do。
Long ago I knew something。 I think it would have helped us。
But I have forgotten it。 It is all gone。 But I would give
all that I have； if I could bring it back again now； at this
hour； in this time of our bitter trouble。〃
A slave entered the room while he was speaking； and
approached hesitatingly。
〃Master；〃 he said； 〃John of Antioch； whom we were
forbidden to admit to the house； has come again。 He would
take no denial。 Even now he waits in the peristyle； and the
old man Marcion is with him； seeking to turn him away。〃
〃Come；〃 said Hermas to his wife； 〃let us go to him。〃
In the central hall the two men were standing； Marcion；
with disdainful eyes and sneering lips； taunting the unbidden
guest； John； silent； quiet； patient； while the wondering
slaves looked on in dismay。 He lifted his searching gaze to
the haggard face of Hermas。
〃My son； I knew that I should see you again； even though
you did not send for me。 I have come to you because I have
heard that you are in trouble。〃
〃It is true；〃 answered Hermas； passionately； 〃we are in
trouble； desperate trouble； trouble accursed。 Our child is
dying。 We are poor； we are destitute； we are afflicted。 In
all this house； in all the world； there is no one that can
help us。 I knew something long ago； when I was with you；a
word； a name；in which we might have found hope。 But I have
lost it。 I gave it to this man。 He has taken it away from me
forever。〃
He pointed to Marcion。 The old man's lips curled
scornfully。 〃A word； a name！〃 he sneered。 〃What is that； O
most wise man and holy Presbyter？ A thing of air； a thing
that men make to describe their own dreams and fancies。 Who
would go about to rob any one of such a thing as that？ It is
a prize that only a fool would think of taking。 Besides； the
young man parted with it of his own free will。 He bargained
with me cleverly。 I promised him wealth and pleasure and
fame。 What did he give in return？ An empty name； which was
a burden〃
〃Servant of demons； be still！〃 The voice of John rang
clear； like a trumpet； through the hall。 〃There is a name
which none shall dare to take in vain。 There is a name which
none can lose without being lost。 There is a name at which
the devils tremble。 Go quickly； before I speak it！〃
Marcion shrank into the shadow of one of the pillars。 A
lamp near him tottered on its pedestal and fell with a crash。 In
the confusion he vanished； as noiselessly as a shade。
John turned to Hermas； and his tone softened as he said：
〃My son； you have sinned deeper than you know。 The word with
which you parted so lightly is the keyword of all life。
Without it the world has no meaning； existence no peace； death
no refuge。 It is the word that purifies love； and comforts
grief； and keeps hope alive forever。 It is the most precious
word that ever ear has heard； or mind has known； or heart has
conceived。 It is the name of Him who has given us life and
breath and all things richly to enjoy； the name of Him who；
though we may forget Him； never forgets us； the name of Him
who pities us as you pity your suffering child； the name of
Him who； though we wander far from Him； seeks us in the
wilderness； and sent His Son； even as His Son has sent me this
night； to breathe again that forgotten name in the heart that
is perishing without it。 Listen； my son； listen with all your
soul to the blessed name of God our Father。〃
The cold agony in the breast of Hermas dissolved like a
fragment of ice that melts in the summer sea。 A sense of sweet
release spread through him from head to foot。 The lost was
found。 The dew of peace fell on his parched soul； and the
withering flower of human love raised its head again。 He stood
upright； and lifted his hands high toward heaven。
〃Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee； O Lord！ O my
God； be merciful to me； for my soul trusteth in Thee。 My God；
Thou hast given； take not Thy gift away from me； O my God！
Spare the life of this my child； O Thou God； my Father； my
Father！〃
A deep hush followed the cry。 〃Listen！〃 whispered
Athenais； breathlessly。
Was it an echo？ It could not be； for it came againthe
voice of the child； clear and low； waking from sleep； and
calling： 〃Father！〃
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS…TREE
I
The day before Christmas； in the year of our Lord 722。
Broad snow…meadows glistening white along the banks of the
river Moselle； steep hill…sides blooming with mystic
forget…me…not where the glow of the setting sun cast long
shadows down their eastern slope； an arch of clearest； deepest
gentian bending overhead； in the centre of the aerial garden
the walls of the cloister of Pfalzel； steel…blue to the east；
violet to the west； silence over all；a gentle； eager；
conscious stillness； diffused through the air； as if earth and
sky were hushing themselves to hear the voice of the river
faintly murmuring down the valley。
In the cloister； too； there was silence at the sunset
hour。 All day long there had been a strange and joyful stir
among the nuns。 A breeze of curiosity and excitement had
swept along the corridors and through every quiet cell。 A famous
visitor had come to the convent。
It was Winfried of England； whose name in the Roman tongue
was Boniface； and whom men called the Apostle of Germany。 A
great preacher； a wonderful scholar； but； more than all； a
daring traveller； a venturesome pilgrim； a priest of romance。
He had left his home and his fair estate in Wessex； he
would not stay in the rich monastery of Nutescelle； even
though they had chosen him as the abbot； he had refused a
bishopric at the court of King Karl。 Nothing would content
him but to go out into the wild woods and preach to the
heathen。
Through the forests of Hesse and Thuringia； and along the
borders of Saxony； he had wandered for years； with a handful
of companions； sleeping under the trees； crossing mountains
and marshes； now here； now there； never satisfied with ease
and comfort； always in love with hardship and danger。
What a man he was！ Fair and slight； but straight as a
spear and strong as an oaken staff。 His face was still young； the
smooth skin was bronzed by wind and sun。 His gray eyes； clean
and kind； flashed like fire when he spoke of his adventures； and
of the evil deeds of the false priests with whom he contended。
What tales he had told that day！ Not of miracles wrought
by sacred relics； not of courts and councils and splendid
cathedrals； though he knew much of these things。 But to…day
he had spoken of long journeyings by sea and land； of perils
by fire and flood； of wolves and bears； and fierce snowstorms；
and black nights in the lonely forest； of dark altars of
heathen gods； and weird； bloody sacrifices； and narrow escapes
from murderous bands of wandering savages。
The little novices had gathered around him； and their
faces had
