the blue flower-第32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！


from　murderous　bands　of　wandering　savages。

The　little　novices　had　gathered　around　him；　and　their
faces　had　grown　pale　and　their　eyes　bright　as　they　listened
with　parted　lips；　entranced　in　admiration；　twining　their　arms
about　one　another's　shoulders　and　holding　closely　together；
half　in　fear；　half　in　delight。　　The　older　nuns　had　turned　from
their　tasks　and　paused；　in　passing　by；　to　bear　the　pilgrim's
story。　　Too　well　they　knew　the　truth　of　what　he　spoke。　　Many　a
one　among　them　had　seen　the　smoke　rising　from　the　ruins　of　her
father's　roof。　　Many　a　one　had　a　brother　far　away　in　the　wild
country　to　whom　her　heart　went　out　night　and　day；　wondering　if　he
were　still　among　the　living。

But　now　the　excitements　of　that　wonderful　day　were　over；
the　hour　of　the　evening　meal　had　come；　the　inmates　of　the
cloister　were　assembled　in　the　refectory。

On　the　dais　sat　the　stately　Abbess　Addula；　daughter　of
King　Dagobert；　looking　a　princess　indeed；　in　her　purple　tunic；
with　the　hood　and　cuffs　of　her　long　white　robe　trimmed　with
ermine；　and　a　snowy　veil　resting　like　a　crown　on　her　silver
hair。　　At　her　right　hand　was　the　honoured　guest；　and　at　her
left　hand　her　grandson；　the　young　Prince　Gregor；　a　big；　manly
boy；　just　returned　from　school。

The　long；　shadowy　hall；　with　its　dark…brown　rafters　and
beams；　the　double　row　of　nuns；　with　their　pure　veils　and　fair
faces；　the　ruddy　glow　of　the　slanting　sunbeams　striking　upward
through　the　tops　of　the　windows　and　painting　a　pink　glow
high　up　on　the　walls；it　was　all　as　beautiful　as　a　picture；
and　as　silent。　　For　this　was　the　rule　of　the　cloister；　that　at
the　table　all　should　sit　in　stillness　for　a　little　while；　and
then　one　should　read　aloud；　while　the　rest　listened。

〃It　is　the　turn　of　my　grandson　to　read　to…day；〃　said　the
abbess　to　Winfried；　〃we　shall　see　how　much　he　has　learned　in
the　school。　　Read；　Gregor；　the　place　in　the　book　is　marked。〃

The　lad　rose　from　his　seat　and　turned　the　pages　of　the
manuscript。　　It　was　a　copy　of　Jerome's　version　of　the
Scriptures　in　Latin；　and　the　marked　place　was　in　the　letter　of
St。　Paul　to　the　Ephesians；the　passage　where　he　describes　the
preparation　of　the　Christian　as　a　warrior　arming　for　battle。
The　young　voice　rang　out　clearly；　rolling　the　sonorous　words；
without　slip　or　stumbling；　to　the　end　of　the　chapter。

Winfried　listened　smiling。　　〃That　was　bravely　read；　my
son；〃　said　he；　as　the　reader　paused。　　〃Understandest　thou　what
thou　readest？〃

〃Surely；　father；〃　answered　the　boy；　〃it　was　taught　me　by
the　masters　at　Treves；　and　we　have　read　this　epistle　from
beginning　to　end；　so　that　I　almost　know　it　by　heart。〃

Then　he　began　to　repeat　the　passage；　turning　away　from　the
page　as　if　to　show　his　skill。

But　Winfried　stopped　him　with　a　friendly　lifting　of　the
hand。

〃Not　so；　my　son；　that　was　not　my　meaning。　　When　we　pray；
we　speak　to　God。　　When　we　read；　God　speaks　to　us。　　I　ask
whether　thou　hast　heard　what　He　has　said　to　thee　in　the　common
speech。　　Come；　give　us　again　the　message　of　the　warrior　and
his　armour　and　his　battle；　in　the　mother…tongue；　so　that　all
can　understand　it。〃

The　boy　hesitated；　blushed；　stammered；　then　he　came　around
to　Winfried's　seat；　bringing　the　book。　　〃Take　the　book；　my
father；〃　he　cried；　〃and　read　it　for　me。　　I　cannot　see　the
meaning　plain；　though　I　love　the　sound　of　the　words。　　Religion
I　know；　and　the　doctrines　of　our　faith；　and　the　life　of
priests　and　nuns　in　the　cloister；　for　which　my　grandmother
designs　me；　though　it　likes　me　little。　　And　fighting　I　know；
and　the　life　of　warriors　and　heroes；　for　I　have　read　of　it　in
Virgil　and　the　ancients；　and　heard　a　bit　from　the　soldiers　at
Treves；　and　I　would　fain　taste　more　of　it；　for　it　likes　me　much。
But　how　the　two　lives　fit　together；　or　what　need　there　is　of
armour　for　a　clerk　in　holy　orders；　I　can　never　see。　　Tell　me　the
meaning；　for　if　there　is　a　man　in　all　the　world　that　knows　it；
I　am　sure　it　is　thou。〃

So　Winfried　took　the　book　and　closed　it；　clasping　the
boy's　hand　with　his　own。

〃Let　us　first　dismiss　the　others　to　their　vespers　said　he；
〃lest　they　should　be　weary。〃

A　sign　from　the　abbess；　a　chanted　benediction；　a　murmuring
of　sweet　voices　and　a　soft　rustling　of　many　feet　over　the
rushes　on　the　floor；　the　gentle　tide　of　noise　flowed　out
through　the　doors　and　ebbed　away　down　the　corridors；　the　three
at　the　head　of　the　table　were　left　alone　in　the　darkening
room。

Then　Winfried　began　to　translate　the　parable　of　the
soldier　into　the　realities　of　life。

At　every　turn　he　knew　how　to　flash　a　new　light　into　the
picture　out　of　his　own　experience。　　He　spoke　of　the　combat
with　self；　and　of　the　wrestling　with　dark　spirits　in　solitude。
He　spoke　of　the　demons　that　men　had　worshipped　for　centuries　in
the　wilderness；　and　whose　malice　they　invoked　against　the
stranger　who　ventured　into　the　gloomy　forest。　　Gods；　they　called
them；　and　told　weird　tales　of　their　dwelling　among　the
impenetrable　branches　of　the　oldest　trees　and　in　the　caverns　of
the　shaggy　hills；　of　their　riding　on　the　wind…horses　and　hurling
spears　of　lightning　against　their　foes。　　Gods　they　were　not；　but
foul　spirits　of　the　air；　rulers　of　the　darkness。　　Was　there　not
glory　and　honour　in　fighting　them；　in　daring　their　anger　under
the　shield　of　faith；　in　putting　them　to　flight　with　the　sword
of　truth？　　What　better　adventure　could　a　brave　man　ask　than　to
go　forth　against　them；　and　wrestle　with　them；　and　conquer
them？

〃Look　you；　my　friends；〃　said　Winfried；　〃how　sweet　and
peaceful　is　this　convent　to…night！　　It　is　a　garden　full　of
flowers　in　the　heart　of　winter；　a　nest　among　the　branches　of
a　great　tree　shaken　by　the　winds；　a　still　haven　on　the　edge　of
a　tempestuous　sea。　　And　this　is　what　religion　means　for
those　who　are　chosen　and　called　to　quietude　and　prayer　and
meditation。

〃But　out　yonder　in　the　wide　forest；　who　knows　what　storms
are　raving　to…night　in　the　hearts　of　men；　though　all　the　woods
are　still？　who　knows　what　haunts　of　wrath　and　cruelty　are
closed　tonight　against　the　advent　of　the　Prince　of　Peace？　　And
shall　I　tell　you　what　religion　means　to　those　who　are　called
and　chosen　to　dare；　and　to　fight；　and　to　conquer　the　world　for
Christ？　　It　means　to　go　against　the　strongholds　of　the
adversary。　　It　means　to　struggle　to　win　an　entrance　for　the
Master　everywhere。　　What　helmet　is　strong　enough　for　this
strife　save　the　helmet　of　salvation？　　What　breastplate　can
guard　a　man　against　these　fiery　darts　but　the　breastplate　of
righteousness？　　What　shoes　can　stand　the　wear　of　these
journeys　but　the　preparation　of　the　gospel　of　peace？〃

〃Shoes？〃　he　cried　again；　and　laughed　as　if　a　sudden
thought　had　struck　him。　　He　thrust　out　his　foot；　covered　with
a　heavy　cowhide　boot；　laced　high　about　his　leg　with　thongs　of
skin。

〃Look　here；how　a　fighting　man　of　the　cross　is
shod！　　I　have　seen　the　boots　of　the　Bishop　of　Tours；white
kid；　broidered　with　silk；　a　day　in　the　bogs　would　tear　them　to
shreds。　　I　have　seen　the　sandals　that　the　monks　use　on　the
highroads；yes；　and　worn　them；　ten　pair　of　them　have　I　worn
out　and　thrown　away　in　a　single　journey。　　Now　I　shoe　my　feet
with　the　toughest　hides；　hard　as　iron；　no　rock　can　cut　them；
no　branches　can　tear　them。　　Yet　more　than　one　pair　of　these
have　I　outworn；　and　many　more　shall　I　outwear　ere　my　journeys
are　ended。　　And　I　think；　if　God　is　gracious　to　me；　that　I
shall　die　wearing　them。　　Better　so　than　in　a　soft　bed　with
silken　coverings。　　The　boots　of　a　warrior；　a　hunter；　a
woodsman；these　are　my　preparation　of　the　gospel　of　peace。

〃Come；　Gregor；〃　he　said；　laying　his　brown　hand　on　the
youth's　shoulder；　〃come；　wear　the　forester's　boots　with　me。
This　is　the　life　to　which　we　are　called。　　Be　strong　in　the
Lord；　a　hunter　of　the　demons；　a　subduer　of　the　wilderness；　a
woodsman　of　the　faith。　　Come。〃

The　boy's　eyes　sparkled。　　He　turned　to　his　grandmother。
She　shook　her　head　vigorously。

〃Nay；　father；〃　she　said；　〃draw　not　the　lad　away　from　my
side　with　these　wild　words。　　I　need　him　to　help　me　with　my
labours；　to　cheer　my　old　age。〃

〃Do　you　need　him　more　than　the　Master　does？〃　asked
Winfried；　〃and　will　you　take　the　wood　that　is　fit　for　a　bow　to
make　a　distaff？〃

〃But　I　fear　for　th