the gathering of brother hilarius-第17章
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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 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。
〃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。
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。 Maybe it was Thomas the charcoal burner had served him this ill turn； or William Crookleg； the miller's man； he was a sly； prying fellow； and there had been ill blood between them。
He was fain to seek the Monastery that lay the other side the forest； and crave justice of the Prior； but that the Prior might say 'twas ill…got gain and well rid of。
Dickon rose to his feet and shambled homewards； he was ragged； ill… fed； unkempt。 The day's work was done； and on the village green he found men and women； for the most part as ill…clad as himself； standing about in groups gossiping。 The innkeeper lounged at the ale…house door； thin and peaked as his fellows； there was no good living for any man in those parts； by reason of the over…lord who sore oppressed them。
A little man； keen…eyed and restless； holding a lean and sorry horse by the bridle； was talking eagerly。
〃Nay； 'tis true eno'； and three crows saw I this very day on the churchyard wall … it bodes ill to some of us。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said the innkeeper； 〃have it thine own way。 Methinks the ill hath outrun the omen； for there will be naught for man or beast shortly … but fine pickings for thy three crows。〃
The little man scowled at him： Dickon came up。
〃What's to do？〃 he said curtly。
〃Nay；〃 said mine host； 〃Robin will have it that some further evil is upon us … tho' methinks we have got our fill and to spare with this drought … ay； and 'twas at thy house； Dickon； he saw the corpse…light。〃
〃Better a corpse…light than six open mouths； and naught to fill them；〃 said Dickon surlily。 〃Whither away； Robin？ 'Tis not far this beast will travel。〃
〃Right thou art； but my master will turn an honest penny with the carcass；〃 answered the little man； 〃give me my reckoning； friend John。 I must needs haste if I would see the Forester's ere nightfall。〃
He pulled out a few small coins and a gold piece。 When Dickon saw it his eyes gleamed。 Robin paid the reckoning and put the piece in his cheek。
〃Hard…earned money … 'tis blood out of a stone to draw wages from my master。 Better it should light in my belly than in a rogue's pocket。 'Tis as well for me that John o' th' Swift…foot swings at the cross…roads。 Godden； my masters！〃 And leading his weary beast； he took the road that skirted the forest。
The moon was at full； and he had yet a good stretch of lonely way before him； when the horse stumbled and fell and would not rise。
〃A murrain on the beast！〃 muttered Robin angrily； tugging in vain at the creature on whom death had taken pity。 〃I must e'en leave him by the wayside and tell Richard what hath befallen。〃
He stooped to loose the halter； and as he bent to his task a man slipped from the shadow of the hedge into the quiet moonlight。 There was a thud； a dull cry； and Robin fell prone across the horse's neck … a pace beyond him in the moonlight shone the gleam of gold。
Next day Dickon's child died； ay； and the other five followed with scant time between the buryings。 Another had fathered them and filled
