the gathering of brother hilarius-第3章

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A　week　later　he　left　the　Monastery　as　a　bird　leaves　its　nest；　nay；　is　pushed　out　by　the　far…seeing　parent　bird；　full　of　vague　terrors　of　the　great　world　without。　　He　had　a　purse　for　his　immediate　needs；　a　letter　to　a　great　knight；　Sir　John　Maltravers；　who　would　be　his　patron；　and　another　to　the　Prior's　good　friend；　the　Abbat　of　St　Alban's。　　The　Convent　bade　him　a　sad　farewell；　for　they　loved　this　gentle　lad　who　had　been　with　them　from　a　little　child；　and　Brother　Richard　strained　his　filmy　eyes　to　look　his　last　at　the　young　face　he　would　never　see　again。

The　Prior　gave　him　the　Communion；　and　later　walked　beside　him　to　the　gates。　　Then　as　Hilarius　knelt　he　blessed　him；　and　the　boy；　overmastered　by　nameless　fear；　sprang　up　and　prayed　that　he　might　stay　and　learn　some　other　way；　however　hard。　　The　Prior　shook　his　head。

〃Nay；　my　son；　so　it　must　be；　else　how　shall　I　answer　to　the　Master　for　this　most　precious　lamb　of　my　flock？　　Come　back　to　us　…　an　thou　can'st　…　let　no　fear　deter　thee；　only　take　heed；　when　thine　eyes　are　opened　and　the　great　gifts　of　hunger　and　love　are　vouchsafed　thee；　to　keep　still　the　faithful　heart　of　a　little　child。〃

Then　he　bade　him　go；　and　Hilarius；　for　the　pull　of　his　heart…　strings；　must　needs　run　hot…foot　down　the　broad　forest　road　and　along　the　highway；　without　daring　to　look　back；　and　so　out　into　the　wide；　wide　world。



CHAPTER　III　…　THE　KING'S　SONG…BIRD



MARTIN　THE　MINSTREL　sat　under　a　wayside　oak　singing　softly　to　himself　as　he　tuned　his　vielle。　　He　was　a　long　lanky　fellow　with　straight　black　locks　flat　against　his　sallow　face；　and　dark　eyes　that　smouldered　in　hollow　cavities。　　He　wore　the　King's　colours；　and　broke　a　manchet　of　white　bread　with　his　mid…day　repast。

〃Heigh…ho！〃　sighed　Martin；　and　laid　the　vielle　lovingly　beside　him；　〃another　four　leagues　to　Westminster；　and　I　weary　enough　of　shoe…　leather　already；　and　not　another　penny　piece　in　my　pocket　'til　I　win　back　to　good　King　Ned。　　A　brave　holiday　I　have　had；　from　Candlemas　to　Midsummer；　free　to　sing　or　to　be　silent；　to　smile　or　frown；　wide　England　instead　of　palace　walls；　a　crust　of　bread　and　a　jug　of　cider　instead　of　a　king's　banquet。　　Now　but　another　few　leagues　and　the　cage　again。　　Money　in　my　pocket；　true；　but　a　song　here　and　a　song　there；　such　as　suit　the　fancy　of　the　Court　gentles；　not　of　Martin　the　Minstrel。　　Heigh…ho；　heigh…ho！　'tis　a　poor　bird　sings　at　the　word　of　a　king；　and　a　poor　enough　song　too；　if　Edward　did　but　know　it。

〃Who　comes　here？　　Faith；　the　lad　goes　a　steady　pace　and　carries　a　light　heart　from　his　song；　and　no　ill　voice　either。〃

It　was　Hilarius；　and　he　sang　the　Alma　Redemptoris　as　he　sped　along　the　green　grass　which　bordered　the　highway。

When　Martin　hailed　him　he　turned　aside　gladly；　and　his　face　lit　up　at　the　sight　of　the　vielle。

〃Whence　dost　thou　come；　lad？〃　said　Martin；　eyeing　him　with　interest。

〃Many　days'　journey　from　the　Monastery　of　Prior　Stephen；〃　answered　Hilarius。

〃But　thou　art　no　monk！〃

〃Nay；　a　novice　scarcely；　but　the　Prior　hath　bidden　me　go　forth　to　see　the　world。　　It　is　wondrous　fair；〃　he　added　sincerely。

〃He　who　speaks　thus　is　cloister…bred；〃　said　Martin；　and　as　Hilarius　made　sign　of　assent；　〃'tis　writ　on　thy　face　as　well。　　Thy　Prior　gave　thee　letters　to　the　Abbat　of　St　Peter's；　I　doubt　not；　thy　face　is　set　for　Westminster。〃

〃Ay；　for　Westminster；　but　my　letters　are　for　that　good　knight；　Sir　John　Maltravers。　　I　should　have　made　an　end　of　my　journeying　ere　now　but　that　two　days　ago　I　met　strange　company。　　They　took　my　purse　and　hat　and　shoes；　and　kept　me　with　them　all　night　until　the　late　dawn。　　Then　they　gave　me　my　goods　again；　and　bade　me　God…　speed。'

〃But　kept　thy　purse？〃　Martin　laughed。

〃Nay；　it　is　here；　and　naught　is　missing。　　It　was　all　passing　strange；　and　I　feared　them；　for　they　looked　evil　men；　yet　they　did　me　no　wrong；　and　set　me　on　my　way　gently　enough；　giving　me　provision；　which　I　lacked。〃

〃Pick…purses　and　cut…throats　afraid　of　God's　judgments　for　once；〃　muttered　Martin；　then　aloud；　〃Well；　young　sir；　we　shall　do　well　if　we　win　Westminster　before　night…fall；　shall　we　journey　together　since　our　way　is　the　same？〃

Hilarius　assented　gladly；　and　as　they　went；　Martin　told　him　of　Court　and　King；　and　the　wondrous　doings　when　the　Princess　Isabel　was　wed。　　He　listened　open…eyed　to　tales　of　joust　and　revel　and　sport；　and　heard　eagerly　all　the　minstrel　could　tell　of　Sir　John　Maltravers　himself；　a　man　of　great　and　good　reputation；　and　no　mean　musician；　〃and；〃　added　Martin；　〃three　fair　daughters　he　hath；　the　eldest　Eleanor；　fairest　of　them　all；　of　whom　men　say　she　would　fain　be　a　nun。　　Thou　art　a　pretty　lad；　I　wager　one　or　other　will　claim　thee　for　page。〃

〃I　will　strive　to　serve　well；〃　said　Hilarius　soberly；　〃but　I　have　never　spoken　but　to　one　maid　'til　yesterday；　when　a　woman　gave　me　good…morrow。〃

Martin　looked　at　his　companion　queerly。

〃And　thou　art　for　Westminster！　　Nay；　but　by　all　the　Saints　this　Prior　of　thine　is　a　strange　master！〃

〃It　is　but　for　a　time；〃　said　Hilarius；　〃then　I　shall　go　back　to　the　Monastery　again。　　But　first　I　would　learn　to　be　a　real　limner；　I　have　some　small　skill　with　the　brush；〃　he　added　simply。

Martin　stared。

〃Back　to　the　cloister？　　Nay；　lad；　best　turn　about　and　get　back　now；　not　wait　till　thou　hast　had　a　taste　of　Court　life。　　Joust　and　banquet　and　revel；　revel；　banquet；　and　joust；　much　merry…making　and　little　reason；　much　love　and　few　marryings：　　a　gay　round；　but　not　such　as　makes　a　monk。〃

Hilarius　smiled。

〃Nay；　that　life　will　not　be　for　me。　　I　am　to　serve　my　lord；　write　for　him；　methinks。　　But　tell　me；　good　Martin；　dost　thou　love　the　Court？　　It　seems　a　fine　thing　to　be　the　King's　Minstrel。〃

〃Nay；　lad；　nay；〃　said　the　other　hastily；　〃give　me　the　open　country　and　the　greenwood；　and　leave　to　sing　or　be　silent。　　Still；　the　King　is　a　good　master；　and　lets　me　roam　as　I　list　if　I　will　but　come　back；　'tis　ill…faring　in　winter；　so　back　I　go　to　pipe　in　my　cage　and　follow　the　Court　until　next　Lady…day　lets　the　sun　in　on　us　again。〃

He　struck　his　vielle　lightly；　and　the　two　fell　into　a　slower　pace　as　the　minstrel　sang。　　Hilarius'　eyes　filled　with　tears；　for　he　was　still　heart…sore；　and　Martin's　voice　rose　and　fell　like　the　wind　in　the　tossing　tree…tops　which　had　beckoned　him　over　the　Monastery　wall。　　The　song　itself　was　sad　…　of　a　lover　torn　from　his　mistress　and　borne　away　captive　to　alien　service。　　When　it　was　ended　they　took　a　brisker　pace　in　silence；　then；　after　a　while；　Hilarius　said　timidly：…

〃Did'st　thou　sing　of　thyself；　good　Martin？〃

〃Ay；　lad；　and　of　my　mistress。〃　　He　stopped　suddenly；　louted　low　to　the　sky；　and　with　comprehensive　gesture　took　in　the　countryside。　〃A　fair　mistress；　lad；　and　a　faithful　one；　though　of　many　moods。　　A　man　suns　himself　in　the　warmth　of　her　caresses　by　day；　and　at　night　she　is　cold；　chaste；　unattainable；　at　one　time　she　is　all　smiles　and　tears；　then　with　boisterous　gesture　she　bids　one　seek　shelter　from　her　buffets。　　She　gives　all　and　yet　nothing；　she　trails　the　very　traces　of　her　hair　across　a　man's　face　only　to　elude　him。　　She　holds　him　fast；　for　she　is　mother　of　all　his　children；　yet　he　must　seek　as　though　he　knew　her　not；　or　she　flouts　him。〃

Hilarius　listened　eagerly。　　Was　this　what　the　dancer　had　meant　…　the　〃wide　wide　world；　hunger　and　love〃？

〃Did'st　thou　ever　hunger；　good　Martin？〃

〃Ay；　lad；〃　said　the　minstrel；　surprised；　〃and　'tis　good　sauce　for　the　next　meal〃

〃Did'st　thou　ever　love？〃

Martin　broke　into　a　great　laugh。

〃Ay；　marry　I　have　more　times　than　I　count　years。　　But　see；　here　comes　one　who　knows　little　enough　of　hunger　or　love。〃　　Round　the　bend　of　the　road　came　a　man　in　hermit's　dress　carrying　a　staff　and　a　well…filled　wallet。　　His　carriage　seemed　suddenly　to　become　less　upright；　and　he　leaned　heavily　on　his　stick　as　he　besought　an　alms　from　the　two　travellers。

Hilarius　felt　for　his　purse；　but　Martin　stayed　him。

〃Nay；　lad；　better　have　left　thy　money　with　the　pick…purses　than　help　to　fill　the　skin　of　this　lazy　rogue；　'tis　not　the　first　time　we　have　met。　　See　here；〃　and　with　a　dexterous　jerk　he　caught　the　hermit's　wallet。

This　one　was　too　quick　for　him；　with　uplifted　staff　and　a　mouthful　of　oaths；　sorely　at　variance　with　his　habit；　he　sna