the gathering of brother hilarius-第5章
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friend； according to his asking。
Hilarius for his part served the Lady Eleanor as an acolyte tends the chapel of a saint； only she was further removed from him than a saint； by reason of her pale humanity。 He soon perceived； as he watched her at banquet； tourney； or pageant； that she went to a revel as to the Sacrament； and sat at a mummers' show with eyes fixed on the Unseen。 She moved through the gay vivid world of Court gallants and joyous maidens like a shadow； and the rout grew graver at her coming。
It was much the same with her lover； Guy de Steyning … brother of that Hugh de Steyning men wot of as Brother Ambrosius … a gentle knight with mild blue eyes； a peaked red beard； and great fervour for heavenly things。 The pair liked one another well； but their time was taken up with preparation for Paradise rather than with earthly business； and their speech lent itself more readily to devout phrases than to lovers' vows。 It was small wonder； therefore； that another year saw them both by glad consent in the cloister； he at Oxford； and Eleanor in the Benedictine House of which her aunt was Prioress。
Hilarius had written of his saintly mistress to Prior Stephen just as he had written of the wondrous beauty of St Peter's Abbey： 〃With all its straight； slender； upstanding pillars； methinks 'tis like the forest at home〃 （forgetting that his more intimate knowledge of the forest partook of the nature of sin）。 〃The Lady Eleanor； my honoured mistress；〃 he wrote； 〃is a most saintly and devout maiden； full of heavenly lore； and caring nought for the things of this world；〃 and he added； 〃'tis beautiful to see such devotion where for the most part are sinful and light…minded persons。〃
The Prior laid the script aside with a smile and a sigh； and when Brother Bernard asked news of the lad； answered a little sadly； 〃Nay； Brother； he still sleeps；〃 and indeed there seemed no waking him to a world of men … living； striving； sorely…tried men。
He dwelt in a land of his own making … a land of colour and light and shadow in which much that he saw played a part； only the gorgeous pageants turned to hosts of triumphant saints heralded by angels； while the knights at a tourney in their brave armour pictured St George； St Michael； or St Martin in his dreams。
It was a limner he longed to be； far away from the stir and stress； not a page attending a great lady to the Court functions。 He yearned ever after the Scriptorium； with its busied monks and stores of colour and gold。 It lay but a stone's throw away behind the jealous Monastery walls； but it was no part of Prior Stephen's plan that the lad should go straight from one cloister to another。
To Hilarius sitting on the bench in the sun； came one of Eleanor's tirewomen to bid him wait on her mistress。 He rose at once and followed her through the hall and up the winding stair； along a gallery hung with wondrous story…telling tapestry； to the bower where Eleanor sat with two of her women busied with their needle。
Hilarius found his mistress； her hands idle on her knee。 He louted low； and she bade him bring a stool and sit beside her。
〃I am weary；〃 she said； 〃this life is weariness。 Tell me of the Monastery and the forest … stay； tell me rather of the New Jerusalem that Brother Ambrose saw and limned。'
Hilarius； nothing loth； settled himself at her feet； elbow on knee； and chin on his open hands； his dreamy blue eyes gazing away out of the window at the cloud…flecked sky above the Abbey pinnacles。
〃The Brother Ambrose；〃 he began； 〃was ever a saintly man； approved of God and beloved by the Brethren； ay； and a crafty limner； save that of late his eyesight failed him。 To him one night； as he lay a…bed in the dormitory； came the word of the Lord； saying： 〃Come； and I will show thee the Bride； the Lamb's wife。〃 And Brother Ambrose arose and was carried to a great and high mountain； even as in the Vision of Blessed John。 'Twas a still night of many stars； and Brother Ambrose； looking up； saw a radiant path in the heavens； and lo！ the stars gathered themselves together on either side until they stood as walls of light； and the four winds lapped him about as in a mantle and bore him towards the wondrous gleaming roadway。 Then between the stars came the Holy City with roof and pinnacle aflame； and walls aglow with such colours as no earthly limner dreams of； and much gold。 Brother Ambrose beheld the Gates of Pearl； and by every gate an angel； with wings of snow and fire； and a face no man dare look on； because of its exceeding radiance。
〃Then as Brother Ambrose stretched out his arms because of his great longing； a little grey cloud came out of the north and hung between the walls of light； so that he no longer beheld the Vision； but heard only a sound as of a great multitude crying； 'Alleluia'； and suddenly the winds came about him again； and lo！ he found himself in bed in the dormitory； and it was midnight； for the bell was ringing to Matins； and he rose and went down with the rest； but when the Brethren left the choir； Brother Ambrose stayed fast in his place； hearing and seeing nothing because of the Vision of God； and at Lauds they found him and told the Prior。
〃He questioned Brother Ambrose of the matter； and when he heard the Vision； bade him limn the Holy City even as he had seen it； and the Precentor gave him uterine vellum and much fine gold and what colours he asked for the work。 Then Brother Ambrose limned a wondrous fair city of gold with turrets and spires； and he inlaid blue for the sapphire； and green for the emerald； and vermilion where the city seemed aflame with the glory of God； but the angels he could not limn； nor could he set the rest of the colours as he saw them； nor the wall of stars on either hand； and Brother Ambrose fell sick because of the exceeding great longing he had to limn the Holy City； and was very sad； but our Prior bade him thank God and remember the infirmity of the flesh； which； like the little grey cloud； veiled Jerusalem to his sight。〃
There was silence。 Lady Eleanor clasped her shadowy blue…veined hands under her chin； and in her eyes too was a great longing。
〃It seemeth to me small wonder that Brother Ambrose fell sick；〃 she said； at length。
Hilarius nodded：
〃He had ever a patient； wistful look as of one from home； and often he would sit musing in the cloister and scarce give heed to the Office bell。〃
〃Methinks； Hilarius； it will be passing sweet to dwell in that Holy City。〃
〃Nay； lady；〃 said her page tenderly； 〃surely thou hast had a vision even as Brother Ambrose； for thine eyes wait always； like unto his。〃
Eleanor shook her head； and two tears crept slowly from the shadow of her eyes。
〃Nay； not to such as I am is the vision vouchsafed； though my desire is great； 'tis ever clogged by sin； and for this same reason I would get me to a cloister where I might fast and pray unhindered。〃
Hilarius looked at her with great compassion。
〃Sweet lady； the Lord fulfil all thy desires； yet； methinks； thou art already as one of His saints。〃
〃Nay； but a poor sinner in an evil world；〃 she answered。 〃Sing to me； Hilarius。〃
And he sang her the Salve Regina； and when it was ended she bade him go； for she would fain spend some time in prayer upon her primer。
〃Our Lady and all Saints be with thee； sweet mistress！〃 he said； and left her to sob out once more the sins and sorrows of her tender childlike heart。
CHAPTER II … THE CITY THAT HILARIUS SAW
HILARIUS went back to the courtyard； his soul full of trouble。 He leant against the fountain； playing with the cool water which fell with monotonous rhythm into the shallow timeworn basin。 The cloudless sky smiled back at him from the broken mirror into which he gazed； and the glory of its untroubled blue thrilled him strangely。 He too had a vision which he longed to limn； but it was of earth； not Heaven； like that vouchsafed to Brother Ambrose； and yet none the less precious； for was it not the Monastery at home which so haunted him； the grey； familiar walls with their girdle of sunlit pasture； and the mantling forest which bowed and swayed at the will of the whispering wind？
〃As well seek Heaven's gate in yon fair reflection as learn to lov
