the gathering of brother hilarius-第6章
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e will of the whispering wind?
〃As well seek Heaven's gate in yon fair reflection as learn to love in this light…minded; deceitful city;〃 Hilarius said to himself a little bitterly。 He deemed that he had plumbed its hollowness and learnt the full measure of its vanity。 Already he shunned the company and diversions of his fellow pages; though he was ever ready to serve them。 A prentice lad's homely brawl set him shivering; a woman's jest painted his cheeks 'til they rivalled a young maid's at her first wooing。 He plucked aside his skirts and walked in judgment; only wherever mountebank or juggler held the crowd enthralled; there Hilarius; half…ashamed; would push his way; in the unacknowledged hope of seeing again the maid whose mother; like his own; was light o' love: a strange link truly to bind Hilarius in his blindness to the rest of poor sinful humanity。
Suddenly there broke on his musing the clatter of horse…hoofs; and a gay young page came spurring with bent head under the low archway。 He reined up by Hilarius:
〃Dear lad; kind lad; wilt thou do me a service?〃
〃That will I; Hal; an it be in my power。〃
〃Take this purse; then; to the Cock Tavern and give it mine host。 'Tis Luke Langland's reckoning; he left it with me yesternight; but my head was full of feast and tourney; and 'tis yet undelivered。 Mine host will not let the serving men and the two horses go 'til he hath seen Luke's money; and I cannot stay; for my lord will need me。〃
Hilarius took the purse; and his fellow page; blessing him for a good comrade; clattered back through the gateway。
The streets were full of life and colour; serving men in the livery of Abbat and Knight; King and Cardinal; lounged at the tavern doors dicing; gaming; and drinking。 Hilarius walked delicately and strove to shut eyes and ears to the sights and sounds of sin。 He delivered the purse; only to hear mine host curse roundly because it was lighter than the reckoning; and after being hustled and jeered at for a milk…faced varlet by the men who stood drinking; he sought with scarlet cheeks for a less frequented way。
The quiet of a narrow street invited him; he turned aside; and suddenly traffic and turmoil died away。 He was in a city within a city; a place of mean tenements; wretched hovels; ruined houses; and; keeping guard over them all; a grim square tower; blind save for two windowed eyes。 Men; ill…favoured; hang…dog; or care…worn; stood about the house doors silent and moody; a white…faced woman crossing the street with a bucket gave no greeting; the very children rolling in the foul gutters neither laughed nor chattered nor played。 The city without seemed very far from this dismal sordid place。
Hilarius felt a touch on his shoulder; and a kindly voice said:…
〃How now; young sir; for what crime dost thou take sanctuary?〃
He looked up and saw an old man in the black dress of an ecclesiastic; the keys of St Peter broidered on his arm。
〃Sanctuary;〃 stammered Hilarius; 〃nay; good sir; I … 〃
The other laughed。
〃Wert thou star…gazing; then; that thou could'st stray into these precincts and know it not? This is the City of Refuge to which a man may flee when he has robbed or murdered his fellow; or been guilty of treason; seditious talk; or slander … a strange place in which to see such a face as thine。〃
〃I did but seek a quiet way home and lost the turning;〃 said Hilarius; 〃in sooth; 'tis a fearful place。〃
〃Ay; boy; 'tis a place of darkness and despair; despite its safety … even the King's arm falls short when a man is in these precincts: but from himself and the knowledge of his crime; a man cannot flee; hence I say 'tis a place of darkness and despair。〃
The unspoken question shone in Hilarius' eyes; and the other answered it。
〃Nay; there is no blood on my soul; young sir。 'Twas good advice I gave; well meant but ill received; so here I dwell to learn the wisdom of fools and the foolishness of wisdom。〃
〃Does the Abbat know what evil men these are that seek the shelter of Holy Church?〃 asked Hilarius; perplexed。
〃Most surely he knows; but what would'st thou have? It hath ever been the part of the Church to embrace sinners with open arms lest they repent。 A man leaves wrath behind him when he flees hither; but should he set foot in the city without; he is the law's; and no man may gainsay it。〃
〃Nay; sir; but these look far from repentance;〃 said Hilarius。
〃Ay; ay; true eno';〃 rejoined the other cheerfully; 〃but then 'tis not for nothing Mother Church holds the keys。 Man's law may fail to reach; but there is ever hell…fire for the unrepented sinner。〃
Hilarius nodded; and his eyes wandered over the squalid place with the North Porch of the Abbey for its sole beauty。
〃It must be as hell here; to live with robbers and men with bloody hands。〃
〃Nay;〃 said the old man hastily; 〃many of them are kindly folk; and many have slain in anger without thought。 'Tis a sad place; though; and thy young face is like a sunbeam on a winter's day。 Come; I will show thee thy road。〃
He led Hilarius through the winding alleys and set him once more on the edge of the city's stir and hum。
〃I can no further;〃 he said。 〃Farewell; young sir; and God keep thee! An old man's blessing ne'er harmed any one。〃
Hilarius gave him godden; and sped swiftly back through the streets crowded with folks returning from the tourney。 The Abbey bell rang out above the shouts and din。
〃'Tis an evil; evil world;〃 quoth young Hilarius。
CHAPTER III … A SENDING FROM THE LORD
OCTOBER and November came and sped; and Hilarius' longing to be a limner waxed with the waning year。 One day by the waterside he met Martin; of whom he saw now much; now little; for the Minstrel followed the Court。
〃The cage grows too small for me; lad;〃 he said; as he stood with Hilarius watching the sun sink below the Surrey uplands; 〃ay; and I love one woman; which is ill for a man of my trade。 I must be away to my mistress; winter or no winter; else my song will die and my heart break。〃
〃'Tis even so with me; good Martin;〃 said Hilarius sadly; 〃I too would fain go forth and serve my mistress; but the cage door is barred; and I may not open it from within。〃
Martin whistled and smote the lad friendly on the shoulder。
〃Patience; lad; patience; thou art young yet。 Eighteen this Martinmas; say you? In truth 'tis a great age; but still leaves time and to spare。 'All things come to a waiting man;' saith the proverb。〃
A week later he chanced on Hilarius sitting on a bench under the south wall of the farmery cloister。 It was a mild; melancholy day; and suited the Minstrel's mood。
He sat down by him and told of King and Court; then when Hilarius had once more cried his longing; he said gravely:…
〃One comes who will open more cage doors than thine and mine; lad … and yet earn no welcome。〃
Hilarius looked at him questioningly。
〃Lad; hast thou ever seen Death?〃
〃Nay; good Martin。〃
〃It comes; lad; it comes; or I am greatly at fault。 I saw the Plague once in Flanders; and fled against the wind; and so came out with a clean skin; now I am like to see it again; for it has landed in the south; and creeps this way。 Mark my words; lad; thou wilt know Death ere the winter is out; and such as God keep thee from。〃
Hilarius understood little of these words but the sound of them; and turned to speak of other things。
Martin looked at him gloomily。
〃Best get back to the cloister and Prior Stephen; lad。〃
〃Nay; good Martin; that may not be; but I have still a letter for the Abbat of St Alban's; and would hasten thither if Sir John would set me free。 Methinks I am a slow scholar;〃 went on poor Hilarius ruefully; 〃for I have not yet gone hungry … and as for love; methinks there are few folk to love in this wicked city。〃
Martin laughed and then grew grave again。
〃Maybe he comes who will teach thee both; and yet I would fain find thee a kinder master。 Well; well; lad; get thee to St Alban's an it be possible; thou art best in a cloister; methinks; for all thy wise Prior Stephen may say。〃
And he went off singing …
〃Three felons hung from a roadside tree; One black and one white and one grey; And the ravens plucked their eye