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the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第14章

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     The maiden sat her down to die (Cold; cold earth on her lover's breast); 

And     the  little  birds  rang    mournfully;    And    the   moonshine      kissed   her 

tenderly; And the stars looked down right pityingly On the poor fair maid 

and the poor cold knight。 Ah misery; dear misery; sweet misery!〃 

       This   mournful   song   was   no   sooner   ended   than   supper   was   served; 

and the company proved themselves good trenchermen。                     Hilarius caught 

sight   of   the   seditious   friar   making   short   work   of   the   Convent's   victuals; 

and marvelled to see him in a place to which he had given so evil a name。 

     Martin was unfeignedly glad to see the lad; and listened intently to his 

tale。   He nodded his head as Hilarius related how the friar he companied 

with preached in   each village that   men   should   repent ere   the   scourge of 

God fell upon them; 〃but there is naught of it as yet;〃 said the lad。 

     〃Nay; nay; it is like a thief in the night。       One day it is not; and then the 

next; men sicken and fall like blasted wheat。              I heard a bruit of London 

that it was but a heap of graves … nay; one grave rather; for they flung the 

bodies   into   a   great   trench;   there   was   no   time   to   do   otherwise: Black 

Death is swift with his stroke。〃 

     Then Hilarius told of Piping Hugh and the Friar's death…words to the 

guests。 

     Martin swore a round oath and slapped his thigh。 

     〃Now know I that thy Friar is a proper man an he has set a curse on 

Piping Hugh of Mildenhall!            A foul…mouthed knave; with many a black 

deed to his name and blood on his hands; if men say truth; and yet there 

was never a bird that would not come at his call; and I never heard tell that 

he harmed one。        What will thy Friar in Bungay; lad?〃 

     When he had heard the story of the Friar's twice…repeated vision and 



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                       THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS 



quest; the Minstrel sat silent awhile with knitted brow and head sunk on 

his breast; then he eyed Hilarius half humorously; half tenderly。 

     〃Methinks; lad; an thy Friar alloweth it; I will even go to Bungay with 

thee; for I love thee well; lad; and would have thy company。 Also I like not 

the matter of the vision and would fain see the end of it。〃 

     That night the dream came again to the Friar; and a voice cried: 〃Haste; 

haste; ere it be too late。〃       And so Hilarius and Martin came to Bungay; 

the Friar guiding them; for the way was his own。 None of the three ever 

saw St Edmund's Abbey again; for in one short month the minster with its 

sister churches was turned to be a spital…house; while the dead lay in heaps; 

silently waiting to summon to their ghastly company the living that sought 

to make them a bed。 

     Quaint little Bungay lay snug enough in the embrace of the low vine… 

crowned hills which half encircled common and town。                    The Friar strode 

forward;  straining   in   his   pace  like  a  leashed   hound;   Martin   and   Hilarius 

following。       Once      he   stopped     and   turned    a   stricken   face    on   his 

companions。 

     〃What is that?〃 he said shrilly。 

     A magpie went ducking across the road; and Hilarius crossed himself 

fearfully。 

     〃Let us make haste;〃 cried the Friar when they told him; and so at full 

pace they came to Bungay town。 

     The place looked empty and deserted; but from the distance came the 

roar and hum of an angry crowd。 

     〃The people are abroad;〃 said Martin; and his face was very grave; 〃no 

doubt   some   knight   is   here;   and   there   is   a   bear…baiting   on   the   common。 

Prithee; where is thy mother's dwelling; good Father; and I will go and ask 

news of her?〃 

     〃'Tis   a   lonely   hovel   by   the   waterside   not   far   from   the   Cattle   Gate; 

Goody Wooten thou shalt ask for。〃 

     Martin went swiftly forward over the Common; Hilarius and the Friar 

followed more slowly; and when they came to the Cattle Gate they stood 

fast and waited; the Friar turning his head anxiously and straining to make 

his ears do a double service。 



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                        THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS 



     Hilarius; who had hitherto regarded Bungay and the Friar's business as 

the last stage of his journey to Wymondham and Brother Andreas; was full 

of foreboding; he watched Martin on the outskirts of the crowd; saw him 

throw up his hands with an angry gesture and point to the Friar。                 Then he 

fell to parleying with the people; but Hilarius was too far off to catch what 

was said。 

     〃See   there;   'tis   her   son;〃   Martin   was   saying   vehemently;   〃yon   holy 

friar hath seen this thing in a vision; but alack! he reads it otherwise; yea; 

and hath hasted hither from overseas to wrestle with the Evil One for his 

mother's soul … and now; and now … 〃 

     The   crowd   parted;   and   he   saw   the   most   miserable   sight。     An   old 

woman   lay   on   the   ground   by   the   river's   edge;   a   bundle   of   filthy   water… 

logged rags crowned by a bruised; vindictive face and grey hair smeared 

with filth and slime。        She lay on her back a shapeless huddle; her right 

thumb   tied   to   her   left   toe   and   so   across: there   was   a   rope   about   her 

middle; but in their hot haste they had not stayed to strip her。 

     Martin     pressed   forward;    and   then   turning    to  the  jeering;   vengeful 

crowd: 

     〃By Christ's Rood; this is an evil work ye have wrought;〃 he said。 

     〃Nay;〃 said one of the bystanders; 〃but it was fair judgment; Minstrel。 

For years she hath worked her spells and black arts in this place; ay; and 

cattle   have   perished   and   women   gone   barren   through   her   means。       Near 

two days agone a child was lost and seen last near her door; ay; and never 

seen again。      When we came to question her she cursed at us for meddling 

mischief…makers;        and   would    but   glare  and   spit;  and   swear    she   knew 

naught of the misbegotten brat。〃 

     〃Maybe 'twas true eno';〃 said Martin。            〃I hate these rough…cast witch… 

findings   …   'tis   not   a   matter   for   man's   judgment;   unless   'tis   sworn  and 

proven in court before the Justiciary。〃 

     〃Nay;〃 joined in an old man; 〃what need of a Justice when God speaks? 

We did but thole her to the river to see if she would sink or swim。                    The 

witch did swim; as all can testify; her Master helping her; and seeing that; 

we drew her under … ay; and see her now as she lies; and say whether the 

Devil hath not set a mark on his own?〃 



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                       THE GAT
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