按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
22
… Page 23…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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
23
… Page 24…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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 unhind