the gathering of brother hilarius-第3部分

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　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　snatched　it　back；　flung　the　bag　across　his　shoulder；　and　made　off　at　a　round　pace　down　the　road；　while　Martin　roared　after　him　to　wait　an　alms　laid　on　with　a　cudgel。

Hilarius　gazed　horrified　from　the　retreating　figure　to　his　laughing　companion；　who　answered　the　unspoken　question。

〃A　rascal；　lad；　yon　carrion；　and　no　holy　father。　　They　are　the　pest　of　every　country…side；　these　lazy　rogues；　who　never　do　a　hand's　turn　and　yet　live　better　than　many　a　squire。　　I　warrant　he　has　good　stuff　in　that　larder　of　his　to　make　merry　with。〃

Hilarius　walked　on　for　some　time　in　silence　with　bent　head。

〃I　fear　the　world　is　an　ill　place　and　far　from　godliness；〃　he　said　at　last。

〃It　will　look　thus　to　one　cloister…bred；　and　'tis　true　enough　that　godliness　is　far　from　most　men；　but　if　a　hermit's　robe　may　cover　a　rascal；　often　enough　a　good　heart　lies　under　an　ill…favoured　face　and　tongue。　　See；　lad；〃　as　another　turn　in　the　road　brought　them　in　sight　of　Westminster；　〃there　lies　thy　new　world；　God　keep　thee　in　it！〃

He　pointed　to　a　grey…walled　city　rising　from　the　water's　edge；　with　roof　and　pinnacle；　gable　and　turret；　aflame　in　the　light　of　the　western　sky；　in　front　flowed　the　river　like　a　stream　of　molten　gold。

Hilarius　gave　a　little　cry。

〃'Tis　like　the　New　Jerusalem！〃　he　said；　and　Martin　smiled　grimly。

An　hour　later　they　stood　within　the　walls　of　Westminster　city；　and　Hilarius；　amazed　and　weary；　clung　close　to　Martin's　side。　　Around　him　he　saw　russet…clad　archers；　grooms；　men　on　horseback；　pedlars；　pages；　falconers；　scullions　with　meats；　gallant　knights；　gaily　dressed　ladies；　it　was　like　a　tangled　dream。　　The　gabled　fronts　of　the　houses　were　richly　blazoned　or　hung　with　scarlet　cloth；　it　was　a　shifting　scene　of　colour；　life；　and　movement；　and　to　Hilarius'　untutored　eyes；　wild　confusion。　　Outside　the　taverns　clustered　all　sorts　and　conditions　of　men；　drinking；　gossiping；　singing；　for　the　day's　work　was　done。　　In　the　courtyard　of　the　〃Black　Boar〃　a　chained　bear　padded　restlessly　to　and　fro；　and　Hilarius　crossed　himself　anxiously　…　was　the　devil　about　to　beset　him　under　all　guises　at　once？　　He　raised　a　fervent　Ora　pro　me　to　St　Benedict　as　he　hurried　past。　　A　string　of　pack…horses　in　the　narrow　street　sent　folk　flying　for　refuge　to　the　low　dark　doorways；　and　a　buxom　wench；　seeing　the　pretty　lad；　bussed　him　soundly。　　This　was　too　much；　only　the　man　in　him　stayed　the　indignant　tears。　　〃Martin；　Martin！〃　he　cried；　but　the　minstrel　was　on　his　own　ground　now；　and　was　hailed　everywhere　with　acclamations；　and　news　given　and　demanded　in　a　breath。　　Hilarius；　shrinking；　aghast；　his　ears　scourged　with　rough　oaths　and　rude　jests；　his　eyes　offended　by　the　easy　manners　round　him；　his　cheek　hot　from　the　late　salute；　took　refuge　under　a　low　archway；　and　waited　with　anxious　heart　until　the　minstrel　should　have　done　with　the　crowd。

Martin　did　not　forget　him。

〃Hole；　lad！〃　he　cried；　〃see　how　they　welcome　the　King's　bird　back　to　his　cage！　　As　for　thee；　thou　hast　gone　straight　to　thy　cot　like　a　homing　pigeon；　through　that　archway；　lad；　lies　thy　journey's　end。〃　　Then；　apprehending　for　the　first　time　Hilarius'　white　face　and　piteous　eyes；　Martin　strode　across；　swept　him　under　the　archway　into　a　quiet　courtyard　where　a　fountain　rippled；　and；　having　handed　him　over　to　Sir　John's　steward；　left　him　with　a　friendly　slap　on　the　back　and　the　promise　of　speedy　meeting。

Hilarius　delivered　the　Prior's　letter；　and　followed　the　steward　into　a　rush…strewn　hall　where　scullions　and　serving…men　were　busy　with　preparations　for　the　evening　meal；　and　sat　there；　lonely　and　dejected；　his　curiosity　quenched；　his　heart　sore；　his　whole　being　crying　out　for　the　busied　peace　and　silent　orderliness　of　his　cloister　home。　　The　servants　gibed　at　him；　but　he　was　too　weary　to　heed；　indeed　he　hardly　noticed　when　the　household　swept　in　to　supper；　until　a　page…boy　tweaked　him　slyly　by　the　ear　and　bade　him　come　to　table。　　He　ate　and　drank　thankfully；　too　dazed　to　take　note　of　the　meal；　and　the　pages　and　squires　among　whom　he　sat　left　him　alone；　abashed　at　his　gentleness。　　At　last；　something　restored　by　the　much…needed　food；　Hilarius　looked　round　the　hall。

It　reminded　him　of　the　Refectory　at　home；　save　that　it　was　far　loftier　and　heavily　timbered。　　The　twilight　stealing　in　through　high　lancet　windows　served　but　to　emphasize　the　upper　gloom；　which　the　morrow's　sun　would　dissipate　into　cunningly　carved　woodwork　…　a　man's　thought　in　every　quaintly　wrought　boss　and　panel；　grotesque　beast　and　guarding　saint。　　A　raised　table　stood　at　the　upper　end　of　the　hall；　and　here　gaily　dressed　pages　waited　on　the　master　of　the　house　and　his　honoured　guests。　　Hilarius　rightly　guessed　the　tall；　careworn　man　of　distinguished　presence　to　be　no　other　than　Sir　John　himself；　and　he　liked　him　well；　but　his　eyes　wandered　carelessly　over　the　rest　of　the　company　until　they　were　caught　and　held　by　a　woman's　face。　　It　was　Eleanor；　the　fairest　of　the　knight's　three　fair　daughters；　and　when　Hilarius　saw　her　he　felt　as　a　weary　traveller　feels　who　meets　a　fellow　citizen　in　a　far…off　land。

〃Even　such　a　face　must　the　Blessed　Agnes　have　had；〃　he　thought；　his　mind　reverting　to　his　favourite　Saint；　〃she　is　like　the　lilies　in　the　garth　at　home。〃

It　was　a　strange　comparison；　for　the　girl　was　extravagantly　dressed　in　costly　materials　and　brilliant　colours；　her　hair　coifed　in　the　foolish　French　fashion　of　the　day；　and　yet；　despite　it　all；　she　looked　a　nun。　　Her　face　was　pale；　her　brows　set　straight；　her　eyes；　save　when　she　was　much　moved；　were　like　grey　shadows　veiling　an　unknown　soul；　her　mouth；　delicately　curved；　was　scarcely　reddened；　her　head　drooped　slightly　on　her　long；　slender　neck；　a　gesture　instinct　with　gracious　humility。　　She　was　like　a　pictured　saint：　Hilarius'　gaze　clung　to　her；　followed　her　as　she　left　the　hall；　and　saw　her　still　as　he　sat　apart　while　the　serving　men　cleared　the　lower　tables　and　brought　in　the　sleeping　gear　for　the　night。　　He　lay　down　with　the　rest；　and　through　the　high；　lancet　windows　the　moonlight　kissed　his　white　and　weary　face　as　it　was　wont　to　do　on　bright　nights　in　the　cloister　dormitor