stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第8节
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face of his quiet； fearless persistence。 And that made them the more vexed
with him。 They nicknamed him 〃The Jesuit；〃 they mimicked him； they
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
sneered at him。 He had a pretty hot temper himself； but he kept himself
well in hand； and was always kind and pleasant with these cross…grained
comrades。 He was not the least bit afraid。 Whenever he thought that
speaking would do any good； he spoke up without hesitation。 Many a time；
when Paul taunted him with acting in a way to bring discredit upon his
name； he answered：
〃No man shames his name by trying to please God。 As for what men
may think or say； that does not matter much。 Do you think we shall bother
much about that in eternity？〃
There were two cousins of theirs who often stayed with the Kostkas；
one of them was also called Stanislaus； the other； who afterwards rose to
high rank in his native country； was named Rozrarewski。 These sided with
Paul and did their best to help him in making Stanislaus' life miserable。
It was not long before Paul went on from words to blows。 One day
Stanislaus quietly tried to answer some of Paul's sneers。 Paul sprang at
him in a rage and； striking out savagely； knocked him down。 Bilinski
interfered； and when he had drawn off Paul； proceeded to scold Stanislaus
as being the cause of all the trouble。 Such meanness and injustice must
have made the boy's blood boil。 But he mastered himself and said nothing。
That afternoon Paul was going out riding。 He could not find his spurs。
〃Take mine；〃 said Stanislaus； pleasantly； as if nothing had happened。 And
Paul took them； a little ashamed； saying to himself： 〃He's a decent little
beggar； after all … if only he weren't so insufferably pious！〃
But Paul； though he might be touched for the moment by his brother's
readiness to forgive； continued to grow even more irritated with him。
Many and many a time he struck Stanislaus； and often； after knocking him
down； kicked him and then tramped on him。 And Bilinski always took the
same line； trying to make peace by blaming everything on Stanislaus。
Now Stanislaus was very nearly Paul's equal in size； and easily his
match in strength。 He lived simply and frugally； kept himself in condition；
did not over…eat and over…drink as Paul did。 He could； without much
difficulty； have met Paul's brutality in kind； and very likely have given him
a good beating。 And he knew well enough that if he did so； Paul would let
him alone。 For when was there ever a bully who was not also a coward？
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And you may be sure he felt like doing it。 He was in the right； and
knew he was。 He was high…spirited and utterly without fear。 And yet he
never even defended himself。 lie let Paul bully him and beat him。 He
endured to have himself looked upon as a coward … although you may
observe that all the time he did not budge an inch from the line of conduct
he had chosen。 And why？ Well； for a lot of reasons。
In the first place； he kept saying to himself； 〃What difference does it
make for eternity？ Then； he knew his own high temper and he would not
let himself go； for fear he should commit a sin … and he hated sin with all
his soul。
And then he recalled what our Lord had suffered for him； and he said：
〃If you will give me the courage to stand it； I'll be glad； Lord； to suffer
this much for You。〃
And that last was the reason why； in the midst of this real persecution；
he never lost his cheerfulness。 More than that； he never missed a chance to
do Paul and his friends a good turn。 He said：
〃When men were treating our Lord worst； even killing Him； that was
when He was opening heaven for them。 And I'm sure He would like me to
be kind as He was kind to those who treated Him meanly。〃
He did what he could to avoid annoying Paul。 He kept out of
everybody's way when he wanted to pray。 He used to wait at night till the
others were asleep； for they all slept in one great room together； and then
slip out of bed and on to his knees。 Sometimes his cousins； thinking it a
great joke； would pretend to stumble over him in the half…dark； and kick
him as hard as they could。
And this went on for two years。 He could have stopped the whole
matter with no trouble at all； by simply writing to his father。 But he never
so much as hinted to any one at home of the way Paul and Bilinski and his
cousins treated him。 He was as plucky as he was gentle and forgiving。
Although； for good reasons； he would not quarrel； he had the tenacity of a
bull…dog； he held on to the hard purpose he had formed and nothing could
beat him off。
And that is the very highest sort of courage； the courage that endures；
that has no show or heroics about it。 Again I say； if he had done all this；
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put up with all this； to gain riches； to make a name for himself； the world
would understand and would praise him tremendously。 It is his motive that
leaves the world cold； it is the source and reason of his courage that the
world cannot understand。
Yet he was not obstinate and pig…headed； bound to do as he wished just
because he wished it。 No； he was very sensible and did everything with
reason。 He would not stop saying his prayers when Bilinski and Paul
objected； he would not join in gay dinners and drinking…bouts and
gambling； he would not sit and smile at shady stories or smutty wit。 He
would no？ do anything his conscience forbade。 But he was most ready to
do anything else they wanted。
For instance； he had been used to give his rich clothes away to the
poor； and dress very simply。 Bilinski and Paul insisted on his dressing as
became his rank； and he yielded readily。 Bilinski wanted him to take
dancing lessons； and he took them； and learned to dance very well。 He was
not keen about any of these things； because he reckoned they would not
count for much in eternity。 But neither was he foolish； nor a fanatic； nor
one who saw evil where no evil was。 He was simply a level…headed boy；
who figured out the business of life clearly and convincingly； and who had
the courage of a hero in living up to his convictions。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER VIII
IN DANGER OF DEATH
Two years of loneliness； when his brother and his cousins and his tutor；
who should have been his comrades； were his persecutors； two years in
which he was always under a strain； always having to control his anger； to
be patient and sweet…tempered amidst a thousand vexations； two years；
moreover； in which the bodily exercise he was used to； and which he
needed as every growing boy needs it； was cut down to a minimum； two
such years would have broken the health even of a grown； strong man。
And Stanislaus was not a grown； strong man； but a boy of sixteen。 It is
remarkable that he should have held out so long。 It shows what courage
and goodness and trust in God can do。 But finally； towards the end of
November； 1566； his body and brain could stand it no longer。 He fell sick；
with fever。
He was not a baby。 He did not complain； or even tell any one that he
felt unwell。 He kept to his feet for weeks； trying to go on as usual with his
work and his prayers。 The feast of Saint Barbara； who had been the
patroness of the boys' sodality in Vienna； was drawing near。 Stanislaus
prepared for it with particular care and devotion。 Saint Barbara was the
patroness of a happy death and her clients always besought of her the
special grace of receiving the Holy Viaticum when dying。
December 4th； the feast of the Saint； came and passed。 Stanislaus grew
weaker； his fever inc
