the gathering of brother hilarius-第13节
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！
tience over much … 'tis a slender cord at best； and somewhat tried already。 Speak； is it yea or nay？〃
Hilarius looked away to where Mary's flowers lay bruised and scattered on the flag of blood…red marble； his answer came low and clear：…
〃'It is nay。'〃
She thrust her head forward； and looked at him wondering； there was a stain where her teeth had been busy。
〃'It is nay；'〃 she repeated after him； and her eyes mocked him。 〃May a poor Princess ask the Signor's reason？〃
Hilarius pointed past her to the fallen lilies。
〃It lies there。〃
For an instant the hot colour splashed the angry whiteness of her cheek； then； pale to the lips； she turned on him； and she stammered in her wrath：…
〃And dost thou … dost thou dare； say this to my face … to me； who stooped to ask when I had but to command？ I； with my unmatched beauty； I； who hold the hearts of men in thrall to the lifting of my eyes； I； to whom men kneel as to their God！ Art thou mad； mad； that thou canst set aside such a behest as mine？ 'Tis small wonder men say thy doublet hides a monkish dress； of a truth the tale they brought savoured of little else。 Hear me； thou prating； milk…faced Modesty； I choose that thou shalt limn this face of mine： say me nay； and I will teach thee a lesson hard of forgetting； for I will silence thy preaching for aye； and lend my serving…men to whip thee through the streets。 Men； said I？ Nay； thou art too much a cur to make fit sport for men： rather my maids shall wield the rod and lace thy shoulders。〃
She flung herself on a low couch by the open window； where the peacocks on the terrace strutted in the sun； and Hilarius waited； dumb as the dog to which she had likened him； for he had no word。
There was silence a while。
Then the Princess spoke； and her voice cut Hilarius like the sting of a lash：…
〃Bring me yon flowers。〃
He obeyed。
〃Set them at my feet。〃
He bent his knee and did so； wondering。
A moment； and she trod them under； their dying fragrance filled the air； as their living breath had flooded the senses of the blind… eyed lad at the Monastery gate。
One by one she set her heel upon the blossoms； and the marble was yellow with stolen gold。
Hilarius held his breath； it was as if she did to death some living thing； and yet he dared not bid her stay her insolent feet。
It was done； and she looked at him under questioning brows。
〃So much for thy lilies！ Dost still think that it will soil thy brush to limn such an one as I？ I； whom men call the Queen of Love … but thy lips； say they； burnt with another name！ Bethink thee； faint heart； there is not a man in all this city but would count death a small price to pay for my favours； and I ask of thee one little service； and thou shalt name thine own reward。 Surely 'tis churlish to gainsay！〃
Her voice was suddenly sweet。
Stooping； she gathered to her the destruction she had wrought； fingering the fallen petals tenderly； with a little sigh。 She glanced up at Hilarius through her lashes' net。 〃Maybe I was over hasty；〃 she said softly； and a sob swelled the round of her wonderful throat … 〃and yet how couldst thou call me wanton？〃 Her mouth drooped a little … she was very fair。
〃Art thou still minded to set these poor pale flowers against the roses in love's garden？ For I love thee；〃 she added； and then suddenly she was still。
Hilarius looked from the dead flowers to the woman in her over… mastering beauty； and all at once the passion that lies hid in the heart of every man leapt to his lips。 He desired this woman as he had never before desired aught in all the world； and he knew； to his shame； that she was his for the asking。 The blood thudded and rang in his veins； he feasted his eyes on the curve of her neck and the radiance of her sun…swept hair。 He stretched out his hands； but ere he could speak she raised a white； terrified face； and glanced over her shoulder。
〃Who touched me？〃 she gasped； her voice shrill with fear； 〃who touched me？〃 And she sprang to her feet。
There was no one： the two shared a common pallor as they stared into each other's eyes across the dying lilies。 Hilarius shrank back and covered his face with his hands。 Clear and distinct he heard the Prior's voice： 〃A light woman … a light woman。〃
Then the Princess said hoarsely； 〃Go； go；〃 and without word or look Hilarius went。
The Prior rose from his knees comforted。 He had wrestled with the devil for his son's soul； and knew that he had prevailed。
CHAPTER III … OPEN EYES AT THE GATE
ANOTHER year wrote its record on forest and field。 The weeks passed； summer sped to autumn； the ripe corn bowed to the sickle。 The Convent's lands were rich and heavy； virgin soil reclaimed； and the Prior； watching the last great wain piled high with wealth of golden treasure； saw the porter coming to him。
Now the porter was stout； short of breath； and of a hasty spirit； and the Prior knew something was amiss by reason of his hurried gait and wrathful countenance。
〃Domine；〃 he gasped； 〃Domine； there is a ragged man at the gate； a vagabond by his own showing； and he craves speech of thee。 I bade him go to the guest…house； but he will not budge； and hath waited already an hour despite my … 〃
The porter stayed； staring； he spoke to the wind； the Prior was already halfway to the gate。
〃This my son was dead and is alive again；〃 sang his heart。 The porter； afraid； hasted after him with the keys； and had scarce time to do his office ere the sunburnt vagabond was clasped in the Prior's arms。 It was a harvesting indeed。
That night Hilarius went across to the Prior's house to tell the tale of his journeyings。 He found him seated in a great oak chair by the open window； the sky was ablaze with stars； and the flame of the oil lamp jarred like a splash of yellow paint on the moonlight which flooded the room； the Prior's eyes smiled measureless content； and the murmured 〃Laus Deo〃 of his lips voiced the gladness of his heart。 Thus； in the shelter of peace and a great love； Hilarius told his tale； while the forest waved a welcome to him over the Monastery wall； and the late lilies burned white in the garth below。
The Prior sat with his chin in his hand； his eyes fixed on the lad's face； pale against the dark wainscot； and Hilarius told of his journeyings； and all that befell； even as it hath been recorded in this chronicle； and the Prior's eyes were wet as he heard of the little maid。
〃And then； my son？〃 said the Prior。
〃Then； my Father； I companied with the caravan folk as far as the sea…coast； and； leaving them there； went overseas in the train of my lord Bishop Robert Walter of Norwich； who was hasting to Rome。 He knew thee； my Father； and bade his people supply my needs。〃
〃Ay； he knows me；〃 said the Prior briefly。 〃The Lord reward him according to his works； but show him mercy forasmuch as he had compassion on my son！〃
〃Then saw I Rome； my Father； that great and beauteous city full of treasure and many wonders； only the Holy Father I did not see； being let。 Methinks life in that country is as one long pageant； but I marked that great holiness and an evil life； much riches and much penury； dwelt there side by side； and men reeked little of death but much of pleasure。 Then one bade me go to Florence an I would be a limner； therefore I hasted thither； and gave my last coin for bread as I entered the city。〃
The Prior's brows contracted； the lad had seen some schooling。
〃But thou didst learn to be a limner； my son？〃
〃Ay； my Father； in God's time： at first I must herd goats and sell melons in the market…place for a lump of bread。 Day by day I strove to gain enough to buy colours； but could not； for the Lord sent me ever a neighbour poorer than myself。 Nevertheless I was of good courage； knowing the Lord's ways are not as ours； and mindful how Brother Ambrose held that inasmuch as the Heavenly City is laid with fair colours 'twere no sin to deem that a man may limn perfect pictures there； for the gift is from the Lord。〃
〃My son； 'tis a great lesson thou hast learnt；〃 said the Prior； 〃for the Word was made Flesh； and as Blessed John hath it； a man cannot love God unseen； if he love not the brother whom He hath given him。 What next； dear lad？〃
〃My Father； the Lord Himself sent a messenger to me。 One day a great limner； the Signor Andrea di Cione； whom men call d'Orcagna； stayed by me where I stood with my melons in the shadow of the Shepherd's Tower； and bade me follow him to his house； for he would fain use me for an angel's head in the great Altar…piece he was e'en then concerned with for the Church of the White Friars。 Later he heard my story； and when he found I had some small skill with the brush； he kept me with him； and taught me as only such an one can teach： him I served five years。 And many times Satan desired my soul； nay； once I was in peril of hell…fire； but the Lord was with me； and plucked my feet out of the pit。 But of that I will speak anon； at my shriving； as is meet。〃
The Prior remembered his dream； but he said no word； and Hilarius took up his tale。
〃Then one day my master cried there was an end to teaching； nevertheless he would have me bide with him in honour for the work。 But my heart
