the blue flower-第29节

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〃Let　us　first　dismiss　the　others　to　their　vespers　said　he；
〃lest　they　should　be　weary。〃

A　sign　from　the　abbess；　a　chanted　benediction；　a　murmuring
of　sweet　voices　and　a　soft　rustling　of　many　feet　over　the
rushes　on　the　floor；　the　gentle　tide　of　noise　flowed　out
through　the　doors　and　ebbed　away　down　the　corridors；　the　three
at　the　head　of　the　table　were　left　alone　in　the　darkening
room。

Then　Winfried　began　to　translate　the　parable　of　the
soldier　into　the　realities　of　life。

At　every　turn　he　knew　how　to　flash　a　new　light　into　the
picture　out　of　his　own　experience。　　He　spoke　of　the　combat
with　self；　and　of　the　wrestling　with　dark　spirits　in　solitude。
He　spoke　of　the　demons　that　men　had　worshipped　for　centuries　in
the　wilderness；　and　whose　malice　they　invoked　against　the
stranger　who　ventured　into　the　gloomy　forest。　　Gods；　they　called
them；　and　told　weird　tales　of　their　dwelling　among　the
impenetrable　branches　of　the　oldest　trees　and　in　the　caverns　of
the　shaggy　hills；　of　their　riding　on　the　wind…horses　and　hurling
spears　of　lightning　against　their　foes。　　Gods　they　were　not；　but
foul　spirits　of　the　air；　rulers　of　the　darkness。　　Was　there　not
glory　and　honour　in　fighting　them；　in　daring　their　anger　under
the　shield　of　faith；　in　putting　them　to　flight　with　the　sword
of　truth？　　What　better　adventure　could　a　brave　man　ask　than　to
go　forth　against　them；　and　wrestle　with　them；　and　conquer
them？

〃Look　you；　my　friends；〃　said　Winfried；　〃how　sweet　and
peaceful　is　this　convent　to…night！　　It　is　a　garden　full　of
flowers　in　the　heart　of　winter；　a　nest　among　the　branches　of
a　great　tree　shaken　by　the　winds；　a　still　haven　on　the　edge　of
a　tempestuous　sea。　　And　this　is　what　religion　means　for
those　who　are　chosen　and　called　to　quietude　and　prayer　and
meditation。

〃But　out　yonder　in　the　wide　forest；　who　knows　what　storms
are　raving　to…night　in　the　hearts　of　men；　though　all　the　woods
are　still？　who　knows　what　haunts　of　wrath　and　cruelty　are
closed　tonight　against　the　advent　of　the　Prince　of　Peace？　　And
shall　I　tell　you　what　religion　means　to　those　who　are　called
and　chosen　to　dare；　and　to　fight；　and　to　conquer　the　world　for
Christ？　　It　means　to　go　against　the　strongholds　of　the
adversary。　　It　means　to　struggle　to　win　an　entrance　for　the
Master　everywhere。　　What　helmet　is　strong　enough　for　this
strife　save　the　helmet　of　salvation？　　What　breastplate　can
guard　a　man　against　these　fiery　darts　but　the　breastplate　of
righteousness？　　What　shoes　can　stand　the　wear　of　these
journeys　but　the　preparation　of　the　gospel　of　peace？〃

〃Shoes？〃　he　cried　again；　and　laughed　as　if　a　sudden
thought　had　struck　him。　　He　thrust　out　his　foot；　covered　with
a　heavy　cowhide　boot；　laced　high　about　his　leg　with　thongs　of
skin。

〃Look　here；how　a　fighting　man　of　the　cross　is
shod！　　I　have　seen　the　boots　of　the　Bishop　of　Tours；white
kid；　broidered　with　silk；　a　day　in　the　bogs　would　tear　them　to
shreds。　　I　have　seen　the　sandals　that　the　monks　use　on　the
highroads；yes；　and　worn　them；　ten　pair　of　them　have　I　worn
out　and　thrown　away　in　a　single　journey。　　Now　I　shoe　my　feet
with　the　toughest　hides；　hard　as　iron；　no　rock　can　cut　them；
no　branches　can　tear　them。　　Yet　more　than　one　pair　of　these
have　I　outworn；　and　many　more　shall　I　outwear　ere　my　journeys
are　ended。　　And　I　think；　if　God　is　gracious　to　me；　that　I
shall　die　wearing　them。　　Better　so　than　in　a　soft　bed　with
silken　coverings。　　The　boots　of　a　warrior；　a　hunter；　a
woodsman；these　are　my　preparation　of　the　gospel　of　peace。

〃Come；　Gregor；〃　he　said；　laying　his　brown　hand　on　the
youth's　shoulder；　〃come；　wear　the　forester's　boots　with　me。
This　is　the　life　to　which　we　are　called。　　Be　strong　in　the
Lord；　a　hunter　of　the　demons；　a　subduer　of　the　wilderness；　a
woodsman　of　the　faith。　　Come。〃

The　boy's　eyes　sparkled。　　He　turned　to　his　grandmother。
She　shook　her　head　vigorously。

〃Nay；　father；〃　she　said；　〃draw　not　the　lad　away　from　my
side　with　these　wild　words。　　I　need　him　to　help　me　with　my
labours；　to　cheer　my　old　age。〃

〃Do　you　need　him　more　than　the　Master　does？〃　asked
Winfried；　〃and　will　you　take　the　wood　that　is　fit　for　a　bow　to
make　a　distaff？〃

〃But　I　fear　for　the　child。　　Thy　life　is　too　hard　for　him。
He　will　perish　with　hunger　in　the　woods。〃

〃Once；〃　said　Winfried；　smiling；　〃we　were　camped　on　the
bank　of　the　river　Ohru。　　The　table　was　set　for　the　morning
meal；　but　my　comrades　cried　that　it　was　empty；　the　provisions
were　exhausted；　we　must　go　without　breakfast；　and　perhaps
starve　before　we　could　escape　from　the　wilderness。　　While　they
complained；　a　fish…hawk　flew　up　from　the　river　with　flapping
wings；　and　let　fall　a　great　pike　in　the　midst　of　the　camp。
There　was　food　enough　and　to　spare！　　Never　have　I　seen　the
righteous　forsaken；　nor　his　seed　begging　bread。〃

〃But　the　fierce　pagans　of　the　forest；〃　cried　the
abbess；〃they　may　pierce　the　boy　with　their　arrows；　or　dash
out　his　brains　with　their　axes。　　He　is　but　a　child；　too　young　for
the　danger　and　the　strife。〃

〃A　child　in　years；〃　replied　Winfried；　〃but　a　man　in
spirit。　　And　if　the　hero　fall　early　in　the　battle；　he　wears
the　brighter　crown；　not　a　leaf　withered；　not　a　flower　fallen。〃

The　aged　princess　trembled　a　little。　　She　drew　Gregor
close　to　her　side；　and　laid　her　hand　gently　on　his　brown　hair。
　　〃I　am　not　sure　that　he　wants　to　leave　me　yet。　　Besides；
there　is　no　horse　in　the　stable　to　give　him；　now；　and　he
cannot　go　as　befits　the　grandson　of　a　king。〃

Gregor　looked　straight　into　her　eyes。

〃Grandmother；〃　said　he；　〃dear　grandmother；　if　thou　wilt
not　give　me　a　horse　to　ride　with　this　man　of　God；　I　will　go
with　him　afoot。〃



II

Two　years　had　passed　since　that　Christmas…eve　in　the　cloister
of　Pfalzel。　　A　little　company　of　pilgrims；　less　than　a　score
of　men；　were　travelling　slowly　northward　through　the　wide　forest
that　rolled　over　the　hills　of　central　Germany。

At　the　head　of　the　band　marched　Winfried；　clad　in　a　tunic
of　fur；　with　his　long　black　robe　girt　high　above　his　waist；　so
that　it　might　not　hinder　his　stride。　　His　hunter's　boots　were
crusted　with　snow。　　Drops　of　ice　sparkled　like　jewels　along
the　thongs　that　bound　his　legs。　　There　were　no　other　ornaments
of　his　dress　except　the　bishop's　cross　hanging　on　his　breast；
and　the　silver　clasp　that　fastened　his　cloak　about　his　neck。
He　carried　a　strong；　tall　staff　in　his　hand；　fashioned　at　the
top　into　the　form　of　a　cross。

Close　beside　him；　keeping　step　like　a　familiar　comrade；
was　the　young　Prince　Gregor。　　Long　marches　through　the
wilderness　had　stretched　his　legs　and　broadened　his　back；　and
made　a　man　of　him　in　stature　as　well　as　in　spirit。　　His
jacket　and　cap　were　of　wolf…skin；　and　on　his　shoulder　he
carried　an　axe；　with　broad；　shining　blade。　　He　was　a　mighty
woodsman　now；　and　could　make　a　spray　of　chips　fly　around　him
as　he　hewed　his　way　through　the　trunk　of　a　pine…tree。

Behind　these　leaders　followed　a　pair　of　teamsters；　guiding
a　rude　sledge；　loaded　with　food　and　the　equipage　of　the　camp；
and　drawn　by　two　big；　shaggy　horses；　blowing　thick　clouds　of
steam　from　their　frosty　nostrils。　　Tiny　icicles　hung　from　the
hairs　on　their　lips。　　Their　flanks　were　smoking。　　They　sank
above　the　fetlocks　at　every　step　in　the　soft　snow。

Last　of　all　came　the　rear　guard；　armed　with　bows　and
javelins。　　It　was　no　child's　play；　in　those　days；　to　cross
Europe　afoot。

The　weird　woodland；　sombre　and　illimitable；　covered　hill
and　vale；　table…land　and　mountain…peak。　　There　were　wide　moors
where　the　wolves　hunted　in　packs　as　if　the　devil　drove　them；
and　tangled　thickets　where　the　lynx　and　the　boar　made　their
lairs。　　Fierce　bears　lurked　among　the　rocky　passes；　and　had
not　yet　learned　to　fear　the　face　of　man。　　The　gloomy　recesses
of　the　forest　gave　shelter　to　inhabitants　who　were　still　more
cruel　and　dangerous　than　beasts　of　prey；outlaws　and　sturdy
robbers　and　mad　were…wolves　and　bands　of　wandering　pillagers。

The　pilgrim　who　would　pass　from　the　mouth　of　the　Tiber　to
the　mouth　of　the　Rhine　must　trust　in　God　and　keep　his　arrows
loose　in　the　quiver。

The　travellers　were　surrounded　by　an　ocean　of　trees；　so
vast；　so　full　of　endless　billows；　that　it　seemed　to　be
pressing　on　every　side　to　overwhelm　them。　　Gnarled　oaks；　with
branches　twisted　and　knotted　as　if　in　rage；　rose　in　groves
like　tidal　waves。　　Smooth　forests　of　beech…trees；　round　and
gray；　swept　over　the　knolls　and　slopes　of　land　in　a　mighty
ground…swell。　　But　most　of　all；　the　multitude　of　pines　and
firs；　innumerable　and　monotonous；　with　straight；　stark　trunks；
and　branches　woven　together　in　an　unbroken　flood　of　darkest
green；　crowded　through　the　valleys　and　over　the　hills；　rising
on　the　highest　ridges　into　ragged　crests；　like　the　foaming
edge　of　breakers。

Through　this　sea　of　shadows　ran　a　narrow　stream　of　shining
whiteness；an　ancient　Roman　road；　covered　with　snow。　　It　was
as　if　some　great　ship　had　ploughed　through　the　green　ocean
long　ago；　and　left　behind　it　a　thick；　smooth　wake　of　foam。
Along　this　open　track　the　travellers　held　their　way；heavily；
for　the　drifts　were　deep；　warily；　for　the　hard　winter　had　driven
many　packs　of　wolves　down　from　the　moors。

The　steps　of　the　pilgrims　were　noiseless；　but　the　sledges
creak