the young king-第4节

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strode　past　the　Bishop；　and　climbed　up　the　steps　of　the　altar；　and

stood　before　the　image　of　Christ。



He　stood　before　the　image　of　Christ；　and　on　his　right　hand　and　on

his　left　were　the　marvellous　vessels　of　gold；　the　chalice　with　the

yellow　wine；　and　the　vial　with　the　holy　oil。　　He　knelt　before　the

image　of　Christ；　and　the　great　candles　burned　brightly　by　the

jewelled　shrine；　and　the　smoke　of　the　incense　curled　in　thin　blue

wreaths　through　the　dome。　　He　bowed　his　head　in　prayer；　and　the

priests　in　their　stiff　copes　crept　away　from　the　altar。



And　suddenly　a　wild　tumult　came　from　the　street　outside；　and　in

entered　the　nobles　with　drawn　swords　and　nodding　plumes；　and

shields　of　polished　steel。　　'Where　is　this　dreamer　of　dreams？'　they

cried。　　'Where　is　this　King　who　is　apparelled　like　a　beggar　…　this

boy　who　brings　shame　upon　our　state？　　Surely　we　will　slay　him；　for

he　is　unworthy　to　rule　over　us。'



And　the　young　King　bowed　his　head　again；　and　prayed；　and　when　he

had　finished　his　prayer　he　rose　up；　and　turning　round　he　looked　at

them　sadly。



And　lo！　through　the　painted　windows　came　the　sunlight　streaming

upon　him；　and　the　sun…beams　wove　round　him　a　tissued　robe　that　was

fairer　than　the　robe　that　had　been　fashioned　for　his　pleasure。　　The

dead　staff　blossomed；　and　bare　lilies　that　were　whiter　than　pearls。

The　dry　thorn　blossomed；　and　bare　roses　that　were　redder　than

rubies。　　Whiter　than　fine　pearls　were　the　lilies；　and　their　stems

were　of　bright　silver。　　Redder　than　male　rubies　were　the　roses；　and

their　leaves　were　of　beaten　gold。



He　stood　there　in　the　raiment　of　a　king；　and　the　gates　of　the

jewelled　shrine　flew　open；　and　from　the　crystal　of　the　many…rayed

monstrance　shone　a　marvellous　and　mystical　light。　　He　stood　there

in　a　king's　raiment；　and　the　Glory　of　God　filled　the　place；　and　the

saints　in　their　carven　niches　seemed　to　move。　　In　the　fair　raiment

of　a　king　he　stood　before　them；　and　the　organ　pealed　out　its　music；

and　the　trumpeters　blew　upon　their　trumpets；　and　the　singing　boys

sang。



And　the　people　fell　upon　their　knees　in　awe；　and　the　nobles

sheathed　their　swords　and　did　homage；　and　the　Bishop's　face　grew

pale；　and　his　hands　trembled。　　'A　greater　than　I　hath　crowned

thee；'　he　cried；　and　he　knelt　before　him。



And　the　young　King　came　down　from　the　high　altar；　and　passed　home

through　the　midst　of　the　people。　　But　no　man　dared　look　upon　his

face；　for　it　was　like　the　face　of　an　angel。