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chin on his open hands； his dreamy blue eyes gazing away out of the
window at the cloud…flecked sky above the Abbey pinnacles。
〃The Brother Ambrose；〃 he began； 〃was ever a saintly man； approved
of God and beloved by the Brethren； ay； and a crafty limner； save that of
late his eyesight failed him。 To him one night； as he lay a…bed in the
dormitory； came the word of the Lord； saying： 〃Come； and I will show
thee the Bride； the Lamb's wife。〃 And Brother Ambrose arose and was
carried to a great and high mountain； even as in the Vision of Blessed John。
'Twas a still night of many stars； and Brother Ambrose； looking up； saw a
radiant path in the heavens； and lo！ the stars gathered themselves together
on either side until they stood as walls of light； and the four winds lapped
him about as in a mantle and bore him towards the wondrous gleaming
roadway。 Then between the stars came the Holy City with roof and
pinnacle aflame； and walls aglow with such colours as no earthly limner
dreams of； and much gold。 Brother Ambrose beheld the Gates of Pearl；
and by every gate an angel； with wings of snow and fire； and a face no
man dare look on； because of its exceeding radiance。
〃Then as Brother Ambrose stretched out his arms because of his great
longing； a little grey cloud came out of the north and hung between the
walls of light； so that he no longer beheld the Vision； but heard only a
sound as of a great multitude crying； 'Alleluia'； and suddenly the winds
came about him again； and lo！ he found himself in bed in the dormitory；
and it was midnight； for the bell was ringing to Matins； and he rose and
went down with the rest； but when the Brethren left the choir； Brother
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Ambrose stayed fast in his place； hearing and seeing nothing because of
the Vision of God； and at Lauds they found him and told the Prior。
〃He questioned Brother Ambrose of the matter； and when he heard the
Vision； bade him limn the Holy City even as he had seen it； and the
Precentor gave him uterine vellum and much fine gold and what colours
he asked for the work。 Then Brother Ambrose limned a wondrous fair
city of gold with turrets and spires； and he inlaid blue for the sapphire； and
green for the emerald； and vermilion where the city seemed aflame with
the glory of God； but the angels he could not limn； nor could he set the
rest of the colours as he saw them； nor the wall of stars on either hand； and
Brother Ambrose fell sick because of the exceeding great longing he had
to limn the Holy City； and was very sad； but our Prior bade him thank God
and remember the infirmity of the flesh； which； like the little grey cloud；
veiled Jerusalem to his sight。〃
There was silence。 Lady Eleanor clasped her shadowy blue…veined
hands under her chin； and in her eyes too was a great longing。
〃It seemeth to me small wonder that Brother Ambrose fell sick；〃 she
said； at length。
Hilarius nodded：
〃He had ever a patient； wistful look as of one from home； and often he
would sit musing in the cloister and scarce give heed to the Office bell。〃
〃Methinks； Hilarius； it will be passing sweet to dwell in that Holy
City。〃
〃Nay； lady；〃 said her page tenderly； 〃surely thou hast had a vision even
as Brother Ambrose； for thine eyes wait always； like unto his。〃
Eleanor shook her head； and two tears crept slowly from the shadow of
her eyes。
〃Nay； not to such as I am is the vision vouchsafed； though my desire is
great； 'tis ever clogged by sin； and for this same reason I would get me to a
cloister where I might fast and pray unhindered。〃
Hilarius looked at her with great compassion。
〃Sweet lady； the Lord fulfil all thy desires； yet； methinks； thou art
already as one of His saints。〃
〃Nay； but a poor sinner in an evil world；〃 she answered。 〃Sing to me；
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Hilarius。〃
And he sang her the Salve Regina； and when it was ended she bade
him go； for she would fain spend some time in prayer upon her primer。
〃Our Lady and all Saints be with thee； sweet mistress！〃 he said； and
left her to sob out once more the sins and sorrows of her tender childlike
heart。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER II … THE CITY THAT HILARIUS SAW
HILARIUS went back to the courtyard； his soul full of trouble。 He
leant against the fountain； playing with the cool water which fell with
monotonous rhythm into the shallow timeworn basin。 The cloudless sky
smiled back at him from the broken mirror into which he gazed； and the
glory of its untroubled blue thrilled him strangely。 He too had a vision
which he longed to limn； but it was of earth； not Heaven； like that
vouchsafed to Brother Ambrose； and yet none the less precious； for was it
not the Monastery at home which so haunted him； the grey； familiar walls
with their girdle of sunlit pasture； and the mantling forest which bowed
and swayed at the will of the whispering wind？
〃As well seek Heaven's gate in yon fair reflection as learn to love in
this light…minded； deceitful city；〃 Hilarius said to himself a little bitterly。
He deemed that he had plumbed its hollowness and learnt the full measure
of its vanity。 Already he shunned the company and diversions of his
fellow pages； though he was ever ready to serve them。 A prentice lad's
homely brawl set him shivering； a woman's jest painted his cheeks 'til they
rivalled a young maid's at her first wooing。 He plucked aside his skirts
and walked in judgment； only wherever mountebank or juggler held the
crowd enthralled； there Hilarius； half…ashamed； would push his way； in the
unacknowledged hope of seeing again the maid whose mother； like his
own； was light o' love： a strange link truly to bind Hilarius in his
blindness to the rest of poor sinful humanity。
Suddenly there broke on his musing the clatter of horse…hoofs； and a
gay young page came spurring with bent head under the low archway。
He reined up by Hilarius：
〃Dear lad； kind lad； wilt thou do me a service？〃
〃That will I； Hal； an it be in my power。〃
〃Take this purse； then； to the Cock Tavern and give it mine host。 'Tis
Luke Langland's reckoning； he left it with me yesternight； but my head
was full of feast and tourney； and 'tis yet undelivered。 Mine host will not
let the serving men and the two horses go 'til he hath seen Luke's money；
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
and I cannot stay； for my lord will need me。〃
Hilarius took the purse； and his fellow page； blessing him for a good
comrade； clattered back through the gateway。
The streets were full of life and colour； serving men in the livery of
Abbat and Knight； King and Cardinal； lounged at the tavern doors dicing；
gaming； and drinking。 Hilarius walked delicately and strove to shut eyes
and ears to the sights and sounds of sin。 He delivered the purse； only to
hear mine host curse roundly because it was lighter than the reckoning；
and after being hustled and jeered at for a milk…faced varlet by the men
who stood drinking； he sought with scarlet cheeks for a less frequented
way。
The quiet of a narrow street invited him； he turned aside； and suddenly
traffic and turmoil died away。 He was in a city within a city； a place of
mean tenements； wretched hovels； ruined houses； and； keeping guard over
them all； a grim square tower； blind save for two windowed eyes。 Men；
ill…favoured； hang…dog； or care…worn； stood about the house doors silent
and moody； a white…faced woman crossing the street with a bucket gave
no greeting； the very children rolling in the foul gutters neither laughed
nor chattered nor played。 The city without seemed very far from this
dismal sordid place。