Gathering of Brother Hilarius Part 13

Next morning, being shriven, Hilarius ate the bread and drank the wine of the "wayfaring man," his heart merry for the joy of his home-coming. When the Lady-Ma.s.s was ended he knelt on in her Chapel.

"Great Light of Love, all praise and thanks be thine from thy poor son," sang his heart; and then he prayed for his little maid.

CHAPTER IV--THE Pa.s.sING OF PRIOR STEPHEN

The Convent welcomed Hilarius gladly, and on the Feast of St Michael he made his profession, for the Prior deemed that he had served his noviciate and been found faithful; and the Brethren a.s.sented eagerly, for they were fain to keep this wondrous limner for the service of their own Church.

Then, by the Prior's command, Hilarius set himself to limn a great picture for the High Altar. It was a Crucifixion, and all his heart and all his love were in it. When the Brethren first saw the fair proportion and fine colours that Hilarius brought to the work, they rejoiced in that their Church should be glorified above other Churches of the Order; but when the picture was near completing, and they gazed up into the wondrous face of the Great King who looked down from the throne of His triumphant suffering, with a world of hunger and love in His eyes for those who had so enthroned Him, they hung their heads for shame because of the emulation in their hearts; and lo! the Cellarer, for very love, was careful for the needs of the elder Brethren; and the monks, for very love, laid hold gladly of suffering, and so the Convent was blessed, and lived together in unity.

In one of the groups very near the Cross, Hilarius set a grey-eyed girl, a woman with a babe at the breast, and clinging to her skirts, a little flaxen-headed maid. None but the Prior knew the meaning of these three, and their names, with that of a poor light- o'-love, were ever on his lips when he offered the Holy Sacrifice.

Gentle Brother Hilarius painted and loved, and was beloved of all his world. The years sped, and he became in turn Almoner, Novice- master, and Sub-Prior: and no man envied him, for he reckoned himself ever as least of all and servant of all.

Prior Stephen attained his fourscore years, ruling the Convent wisely and well to the very end: ay, and never ailed aught, his call coming as it might be straight from the mouth of the Lord.

On the Feast of Blessed Stephen he went into the chapter and said as always: "The souls of the deceased brethren and believers rest in peace!" to which the Convent replied, "Amen." Then with his hands raised to bless he cried, "Benedicite," and again with loud and joyful voice "Domine," and again, "Domine!" as of one who answers to his name--and so pa.s.sed to his place in the Kingdom of Christ.

The Convent elected Hilarius to be Prior in his stead, which election the Abbat of Cluny confirmed with good grace.

Time pa.s.sed, and the fame of the Monastery grew because of the exceeding beauty of the Church, for Hilarius, with those whom he taught, set fair pictures on the walls, and blazoned the roof with the blue of heaven and gold of the wakeful stars. In the span over the High Altar he set Blessed Benedict himself with the face of Prior Stephen, and round him the angel virtues; even as one Giotto, a shepherd lad, had limned them in the Church of the Little Brothers.

Now Prior Hilarius desired greatly to set a picture of Our Lady above the Altar in her Chapel. Long did he pray with ever- increasing fervour and much fasting that this boon might be vouchsafed him for her glory and the Convent's greater good. And one day--'twas her Nativity--he set his hand to the work, for it seemed to him that she would have it so; and he was greatly humbled that such heavenly kindness should attend so vile a sinner. Day by day he set apart some hours for this service; and he limned a face so fair and radiant, with woman's love and light of heaven, that it was whispered in the cloister walks that the Prior had surely been blessed by a vision, else had he never pictured the Maid-Mother in so wondrous a fashion: and of a truth a man might well give credence to such a story, for the joy that shone in the Prior's eyes and might not be hid.

Many other tales did the Brethren tell of Hilarius, but softly, for he would hear no word of his own deeds or the favours vouchsafed him.

When he walked in the garth the pigeons circled round him crooning their peace-note; and it was told that the kine in the meadows ceased browsing when he pa.s.sed, and needs must company with him a little way.

Once it befell that a lay-brother was afflicted with heavy sickness by reason of the sun's great heat; and Satan strove with him for his undoing, so that the poor soul foamed at the mouth and roared out blasphemy; yea, verily, and must be held with cords also, lest he do himself or his fellows some grievous hurt. But when the Prior laid his hand between the man's troubled eyes sweet sleep came upon him, and his madness forsook him.

The poor also crowded to the Monastery gate and were fed, ay, even if the Brethren went hungry; and if any man in all the villages round had aught against his neighbour he would come to the Prior for a just hearing.

Nevertheless, despite these things the Convent's peace began to be troubled. Men sought the Monastery for its famous name, caring but little for religion; there were many young novices within its walls, and the strong hand of Prior Stephen was lacking. Hilarius was of gentler build; he would speak ever in love, thinking no evil, whereas it is not given to all men to understand that tongue.

So it came to pa.s.s that the younger Brethren waxed fat and kicked, and the elder Brethren murmured.

CHAPTER V--"GABRIEL, MAKE THIS MAN TO UNDERSTAND THE VISION."--DAN.

viii. 16.

One day the Novice-master, Brother Adam, a most worthy man, came in sore trouble to the Prior and would resign his office.

"Surely never before did such an ill-conditioned brood find shelter in a monastery!" he cried. "They grow fat, idle, insolent, quarrelsome-never at peace among themselves; never a Pater or an Ave too many, or a task fulfilled, save for fear of stripes. I would that the time of blood-letting were here that their high stomachs might be brought low. I am no longer young, my Father, and this burden tries me sorely. Prithee, let it be shifted to another and a stronger back."

The Prior listened with many an inward mea culpa. "'Tis a sad hearing, Brother Adam, but young blood is hard of mastering; maybe this ill mood will pa.s.s. The lad Robert is surely ever gentle and decorous? He hath a most beauteous voice."

The Novice-master threw up his hands.

"Nay, Father, nay, he hath indeed the voice of an angel, but methinks his body is surely the habitation of Satan. He will sing an it please him--or when thou art by, my Father,--but, an it please him not, he is silent; ay, even under grievous stripes. The Precentor giveth him as negligent and ill-conditioned; and in choir, when he looketh most like to one of G.o.d's Saints, he is but plotting mischief for the day."

The Prior heard him sadly.

"And Hubert?" he said. "Hubert methinks hath a great love of colour and a fine hand with the brush."

Brother Adam was almost speechless.

"Hubert! Nay Father, forgive me, Father, but even this very Hubert but yesterday slipped a handful of pebbles into Brother Edmund's mess, whereby he was like to break his teeth or take some more grievous hurt. And indeed the peace of the Brethren is much troubled, wherefore they complain bitterly."

"Young blood, young blood, but not of necessity evil," said the Prior. Then, seeing the Novice-master's aggrieved face, he bade him have patience yet a little, for he himself would speak to the novices; and with this Brother Adam must fain be content.

The next day in the Chapter the Prior spoke.

It comes to pa.s.s oftentimes that men seeing a sign are made curious by it; and then forgetting, find the clue thereto, it may be, long after. Even thus it happened on this day in the Chapter; and when Prior Hilarius was gathered to his rest the Brethren remembered how they had marked and marvelled at the strange beauty of his face, the beauty as of one who sees the face of the Lord.

"My children," he cried--"for my children ye are, though I see among you many it were more fitting I should hail as father, but that the ruling of the Lord cannot be gainsaid--my children, I am minded to think that I have this day a message on my lips that is not mine own.

"Last night a vision came to me as I slept. Blessed Benedict, our Father, stood at my side, and his face was troubled.

"'Arise, my son,' he cried, 'arise, for the Lord is at hand and hath need of thee.'

"And I, deeming it was of judgment that he spake, sprang up in shame and fear that the Master should find me sleeping.

"Then cried Blessed Benedict again:-

"'If thou wilt serve the Lord, make haste, for He hath called thee these many times,' and so saying pa.s.sed from my sight.

"Brethren, I went forth as one bewildered, and made haste to the Church lest peradventure I should find Him; but the lamps burnt dim and all was silent. Then I turned aside and went out into the night, and it was very dark, with no sound but the wind in the forest trees.

"My heart was a-hungered, and I sought in cloister and garth; and as I hasted to the gate I cried aloud, even as she cried who sought Him in a garden--'They have taken away my Lord.'

"At the gate I stayed me, and besought the Lord for a sign; and lo, in the darkness one came and led me by the hand away from the gate, across the garth and up the dormitory stair, nor loosed me until I pa.s.sed within where the Brethren lay sleeping, and the chamber was bright with exceeding radiance.

"I found myself by the pallet of my dear son Robert: his face was wet with tears; and as he lay I saw upon his shoulder the mark of many stripes.

"Again, one took my hand and led me from one to another of our Brethren, and on every face lay the shadow of a great need, but in every face there was somewhat of the Christ; and the lesson burnt in my heart.

"Then One came swiftly and laid healing hands on the boy Robert; but I fled, for I might not see Him; and I awoke sore troubled--ay, and the trouble is on me still.

"My Brethren, I can but tell the vision as it came to me. Great is the rule of Benedict, our Father, and in it stripes, grievous and many as our sins, have their rightful place; but mayhap we forget that love, and love alone, should strike. Ay, and I mind me how Prior Stephen, my Father, said that to be monk a man must learn before all things to hunger and to love. Love should draw the water and build the fire, till the field and attend the sanctuary; and hunger we should cherish in our hearts, hunger for righteousness and for the souls of our brethren, for this is the hunger of G.o.d.

"Men come over lightly to the Lord's work; and lo! pride and emulation, jealousy and discontent, spring up and thrive, and the end is shame and confusion.

"I speak as to my children; it is in my heart that the Lord is at hand: let us see that we love while there is yet time."