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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
revel； banquet； and joust； much merry…making and little reason； much love
and few marryings： a gay round； but not such as makes a monk。〃
Hilarius smiled。
〃Nay； that life will not be for me。 I am to serve my lord； write for
him； methinks。 But tell me； good Martin； dost thou love the Court？ It
seems a fine thing to be the King's Minstrel。〃
〃Nay； lad； nay；〃 said the other hastily； 〃give me the open country and
the greenwood； and leave to sing or be silent。 Still； the King is a good
master； and lets me roam as I list if I will but come back； 'tis ill…faring in
winter； so back I go to pipe in my cage and follow the Court until next
Lady…day lets the sun in on us again。〃
He struck his vielle lightly； and the two fell into a slower pace as the
minstrel sang。 Hilarius' eyes filled with tears； for he was still heart…sore；
and Martin's voice rose and fell like the wind in the tossing tree…tops
which had beckoned him over the Monastery wall。 The song itself was
sad … of a lover torn from his mistress and borne away captive to alien
service。 When it was ended they took a brisker pace in silence； then；
after a while； Hilarius said timidly：…
〃Did'st thou sing of thyself； good Martin？〃
〃Ay； lad； and of my mistress。〃 He stopped suddenly； louted low to
the sky； and with comprehensive gesture took in the countryside。 〃A fair
mistress； lad； and a faithful one； though of many moods。 A man suns
himself in the warmth of her caresses by day； and at night she is cold；
chaste； unattainable； at one time she is all smiles and tears； then with
boisterous gesture she bids one seek shelter from her buffets。 She gives
all and yet nothing； she trails the very traces of her hair across a man's face
only to elude him。 She holds him fast； for she is mother of all his
children； yet he must seek as though he knew her not； or she flouts him。〃
Hilarius listened eagerly。 Was this what the dancer had meant … the
〃wide wide world； hunger and love〃？
〃Did'st thou ever hunger； good Martin？〃
〃Ay； lad；〃 said the minstrel； surprised； 〃and 'tis good sauce for the next
meal〃
〃Did'st thou ever love？〃
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Martin broke into a great laugh。
〃Ay； marry I have more times than I count years。 But see； here comes
one who knows little enough of hunger or love。〃 Round the bend of the
road came a man in hermit's dress carrying a staff and a well…filled wallet。
His carriage seemed suddenly to become less upright； and he leaned
heavily on his stick as he besought an alms from the two travellers。
Hilarius felt for his purse； but Martin stayed him。
〃Nay； lad； better have left thy money with the pick…purses than help to
fill the skin of this lazy rogue； 'tis not the first time we have met。 See
here；〃 and with a dexterous jerk he caught the hermit's wallet。
This one was too quick for him； with uplifted staff and a mouthful of
oaths； sorely at variance with his habit； he snatched it back； flung the bag
across his shoulder； and made off at a round pace down the road； while
Martin roared after him to wait an alms laid on with a cudgel。
Hilarius gazed horrified from the retreating figure to his laughing
companion； who answered the unspoken question。
〃A rascal； lad； yon carrion； and no holy father。 They are the pest of
every country…side； these lazy rogues； who never do a hand's turn and yet
live better than many a squire。 I warrant he has good stuff in that larder
of his to make merry with。〃
Hilarius walked on for some time in silence with bent head。
〃I fear the world is an ill place and far from godliness；〃 he said at last。
〃It will look thus to one cloister…bred； and 'tis true enough that
godliness is far from most men； but if a hermit's robe may cover a rascal；
often enough a good heart lies under an ill…favoured face and tongue。
See； lad；〃 as another turn in the road brought them in sight of Westminster；
〃there lies thy new world； God keep thee in it！〃
He pointed to a grey…walled city rising from the water's edge； with roof
and pinnacle； gable and turret； aflame in the light of the western sky； in
front flowed the river like a stream of molten gold。
Hilarius gave a little cry。
〃'Tis like the New Jerusalem！〃 he said； and Martin smiled grimly。
An hour later they stood within the walls of Westminster city； and
Hilarius； amazed and weary； clung close to Martin's side。 Around him he
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
saw russet…clad archers； grooms； men on horseback； pedlars； pages；
falconers； scullions with meats； gallant knights； gaily dressed ladies； it was
like a tangled dream。 The gabled fronts of the houses were richly
blazoned or hung with scarlet cloth； it was a shifting scene of colour； life；
and movement； and to Hilarius' untutored eyes； wild confusion。 Outside
the taverns clustered all sorts and conditions of men； drinking； gossiping；
singing； for the day's work was done。 In the courtyard of the 〃Black
Boar〃 a chained bear padded restlessly to and fro； and Hilarius crossed
himself anxiously … was the devil about to beset him under all guises at
once？ He raised a fervent Ora pro me to St Benedict as he hurried past。
A string of pack…horses in the narrow street sent folk flying for refuge to
the low dark doorways； and a buxom wench； seeing the pretty lad； bussed
him soundly。 This was too much； only the man in him stayed the
indignant tears。 〃Martin； Martin！〃 he cried； but the minstrel was on his
own ground now； and was hailed everywhere with acclamations； and news
given and demanded in a breath。 Hilarius； shrinking； aghast； his ears
scourged with rough oaths and rude jests； his eyes offended by the easy
manners round him； his cheek hot from the late salute； took refuge under a
low archway； and waited with anxious heart until the minstrel should have
done with the crowd。
Martin did not forget him。
〃Hole； lad！〃 he cried； 〃see how they welcome the King's bird back to
his cage！ As for thee； thou hast gone straight to thy cot like a homing
pigeon； through that archway； lad； lies thy journey's end。〃 Then；
apprehending for the first time Hilarius' white face and piteous eyes；
Martin strode across； swept him under the archway into a quiet courtyard
where a fountain rippled； and； having handed him over to Sir John's
steward； left him with a friendly slap on the back and the promise of
speedy meeting。
Hilarius delivered the Prior's letter； and followed the steward into a
rush…strewn hall where scullions and serving…men were busy with
preparations for the evening meal； and sat there； lonely and dejected； his
curiosity quenched； his heart sore； his whole being crying out for the
busied peace and silent orderliness of his cloister home。 The servants
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
gibed at him； but he was too weary to heed； indeed he hardly noticed when
the household swept in to supper； until a page…boy tweaked him slyly by
the ear and bade him come to table。 He ate and drank thankfully； too
dazed to take note of the meal； and the pages and squires among whom he
sat left him alone； abashed at his gentleness。 At last； something restored
by the much…needed food； Hilarius looked round the hall。
It reminded him of the Refectory at home； save that it was far loftier
and heavily timbered。 The twilight stealing in through high lancet
windows served but to emphasize the upper gl