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strangely in their hollow cavities。
Hilarius strove to speak； but words failed him。
The Ankret looking up saw the beautiful face at his window with its
aureole of yellow hair； and stretched out his bony withered hands。
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael； the messenger of the Lord！〃 he
cried； gaining strength from the vision。
〃What would'st thou； Father！〃 said Hilarius； afraid。
〃Nay； who am I that I should speak？ and yet； and yet … 〃 the old man's
voice grew weaker … 〃the Bread of Heaven； that I may die in peace。〃
He stretched out his hands again entreatingly； and Hilarius was sore
perplexed。
〃Dost thou crave speech of the Abbat； my Father？〃
The Ankret looked troubled。
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael！〃 he murmured entreatingly。
Hilarius' hands hurt him sore； it was clear that the holy man saw some
wondrous vision； and 'twas no gain time to speech of him。
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael！〃 quavered the old； tired voice。
Hilarius felt himself slipping； with a great effort he held fast and
braced himself against the wall
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael！〃 … The appeal in the half…dead
face was awful。
Hilarius' grip failed； he slid to the ground bruised and sore from the
unaccustomed strain； but well pleased。 True； he had gained no counsel
from the Ankret； but he had seen the holy man … ay； even when he was
visited by a heavenly messenger； and that in itself should bring a blessing。
He turned to go； when a sudden thought came to him。 There was no one
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in sight； no sound but the failing cry from the tired old saint。 Hilarius
doffed his cap again and his fresh young voice rose clear and sweet
through the thin still air：…
〃Iesu； dulcis memoria； Dans vera cordis gaudia； Sed super mel et
omnia Dulcis ejus praesentia。〃
At the fourth stanza his memory failed him； but he could hear the
Ankret crooning to himself the words he had sung； and crying softly like a
little child。
Hilarius went home with wonder in his heart； but said no word of what
had befallen him； and that night the Ankret died； and the Sub… Prior gave
him the last sacraments。
Next day it was known that a vision had been vouchsafed the holy man
before his end； and that the Prince of Angels himself had brought his
message of release： and Hilarius； greatly content to think that the
Blessed Michael had indeed been so near him； kept his own counsel。
He told Lady Eleanor of Martin's words。
〃God save the King！〃 she said； and went into her oratory to pray： and
there was need of prayer； for the Minstrel's foreboding was no idle one。
Ere London knew it the Plague was at her gates； yet the King； undeterred；
came to spend Christmas at Westminster； but Martin was not in his train。
Men's mirth waxed hot by reason of the terror they would not recognise。
Banquet and revel； allegory and miracle play； pageant of beautiful women
and brave men； junketing； ay； and rioting … thus they flung a defiance at
the enemy； and then fled： for across the clash of the feast bells sounded
the mournful note of funeral dirge and requiem。
Eleanor； knowing Hilarius' ardent longing for school and master；
prayed her father to set him on the way to St Alban's instead of keeping
him with them to follow a fugitive Court。 The good knight； feeling one
page more or less mattered little when Death was so ready to serve； and
anxious for the lad's safety and well…being； assented gladly enough。 So it
came to pass that on the Feast of the Three Kings Hilarius found himself
on the Watling Street Way； a well…filled purse in his pocket； but a fearful
heart under his jerkin； for the Death he had never seen loomed large； a
great king； and by all accounts a most mighty hunter。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER IV … BLIND EYES WHICH COULD
SEE
IT is； for the most part； the moneyed man who flees from the face of
Death； the poor man awaits him quietly； with patient indifference； in the
field or under his own roof…tree； ay； and often flings the door wide for the
guest； or hastens his coming。 Thus it came to pass that while the stricken
poor agonised in the grip of unknown horror； bishop and merchant； prince
and chapman； fine ladies in gorgeous litters； abbesses with their train of
nuns； and many more； fled north； east； and west； from the pestilent cities；
and encumbered the roads with much traffic。 One procession； and one
only； did Hilarius meet making its way to London。
It was a keen frosty day； there had been little previous rain or snow；
and the roads were dry； the trees in the hedgerows； bare and stricken
skeletons； stood out sharp and black against a cold grey sky。 Suddenly
the sound of a mournful chant smote upon the still air； music and words
alike strange。 The singers came slowly up the roadway； men of foreign
aspect walking with bent heads； their dark； matted locks almost hiding
their wild； fixed eyes and thin； haggard faces。 They were stripped to the
waist； their backs torn and bleeding； and carried each a bloody scourge
wherewith to strike his fellow。 At the third step they signed the sign of
the Cross with their prostrate bodies on the ground； and thus in blood and
penitence they went towards London。
Hilarius was familiar with the exercise but not the manner of it。 These
strange； wild men filled him with horror； and he shrank back with the rest。
Then a man sprang from among the watching crowd； tore off jerkin and
shirt； and flung up his arms to heaven with a great sob。
〃I left wife and children to perish alone；〃 he cried； 〃and fled to save
my miserable skin。 Now may God have mercy on my soul； for I go back。
Smite； and smite hard； brother！〃 and he stepped in front of the first
flagellant。
At this there arose a cry from the folk that looked on； and many fell on
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their knees and confessed their sins； accusing themselves with groanings
and tears； but Hilarius； seized with sudden terror； turned and fled blindly；
without thought of direction； his eyes wide； the blood drumming in his
ears； a great horror at his heels … a horror that could drive a man from wife
and child； that had driven brave Martin to flee against the wind； and all
this folk to leave house and home to save that which most men count
dearer than either。
At last； exhausted and panting； he stayed to rest； and saw； coming
towards him； a blind friar。 Hilarius had turned into a by…way in the hurry
of his terror； and they two were alone。 The friar was a small； mean…
looking man； feeling his way by the aid of hand and staff； his face
upturned； craving the light。 He stopped when he came up with Hilarius；
and turned his sightless eyes on him； a fire burnt in the dead ashes。
〃Art thou that son of Christ waiting to guide my steps； as the Lord
promised me？〃
Hilarius started back； afraid at the strange address； but the friar laid
one lean hand on his arm； and； letting the staff slip back against his
shoulder； felt Hilarius' face； not with the light and practised touch of the
blind； but slowly and carefully； frowning the while。
〃Son； thou wilt come with me？〃
〃Nay； good Father； I may not； I am for St Alban's。〃
〃Whence； my son？〃
〃From Westminster； good Father。〃
〃Nay； then； thou mayest spare shoe…leather。 I left the Monastery but
now； and； I warrant thee； they promise small welcome to those from the
pestilent cities。 What would'st thou with the Abbat？〃
Hilarius told him。
The friar flung up his hands。
〃Laus Deo！ Laus Deo！〃 he cried； 〃now I know thou art in very truth