登陆注册
5244300000024

第24章 CHAPTER I(1)

- HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG!

THE Monastery by the forest pursued an even existence, with no great event to trouble its serenity, for it lay too far west for the Plague to be more than a terrible name.

True, there had been dissension when Prior Stephen, summoned to Cluny by the Abbat, had perforce left the dominion to the Sub-Prior. For lo! the Sub-Prior, a mild and most amiable man in his own estate, had proved harsh and overbearing in government. Ay, and in an irate mood he had fallen upon Brother William, the Sacrist, in the Frater, plucked out his hair and beaten him sore; whereat the Convent was no little scandalized, and counselled Brother William to resign his office. He flouted the Chamberlain also, and Brother Roger the Hospitaller, and so affronted the Brethren that when he began to sing the Verba mea on leaving the chapter, the Convent - yea, even the novices - were silent, to show their displeasure.

When Prior Stephen returned he was exceeding wroth, but said little; only he took from the Sub-Prior his office, and all that appertained thereto, and made him as one of the other monks; and Brother William, who was a gentle and devout servant of God, he made Sub-Prior in his stead; and the Convent was at peace.

Brother Ambrose, he to whom the vision was vouchsafed, had slipped through the grey veil which once hid Jerusalem from his longing gaze; Brother Richard was now in the land where the blind receive their sight; and Brother Thomas the Cellarer - but of him let us say little and think with charity; for 'tis to be feared that he greatly abused his office and is come to judgment.

Two of the older monks, Brother Anselm and Brother Paul, who had spent fifty years in the sheltered peace of the Monastery walls, sat warming their tired old limbs in the south cloister, for the summer sunshine was very pleasant to them.

"Since Brother Thomas died - " began Brother Paul.

"The Lord have mercy on his soul!" ejaculated Brother Anselm.

"Since Brother Thomas died," said Brother Paul again - a little impatiently, though he crossed himself piously enough - "methinks the provisions have oft been scanty and far from tempting, Brother."

"Ay, and the wine," said Brother Anselm. "Methinks our Cellarer draws the half of it from the Convent's well."

They shook their heads sadly.

"No doubt," said Brother Anselm after a short silence, "our Cellarer is most worthy, strict, and honest in the performance of his office - while Brother Thomas, alack - "

"Methinks Brother Edmund is somewhat remiss also in his duties," said Brother Paul. "The Prior, holy man, perceives nothing of these things. On Sunday's feast one served him with a most unsavoury mess in the refectory, the dish thereof being black and broken; yet he ate the meat in great content, and seemingly with appetite."

"He is but young, he is but young - sixty come Michaelmas - sixty, and twenty-two years Prior - 'tis a long term," and Brother Anselm nodded his head.

"Ay, he is still young, and of sound teeth," said Brother Paul, "whereas thou and I, Brother, are as babes needing pap-meat.

同类推荐
  • 郭公案

    郭公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Notes on Life and Letters

    Notes on Life and Letters

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Following the Equator

    Following the Equator

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 九月十日雨中过张伯

    九月十日雨中过张伯

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 勿斋先生文集

    勿斋先生文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 极品校花之我的吃货女友

    极品校花之我的吃货女友

    湛茳儿一向是酷炫狂拽的代言人,在她的字典里,从来就没有低头认错,害怕这几个字眼。而她从小到大也从未害怕过什么。即便是小女生都害怕的毛毛虫,蛇之类的爬行动物,她也是一点都不怕。甚至还养过蛇当宠物,简直就是一个奇葩中的奇葩。
  • 黑羽之争

    黑羽之争

    随着时间的转轮快速转动,当世界还剩下五分之一能够供人生存的地方,当人类不再平等,当世界不再平静,我们所生存的家园又会发生怎样的故事呢?
  • 演绎推导法训练(青少年提高逻辑思维能力训练集)

    演绎推导法训练(青少年提高逻辑思维能力训练集)

    当今时代是一个知识爆炸的时代,也是一个头脑竞争的时代;在竞争日益激烈的环境下,一个人想要很好地生存,不仅需要付出勤奋,而且还必须具有智慧。随着人才竞争的日趋激烈和高智能化,越来越多的人认识到只拥有知识是远远不够的。因为知识本身并不能告诉我们如何去运用知识,如何去解决问题,如何去创新,而这一切都要靠人的智慧,也就是大脑思维来解决。认真观察周围的人我们也会发现,那些在社会上有所成就的人无不是具有卓越思维能力的人。
  • 郡主彪悍:夫君请下堂

    郡主彪悍:夫君请下堂

    她是一只鬼,于人界与地府游荡千余年,未曾知晓自己所追寻之物。一朝为人,又会有怎么样的命运在等待?前世今生,鬼域梦影,千年之恋,今生梦回。前生,那人是她的一切,却消逝在记忆深处。今生,青梅竹马的他,是恋人,是亲人,还是终究成为陌生人?懵懂无知的爱情,惊为天人的身世,暗波汹涌的朝堂,一切的一切,落幕之后,又将与谁人相守一生……命运轮回周转,黑夜终将过去,迎来黎明。
  • 都市之张小鱼修鸟仙

    都市之张小鱼修鸟仙

    (火爆免费)蛇妖:我千年修为!张小鱼:我吃!吸血鬼:我喝血成瘾!张小鱼:我还吃!本想好好的做一个吃货,却一步步卷进修行界的诡谲漩涡。且看张小鱼如何除妖!最重要的,是虽然变成妖怪,但有一颗人类的心!
  • 乱入的鬼怪美剧世界

    乱入的鬼怪美剧世界

    如题本文是有鬼怪的美剧世界,只是以漫威为世界架构,不以漫威世界线为主,但相同的是世界一样多灾多难。会有静寂岭邪恶力量美国众神等乱入。
  • 助妻为乐2

    助妻为乐2

    她,户籍所小警花,误惹一只大尾巴狼,从此生活变成八点档泡沫剧!他阻碍她的追爱之路,欺负她、玩弄她,最后竟然还想扑倒她?!乔永诚:“不管你要房要车,还是要钱,我都可以满足你!”等等,这话怎么有点怪怪的?
  • 蒙牛:经营人心之道

    蒙牛:经营人心之道

    本书通过对蒙牛文化的全面分析,深度挖掘了“经营人心”的真谛,探讨了“经营人心”对中国企业的现实意义。通过阅读本书,读者将了解到怎样打造一个得人心的企业,怎样做一个得人心的领导,以及如何培养企业的凝聚力,如何创建和谐的企业文化,以此最终达到团结员工,提升工作原动力,从而形成至上而下的核心竞争力。
  • 真诰

    真诰

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 柏岩感旧诗话

    柏岩感旧诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。