Never had the peaceful atmosphere of the old Cistercian house been so rudely ruffled1. Never had there been insurrection so sudden, so short, and so successful. Yet the Abbot Berghersh was a man of too firm a grain to allow one bold outbreak to imperil the settled order of his great household. In a few hot and bitter words, he compared their false brother's exit to the expulsion of our first parents from the garden, and more than hinted that unless a reformation occurred some others of the community might find themselves in the same evil and perilous2 case. Having thus pointed3 the moral and reduced his flock to a fitting state of docility4, he dismissed them once more to their labors5 and withdrew himself to his own private chamber6, there to seek spiritual aid in the discharge of the duties of his high office.
The Abbot was still on his knees, when a gentle tapping at the door of his cell broke in upon his orisons.
Rising in no very good humor at the interruption, he gave the word to enter; but his look of impatience7 softened8 down into a pleasant and paternal9 smile as his eyes fell upon his visitor.
He was a thin-faced, yellow-haired youth, rather above the middle size, comely10 and well shapen, with straight, lithe11 figure and eager, boyish features. His clear, pensive12 gray eyes, and quick, delicate expression, spoke13 of a nature which had unfolded far from the boisterous14 joys and sorrows of the world. Yet there was a set of the mouth and a prominence15 of the chin which relieved him of any trace of effeminacy. Impulsive16 he might be, enthusiastic, sensitive, with something sympathetic and adaptive in his disposition17; but an observer of nature's tokens would have confidently pledged himself that there was native firmness and strength underlying18 his gentle, monk-bred ways.
The youth was not clad in monastic garb19, but in lay attire20, though his jerkin, cloak and hose were all of a sombre hue21, as befitted one who dwelt in sacred precincts. A broad leather strap22 hanging from his shoulder supported a scrip or satchel23 such as travellers were wont24 to carry. In one hand he grasped a thick staff pointed and shod with metal, while in the other he held his coif or bonnet25, which bore in its front a broad pewter medal stamped with the image of Our Lady of Rocamadour.
“Art ready, then, fair son?” said the Abbot. “This is indeed a day of comings and of goings. It is strange that in one twelve hours the Abbey should have cast off its foulest26 weed and should now lose what we are fain to look upon as our choicest blossom.”
“You speak too kindly27, father,” the youth answered. “If I had my will I should never go forth28, but should end my days here in Beaulieu. It hath been my home as far back as my mind can carry me, and it is a sore thing for me to have to leave it.”
“Life brings many a cross,” said the Abbot gently. “Who is without them? Your going forth is a grief to us as well as to yourself. But there is no help. I had given my foreword and sacred promise to your father, Edric the Franklin, that at the age of twenty you should be sent out into the world to see for yourself how you liked the savor29 of it. Seat thee upon the settle, Alleyne, for you may need rest ere long.”
The youth sat down as directed, but reluctantly and with diffidence. The Abbot stood by the narrow window, and his long black shadow fell slantwise across the rush-strewn floor.
“Twenty years ago,” he said, “your father, the Franklin of Minstead, died, leaving to the Abbey three hides of rich land in the hundred of Malwood, and leaving to us also his infant son on condition that we should rear him until he came to man's estate. This he did partly because your mother was dead, and partly because your elder brother, now Socman of Minstead, had already given sign of that fierce and rude nature which would make him no fit companion for you. It was his desire and request, however, that you should not remain in the cloisters30, but should at a ripe age return into the world.”
“But, father,” interrupted the young man, “it is surely true that I am already advanced several degrees in clerkship?”
“Yes, fair son, but not so far as to bar you from the garb you now wear or the life which you must now lead. You have been porter?”
“Yes, father.”
“Exorcist?”
“Yes, father.”
“Reader?”
“Yes, father.”
“Acolyte?”
“Yes, father.”
“But have sworn no vow31 of constancy or chastity?”
“No, father.”
“Then you are free to follow a worldly life. But let me hear, ere you start, what gifts you take away with you from Beaulieu? Some I already know. There is the playing of the citole and the rebeck. Our choir32 will be dumb without you. You carve too?”
The youth's pale face flushed with the pride of the skilled workman. “Yes, holy father,” he answered. “Thanks to good brother Bartholomew, I carve in wood and in ivory, and can do something also in silver and in bronze. From brother Francis I have learned to paint on vellum, on glass, and on metal, with a knowledge of those pigments33 and essences which can preserve the color against damp or a biting air. Brother Luke hath given me some skill in damask work, and in the enamelling of shrines34, tabernacles, diptychs and triptychs. For the rest, I know a little of the making of covers, the cutting of precious stones, and the fashioning of instruments.”
“A goodly list, truly,” cried the superior with a smile. “What clerk of Cambrig or of Oxenford could say as much? But of thy reading—hast not so much to show there, I fear?”
“No, father, it hath been slight enough. Yet, thanks to our good chancellor35, I am not wholly unlettered. I have read Ockham, Bradwardine, and other of the schoolmen, together with the learned Duns Scotus and the book of the holy Aquinas.”
“But of the things of this world, what have you gathered from your reading? From this high window you may catch a glimpse over the wooden point and the smoke of Bucklershard of the mouth of the Exe, and the shining sea. Now, I pray you, Alleyne, if a man were to take a ship and spread sail across yonder waters, where might he hope to arrive?”
The youth pondered, and drew a plan amongst the rushes with the point of his staff. “Holy father,” said he, “he would come upon those parts of France which are held by the King's Majesty36. But if he trended to the south he might reach Spain and the Barbary States. To his north would be Flanders and the country of the Eastlanders and of the Muscovites.”
“True. And how if, after reaching the King's possessions, he still journeyed on to the eastward37?”
“He would then come upon that part of France which is still in dispute, and he might hope to reach the famous city of Avignon, where dwells our blessed father, the prop38 of Christendom.”
“And then?”
“Then he would pass through the land of the Almains and the great Roman Empire, and so to the country of the Huns and of the Lithuanian pagans, beyond which lies the great city of Constantine and the kingdom of the unclean followers39 of Mahmoud.”
“And beyond that, fair son?”
“Beyond that is Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and the great river which hath its source in the Garden of Eden.”
“And then?”
“Nay, good father, I cannot tell. Methinks the end of the world is not far from there.”
“Then we can still find something to teach thee, Alleyne,” said the Abbot complaisantly. “Know that many strange nations lie betwixt there and the end of the world. There is the country of the Amazons, and the country of the dwarfs40, and the country of the fair but evil women who slay41 with beholding42, like the basilisk. Beyond that again is the kingdom of Prester John and of the great Cham. These things I know for very sooth, for I had them from that pious43 Christian44 and valiant45 knight46, Sir John de Mandeville, who stopped twice at Beaulieu on his way to and from Southampton, and discoursed47 to us concerning what he had seen from the reader's desk in the refectory, until there was many a good brother who got neither bit nor sup, so stricken were they by his strange tales.”
“I would fain know, father,” asked the young man, “what there may be at the end of the world?”
“There are some things,” replied the Abbot gravely, “into which it was never intended that we should inquire. But you have a long road before you. Whither will you first turn?”
“To my brother's at Minstead. If he be indeed an ungodly and violent man, there is the more need that I should seek him out and see whether I cannot turn him to better ways.”
The Abbot shook his head. “The Socman of Minstead hath earned an evil name over the country side,” he said. “If you must go to him, see at least that he doth not turn you from the narrow path upon which you have learned to tread. But you are in God's keeping, and Godward should you ever look in danger and in trouble. Above all, shun48 the snares49 of women, for they are ever set for the foolish feet of the young. Kneel down, my child, and take an old man's blessing50.”
Alleyne Edricson bent51 his head while the Abbot poured out his heartfelt supplication52 that Heaven would watch over this young soul, now going forth into the darkness and danger of the world. It was no mere53 form for either of them. To them the outside life of mankind did indeed seem to be one of violence and of sin, beset54 with physical and still more with spiritual danger. Heaven, too, was very near to them in those days. God's direct agency was to be seen in the thunder and the rainbow, the whirlwind and the lightning. To the believer, clouds of angels and confessors, and martyrs55, armies of the sainted and the saved, were ever stooping over their struggling brethren upon earth, raising, encouraging, and supporting them. It was then with a lighter56 heart and a stouter57 courage that the young man turned from the Abbot's room, while the latter, following him to the stair-head, finally commended him to the protection of the holy Julian, patron of travellers.
Underneath58, in the porch of the Abbey, the monks59 had gathered to give him a last God-speed. Many had brought some parting token by which he should remember them. There was brother Bartholomew with a crucifix of rare carved ivory, and brother Luke with a white-backed psalter adorned60 with golden bees, and brother Francis with the “Slaying of the Innocents” most daintily set forth upon vellum. All these were duly packed away deep in the traveller's scrip, and above them old pippin-faced brother Athanasius had placed a parcel of simnel bread and rammel cheese, with a small flask61 of the famous blue-sealed Abbey wine. So, amid hand-shakings and laughings and blessings62, Alleyne Edricson turned his back upon Beaulieu.
At the turn of the road he stopped and gazed back. There was the wide-spread building which he knew so well, the Abbot's house, the long church, the cloisters with their line of arches, all bathed and mellowed63 in the evening sun. There too was the broad sweep of the river Exe, the old stone well, the canopied64 niche65 of the Virgin66, and in the centre of all the cluster of white-robed figures who waved their hands to him. A sudden mist swam up before the young man's eyes, and he turned away upon his journey with a heavy heart and a choking throat.
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1
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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2
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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docility
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| n.容易教，易驾驶，驯服 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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7
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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8
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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9
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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10
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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11
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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12
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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15
prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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16
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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18
underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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21
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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22
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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23
satchel
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| n.(皮或帆布的)书包 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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26
foulest
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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27
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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28
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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savor
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| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
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30
cloisters
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| n.（学院、修道院、教堂等建筑的）走廊( cloister的名词复数 )；回廊；修道院的生活；隐居v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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32
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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33
pigments
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| n.（粉状）颜料( pigment的名词复数 )；天然色素 | |
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34
shrines
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| 圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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35
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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36
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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37
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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38
prop
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| vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山 | |
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39
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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40
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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41
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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42
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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43
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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44
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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45
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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46
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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47
discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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48
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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49
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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51
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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52
supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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53
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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54
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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55
martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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56
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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57
stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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58
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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59
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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60
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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61
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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62
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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63
mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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64
canopied
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| adj. 遮有天篷的 | |
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65
niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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66
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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