《The Secret Rose》第3章


the lay brother found brother kevin; brother dove; brother little wolf; brother bald patrick; brother bald brandon; brother james and brother peter sitting up in bed; and he made them get up。 then they bound cumhal; and they dragged him to the river; and they dipped him in it at the place which was afterwards called buckleys ford。
gleeman; said the lay brother; as they led him back to the guest? house; why do you ever use the wit which god has given you to make blasphemous and immoral tales and verses? for such is the way of your craft。 i have; indeed; many such tales and verses well nigh by rote; and so i know that i speak true! and why do you praise with rhyme those demons; finvaragh; red aodh; cleena; aoibhell and donn? i; too; am a man of great wit and learning; but i ever glorify our gracious abbot; and benignus our patron; and the princes of the province。 my soul is decent and orderly; but yours is like the wind among the salley gardens。 i said what i could for you; being also a man of many thoughts; but who could help such a one as you?
friend; answered the gleeman; my soul is indeed like the wind; and it blows me to and fro; and up and down; and puts many things into my mind and out of my mind; and therefore am i called the swift; wild horse。 and he spoke no more that night; for his teeth were chattering with the cold。
the abbot and the friars came to him in the morning; and bade him get ready to be crucified; and led him out of the guest?house。 and while he still stood upon the step a flock of great grass?barnacles passed high above him with clanking cries。 he lifted his arms to them and said; o great grass?barnacles; tarry a little; and mayhap my soul will travel with you to the waste places of the shore and to the ungovernable sea! at the gate a crowd of beggars gathered about them; being e there to beg from any traveller or pilgrim who might have spent the night in the guest?house。 the abbot and the friars led the gleeman to a place in the woods at some distance; where many straight young trees were growing; and they made him cut one down and fashion it to the right length; while the beggars stood round them in a ring; talking and gesticulating。 the abbot then bade him cut off another and shorter piece of wood; and nail it upon the first。 so there was his cross for him; and they put it upon his shoulder; for his crucifixion was to be on the top of the hill where the others were。 a half?mile on the way he asked them to stop and see him juggle for them; for he knew; he said; all the tricks of aengus the subtle? hearted。 the old friars were for pressing on; but the young friars would see him: so he did many wonders for them; even to the drawing of live frogs out of his ears。 but after a while they turned on him; and said his tricks were dull and a shade unholy; and set the cross on his shoulders again。 another half?mile on the way; and he asked them to stop and hear him jest for them; for he knew; he said; all the jests of conan the bald; upon whose back a sheeps wool grew。 and the young friars; when they had heard his merry tales; again bade him take up his cross; for it ill became them to listen to such follies。 another half?mile on the way; he asked them to stop and hear him sing the story of white?breasted deirdre; and how she endured many sorrows; and how the sons of usna died to serve her。 and the young friars were mad to hear him; but when he had ended they grew angry; and beat him for waking forgotten longings in their hearts。 so they set the cross upon his back and hurried him to the hill。
when he was e to the top; they took the cross from him; and began to dig a hole to stand it in; while the beggars gathered round; and talked among themselves。 i ask a favour before i die; says cumhal。
we will grant you no more delays; says the abbot。
i ask no more delays; for i have drawn the sword; and told the truth; and lived my vision; and am content。
would you; then; confess?
by sun and moon; not i; i ask but to be let eat the food i carry in my wallet。 i carry food in my wallet whenever i go upon a journey; but i do not taste of it unless i am well?nigh starved。 i have not eaten now these two days。
you may eat; then; says the abbot; and he turned to help the friars dig the hole。
the gleeman took a loaf and some strips of cold fried bacon out of his wallet and laid them upon the ground。 i will give a tithe to the poor; says he; and he cut a tenth part from the loaf and the bacon。 who among you is the poorest? and thereupon was a great clamour; for the beggars began the history of their sorrows and their poverty; and their yellow faces swayed like gara lough when the floods have filled it with water from the bogs。
he listened for a little; and; says he; i am myself the poorest; for i have travelled the bare road; and by the edges of the sea; and the tattered doublet of particoloured cloth upon my back and the torn pointed shoes upon my feet have ever irked me; because of the towered city full of noble raiment which was in my heart。 and i have been the more alone upon the roads and by the sea because i heard in my heart the rustling of the rose?bordered dress of her who is more subtle than aengus; the subtle?hearted; and more full of the beauty of laughter than conan the bald; and more full of the wisdom of tears than white?breasted deirdre; and more lovely than a bursting dawn to them that are lost in the darkness。 therefore; i award the tithe to myself; but yet; because i am done with all things; i give it unto you。
so he flung the bread and the strips of bacon among the beggars; and they fought with many cries until the last scrap was eaten。 but meanwhile the friars nailed the gleeman to his cross; and set it upright in the hole; and shovelled the earth in at the foot; and trampled it level and hard。 so then they went away; but the beggars stared on; sitting round the cross。 but when the sun was sinking; they also got up to go; for the air was getting chilly。 and as soon as they had gone a little way; the wolves; who had been showing themselves on the edge of a neighbouring coppice; came nearer; and the birds wheeled closer and closer。 stay; outcasts; yet a little while; the cruci
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