epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第3部分
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by him。 If I have done wrong； I will abide it humbly。〃
〃Our brother is no better？〃 asked the abbot anxiously。
〃He is still deeply troubled； and when he wakes he raves。
But； Father； this is my errand！ There is a sure hope for him！ In the night I have been miraculously visited。 I have e to tell you what divine mercy has instructed me。 Father； in the small hours I fell into a doze beside Brother Columbanus' bed； and had a marvellously sweet dream。〃
By this time he had everyone's attention； even Brother Cadfael was wide awake。 〃What； another of them？〃 whispered Brother John wickedly into his ear。 〃The plague's spreading！〃
〃Father； it seemed to me that the wall of the room opened； and a great light shone in； and through the light and radiating the light there came in a most beautiful young virgin； and stood beside our brother's bed； and spoke to me。 She told me that her name was Winifred； and that in Wales there is a holy spring； that rose to the light where she suffered martyrdom。 And she said that if Brother Columbanus bathed in the water of that well； he would surely be healed； and restored at once to his senses。 Then she uttered a blessing upon our house； and vanished in a great light； and I awoke。〃
Through the murmur of excitement that went round the chapter…house； Prior Robert's voice rose in reverent triumph： 〃Father Abbot； we are being guided！ Our quest for a saint has drawn to us this sign of favour； in token that we should persevere。〃
〃Winifred！〃 said the abbot doubtfully。 〃I do not recall clearly the story of this saint and martyr。 There are so many of them in Wales。 Certainly we ought to send Brother Columbanus to her holy sring； it would be ingratitude to neglect so clear an omen。 But exactly where is it to be found？〃
Prior Robert looked round for the few Welshmen among the brothers； passed somewhat hurriedly over Brother Cadfael； who had never been one of his favourites； perhaps by reason of a certain spark in his eye； as well as his notoriously worldly past； and lit gladly upon Old Brother Rhys； who was virtually senile but doctrinally safe； and had the capacious if capricious memory of the very old。 〃Brother； can you tell us the history of this saint； and where her well is to be found？〃
The old man was slow to realise that he had bee the centre of attention。 He was shrunken like a bird； and toothless； and used to a tolerant oblivion。 He began hesitantly； but warmed to the work as he found all eyes upon him。
〃Saint Winifred； you say； Father？ Everybody knows of Saint Winifred。 You'll find her spring by the name they gave the place； Holywell； it's no great way in from Chester。 But she's not there。 You won't find her grave at Holywell。〃
〃Tell us about her；〃 coaxed Prior Robert； almost fawning in his eagerness。 〃Tell us all her story。〃
〃Saint Winifred；〃 declaimed the old man； beginning to enjoy his hour of glory； 〃was the only child of a knight named Tevyth； who lived in those parts when the princes were yet heathens。 But this knight and all his household were converted by Saint Beuno； and made him a church there； and gave him house…room。 The girl was devoted even above her parents； and pledged herself to a virgin life； hearing Mass every day。 But one Sunday it happened that she was sick； and stayed at home when all the rest of the household went to church。 And there came to the door the prince of those parts。 Cradoc； son of the king； who had fallen in love with her at a distance。 For this girl was very beautiful。 Very beautiful！〃 gloated Brother Rhys； and licked his lips loudly。 Prior Robert visibly recoiled； but refrained from stopping the flow by reproof。 〃He pleaded that he was hot and parched from hunting；〃 said Brother Rhys darkly； 〃and asked for a drink of water； and the girl let him in and gave him to drink。 Then；〃 he shrilled； hunching himself in his voluminous habit and springing erect with a vigour nobody present would have credited； 〃he pressed his suit upon her； and grappled her in his arms。 Thus！〃 The effort was almost too much for him； and moreover； the prior was eyeing him in alarm； he subsided with dignity。 〃The faithful virgin put him off with soft words； and escaping into another room； climbed from a window and fled towards the church。 But finding that she had eluded him； Prince Cradoc took horse and rode after； and overtaking her just within sight of the church； and dreading that she would reveal his infamy； struck off her head with his sword。〃
He paused for the murmur of horror； pity and indignation； and got it； with a flurry of prayerfully…folded hands； and a tribute of round eyes。
〃Then thus piteously she came by her death and beatitude？〃 intoned Brother Jerome enthusiastically。
〃Not a bit of it！〃 snapped Brother Rhys。 He had never liked Brother Jerome。 〃Saint Beuno and the congregation were ing out of the church； and saw what had passed。 The saint drew a terrible curse upon the murderer； who at once sank to the ground； and began to melt like wax in a fire； until all his body had sunk away into the grass。 Then Saint Beuno fitted the head of the virgin onto her neck； and the flesh grew together； and she stood up alive； and the holy fountain sprang up on the spot where she arose。〃
They waited； spellbound； and he let them wait。 He had lost interest after the death。
〃And afterwards？〃 insinuated Prior Robert。 〃What did the saint do with her restored life？〃
〃She went on a pilgrimage to Rome；〃 said Brother Rhys indifferently； 〃and she attended at a great synod of saints； and was appointed to be prioress over a munity of virgin sisters at Gwytherin； by Llanrwst。 And there she lived many years； and did many miracles in her lifetime。 If it should be called her lifetime？ She was once dead already。 When she died a second time； that was where it befell。〃 He felt nothing concerning this residue of life； he offered it with a shrug。 The girl had had her chance with Prince Cradoc； and let is slip； obviously her natural bent was to be prioress of a nest of virgins； and there was nothing more to be told about her。
〃And she is buried there at Gwytherin？〃 persisted the prior。 〃And her miracles continued after death？〃
〃So I have heard。 But it's a long time；〃 said the old man； 〃since I've heard her name mentioned。 And longer since I was in those parts。〃
Prior Robert stood in the circle of sunlight that filtered between the pillars of the chapter…house； drawn to his full imposing height； and turned a radiant face and manding eyes upon Abbot Heribert。
〃Father； does it not seem to you that our reverent search for a patron of great power and sanctity is being divinely guided？ This gentle saint has visited us in person； in Brother Jerome's dream； and beckoned us to bring our afflicted brother to her for healing。 Shall we not hope； also； that she will again show us the next step？ If she does indeed receive our prayers and restore Brother Columbanus to health of body and mind； may we not be encouraged to hope that she will e in person and dwell among us？ That we may humbly beg the church's sanction to take up her blessed relics and house them fittingly here in Shrewsbury？ To the great glory and lustre of our house！〃
〃And of Prior Robert！〃 whispered Brother John in Cadfael's ear。
〃It certainly seems that she has shown us singular favour；〃 admitted Abbot Heribert。
〃Then； Father； have I your leave to send Brother Columbanus with a safe escort to Holywell？ This very day？〃
〃Do so；〃 said the abbot； 〃with the prayers of us all； and may he return as Saint Winifred's own messenger； hale and grateful。〃
The deranged man； still wandering in mind and muning with himself in incoherent ravings； was led away out of the gatehouse on the first stage of his journey immediately after the midday meal； mounted on a mule； with a high； cradling saddle to give him some security from falling； in case the violent fit took him again； and with Brother Jerome and a brawny lay…brother one on either side； to support him at need。 Columbanus looked about him with wide； pathetic； childlike eyes； and seemed to know nobody； though he went submissively and trustfully where he was led。
〃I could have done with a nice little trip into Wales；〃 said Brother John wistfully； looking after them as they rounded the corner and vanished towards the bridge over the Severn。 〃But I probably shouldn't have seen the right visions。 Jerome will do the job better。〃
〃Boy；〃 said Brother Cadfael tolerantly； 〃you bee more of an unbeliever every day。〃
〃Not a bit of it！ I'm as willing to believe in the girl's sanctity and miracles as any man。 We know the saints have power to help and bless； and I'll believe they have the goodwill； too。 But when it's Prior Robert's faithful hound who has the dream； you're asking me to believe in his sanctity； not hers！ And in any case； isn't her favour glory enough？ I don't see why they should want to dig up the poor lady's dust。 It seems like charnel…house business to me； not church business。 And you think exactly the same；〃 he said firmly； and stared out his elder； eye to eye。
〃When I want to hear my echo；〃 said Brother Cadfael； 〃I will speak first。 e on； now； and get the bottom strip of ground dug； there are kale plants waiting to go in 。〃
The delegation to Holywell was gone five days； and came home towards evening in a fine shower of rain and a grand glow of grace； chanting prayers as the three entered the courtyard。 In the midst rode Brother Columbanus； erect and graceful and jubilant； if that word could be used for one so humble in his gladness。 His face was bright and clear； his eyes full of wonder and intelligence。 No man ever looked less mad； or less likely to be subject to the falling sickness。 He went straight to the church and gave thanks and praise to God and Saint Winifred on his knees； and from the altar all three went dutifully to report to the abbot； prior and sub…prior； in the abbot's lodging。
〃Father；〃 said Brother Columbanus； eager and joyous； 〃I have no skill to tell what has befallen me； for I know less than these who have cared for me in my delirium。 All I know is that I was taken on this journey like a man in an ill dream； and went where I was taken； not knowing how to fend for myself； or what I ought to do。 And suddenly I was like a man awakened out
