“Great Light of Love, all praise and thanks be thine from thy poor son,” sang his heart; and then he prayed for his little maid.
CHAPTER IV
THE PASSING OF PRIOR STEPHEN
The Convent welcomed Hilarius gladly, and on the Feast of St Michael he made his profession, for the Prior deemed that he had served his noviciate and been found faithful; and the Brethren assented eagerly, for they were fain to keep this wondrous limner for the service of their own Church.
Then, by the Prior’s command, Hilarius set himself to limn a great picture for the High Altar. It was a Crucifixion, and all his heart and all his love were in it. When the Brethren first saw the fair proportion and fine colours that Hilarius brought to the work, they rejoiced in that their Church should be glorified above other Churches of the Order; but when the picture was near completing, and they gazed up into the wondrous face of the Great King who looked down from the throne of His triumphant suffering, with a world of hunger and love in His eyes for those who had so enthroned Him, they hung their heads for shame because of the emulation in their hearts; and lo! the Cellarer, for very love, was careful for the needs of the elder Brethren; and the monks, for very love, laid hold gladly of suffering, and so the Convent was blessed, and lived together in unity.
In one of the groups very near the Cross, Hilarius set a grey-eyed girl, a woman with a babe at the breast, and clinging to her skirts, a little flaxen-headed maid. None but the Prior knew the meaning of these three, and their names, with that of a poor light-o’-love, were ever on his lips when he offered the Holy Sacrifice.
Gentle Brother Hilarius painted and loved, and was beloved of all his world. The years sped, and he became in turn Almoner, Novice-master, and Sub-Prior: and no man envied him, for he reckoned himself ever as least of all and servant of all.
Prior Stephen attained his fourscore years, ruling the Convent wisely and well to the very end: ay, and never ailed aught, his call coming as it might be straight from the mouth of the Lord.
On the Feast of Blessed Stephen he went into the chapter and said as always: “The souls of the deceased brethren and believers rest in peace!” to which the Convent replied, “Amen.” Then with his hands raised to bless he cried, “Benedicite,” and again with loud and joyful voice “Domine,” and again, “Domine!” as of one who answers to his name—and so passed to his place in the Kingdom of Christ.
The Convent elected Hilarius to be Prior in his stead, which election the Abbat of Cluny confirmed with good grace.
Time passed, and the fame of the Monastery grew because of the exceeding beauty of the Church, for Hilarius, with those whom he taught, set fair pictures on the walls, and blazoned the roof with the blue of heaven and gold of the wakeful stars. In the span over the High Altar he set Blessed Benedict himself with the face of Prior Stephen, and round him the angel virtues; even as one Giotto, a shepherd lad, had limned them in the Church of the Little Brothers.