Because of Basil's
condition the ceremony usual on such arrivals was in his case
curtailed: the prior uttered a brief prayer, gave the kiss of peace,
and ordered forthwith the removal of the sick man to a
guest-chamber, where he was laid in bed and ministered to by the
brother Marcus, whose gifts as a healer were not less notable than
his skill in poesy. The horseman, meanwhile, as custom was with all
visitors, had been led to the oratory to hear a passage of Holy
Scripture; after which the prior poured water upon his hands, and
certain of the monks washed his feet.
Before sunset Basil lost consciousness of present things; and many
days went by before he again spoke as a sane man. When at length the
fever declined, and his head turned upon the pillow in search of a
human countenance, he saw standing beside him a venerable figure in
the monastic garb, whose visage, though wrinkled with age and
thought, had such noble vividness in its look, and wore a smile so
like that of youth in its half-playful sweetness, that Basil could
but gaze wonderingly, awestruck at once, and charmed by this
unexpected apparition.
Pages:
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471