Here, he clearly saw, was the supreme triumph of the religious life.
But, instead of quieting, the thought disturbed him. He went away
thinking thoughts which he would fain have kept at a distance.
The ninth hour found him in the oratory, and later he attended
vespers, at which office the monks sang an evening hymn of the holy
Ambrosius:--
'O lux, beata Trinitas, et principalis Uuitas,
Jam sol recedit igneus; infunde lumen cordibus.
Te mane laudum carmine, te deprecemur vesperi,
Te nostra supplex gloria per cuncta laudet saecula.'
The long sweet notes lingered in Basil's mind when he lay down to
rest. And, as he crossed himself before sleeping, the only prayer he
breathed was: '_Infunde lumen cordi meo_.'
CHAPTER XXV
THE ABBOT'S TOWER
On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant
Deodatus. This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection
for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask
him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness,
tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
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