17

  DuringthefirstdaysGoldmundlivedinthecloister,iheguestcells.Then,athisownrequest,hewasgivenaroomacrossthefe,iheadministrativebuildingsthatsurrouhemainyardlikeamarketplace.

  Hishomeingputhimunderaspell,soviolentthathehimselfwasastonishedbyit.OutsidetheAbbotnooneknewhimhere,nooneknewwhohewas.Thepeople,monksaswellaslaybrothers,livedawell-orderedlifeandhadtheirownspecialoccupations,ahiminpeace.Butthetreesofthecourtyardknewhim,theportalsandwindowsknewhim,themillaerwheel,theflagstohecorridors,thewiltedrosebushesinthearcade,thestorkssontherefectoryandgranaryroofs.Fromeveryerofhispast,thestofhisearlyadolescecametowardhim,sweetlyandmovingly.Lovedrovehimtoseeeverythingagain,tohearallthesoundsagain,thebellsforeveningprayerandSundaymass,thegushingofthedarkmillstreambetweenitsnarrow,mossybanks,theslappingofsandalsoonefloors,thetwilightjahekeyringasthebrotherporterwenttolockup.Besidethestoers,intowhichtherainwaterfellfromtheroofofthelayrefectory,thesameherbswerestillsprouting,es-billandplantain,andtheoldappletreeinthefardenwasstillholdingitsfar-reagbrahesameway.Butmorethananythihetinklingofthelittleschoolbellmovedhim.Itwasthemomethebeginningofrecess,allthecloisterstudentscametumblingdowairsintothecourtyard.Howyounganddumbaheboysfaceswere—hadhe,too,oncereallybeensoyoung,soclumsy,soprettyandchildish?

  Besidethisfamiliarcloisterhehadalsofouwasunknown,onewhichevenduringthefirstdaysstruckhisattentionandbecamemoreandmoreimportanttohimuntilitslowlyliselftothemorefamiliarone.Because,ifnothingnewhadbeenadded,ifeverythingwasasithadbeenduringhisstudentdays,andahundredormoreyearsbeforethat,hewasnolongerseeingitwiththeeyesofastudent.Hesawahedimensionoftheseedifices,ofthevaultsofthechurch,thepowerofoldpaintings,ofthestoneandwoodfiguresoars,ials,andalthoughhesawnothingthathadherebefore,heonlynowperceivedthebeautyofthesethingsandofthemindthathadcreatedthem.HesawtheoldstoherofGodintheupperchapel.Evenasaboyhehadbeenfondofit,andhadcopiedit,butonlynowdidheseeitwithopeneyes,andrealizehowmiraculouslybeautifulitwas,thathisbestandmostsuccessfulworkcouldneversurpassit.Thereweremanysuderfulthings,andeachwasnotplacedtherebycebutwasbornofthesamemindandstoodbetweentheoldnsandarchesasthoughinitsnaturalhome.Allthathadbeenbuilt,chiseled,painted,lived,thoughtandtaughthereinthecourseofhundredsofyearshadgrownfromthesameroots,fromthesamespirit,ahingwasheldtogetherandunifiedlikethebranchesofatree.

  Goldmuverysmallinthisworld,inthisquietmightyunity,andneverdidhefeelsmallerthanwhenhesawAbbotJohn,hisfriendNarcissus,ruleovernthispowerfulyetquietlyfriendlyorder.Theremightbetremendousdifferencesofcharacterbetweenthelearhin-lippedAbbotJohnandthekindlysimpleAbbotDaniel,buteachofthemservedthesameunity,thesamethought,thesameorderofexistence,receivedhisdignityfromit,sacrificedhispersontoit.Thatmadethemassimilartooherastheirpriestlyrobes.

  Ierofhiscloister,NarcissusgreweerilytallinGoldmundseyes,althoughhewasneveranythingbutacordialfriendandhost.SoonGoldmundhardlydaredcallhimNarcissusanymore.

  "Listen,AbbotJohn,"heoncesaidtohim,"Illhavetogetusedtoyournewually.ImusttellyouthatIlikeitverymuyourhouse.Ialmostfeellikemakingageneralfessiontoyouand,afterpenandabsolution,askingtobereceivedasalaybrother.Butyousee,thenourfriendshipwouldbeover;youdbetheAbbotandIalaybrother.ButIolongerbeartoliveoyoulikethisandseeyourworkandnotbeordoanythingmyself.ItoowouldliketoworkandshowyouwhoIamandwhatIdo,sothatyouseeifitwasworthsnatgmefromthegallows."

  "Imgladtohearit,"saidNarcissus,pronounghiswordsevenmoreclearlyandpreciselythanusual."Youmaysetupyourworkshopanytimeyouwish.Illputtheblacksmithandthecarpeyourdisposalimmediately.Pleaseuseanymaterialyoufindhereandmakealistofallthethingsyouwantbroughtinfromtheoutside.AndnowhearwhatIthinkaboutyouandyouriions!Youmustgivemealittletimetoexpressmyself:Iamascholarandwouldliketotrytoillustratethemattertoyoufrommyownworldofthought;Ihavenouage.Sofollowmeoncemore,asyousooftendidsopatientlyinearlieryears."

  "Illtrytofollowyou.Goaheadandspeak."

  "Recallhow,eveninourstudentdays,IsometimestoldyouthatIthoughtyouwereanartist.InthosedaysIthoughtyoumightbeeapoet;inyourreadingandwritingyouhadacertaindislikefortheintangiblearadaspecialloveforwordsandsoundsthathadsensuouspoeticqualities,wordsthatappealedtotheimagination."

  Goldmundinterrupted."Fiveme,butarenttheceptsandabstraswhichyouprefertousereallyimagestoo?Ordoyoureallyprefertothinkinwordswithwhieagihing?Butethinkwithoutimagininganything?"

  "Imgladyouask!Yes,certainlyohinkwithoutimagininganything!Thinkingandimagininghavenothingwhatsoeverinon.Thinkingisdoinimagesbutwithceptsandformulae.Attheexactpointwhereimagesstop,philosophybegins.Thatreciselythesubjectofourfrequentquarrelsasyoungmen;foryou,theworldwasmadeofimages,formeofideas.Ialwaystoldyouthatyouwerenotmadetobeathinker,andIalsotoldyouthatthiswasnolaexge,youwereamasterintherealmofimages.PayattentionandIllexplainittoyou.If,insteadofimmersingyourselfintheworld,youhadbeeathinker,youmighthavecreatedevil.Becauseyouwouldhavebeystic.Mysticsare,toexpressitbrieflyandsomewhatcrudely,thinkerswhootdetachthemselvesfromimages,thereforenotthiall.Theyaresecretartists:poetswithoutverse,painterswithoutbrushes,musiswithoutsound.Therearehighlygifted,noblemindsamongthem,buttheyareallwithoutexceptionunhappymen.You,too,mighthavebeesuchaman.Insteadofwhichyouhave,thankGod,beeanartistandhavetakenpossessionoftheimageworldinwhichyoubeacreatorandamaster,insteadofbeingstrandedindisteasathinker."

  "Imafraid,"saidGoldmund,"Illneversucceedingraspingtheideaofyourthoughtworld,inwhiethinkswithoutimages."

  "Ohyes,youwill,andrightnow.Listehiriestodetermiorepreseureoftheworldthroughlogic.Heknowsthatreasonanditstool,logic,areinplete—thewayanintelligentartistknowsfullwellthathisbrushesorchiselswillneverbeabletoexpressperfectlytheradiantnatureofanangelorasaint.Stilltheybothtry,thethinkeraswellastheartist,eahisway.Theyotandmaynotdootherwise.Becausewhenamaorealizehimselfthroughthegiftswithwhiaturehasendowedhim,hedoesthebestandonlymeaningfulthinghedo.Thatswhy,informerdays,Ioftensaidtoyou:donttrytoimitatethethiheasceti,butbeyourself,trytorealizeyourself."

  "Iuandsomethingofwhatyousay,butwhatdoesitmeantorealizeoneself?"

  "Itisaphilosophicalcept,Itexpressitinanyotherway.ForusdisciplesofAristotleandSt.Thomas,itisthehighestofallcepts:perfectbeing.Godisperfectbeing.Everythihatexistsisonlyhalf,onlyapart,isbeing,ismixed,ismadeupofpotentialities.ButGodisnotmixed.Heisone,hehasnopotentialitiesbutisthetotal,thepletereality.Whereaswearetransitory,wearebeing,otentials;thereisnoperfeforus,nopletebeing.Butwhereverwego,frompotentialtodeed,frompossibilitytorealizatioicipateintruebeing,beebyadegreemoresimilartotheperfeddivihatiswhatitmeanstorealizeoneself.Youmustknowthisfromyourownexperience,sinceyoureanartistandhavemademanystatues.Ifsuchafigureisreallygood,ifyouhavereleasedamansimagefromthegeableandbroughtittopureform—thenyouhave,asanartist,realizedthishumanimage."

  "Iuand."

  "Youseeme,friendGoldmund,inapladfunwhereitismaderathereasyformetorealizemyself.Youseemelivinginaunityandatraditionthatcorrespondstomeandfurthersme.Acloisterisnoheaven.Itisfilledwithimperfes.Still,adetlyruncloisterlifeisinfinitelymorehelpfultomenofmynaturethantheworldlylife.Idontwishtospeakmorally,butfromamerelypracticalpointofview,purethinking,thepractidteagofwhichismytask,offersacertainprotefromtheworld.Itwasmucheasierformetorealizemyselfhereinourhousethanitwouldhavebeenforyou.But,inspiteofthedifficulty,youfoundawaytobeeanartist,andIadmirethatagreatdeal.Yourlifehasbeenmuchharderthanmine."

  ThispraisemadeGoldmundblushwithembarrassment,andalsowithpleasure.Iogethesubject,heinterruptedhisfriend:"Ivebeeouandmostofwhatyouwaellme.ButthereisohingIstilltgetthroughmyhead:thethingyoucallpurethinking.Imeanyourso-calledthinkingwithoutimages,andtheuseofwordswithwhieagihing."

  "Well,youllbeabletouanditwithanexample.Thinkofmathematics.Whatkindofimagesdofigurestain?Ortheplusandminussigns?Whatkindofimagesdoesaiontain?None.Whenyousolveaprobleminarithmeticebra,noimagewillhelpyousolveit,youexecuteaformaltaskwithinthecodesofthoughtthatyouhavelearned."

  "Thatsright,Narcissus.Ifyougivemearowoffiguresandsymbols,Iworkthroughthemwithoutusingmyimagination,Iletmyselfbeguidedbyplusandminus,squareroots,andsoon,andsolvetheproblem.Thatis—Ioncecould,todayIcouldnolongerdoit.ButItimagisolvingsualproblemhaveanyothervaluethanexergastudentsbrain.Itsallrighttolearnhowtot.ButIdfinditmeaninglessandchildishifamahiswholelifetingandcpaperwithrowsoffigures."

  "Youarewrong,Goldmund.Youassumethatthiszealousproblem-solvertinuouslysolvesproblemsateacherposesforhim.Buthealsoaskhimselfquestions;theyarisewithinhimaspellingforces.Amanmusthavemeasuredandpuzzledovermuchrealandmuchfictitiousspacemathematicallybeforeberiskfagtheproblemofspaceitself."

  "Well,yes.Butattagtheproblemofspacewithpurethoughtdoesnotstrikemeasanoccupationonwhichamanshouldwastehisworkandhisyears.ThewordspacemeansnothingtomeandisnotworththinkingaboutunlessIimaginerealspace,saythespacebetweenstars;now,studyingandmeasuringstarspacedoesnotseemanunworthytasktome."

  Smilingly,Narcissusinterrupted:"Youareactuallysayingthatyouhavearatherlowopinionofthinking,butaratherhighoheapplicationofthoughttothepractical,visibleworld.Isweryou:welaoopportuoapplyourthinking,norareweunwillingtodoso.ThethinkerNarcissushas,forinstance,appliedtheresultsofhisthinkingahuimestohisfriendGoldmund,aswellastoeachofhismonks,anddoessoateveryinstant.Buthowwouldhebeabletoapplysomethingifhehadnotlearnedandpracticeditbefore?Aistalsostantlyexerciseshiseyeandimagination,andwereizethistraining,evenifitfindsrealizationonlyinafewgoodworks.Youotdismissthinkingassudsanonlyitsapplicatioradiisobvious.Soletmegoonthinkingandjudgemythoughtsbytheirresults,asIshalljudgeyourartbyyourworks.Youarerestlessnowandirritablebecausetherearestillobstaclesbetweenyouandyourworks.Clearthemoutoftheway.Findorbuildaworkshopforyourselfaowork!Manyproblemswillbesolvedautomaticallythatway."

  Goldmundwishednothier.

  Besidethecourtyardgatehefoundashedthatwasbothemptyandsuitableforaworkshop.Heorderedadrawingboardandothertoolsfromthecarpenter,alltobemadeafterpreciseplanshedrewhimself.Hemadealistofthematerialswhichthecloistercarterswerethimfromnearbycities,alonglist.Heiedallthefelledtimberatthecarpentersandintheforest,anypiedhadthemcarriedtothegrassylotbehindhisworkshop,wherehepiledthemuptodryunderaroofhebuiltwithhisownhands.Healsohadmuchworktodowiththeblacksmith,whoseson,adreamyyoungman,waspletelycharmedandwonoverbyhim.Togethertheystoodhalfthedayatthefe,overtheanvil,bythecoolingtroughorthewhetstone,makingallthebenthtcuttingkhechisels,drills,andplanesheneededforhiswork.Thesmithsson,Eriadolesosttwenty,becameGoldmundsfriend.Hehelpedhimwitheverythingandwasfullofglowingiandcuriosity.Goldmundpromisedtoteachhimtoplaythelute,whichheferventlydesired,andhealsoallowedhimtotryhishandatcarving.IfattimesGoldmuratheruselessanddepressedinthecloisterandinNarcissusspresence,hewasabletorecoverinthepresenceofErich,wholovedhimtimidlyandadmiredhimimmensely.HeoftenaskedhimtotellhimaboutMasterNiklausandthebishopscity.SometimesGoldmundwasgladtotellstories.Thenhewouldbesuddenlyastoofindhimselfsittinglikeanoldman,talkingaboutthetravelsandadvehepast,whenhistruelifewasonlynowabouttobegin.

  Retlyhehadgedgreatlyandagedfarbeyondhisyears,butthiswasvisibletonoone,sinlyonemanherehadknownhimbefore.Thehardshipsofhiswanderinganduledlifemayalreadyhaveunderminedhisstrength,buttheplagueanditsmanyhorrors,andfinallyhiscaptivityatthetsresidehatgruesomenightilecellarhadshakenhimtohisroots,andseveralsignsoftheseexperieayedwithhim:grayhairinhisblondbeard,wrinklesonhisface,periodsofinsomnia,andoccasionallyacertainfatigueiheheart,aslaingofdesireandcuriosity,agrayshallowfeelingofhavinghadenough,ofbeingfedup.Duringpreparationsforhiswork,duringhisversationswithErichorhispursuitsattheblacksmithsandatthecarpenters,hegrewvivaciousandyoungandalladmiredhimandwerefondofhim;butatothertimeshedsitforhours,exhausted,smilinganddreaming,giveoapathyandindifference.

  Thequestionofwheretobeginwasveryimportanttohim.Thefirstworkhewaomakehere,andwithwhichhewaopayforthecloistershospitality,wasnottobeanarbitrarypiecethatoneplacedjustanywhereforthesakeofcuriosity,no,ithadtoblendwiththeoldworksofthehouseandwiththearchitectureandlifeofthecloisterandbeepartofthewhole.Hewouldhaveespeciallylikedtomakeanaltarorperhapsapulpit,buttherewasnoneedorroomforeither.Hefoundanotherplastead.Therewasaraisedherefectory,fromwhichayoungbrotherreadpassagesfromthelivesofthesaintsduringmeals.Thisnichehadnoor.Goldmunddecidedtocarveforthestepstotheleandfortheleitselfasetofwoodenpanelslikethosearoundapulpit,withmanyfiguresinhalf-reliefandothersalmostfree-standing.HeexplainedhisplantotheAbbot,whopraisedandacceptedit.

  Whenfinallyhecouldbegin—snowhadfallen,Christmaswasalreadyoldmundslifetookonanotherform.Heseemedtohavedisappearedfromthecloister;nobodysawhimanymore.Henolongerwaitedforthestudentsattheendofclasses,nolongerdriftedthroughthewoods,nolorolleduhearcades.Hetookhismealsinthemill—itwasntthesamemillernowwhomhehadoftenvisitedasastudent.AndheallowedhisassistantErichtoenterhisworkshop;andoaindaysErichdidnothearawordoutofhim.

  Forthisfirstworkhehadlongsihoughtoutthefollowingdesign:itwastobeintwoparts,onerepresentingtheworld,theotherthewod.Thelowerpart,thestairs,growingoutofasturdyoaktrunkandwindingaroundit,wastorepreseion,imagesofnatureandofthesimplelifeofthepatriardtheprophets.Theupperpart,theparapet,wouldbearthepicturesofthefourapostles.OheevaswastohavethetraitsofblessedAbbotDaniel;ahoseofblessedFatherMartin,hissuccessor;aueofLukewastoeternalizeMasterNiklaus.

  Hemetwithgreatobstacles,greaterthanhehadanticipated.Andtheseobstaclesgavehimmanyworries,buttheyweresweetworries.Nowentedandnowdespairing,hewooedhisworkasthoughitwerearelutwoman,struggledwithitasfirmlyalyasafishermanstrugglingwithagiantpike,andeachresistaaughthimandmadehimmoresensitive.Hefoteverythingelse.Hefotthecloister;healmostfotNarcissus.Narcissuscameaimes,butwasonlyshowndrawings.

  ThenonedayGoldmundsurprisedhimwiththerequestthathehearhisfession.

  "Icouldnmyselftofessbefore,"headmitted."Ifelttoosmall,andIalreadyfeltsmallenoughinfrontofyou.NowIfeelbigger,nowIhavemyworkandamnolongeranobody.AndsinceIamlivinginacloister,Idliketosubmitmyselftotherules."

  equaltothetaskanddidnotwanttowaitamomentlohosefirstmeditativeweeksatthecloister,theabandoofallthehomeing,allthememoriesofyouth,aswellasthestoriesErichaskedhimfor,hadallowedhimtoseehislifewithacertainorderandclarity.

  WithoutsolemnityNarcissusreceivedhisfession.Itlastedabouttwohours.WithimmobilefacetheAbbotlisteheadventures,sufferings,andsinsofhisfriend,posedmaions,errupted,andlistenedpassivelyalsotothepartofthefessioninwhiundadmittedthathisfaithinGodsjustidgoodnesshaddisappeared.Hewasstruckbymanyoftheadmissionsofthefessingman.Hecouldseehowmuchhehadbeenshakenandterrified,howclosehehadsometimesetoperishing.Thenagainhewasmovedtosmile,touchedwhenhefoundthathisfriendsnaturehadremainedsoi,whenhefoundhimworriedaantbecauseofimpiousthoughtswhichwereharmlessenoughparedtohisowndarkabyssesofdoubt.

  ToGoldmundssurprise,tohisdisappoieveherfessordidnottakehisactualsinstooseriously,butreprimandedandpunishedhimunsparinglybecauseofhisinpraying,fession,andunion.Heimposedthefollowingpenan:tolivemoderatelyandchastelyforamonthbeforereceivingunion,tohearearlymasseverym,andtosaythreeOurFathersandoneHailMaryeveryevening.

  Afterwardshesaidtohim:"Iexhortyou,Ibegyounottotakethispenancelightly.Idontknowifyoustillremembertheexacttextofthemass.Youaretofollowitwordbywordandgiveyourselfuptoitsmeaning.IwillmyselfsaytheOurFatherandafewticleswithyoutoday,andgiveyouinstrusastothewordsandmeaningstowhichyouaretodirectyourparticularattention.Youaretospeakahesacredwordsnotthewayonespeaksandhearshumanwords.Everytimeyoucatchyourselfjustreelingoffthewords,andthiswillhappeenthanyouexpect,youaretorememberthishourandmyexhortation,andyouaretobeginallainahewordsinsuchawayastoletthementeryourheart,asIamabouttoshowyou."

  Whetheritwasabeautifulce,orwhethertheAbbotsknowledgeofsoulswasgreatenoughtoachieveit,aperiodoffulfillmentandpeacecamefoldmundfromthisfessionandpemadehimprofoundlyhappy.Amidthemanytensions,worries,andsatisfasofhiswork,hefoundhimselfmandeveningreleasedbytheeasybutstiouslyexecutedspiritualexercises,relaxedaftertheexcitementsoftheday,hisentirebeingsubmittedtoahigherorderthatliftedhimoutofthedangerousisolationofthecreatorandincludedhimasachildinGodsworld.Althoughthebattlesofhisworkhadtobeovereinsolitude,aogiveitallthepassionsofhissehesehoursofmeditatiohimreturntoinnoceagainandagain.Stillhotwiththerageandimpatienceofhiswork,ormovedtoecstasy,hewouldpluothepiousexercisesasthoughintodeep,coolwaterthatwashedhimofthearroganceofenthusiasmaswellasthearroganceofdespair.

  Itdidnotalwayssucceed.Sometimeshedidnotbeecalmandrelaxedintheevening,afterburninghoursofwork.Afewtimeshefottheexercises,andseveraltimes,ashetriedtoimmersehimselfinthem,hewastorturedbythethoughtthatsayingprayerswas,afterall,perhapsonlychildishstrivingfodwhodidorcouldnothelp.Hepainedaboutittohisfriend.

  "tinue,"saidNarcissus."Youpromised;youmustkeepyourpromise.YouarenottothinkaboutwhetherGodhearsyourprayersorwhetherthereisaGodsuchasyouimagine.Norareyoutowonderwhetheryourexercisesarechildish.paredtoHimtowhomallourprayersareaddressed,allourdoingischildish.Youmustforbidyourselfthesefoolishchildsthoughtspletelyduringtheexercises.YouaretospeaktheOurFatheraicles,andgiveyourselfuptothewordsandfillyourselfwiththemjustthewayyouplaythelute.Youdontpursuecleverthoughtsandspeculationsthen,doyou?No,youexecuteonefingerpositionafteranotheraspurelyandperfectlyaspossible.Whileyousing,youdontwonderwhetherornotsingingisuseful;yousing.Thatshowyouaretopray."

  Andoncemoreitworked.Againhistaut,avidegoextinguisheditselfinwide-vaultedainthevenerablewordsfloatedabovehimlikestars.

  Withgreatsatisfa,theAbbotsawGoldmundtinuehisdailyexercisesforweeksandmonthsafterhisperiodofpenancewasoverandafterhehadreceivedtheholysacraments.

  InthemeantimeGoldmundsworkadvanced.Asmallsurgingwrewfromthethickspiralofthestairs:creatures,plants,animals,andpeople.IntheirmidststoodNoahbetweengrapeleavesandgrapes.Theworkicturebookofpraiseforthecreationoftheworldanditsbeauty,freeinexpressionbutdirectedbyaninnerorderanddiscipline.DuringallthesemonthsErichsawthework;hewasallowedtoexecutesmalltasksandthoughtofnothingbutbeinganartisthimself.Butoaindaysnotevenhewasallowedtoeheworkshop.OnotherdaysGoldmundtookhistimewithhim,showedhimafewthingsahimtry,happytohaveabelieverandadisciple.Iftheworktursuccessfully,hemightaskErichsfathertoreleasetheboyahimbetrainedashispermaassistant.

  Heworkedatthestatuesoftheevasonhisbestdays,whehingwasharmoniousandnodoubtscasttheirshadowsoverhim.ItseemedtohimthathewasmostsuccessfulwiththefigurethatborethetraitsofAbbotDaniel.Heloveditverymuch;thefaceradiatedkindnessandpurity.HewaslesssatisfiedwiththestatueofMasterNiklaus,eventhoughErichadmireditmostofall.Thisfigurerevealeddiscordandsadness.Itseemedtobebrimmihloftyplansforcreationaherewasalsoadesperateawarenessofthefutilityofcreating,andmforalostunityandinnoce.

  WhenAbbotDanielwasfinished,hehadErichuptheworkshop.Hehidtheremainingstatuesunderaclothandplalythatonefigureinthelight.TheoNarcissus,andwhenhefoundthathewasbusy,hewaitedpatientlyuntiltheday.Atthenoonhourhetookhisfriendtoseethestatue.

  Narcissusstoodandlooked.Hestoodthere,takinghistime,examiningtheworkwiththeattentionandcareofthescholdmundstoodbehindhim,insileryingtodomiempestinhisheart."Oh,"hethought,"ifoneofusdoesnotpassthistest,itwillbebad.Ifmyworkisnotgoodenough,orifheotuandit,allmywherewillhavelostitsvalue.Ishouldhavewaitedlonger."

  Minutesfeltlikehourstohim,ahoughtofthetimewhenMasterNiklaushadheldhisfirstdrawinginhishands.Hepressedhishothumidpalmstogetherintheeffortofwaiting.

  Narcissusturohim,andimmediatelyhefeltrelieved.Inhisfriendsnarrowfacehesawflowersomethingthathadnotfloweredtheresincehisboyhoodyears:asmile,analmosttimidsmileonthatfaindandwill,asmileofloveandsurrender,ashimmer,asthoughallitslonelinessandpridehadbeenpiercedforasedandnothingshonefromitbutaheartfullofjoy.

  "Goldmund,"Narcissussaidverysoftly,weighinghiswordsevennow,"youdontexpectmetobeeanartexpertallofasudden.YouknowImnot.Itellyounothingaboutyourartthatyouwouldnotfindridiculous.Butletmetellyouohing:atfirstglanceIreizedourAbbotDahiseva,andnotonlyhim,butalsoallthethingsheoous:dignity,kindness,simplicity.AsblessedFatherDaoodbeforeouryouthfulveioandsherebeforemenowandwithhimeverythingthatwassacredtousthenandthatmakesthoseyearsunfettabletous.Youhavegivenmeagenerousgift,myfriend,andnotonlyhaveyougivenourAbbotDanielbae;youhaveopenedyourselfpletely,tomeforthefirsttime.NowIknowwhoyouare.Letusspeakaboutitnolonger;Iot.OhGoldmund,thatthishourhasbeengivenus!"

  Itwasquietinthelargeroom.HisfriendtheAbbotwasmovedtothedepthofhisheart.Goldmundsawthisandembarrassmentchokedhisbreathing.

  "Yes,"hesaidcurtly,"Iamhappy.Butnowitstimetogoa."松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

• 推荐自己的新书《天命讨债人》

  齐天大魔猴

  桀骜齐天圣，铮铮大魔猴
• 第817章 四公子当真与众不同？

  清穿后每天被迫撩

  【欢脱独宠，沙雕撩夫日
• 新书《谜城》开启

  神峰

  一次偶然， 他踏足修
• 第270章 酒吧偶遇

  网游之影子大师

  我，在黑夜中行走 我
• 007儿女成群

  婚城难入

  十八岁的她，一心想用高
• 第四百一十六章 邀请

  剑神之剑弑乾坤

  《剑神之剑弑乾坤》是一