He turned to go, when a sudden thought
came to him. There was no one in sight, no sound but the failing
cry from the tired old saint. Hilarius doffed his cap again and
his fresh young voice rose clear and sweet through the thin still
air:-
"Iesu, dulcis memoria,
Dans vera cordis gaudia;
Sed super mel et omnia
Dulcis ejus praesentia."
At the fourth stanza his memory failed him; but he could hear the
Ankret crooning to himself the words he had sung, and crying softly
like a little child.
Hilarius went home with wonder in his heart, but said no word of
what had befallen him; and that night the Ankret died, and the Sub-
Prior gave him the last sacraments.
Next day it was known that a vision had been vouchsafed the holy
man before his end; and that the Prince of Angels himself had
brought his message of release: and Hilarius, greatly content to
think that the Blessed Michael had indeed been so near him, kept
his own counsel.
He told Lady Eleanor of Martin's words.
"God save the King!" she said, and went into her oratory to pray:
and there was need of prayer, for the Minstrel's foreboding was no
idle one.
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