THE CLOISTER
Brother Clement had taught and preached in Basle more than a twelvemonth, when one day Jerome stood before him, dusty, with a triumphant glance in his eye.
"Give the glory to God, Brother Clement; thou canst now wend to England with me.""I am ready, Brother Jerome; and expecting thee these many months, have in the intervals of teaching and devotion studied the English tongue somewhat closely.""'Twas well thought of," said Jerome.He then told him he had but delayed till he could obtain extraordinary powers from the Pope to collect money for the Church's use in England, and to hear confession in all the secular monasteries."So now gird up thy loins, and let us go forth and deal a good blow for the Church, and against the Franciscans."The two friars went preaching down the Rhine for England.In the larger places they both preached.At the smaller they often divided, and took different sides of the river, and met again at some appointed spot.Both were able orators, but in different styles,Jerome's was noble and impressive, but a little contracted in religious topics, and a trifle monotonous in delivery compared with Clement's, though in truth not so, compared with most preachers.
Clement's was full of variety, and often remarkably colloquial.In its general flow, tender and gently winning, it curled round the reason and the heart.But it always rose with the rising thought;and so at times Clement soared as far above Jerome as his level speaking was below him.Indeed, in these noble heats he was all that we hue read of inspired prophet or heathen orator: Vehemens ut procella, excitatus ut torrens, incensus ut fulmen, tonabat, fulgurabat, et rapidis eloquentiae fiuctibus cuncta proruebat et perturbabat.
I would give literal specimens, but for five objections; it is difficult; time is short; I have done it elsewhere; an able imitator has since done it better and similarity, a virtue in peas, is a vice in books.
But (not to evade the matter entirely) Clement used secretly to try and learn the recent events and the besetting sin of each town he was to preach in.
But Jerome, the unbending, scorned to go out of his way for any people's vices.At one great town, some leagues from the Rhine, they mounted the same pulpit in turn.Jerome preached against vanity in dress, a favourite theme of his.He was eloquent and satirical, and the people listened with complacency.It was a vice that they were little given to.
Clement preached against drunkenness.It was a besetting sin, and sacred from preaching in these parts: for the clergy themselves were infected with it, and popular prejudice protected it, Clement dealt it merciless blows out of Holy Writ and worldly experience.
