第72章

ofthecorruptionswhichhaverushedinuponusevenlikeaflood。Thesoulsofourpurefounders，thespiritsofHughdePayenandGodfreydeSaintOmer，andoftheblessedSevenwhofirstjoinedindedicatingtheirlivestotheserviceoftheTemple，aredisturbedevenintheenjoymentofparadiseitself。Ihaveseenthem，Conrade，inthevisionsofthenight——theirsaintedeyesshedtearsforthesinsandfolliesoftheirbrethren，andforthefoulandshamefulluxuryinwhichtheywallow。Beaumanoir，theysay，thouslumberest——awake！ThereisastaininthefabricoftheTemple，deepandfoulasthatleftbythestreaksofleprosyonthewallsoftheinfectedhousesofold。*Thesoldiersofthe*Seethe13thchapterofLeviticus。

Cross，whoshouldshuntheglanceofawomanastheeyeofabasilisk，liveinopensin，notwiththefemalesoftheirownraceonly，butwiththedaughtersoftheaccursedheathen，andmoreaccursedJew。Beaumanoir，thousleepest；up，andavengeourcause！——Slaythesinners，maleandfemale！——

TaketotheethebrandofPhineas！——Thevisionfled，Conrade，butasIawakedIcouldstillheartheclankoftheirmail，andseethewavingoftheirwhitemantles——AndIwilldoaccordingtotheirword，I=will=purifythefabricoftheTemple！andtheuncleanstonesinwhichtheplagueis，Iwillremoveandcastoutofthebuilding。’’

``Yetbethinkthee，reverendfather，’’saidMont-Fitchet，``thestainhathbecomeengrainedbytimeandconsuetude；letthyreformationbecautious，asitisjustandwise。’’

``No，Mont-Fitchet，’’answeredthesternoldman——``itmustbesharpandsudden——theOrderisonthecrisisofitsfate。Thesobriety，self-devotion，andpietyofourpredecessors，madeuspowerfulfriends——ourpresumption，ourwealth，ourluxury，haveraisedupagainstusmightyenemies——Wemustcastawaytheseriches，whichareatemptationtoprinces——wemustlaydownthatpresumption，whichisanoffencetothem——wemustreformthatlicenseofmanners，whichisascandaltothewholeChristianworld！Or——markmywords——theOrderoftheTemplewillbeutterlydemolished——andthePlacethereofshallnomorebeknownamongthenations。’’

``NowmayGodavertsuchacalamity！’’saidthePreceptor。

``Amen，’’saidtheGrandMaster，withsolemnity，``butwemustdeservehisaid。Itellthee，Conrade，thatneitherthepowersinHeaven，northepowersonearth，willlongerendurethewickednessofthisgeneration——Myintelligenceissure——thegroundonwhichourfabricisrearedisalreadyundermined，andeachadditionwemaketothestructureofourgreatnesswillonlysinkitthesoonerintheabyss。Wemustretraceoursteps，andshowourselvesthefaithfulChampionsoftheCross，sacrificingtoourcalling，notaloneourbloodandourlives——notaloneourlustsandourvices——

butourease，ourcomforts，andournaturalaffections，andactasmenconvincedthatmanyapleasurewhichmaybelawfultoothers，isforbiddentothevowedsoldieroftheTemple。’’

Atthismomentasquire，clothedinathreadbarevestment，(fortheaspirantsafterthisholyOrderworeduringtheirnoviciatethecast-offgarmentsoftheknights，)enteredthegarden，and，bowingprofoundlybeforetheGrandMaster，stoodsilent，awaitinghispermissionerehepresumedtotellhiserrand。

``Isitnotmoreseemly，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``toseethisDamian，clothedinthegarmentsofChristianhumility，thusappearwithreverendsilencebeforehisSuperior，thanb