It was about three months after the time of my leaving Jerusalem
that the plague set his spotted foot on the Holy City. The monks
felt great alarm; they did not shrink from their duty, but for its
performance they chose a plan most sadly well fitted for bringing
down upon them the very death which they were striving to ward off.
They imagined themselves almost safe so long as they remained
within their walls; but then it was quite needful that the Catholic
Christians of the place, who had always looked to the convent for
the supply of their spiritual wants, should receive the aids of
religion in the hour of death. A single monk therefore was chosen,
either by lot or by some other fair appeal to destiny. Being thus
singled out, he was to go forth into the plague-stricken city, and
to perform with exactness his priestly duties; then he was to
return, not to the interior of the convent, for fear of infecting
his brethren, but to a detached building (which I remember)
belonging to the establishment, but at some little distance from
the inhabited rooms. He was provided with a bell, and at a certain
hour in the morning he was ordered to ring it, IF HE COULD; but if
no sound was heard at the appointed time, then knew his brethren
that he was either delirious or dead, and another martyr was sent
forth to take his place.
Pages:
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148