midnight
Then between the stars came the Holy City with roof and pinnacle aflame , and walls aglow with such colours as no earthly limner dreams of , and much gold . Brother Ambrose beheld the Gates of Pearl , and by every gate an angel , with wings of snow and fire , and a face no man dare look on , because of its exceeding radiance . `` Then as Brother Ambrose stretched out his arms because of his great longing , a little grey cloud came out of the north and hung between the walls of light , so that he no longer beheld the Vision , but heard only a sound as of a great multitude crying , ` Alleluia ' ; and suddenly the winds came about him again , and lo ! he found himself in bed in the dormitory , and it was midnight , for the bell was ringing to Matins ; and he rose and went down with the rest ; but when the Brethren left the choir , Brother Ambrose stayed fast in his place , hearing and seeing nothing because of the Vision of God ; and at Lauds they found him and told the Prior . `` He questioned Brother Ambrose of the matter , and when he heard the Vision , bade him limn the Holy City even as he had seen it ; and the Precentor gave him uterine vellum and much fine gold and what colours he asked for the work . Then Brother Ambrose limned a wondrous fair city of gold with turrets and spires ; and he inlaid blue for the sapphire , and green for the emerald , and vermilion where the city seemed aflame with the glory of God ; but the angels he could not limn , nor could he set the rest of the colours as he saw them , nor the wall of stars on either hand ; and Brother Ambrose fell sick because of the exceeding great longing he had to limn the Holy City , and was very sad ; but our Prior bade him thank God and remember the infirmity of the flesh , which , like the little grey cloud , veiled Jerusalem to his sight . '' There was silence .