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."