1 _Concerning the changes that were wrought by the war_. 2 _The
debtors are given grace_. 4 _Strong drink becometh hard to get_. 10
_It groweth difficult to make a journey_. 16 _The bazaars are closed
at an early hour_. 20 _Much money is earned by the workers_. 22
_The manner of spending it_.
And these are _certain_ of the things that did come to pass in the
land of En during the days of the Great War.
2 ¶ Now immediately that there _was_ war, grace was given unto them
that were in debt; and that which they did owe, for a certain time
_they did_ not pay it.
3 Therefore was the war a mixed blessing unto such as _these_, and in
those places _that are_ beyond the Gate of Notting Hill, the days of
grace were welcomed with the sound of timbrels and there was much
rejoicing.
4 ¶ And those that drank not strong drink set them to work. And they
concealed _their purpose_ beneath the shadow of the war, and they
prevailed upon the rulers _to be_ an help unto them.
5 And so _it was_ that the doors of the taverns were closed against
the people save only for five hours during the day; neither was it
lawful _for them_ to buy any strong drink from the publicans _except_
at the time appointed.
6 In this wise did the water bibbers advantage their object, for they
had rightly conceived that the war _was_ an hefty lever wherewith to
work their will.
7 And those that drank of the juice of the grape did become quick _at
the_ swallow, for the time that they did have, it _was_ short.
8 And the preachers and all those that _did_ meddle with the
independence of the people were filled with pious joy, and they
rejoiced in their tabernacles of stone and of tin, and in their
habitations _also_, saying, Thus are the wicked punished _and_ the
thirsty sent empty away.
9 And because the publicans were the people to _go for_, and they did
know it, therefore did they not complain; and the _cocoa_ gulpers
triumphed on that day.
10 ¶ Now there were many sojourning in the land of En that came of an
hostile country. And because _they were_ a danger unto the state,
therefore did the rulers make _new_ laws concerning _them_.
11 And to _this_ end, whosoever did travel unto certain places was
commanded to write him his name in a book that _was_ at the inn where
he did rest.
12 Now when a man and a woman did journey unto the sea and did
sojourn there _for a_ week-end, then would they say unto all and
sundry, Behold, a priest has licensed us to do this thing, for _we
are_ wed.
13 And sometimes it _was_ so: but there were some that did lie about
it, hoping _perchance_ to save them lodgment money, or fearing to
offend the righteous.
14 Therefore was the new law a cause of vexation _unto them_, for to
write in a book their true names, it was not wise; and to write them
names that were false, it was a dangerous thing _and_ costly withal.
15 And though many complained in secret, nevertheless, there was no
_change_ made in the law, for the rulers of the land did rightly own
no knowledge _touching_ such affairs; and they that _did_ transgress
did pay the penalty.
16 ¶ And _it was_ ordained that all the bazaars throughout the land
should close them their doors at eight hours after midday.
17 Yea, even _unto them_ that sold tobacco and unto the vendors of
sweet stuffs was the mandate sent. And _because_ these were used to
ply their trades by night as well as by day, therefore did the order
seem the more amazing unto them.
18 And the damsels liked it not _because of_ their stomachs. And
when a man did go for to buy him cigarettes and _it was_ too late, he
would utter maledictions upon the doorstep; and the next time he
_would_ remember.
19 And in the time of his extremity the married man did borrow from
his wife; and _it did_ cost him dear because she _did have_ her
price. Verily, whatsoever she desired, that did she get _out of_
him, for the moment _was_ favourable unto her purpose.
20 ¶ And many were put to labour on munitions, and they _did_ work
them long hours at a goodly recompense.
21 And when the week _was come_ unto its end, then did they receive
their hire; and because _it was_ a lot of money, they knew not what
_to do_ with it.
22 ¶ And some bought them musical instruments; wherefore was there
great complaining _amongst_ those that lived round about, for the
noise that they did make was as the harmony of the damned.
23 And amongst the women, there were _some_ that bought them feathers
and ribands of a gaudy hue; and they adorned _themselves_ most
wonderfully.
24 And whensoever they ventured forth into the public places, there
_was_ a stir amongst the populace. Yea, verily, from the north
_unto_ the south, and from the east _unto_ the west, wheresoever they
appeared, the people were amazed at the strangeness of their garb.
25 But there were many that _being_ full of wisdom and aflame with
love of En, did lend a part of that _which_ they earned unto the
rulers of the land _for_ to buy them munitions of war.
26 And, howsoever much it was, it did breed them profits during every
year that it was _away_, so that they prospered and became men of
substance.
27 Nevertheless, there was fear _in them_ that when the war was come
to an end the rulers would take from each so _much_, saying unto him,
A good and faithful servant has thou been and prudent, and thou
_wast_ an help unto us _when_ we had need of thee. And now, listen:
28 Inasmuch as thy brothers have wasted their substance on idle
_things_ of no account, therefore are they become paupers, and they
_are_ hungerstarved.
29 But thou _hast_ been saving in the past and thine hire has bred
thee profits. Thy foresight has delivered thee from want _during_
all the days of thy life.
30 Therefore shalt thou pay so much _unto each_ of thy poor brethren,
for in this wise they shall have subsistence that _will_ keep them
safe from want.
31 And the wasters winked them each the _left_ eye, for they knew
full well that when _the time_ came that they were impoverished, then
would the thrifty ones be taxed for to feed them.
32 For the frugal man _shall_ sweat; but the waster, he shall lap it
up. And so _it was_ in the land of En.