CHAPTER III.
1 Concerning Ronda. 6 Concerning Yapp. 7 Concerning Smuts. 9 Concerning Barnz. 16 Concerning Rep.
Now he that was chosen for to keep the food of the people, and to be the chief larderer in the land, his name, it was Ronda.
2 And the path of this man, it was beset with obstacles; and it did lie between the devil, that was the sellers of victuals, and the deep sea, that was the people.
3 And he did have dominion over the birds of the air, and over the beasts of the field, and over the fishes that were in the sea.
4 And at a word from his mouth, all the rabbits that were in the land, they did vanish out of sight; neither were they seen any more of man.
5 Nevertheless, though some did curse him openly, yet did he do that which was appointed unto him.
6 ¶ Now he that was an help unto Ronda, his name, it was Yapp. And he was a man that did buy him pig in small pieces; neither did he get him the half of a swine, save only over a long time and in fragments.
7 ¶ Now there was a certain great captain, and his name, it was Smuts. And he did come from afar off for to counsel the fighters of En.
8 And notwithstanding that his name, it was what it was, nevertheless he was a power in the land; and his words, they were sold for the price of four farthings.
9 ¶ Now, there was another man, also, and his name, it was Barnz. And notwithstanding that he was a man of labour, nevertheless, his seat was amongst the rulers of the land.
10 And he spake unto the people in a speech, and he said unto them, Who is Winston and who is he? Verily, he is that man who hath butted him in, and he hath wrought mischief throughout all the land, because of what he hath done.
11 And after he had finished speaking, behold, a clamour arose amongst all the people, and they cried out against Winston, because he had butted him in.
12 And when Barnz saw how it was with the people, and that Winston, also, he was swollen up with the anger that was in him, then did he speak unto the people again, fearing lest they had not heard him aright.
13 And he spake unto them in these words, saying, What I did mean or what I did ought to have meant, it was another thing.
14 Wherefore, understand ye all that Winston, he did not butt him in alone. For I, even I, that be Barnz, the man of labour, I also did butt me in with him. Also, and moreover, we did butt us in together.
15 And at that time, there was no butter, save only these, in all the land of En.
16 ¶ Now there was a certain man, and his name, it was Rep: and his pen, it was mightier than his sword.
17 And he did remove himself from the camp of the Amalekites and did pitch his tent amongst the children of Moab.
18 And when he was arrived in the land of Moab, he straightway sat himself down on a seat, and he did spread him out for to write.
19 Yea, he did write even such things and such things; and things also in likewise, these did he write him as well.
20 And he did rend the Amalekites with words, and the rulers of the land did he chastise most hotly; with the quill of a goose did he smite them, nor spared he any one of them at all.
21 Wherefore all those that heeded him, they did tear their clothes in the violence of their perturbation. And they did put on sackcloth and ashes, and their faces they did smear with mud, crying out in a loud voice, and saying,
22 Now is the end of all things, and now the end of En. Verily, we are thrown in the dust at the feet of our enemies, for the rulers are turned against us.
23 And they do conspire with the Amalekites for to bring about our undoing. Yea, the end of all things, it is close at hand.
24 And because they were amongst the false prophets, therefore was it not so. And, notwithstanding that Rep, he did write him thus darkly, nevertheless the people, they did get them on with the war.
25 But Rep, because he did write concerning secret matters, he paid for his temerity in an hundred pieces of gold, all good money and very precious.