CHAPTER IX.
1 Concerning food. 4 The people do wait in a line. 11 And seek the truth. 13 An old man lacketh butter. 17 He getteth all else. 18 Concerning the cards. 24 Certain of the people do hoard. 26 They pay the penalty. 27 The prudent man and the woman that had no sugar.
Now there came a time when there was no more food in En save only enough for to feed the people.
2 And the gluttons of the land cried out in their vexation, because they glutted them no more.
3 And it became a custom amongst the people that they should hie them unto the bazaar for to wait without the portal of it.
4 ¶ And they would gather themselves together in a line hoping that, perchance, a little meat would be vouchsafed unto them.
5 And they did complain loudly amongst themselves and did make their faces of a length; and they cursed the rulers shamefully.
6 Yea, there were many that forgot it was a time of war, for their minds were not on it, being gone down into their stomachs.
7 Now it fell out on a night that I pursued my way along an highway in the city of Lon.
8 And, behold, there was a multitude of people, being in a line, and it reached unto a long way off.
9 And I perceived that they were a merry lot and full of mirth. Yea, they were like unto none of them that I had seen before.
10 And I drew nigh unto them, for I was amazed. And I sought to inquire what manner of victuals it was that did put them in the humour.
11 ¶ And when I was come near enough, then did I see the name of it and what it was, and behold, that which they waited for, it was Nothing but the Truth.
12 And so it was in the land, that to buy of laughter, they grudged them not the waiting; but to get them a morsel of food, that was a matter in other wise.
13 ¶ Now there was a certain man, and he was an old man and full of cunning; and his stomach, it did trouble him for a little butter.
14 Wherefore he writ him a list, and he did put down all the things that he needed not; and in the midmost part of it, he put down also a little butter.
15 And after it was writ, he sent it unto the bazaar, hoping by this means to get him that for which his soul did crave; and he prayed without ceasing all that night.
16 And when it was morning, there came one from the bazaar unto his habitation; and he did bring with him all those things that the old man, which was full of cunning, he had put down.
17 ¶ Yea, all of them did he bring save only a little butter for to fortify the old man's faith in prayer.
18 ¶ Now these were the days of cards, and the number of them, it increased continually.
19 And there were food cards, and fuel cards, and cards of registration, and sugar cards, and cards of insurance, and cards of exemption also.
20 And whosoever did lose his cards, verily, the state of that man, it was terrible.
21 For he could get him no sustenance for to live. And a man that is not insured, to die were the last of his follies.
22 Moreover, because the card of his exemption, it was lost, therefore, in either case, he was become of the fighters of En.
23 Yea, even though he were possessed of the joker, nevertheless, it availed him nothing; for it was a new game, and the joker was not in the pack.
24 ¶ And certain of the people did gather them victuals secretly and in great abundance, and they did put them on one side and they did hoard.
25 Neither did they consider the needs of the poor, being satisfied with their own bellies, that they should be full up.
26 ¶ And they did pay for their selfishness in the penalty; yea, for the mighty atom that they did hide away, they paid for it in the penalty.
27 ¶ Now there was a certain man of the land of En, and he was the father of many children; wherefore he was become prudent, and he was for ever looking in front of him.
28 And it came to pass that he did go unto an inn. And he commanded the servant that was there, saying unto him, Bring me a measure of tea, that I may drink.
29 And the servant did bring him the measure of tea, and he did set it down before him. And he that would drink, he did take from his pocket a little white sugar.
30 And after he had used of it, he did put upon the table that sugar which was remaining over.
31 Now there was a certain woman sitting nigh unto him. And her husband, that was a great man, he did sit beside her. And she was garbed in new purple.
32 And there was a great weight of precious jewels upon her, yea, even unto the fastenings of her sandals was she bright with precious gems.
33 And she did look at the sugar greedily, for she coveted it. And because she was too proud to steal, therefore did she approach unto the man.
34 And she threw herself down at his feet and she buried her face in the dust, crying out, My lord, my lord, see how thine handmaiden prostrateth herself before thee.
35 And he said unto her, Woman, arise. And she rose up. And he spake unto her again, saying, Tell me, I beseech thee, the reason of thy supplication; for he was full of prudence, and, because she was a woman, therefore did he trust her not.
36 And after she had kissed his hand, she said unto him, Behold, my lord, thine handmaiden hath got her a measure of tea, and it lacketh sweetness.
37 Therefore, I pray thee that thou givest unto me a morsel of sugar, for thy servant, she thirsteth mightily.
38 And when he saw how it was with her, he gave her a morsel of sugar, being the sugar that he had brought with him.
39 And after she had blessed his name, and the name of his father, and all his seed also, she returned unto her husband being well content.
40 And this was a thing that did happen because there was war in the land.