CHAPTER X.
1 The fighters from afar off. 4 Concerning the men of Cann. 10 Concerning the men of Anz. 20 Concerning the men of Saf. 24 The greeting of the damsels. 27 One is chosen. 31 She uses artifice. 34 The means of escape.
Now there was in the host of En a great number of men that did come from afar off; neither considered they distance as anything against the righteousness of a just cause.
2 And there were men of Anz, and men of Cann, and men of Ind, and men of Saf, and men that did come from other lands also. And all of them were hardy men and full of valour, so that no man could say concerning them, Behold, these people, they are more valiant than the others.
3 And when they went out for to fight, there were never men more terrible than these. Yea, in the heat of the battle, there was not one of the men of Hu that could stand up against them.
4 ¶ Now, the men of Cann were very bold, being strenuous of purpose and knowing not fear. Also, they were full of a great vim.
5 And it came to pass that they were sent against one of the strongholds of the men of Hu. And it was a place that was girded round with cunning devices, and the fortifications of it, they were stronger than iron.
6 And when they had pitched their camp before it, behold, all the garrison did band themselves together, and they did arm themselves with mighty weapons, being resolved that the men of Cann, they should not take that place.
I Nevertheless, their resistance, it availed them nothing; neither was there any power either of earth or of hell for to stay the men of Cann in the violence of their onslaught.
8 For they were a valiant lot, scornful of danger and unafraid to die. Also, they were full of a great vim.
9 Wherefore, they called the name of that place Vimy Ridge, meaning, because it was taken with a great vim. And so it is known even unto this day.
10 ¶ Now the men of Anz did come from a land at the other side of the earth, being six weeks journey in a ship.
11 And certain of them were sent unto Egypt for to make them ready to fight; and they sojourned there many days.
12 And the fire of their ardour burned very bright in that land; yea, the flame of it did blaze forth even as a living thing.
13 Now there was a certain rock that was set in the sea, being an high rock and formidable. And it was in the hands of the enemy.
14 And because of the bravery of the men of Anz, therefore were they charged with the taking of it.
15 And they went out against it in boats; yea, in little boats did they row them up for to take it.
16 And every contrivance of man and all the inventions of the devil, they were turned against them for to drive them back.
17 Nevertheless, they gat them on; even unto the high rock did they get them on.
18 And when they were come up to it, they descended out of their boats, and they did take it by the strength of a mighty attack. Yea, they did climb unto the top of the high rock, and they did take it.
19 And in all the war there was no deed done that was more valiant than this.
20 ¶ Now the men of Saf were divided into two parts. And some of them did come unto En for to be with the host; and some of them did fight against the men of Hu in Geaf, being that land which was next unto Saf.
21 And they prospered exceedingly in their enterprises, so that they were famed for renown amongst all the peoples of the earth.
22 And they did capture the land of Geaf by the edge of the sword; even from the men of Hu did they capture it.
23 Nevertheless, it was an harassing task and full of peril; wherefore the glory of their triumph, it did shed a light upon their name that shall last for ever more.
24 ¶ Now whensoever it happened that a fighter, being of a land afar off, did come unto the city of Lon, then would the damsels make them ready for to greet him.
25 And they would put on their chief raiment, and they would go down unto the gates of the city for to meet him; and they would show their teeth at him, and would allure him with sundry blandishments.
26 And they would get him amongst them, and would take him on one side. And they would speak unto him, with subtil words. And each of them would strive to entice him unto her way.
27 ¶ And after he had sorted them out, the one from the other, the wheat from the chaff, and the corn from the tares, then would he go forth with her.
28 And she would be a guide unto him, and a friend also. And she would show him things and would whisper in his ear.
29 And she would speak unto him concerning his own land, being a country whither she was for a long time back inclined.
30 And she would look at him in a certain way; yea, notwithstanding that he needed not a spur, nevertheless, she would urge him with her eyes. And because he had chosen her above all the others, therefore would he caress her.
31 ¶ And after that he had caressed her to her liking, so that her soul cried out for more, then would she seek for to gather him in.
32 And she would speak unto him concerning her points and concerning the things that she could do. Yea, she would fill her mouth with lies, seeking to make herself perfect.
33 And she would look upon him with large eyes; and she would say unto him, Verily, thou art a man; and thy strength, it terrifieth me. And if he strove for to comfort her because she feared his strength, then was he lost indeed.
34 ¶ Yea, unless he had taken unto himself a wife before, there was no help in him. For the wiles of the damsels, they worked in devious ways; but the end of the ways, assuredly, it was for ever the same.