CHAPTER XIII.
1 Darkness continueth in the city. 2 The damsels rejoice. 4 The young men rejoice. 6 The maidens of an age rejoice. 9 A certain man loseth his spouse. 21 He findeth consolation. 24 The ways of the young things.
Now the rulers ordained that the city of Lon, it should continue in darkness; and the hearts of many of the people, they were rejoiced because of it.
2 ¶ And the damsels rejoiced openly, saying, Verily, it is a time that aboundeth in possibilities,
3 Peradventure it will embolden him somewhat in the wooing of me, for love in a dark place, assuredly, it needeth no footwarmer.
4 ¶ And the young men rejoiced also, saying, In the dark of the night, in the very great darkness of the city, there shall I tell her the tale.
5 And after that she is softened towards me, then will I gather her in. And I will quench my thirst at the fountain of her lips, and the rapture of her touch, it shall feed mine appetite for love.
6 ¶ And the maidens of an age, they rejoiced as well. For she that was thirty and five years old when it was day, she was judged by the shortness of her garments after that it was become the night.
7 And many damsels came unto the city of Lon from the country that was round about it, seeking to avail themselves of the darkness that was there.
8 And they complained in their villages and in their towns also, saying, Why is the city of Lon favoured above other cities?
9 ¶ Now there was a certain man, and he was wedded unto a wife. And it came to pass on an occasion that he did go with her along an highway in Lon at a time when it was dark. And she was garbed in raiment that was black, so that he did take hold upon her arm, fearing lest he should lose her.
10 And whither they were going, that did he know not, save only that they sought the habitation of a friend, there to partake of nourishment and, perchance, a little wine.
11 And as they walked, behold, she raised her voice against him. And she did utter bitter sayings; and she told him how he had troubled her for a long time past.
12 And she told him divers things also concerning himself and concerning the things that he had done, and concerning the things that he had left undone. And afterwards she did steep herself in silence.
13 And as they proceeded upon their way, no word passing between them, they came unto a place where a multitude of people was gathered together.
14 And there was one of the multitude that did come between them. Yea, for a moment the man, he was parted from his wife, and the grip of his hand, it was loosened from her arm.
15 And when he was free of the multitude, he was filled with doubt concerning her, and concerning which of them she was.
16 Wherefore he seized an arm at a venture, being the arm of a woman in raiment of black. And because she spake no word, therefore did he know that it was verily his wife.
17 And he continued on the way with her towards the habitation of her friend; and they came unto an house. And his spirit grew light within him because the victual and the wine also, they were become very near.
18 And whilst they stood without the portal of that house, she that was his wife, she did open the door of it with a key. And he was filled with amazement, nor understood how it was.
19 And she beckoned unto him with her finger, that he should enter into that house. And he went in with her.
20 And after they were come inside, she did make her a light, and he did see. And, behold, the woman, she was not his wife.
21 ¶ Nevertheless, because she was garbed in raiment of black, and was withal a comely damsel, being not ill favoured, therefore did he forgive himself his error.
22 And when the time came that he was returned unto his habitation, he waxed very wroth with his wife. And he upbraided her soundly because she had lost him amongst the multitude.
23 And she did forget to question him concerning his doings on that night, neither did he vouchsafe her any answer concerning them.
24 ¶ Now whensoever it happened that it was night, then did all the damsels hie them forth into the highways of the city; and their thoughts were of love and their stomachs.
25 And they would make them in the likeness of a maiden forlorn so that the young man, his heart was moved by the sight of their desolation.
26 And he would approach unto them because of their state, and he would make offer of himself for to be a companion unto them and to cheer them on their way.
27 And he would say, Knowest thou whether the warning, it hath been given? And she would make answer unto him and she would say, Thine handmaiden, she is a stranger in the city,
28 Nevertheless, she hath received a warning concerning men, that they be wicked and full of naughtiness. Therefore, get thee hence, lest it come to the ears of my mother about thee.
29 And he would reason with her earnestly and he would entreat her that she should put her trust in him.
30 And when he had pleaded with her long enough, then would she say unto him, Verily, thou hast inclined me towards thee with the blandishments of thy tongue.
31 Now, therefore, let us away, for wheresoever thou goest, there also will I go. And thou shalt do unto me whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.
32 And she would take him with her; and wheresoever she did go, there would he also go. And whatsoever seemed good unto her, that did she do unto him.