CHAPTER XVI.
1 The scribe goeth forth. 4 He receiveth warning. 6 Concerning a certain damsel. 15 The infernal regions. 18 A certain woman maketh inquiry. 21 A guardian of the peace admonisheth him. 26 The anger of the people.
Now it came to pass that I did go forth into the highways of the city for to be amongst the young things that do gambol together, the one with the other.
2 And when I was come out, lo, it was night. And the stars were in the sky, and the moon also, it was there. Verily, it was a night for love.
3 And as I went my way, behold, there was a certain man, being of the guardians of the people; and in his right hand he did carry a silver whistle.
4 ¶ And I perceived that there was a paper about the middle of him, even upon his stomach did I see it; and writ upon the paper were the words, TAKE COVER.
5 Wherefore I did hie me thence, and I did repair unto a certain eating-house, craving meat for to nourish my bones and a little wine for to moisten my sinews.
6 ¶ And when I was come into that place, behold, there was a damsel, a daughter of the land of En, and comely withal.
7 And there was pride in her manner of bearing, and her eyes did look forth as a morning in spring. Also, she was of the appearance of twenty years.
8 And even as I gazed upon the freshness of her, lo, the head of the eating-house, being a stranger in the land of En, he approached nigh unto her, and he did make obeisance.
9 And after he had wept a little, he entreated her leave for to speak. And she commanded him that he should speak.
10 And he spake unto her in these words, saying, Thy servant hath a dungeon pertaining unto him; it is a spacious dungeon, and roomy withal. Therefore, I beseech thee that we go down into the nether-most corner of it, which is a place of safety whither danger cometh not.
11 And after she had heard all that he did say, then waxed she wroth indeed. And she looked upon him in a certain way, and she spake unto him angrily, saying,
12 Because thou hast dared to say these things unto me, therefore will I eat no more at thy table.
13 Verily, the king of Hu, he may scatter me unto the stars, if so be it he can; but it is not in him to send me down to thy dungeon.
14 And notwithstanding that her words, they were lacking in wisdom, nevertheless, I was filled with a great pride because she was one of the women of En.
15 ¶ And after I was come out of that place, I did get me down unto the infernal regions that are underneath the earth.
16 And the people that were there, they were in number as the hairs upon the backs of twenty horses; and there were men of En amongst them also; yes, several of them did I see.
17 And I perceived a great profusion of chattels, and goods in an infinite variety. And the women that were there, they were eating divers victuals for to sustain their bodies; but the children and men, they did take theirs from a bottle.
18 ¶ And a certain woman that I knew not, she spake unto me in these words, saying, I beseech thee, son of man, to impart unto me the hour of our going up.
19 And because the affair was not of my doing, therefore neither did I know the hour of the going up. Nevertheless, I scrupled not to tell her the time of it, for she was an old thing and full of trepidation.
20 Now the stink in that place, it was full of violence, being very abominable, so that I was like to be sick unto death because of it. Wherefore, I did make haste for to get me out of it, fearing to tarry there any longer.
21 ¶ And after I was come up, I did go forth into the night. And immediately I was espied by a guardian of the people; and he admonished me soundly.
22 And he showed me an hole near by that was lately dug by the men of Hu; and he told me also concerning the danger attending on fools. And he bade me take heed of his warning.
23 But in all the time that he did speak unto me concerning my safety, he spake nothing concerning his own, so that I did marvel greatly at his valour.
24 Nevertheless, he was a little man and fat, and the bristles of his brows stood out as an army at attention.
25 And even as I yet delayed my going down, lo, one blew a bugle; and immediately the people came out in their thousands from their places in the bowels of the earth.
26 ¶ And I did go amongst the multitude for to hear them, and what they said about it.
27 And when I had heard the things that I did hear, I perceived that they were greatly vexed in spirit; and the manner of their indignation, it was in two kinds.
28 And they said many bitter things against the men of Hu, because of the thing that they had done.
29 But they were provoked beyond measure against the rulers of En, because they did not do those things, and more also, in the cities of the land of Hu.