CHAPTER XVIII.
1 Food is measured out unto the people. 4 A certain woman hath an appetite. 12 She retaineth it. 13 The ways of a young man. 15 The rulers lay hands on the people's pleasures. 23 Concerning certain amongst the makers of munitions for the war.
Now the chief larderer of the land of En did send unto the people, and he spake unto them concerning the things that they should eat, and concerning how much.
2 And he commanded them that they should partake of meat according to a certain measure, and of other things also, a weekly rate for every week, all the weeks of the war.
3 And he cautioned all them that were given over to the pursuit of food, and he forbade them to eat of certain viands save only according to the measure. And he gave all the people cards; yea, unto every man, he did give a card.
4 ¶ Now there was a certain woman, being a woman of an appetite, and she lived in an house where four people were. And she went unto the bazaar, and she did buy her meat.
5 And she did pay for it in five pieces of silver and in four new stamps. And the meat, it was to provide sustenance during all that week for them that were in the house.
6 And when she was come home, she did put it in a safe place, saying, Because it is a little meat, therefore let us preserve it until the Sabbath be come.
7 Now it came to pass that two of them that did live in that house, they were called away; and the Sabbath was not yet come.
8 And the woman, she was left alone with her husband; and the meat, it did also remain. And she lifted up her voice on high, singing songs of jubilation because the meat, it was grown double.
9 And she said unto her husband, Let us therefore make us a festival, and let us eat our fill, and more also. And let us buy wine of a rare vintage for to cheer us on the day.
10 And she went out and she did get her wine of a rare vintage that was very old. And her Sabbath eve was passed in joyful expectation.
11 And when the morrow was come, she made her preparations for the festival. And she made her sauces of a choice flavour, and a little gravy also. And when the mixing of them, it was done, she betook herself unto the safe place where the meat, it was hid.
12 ¶ And, behold, it was gone, being eaten up of the cat. And the anguish of that woman, it was terrible. Neither did the sauces of a choice flavour, nor the gravy, nor the wine of a rare vintage suffice for to console her in the time of her tribulation.
13 ¶ Now whensoever it happened that a young man, being devoured of love for a damsel, did seek for to pave the way, then would he wait upon the damsel's mother.
14 And he would bring with him seven small pieces of sugar and a little butter, for it was a sure means, nor ever failed of its purpose.
15 ¶ Now the rulers made them a decree, and they ordained that a measure of water, it should be added unto all the strong drink that was sold throughout the land.
16 And the publicans made haste with a good heart for to fulfil the rulers' behest; yea, wonderful was their zeal in the doing of it.
17 Wherefore that which was erstwhile strong, behold, it was grown very weak; nevertheless, there were some who contended that a little of it, sprinkled upon ground where seeds were, it hastened the time of the harvest.
18 And the rulers of the land did also make them a new ale, being of the colour of drink, but not otherwise.
19 And all the blowers of froth, they came together for to seek enlivenment of it. Nevertheless, after that they had drunk all that which the publicans did have, yet gat they not enlivenment.
20 But they remained a miserable lot and sober; verily, there was not one amongst them that could say unto his friend on the morrow,
21 Assuredly, it was a goodly night and very pleasing, for I did get me rarely oiled, being bailed out by my brother.
22 Wherefore many did murmur against the rulers because they stretched forth their hands for to touch the pleasures of the people.
23 ¶ Now it came to pass on occasions that certain of the makers of munitions for the war, being the foolish and the ill-advised amongst them, they did cease from their labours because they were displeased.
24 Peradventure they were dissatisfied on account of their hire, seeking that it should be added to by the matter of one farthing for every hour of their labour.
25 And after they had rested them for a time, withholding their help from their brothers that were gone into battle, then that which they asked, it would be given unto them.
26 And they would take it as the fitting reward of their persistence, nor recked the farthing, that it was paid for in the blood of valiant men.
27 Nevertheless, there were also others amongst the makers of munitions that ceased not from their labours, nor rested them either by day or by night, but were for ever at it.
28 And all the people honoured them, being thankful that such as these, both the men and the women of them, they were left for to prove the land of En before the eyes of the world.