CHAPTER IX.
1 Darkness in the cities. 5 The young things rejoice. 7 And love flourisheth. 10 Many errors are committed. 14 Concerning what happened unto a certain young man. 27 The reason thereof. 30 One pardoneth the little boys.
Now the rulers sent them word unto all the cities, saying, Let there be no light; and there was no light.
2 And every man did hide his candle under a bushel, else did he pay for his rashness in many shekels of silver. Yea, there was even darkness upon the highways and in those places where the people did pass to and fro. And the darkness did breed confusion.
3 Now they that lived in Lon were in two minds concerning it. And some that did sell merchandise in the bazaars, they did make them a noise, being perturbed because of their pockets. And there were others that did utter loud manifestations of joy. And the old women that were there, these ventured not forth after the sun was set.
4 And they that were dealers in merchandise did make loud lamentations and did put on sackcloth and ashes, saying, Wherefore should we sit in darkness? And why cry our wares in the shadow? And because men knew them, therefore they heeded them not.
5 ¶ But amongst the young things of the city there was great rejoicing, for the mandate, it was welcome unto them.
6 And they said, the one unto the other, Behold, it is dark. Let us, therefore, advantage ourselves somewhat.
7 ¶ And they did hie them in pairs unto the quiet places; verily, every male did take with him a female as his companion, and they did talk of love.
8 And because the Bishop of that city was against love, and because there were many sojourning there that did pry, therefore did the swains speak low, fearing lest the eavesdroppers should come upon them.
9 And there were many that did plight their troths, because it was their opportunity; and many promises were given in vain.
10 ¶ And because it was dark, women of strange countenance did get them off with men, for a cheek that was fair as the petals of the hyssop was of no avail in the night time.
11 Even so, there was many a woman that did lose her man ere the passing of the first lamp. And he that was once bit, on the next occasion he did carry a torch in his hand for to see what it was.
12 And if a man did bump him into his own wife, he would say polite things, for he did not know her;
13 And because he did say polite things, therefore, neither would she know him. And strange things did happen because of it.
14 ¶ Now it came to pass that a certain man was returning unto his habitation at an hour when the night was far gone.
15 And it was the custom in that city to travel in a carriage that did go in part beneath the ground; and the reason thereof was because it was quick.
16 And, behold, as he proceeded on his way and was come nigh unto the place of his abode, suddenly a great darkness overcame him so that he became as one that is blind.
17 And all the people that were with him in the carriage were dismayed and they did rise upon their feet, and did mingle, the one with the other.
18 And he that had authority in that carriage spake unto them and commanded them that they should sit down. And they sat them down.
19 And it came to pass that, after the young man had sat him down, behold, his right hand was taken from him and it was squeezed.
20 And even as he pondered on this strange thing that was happening unto him, behold, he was bereft of his left hand also, and it was squeezed.
21 And he was taken unawares and knew not what to do, for he was a young man and righteous, and he was married unto a wife.
22 Therefore, he sat him still and did wait for whatsoever might come unto him. And, lo, presently there was a kiss given unto him upon the left cheek; and, afterwards, was there a kiss upon his right cheek also.
23 Yea, both upon the right cheek and upon the left cheek did he get him the kisses, and it was for a long time.
24 And the kisses that did fall upon his left cheek were a warming lot and pleasurable; and the others, they were cold. Therefore did he turn him about for to lean towards the side that was hot.
25 And, behold, his cheeks were seized upon the instant between two hands that were soft; and the one that was upon his left side did kiss him with earnestness upon the mouth so that he trembled at the touch. And because he was become enamoured of the pastime, therefore did he return the kiss for a long spell.
26 And even while it yet happened, the light was returned unto the carriage, and he did see.
27 ¶ And, behold, upon his right hand did sit a man that was lately come back from the wars; and she that was upon his left hand was a damsel very comely to look upon and blushing red.
28 And because it was a mistake, therefore was he not kissed again either upon the right cheek, or upon the left cheek, or yet upon the mouth.
29 And when he returned him unto his house, he did get him silently unto his bedchamber. Neither told he his wife anything about it, fearing lest she would not understand.
30 ¶ And concerning another man, it is written that he did tie a piece of white cloth unto the gate of his house so that he might know its whereabouts when the moon was not high.
31 And the small boys of the neighbourhood did come and they took away the piece of white cloth that was upon the gate and they did tie it unto the portal of an house wherein there lived a certain woman, of pleasing mien and fair to look upon; and her husband was gone to the wars.
32 And when the young man returned unto his habitation, behold, the piece of cloth that he did leave, it was not there; and he was deceived so that he entered in unto the wrong house.
33 Nevertheless, the young man did forgive the boys of the neighbourhood for the thing that they had done unto him.