CHAPTER XI.
1 The young men go out for to fight. 2 Many take unto themselves wives. 11 Some think it not wise. 19 Some transgress the law. 22 The matrons are rejoiced. 23 All the maidens would wed amongst the officers. 27 Concerning the damsels that were left over.
Now in the land of En the young men did hurry them away unto the war, and amongst the maidens there were many sad at heart.
2 ¶ And when the time drew nigh unto a young man that he must gird up his loins and go, then would he speak unto the damsel of his choice.
3 And he would say unto her, Thou knowest that there yet remaineth unto me only so many days; let us therefore arrange matters quickly that we be married.
4 And because the time was short and it was her chance, she would answer and would say unto him, Thou art my lord, and whatsoever thou commandest, it shall be done. Let us therefore hasten about it lest, peradventure, we meet with an hindrance upon the way.
5 For the women of that time were a crafty lot and they did beguile their men with soft words; and the wiles of Bathsheba, that did wash herself, were as nothing in comparison to these, for they were full of artfulness.
6 And when she had told her mother and them that were about the place, she would take the young man unto the priest for to make them a day; and after it was in order, then would they go unto the ringmaker and she would try on whatsoever came unto her hand. Yea, many rings would she place upon her finger; but the ring that she did choose, that did she not try on, fearing lest it prove unlucky in the afterwards.
7 Now it happened in certain cases that the damsel needed not to furnish her with garments for the wedding, inasmuch as she was prepared, being ready against the occasion.
8 But when it was not so, then would the damsel set about it, and she would make things hum. And she and those that were related unto her and her handmaidens also, they would haste them unto the bazaars. And whatsoever was necessary unto the marriage, that thing would they buy; and of the things that were not necessary unto the marriage, they would also buy them some of these.
9 And when the last minute was come, then would they send the old man for to buy that which was forgotten, saying unto him, Get thee quickly, thou fool. And he would get him quickly.
10 And when the hour was come for the young man to take the damsel unto him, behold, she was there. And throughout all the land of En there was no case known of a damsel that did come too late.
11 ¶ And because there was a great number of them that did wed in this wise, therefore was there much talk concerning it, both in the public places and in the habitations of the people.
12 And some did say it was a foolish thing to do. And they did speak darkly concerning the future, what it did hide, for it went for a saying amongst them that a marriage that is hasty bringeth early regret.
13 And others said, Let the young men wed. Verily, many go forth unto the wars but the number of them that return, it is not so great. Therefore is it necessary for them that are of an age to make them families, else in what manner shall the nation endure.
14 And the young things heeded not these arguments, for they were young and did love. And whosoever loveth enough, he hath his justification.
15 But woe unto that man who taketh unto himself a wife for the sake of it; a million tears will not suffice for to drown her in.
16 But he that marrieth his beloved in haste, seeking happiness, that man assuredly hath a dog's chance; and he that taketh time about the business, is not his risk also great?
17 And there were some that did marry for love and there were some that did marry for a pension; but there were some that did marry because it was a discreet thing to do.
18 And the number of them that did marry was beyond anything that men could remember, so that the priests did gather them an harvest of exceeding richness and they did bless the unions with many pious words.
19 ¶ Now certain men did take unto themselves more wives than one, which was a wicked thing to do, for in the land of En it was not lawful for a man to marry two wives.
20 And this was passing strange, for the seduction of a maiden was a thing that was winked at. Yea, the father of a child begotten guiltily, he was absolved by the payment of five pieces of silver every week. But the man whose wife did bear him a son, his punishment was greater than this.
21 And in those days was man judged according to a rule, and an hurt transgressing not the rule, that was forgiven unto him. And to marry two wives, that was against the rule; but to keep two score of concubines, that was a lawful thing to do.
22 ¶ And because there was war, therefore did many mothers pull off forlorn hopes at the last minute, which rejoiced them greatly. For there was much competition amongst the daughters of En, and the number of young men did not suffice for all.
23 ¶ And every maiden did seek for to get her an officer, for these were great men whom the common soldiers did salute in the public places, so that to walk with such an one was indeed pleasurable.
24 And there was much cackling in all the hen-roosts of the land of En, and amongst those families that did get them an officer there were loud manifestations of joy.
25 And the pride of these was beyond all telling, and they would hold up their heads on high and they would say unto them that did live next door, Bow ye down before us and make obeisance. Know ye not that Miriam, our first-born, hath taken a captain to husband?
26 And because they did know it and because their daughter had succeeded only as high as a corporal of the lance, they would bow themselves down and would speak words of flattery, for she that was wife unto a captain was a power in the confines of the cities.
27 But there were many maidens that no man took unto him for wife, and the days of these were bitter living; neither did their sisters that had clicked refrain from telling them about it.
28 Wherefore some of the damsels that were left over did journey into the wilderness for to meditate concerning the matter, for the airs of a woman that is married are as a goad unto her that languisheth alone.
29 And so it came to pass that certain of them did get them war work from the makers of munitions, and certain of them did get them war babies from no man knew whither. Yea, every one did act according to her lights and did do all those things that the occasion did demand.