CHAPTER XV.
1 Concerning the land of Amer. 4 And the ruler thereof. 11 Certain men of Amer are slain. 12 Wudro, the son of Wyl, writeth an epistle. 26 He writeth again. 27 He writeth many times. 28 Certain men do question him. 38 He revealeth himself.
Now the land of Amer was at the other side of the sea that is Atlantic, and it was many days' sail in a ship from the island of En.
2 And the bounds of that land were set far apart, and the people that did live there were more numerous than the waves of all the seas.
3 And it was a fertile land of extreme fruitfulness, and the earth underneath it yielded precious metals in abundance. And the people were for ever extolling its greatness amongst the nations of the earth.
4 ¶ Now the ruler of the land of Amer was a certain man and his name was Wudro, the son of Wyl; and it happened in this wise.
5 Whilst Wudro, the son of Wyl, was tending his flock of young men in the pasture that is knowledge, and after he had taught them how they should go and what things they should know,
6 Behold, the men of Amer came unto him, saying, We have chosen thee for to rule over us; and we have brought thee an high hat for to wear as the badge of thine office; and the size of the hat, it is six seven-eighths.
7 And because he knew not what he was letting himself in for, he gave way to their importuning, and did put on the high hat, the size whereof was six seven-eighths.
8 And it came to pass that when the men of En fought against the men of Hu, they did send messengers unto the land of Amer for to buy them munitions for the war. And they took with them gold in great quantity wherewith to satisfy the merchants that did sell unto them. Therefore did the land of Amer prosper exceedingly.
9 Now when the men of Hu found out that there was peril in the enterprise, they forbore to send out vessels of war for to fight; in place thereof, they did send them out for to murder those that were peaceful and did sail the seas without any weapon wherewith to defend themselves.
10 And coming upon a large ship unawares, they did send it unto the bottom of the sea so that all they that did travel upon it were cast into the waters for to drown. Yea, even the women and children that were aboard the vessel, all these perished miserably, and the men of Hu did watch their struggles with death unheeding.
11 ¶ Now amongst those that the men of Hu did slay there were certain men of the land of Amer.
12 ¶ And when word was brought unto Wudro, the son of Wyl, concerning it, and how the men of Hu had slain his servants, he waxed very wroth. And he betook himself unto a quiet place, fearing lest in the height of his indignation he should do violence unto any man.
13 And although he was enraged beyond endurance, nevertheless he was a patient man withal.
14 Therefore he did sit him down and he did write an epistle unto Willi, being him that ruled over the men of Hu.
15 And he said unto him, Knowest thou not that thy servants have slain certain of the men of Amer because they did sail upon the sea?
16 And Willi answered him, saying, Verily, all that thou sayest is true. Let us therefore put on sackcloth and ashes, and rend our garments, for it is a day of mourning unto thee, and I, also, am full of sorrow because of it.
17 And when Wudro, the son of Wyl, heard all that Willi had said, and how he made answer unto him in soft words, he knew not what to do, for he was a peaceable man and the land of Amer was prospering greatly.
18 So he sat him down and did write unto Willi again, saying unto him, Thy tears are as an healing ointment. But the thing that thou hast done, that shalt thou do not again, for there is a penalty unto it. Take heed, therefore, and obey, for I am a terrible man, and fierce.
19 And Willi answered him and did say, Thou hast said so and so, for I have seen it with mine own eyes. Let us now speak concerning other matters.
20 And he called unto him a messenger and did command him to deliver the epistle unto the ruler of the land of Amer.
21 And after he was gone, he set to work secretly and did make him preparation, for it was his intendment to do again that thing regarding which Wudro, the son of Wyl, had forewarned him.
22 And when the opportunity came, he did sink more ships, and he did leave those that were on them to perish. And because they were all vessels of peace, and without armour, therefore was he strong against them.
23 And a messenger came unto Wudro, the son of Wyl, in hot haste, and he told him of the things that Willi had done and how that he had slain yet more of the men of Amer.
24 And because he was much agitated at the tidings that were brought unto him, therefore did Wudro, the son of Wyl, swear an oath, making divers new words for the occasion.
25 And he said unto the courier, The matter concerning which thou hast spoken unto me is fraught with evil consequences, for I will write unto Willi another epistle, and I will use mighty words, and I will affright him. Also, there shall be an afterwards.
26 ¶ So he sat him down and did write unto Willi another epistle; and the words of it were so terrifying that the hand of his scribe did tremble even in the putting of it down.
27 ¶ And for a long time it came to pass that whenever Willi did slay any of the men of Amer, then did Wudro, the son of Wyl, send an epistle unto him, abounding in fearsome words and writ upon one side of the paper only.
28 ¶ And certain men, being of a curious mind, questioned him, saying, It is true that the epistles that thou writest are things for terror, and that the man who reads them, his blood becometh frozen so that it circulateth not.
29 And it is true, also, that the things which thou threatenest are dire. But the things that thou doest, what are they? Is it not an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth? Yet thou hast sold our lives for gold. Thy threats are idle, and thy words serve but to tickle, not to scratch.
30 And Wudro, the son of Wyl, having knowledge, did reason with them. And he spake unto them in these words, saying: What mean ye? Are not the epistles to your liking? Are not my words strong and well chosen, and is not my meaning plain to all?
31 And they answered him, saying, Verily, these things are so. Have we not said it? Nevertheless, the man that is wounded by a word, he sheweth no scar. How then is the marksman to know?
32 And hast thou not perceived that Willi laughs at thee before thy face; and, behind thy back, he doth extend his fingers towards thee, pointing them from the apex of his nostrils.
33 At thy threats doth he scoff aloud, and thy servants doth he use in a manner that is abominable.
34 If these things find not favour in thine eyes, send forth thine hosts that he may know that there is might behind thy write.
35 And Wudro, the son of Wyl, did loose his tongue upon them and he upbraided them, soundly, saying, Am I a fool and a blind man that rule over you?
36 Wherefore, then, should ye upbraid me, and who are ye to choose the time? Verily, I say unto you that a lack of understanding, it shineth from your eyes. And your words, they are wanting of any wisdom.
37 But I am trusted of my people; neither shall I betray that trust because of your importuning. And when he had spoken unto them in this wise, he sent them away. And he satisfied them not on that day.