CHAPTER XVI.
1 Wudro delivereth a warning. 5 Willi seeketh advice. 9 And taketh it. 10 Wudro acteth according to his word. 11 Whereat Willi is amazed. 13 He speaketh boastfully. 17 Wudro setteth about the matter. 22 He frighteneth Willi. 23 Who perceiveth the blessings of peace.
Now the longest rope, it hath an end. Wherefore it came to pass in time that Wudro, the son of Wyl, did send unto Willi, that was the King of the Hu, and he said unto him,
2 Such things and such things hast thou done, all these being against thy plighted word; and thine iniquity, it hath tormented me for a long time past. Now, therefore, hearken unto me, and pay attention:
3 Because I am a man of peace, therefore have I borne with thee long enough; and I am become sick unto death with thy carryings on. And the blood of my murdered people, it crieth out for retribution.
4 Take heed, therefore, and mend the evil of thy ways, for, on the next occasion, assuredly shalt thou rue the day.
5 And when Willi had heard these things that Wudro, the son of Wyl, did say unto him, he sent in haste unto his chief captains, and he did commune with them.
6 And he questioned them closely concerning the words of Wudro. And he said unto them, Think ye that this man, he meaneth anything?
7 And they made answer unto him, saying, Be of good cheer and heed him not, for he is a man that acteth only according to his advantage. And to make war, it would advantage him nothing. For the land of Amer, it prospereth exceedingly; and the miller turneth not away that stream which worketh his wheel.
8 Also, he liveth afar off and his servants, they are unready. Verily, the threats of such an one, they be full of emptiness; and whatsoever he sayeth, that hath he also said before. Nevertheless, we will smite him because of it when the time is ripe.
9 And after Willi had heard all the things that the captains of his host did say unto him, his heart was rejoiced within him, and he said unto them, Assuredly are ye men after mine own understanding. Let us, therefore, see about it. And they did see about it.
10 And when word was brought unto Wudro concerning these things and how Willi did set his warning at naught, making mock of his threats, then was he very wroth, and he cried out in the violence of his anger, saying, Am I, then, Job, that be born again, to be tormented thus?
11 And he straightway called the people unto him, and he spake unto them. And after he had told them everything, he said unto them, Is it, therefore, a matter for war? And they answered him with a mighty voice, saying, It is a matter for war.
12 And when Willi heard what was come to pass, he was amazed, and his knees, they did tremble beneath him. And he commanded his servants that they should bring unto him the brazen mask, being part of the royal attire; and he did put it on.
13 And after that it was on, he did raise his voice on high, and he spake, saying,
14 What of the land of Amer? And what of it? Verily, a pin that lieth in the way, it is of more account than a spike that lifteth its head at a distance.
15 And the iron heel of Hu, it levelleth all things; neither shall any man dare to withstand it.
16 And when he had finished speaking, he sent out messengers unto the four corners of the earth, instructing them that they should tell these things unto all people, for he was a boastful fellow and a braggart, for ever holding forth in large manner for to be heard of all the world.
17 Now Wudro, the son of Wyl, after that he had made him war, he cried not out from the housetops what things he would do, but he gat him about it for to do them.
18 And he opened wide the strings of his purse so that the shekels, they gushed forth as the waters of a brook after rain.
19 And he sent much munition of war unto them that were with him, and he commanded his physicians that they should go out for to succour the wounded.
20 And he did send his vessels of war also, which were useful things and ready for the fray. And of men that did fly in the air, he sent also of these, an eager band and valiant.
21 Neither was he backward in the matter of food, making due provision in all things. And he did set him about it for to build him an army, a mighty host such as never before was seen. And he rested him not, neither in the day nor in the night did he rest him, doing always those things that were requisite for the undertaking.
22 And when word was brought unto Willi that Wudro, he had taken the coat from off his back, and that he was labouring without any respite, he grew sore afraid, and he did shake all over with the violence of the tremble of his knees.
23 And when he was recovered by a potion of strong drink, he did call the Ministers of State unto his chamber, and he spake unto them, saying, Is there no one now amongst the men of peace that will raise his voice against this bloody war?
24 And, lo, straightway, there was a voice, and it spake concerning peace. And it was blown along by the wind, even unto the land of Amer was it blown.
25 And when it was come unto the ears of Wudro, that was the son of Wyl, he made answer unto it, and he did say, Verily, it hath a goodly sound. Nevertheless, this peace, it shall not come to pass, for the king of Hu, he hath a lying tongue, and his plighted word, hath he not broken it before?
26 And because he is what he is, therefore shall the compact of peace be made only with that man which he is not.
27 And the words of Wudro, they were blown along by the wind, even back from the land of Amer were they blown on the wings of the wind.