1 The chief amongst the tax gatherers speaketh unto the people. 5 They hearken unto him. 9 Wherefore the price of paper increaseth. 12 The people are divided amongst themselves concerning the notes of paper. 17 The nature thereof. 19 The people lend their money unto the rulers. 26 And the land of En becometh mighty.
And because there was war, therefore did he that was chief amongst the tax gatherers send word unto the people regarding what they should do. And he said unto them, Hearken unto me, all ye men of wealth, and obey my behests.
2 Ye know that the hosts of En are gone out against a mighty enemy, against a strong foe and one that is wary. And his armaments are terrible beyond anything seen by men before. Therefore it behoves us to gird up our loins for the fray, because it will be a fight unto the death.
3 And all the gold that ye have, that bring ye unto me, and I will give you notes that are of paper in place of it. And whatsoever ye may buy with gold, that may ye also buy with the notes of paper.
4 And our strength will be great amongst the nations, for gold maketh a good ambassador. And we will buy us deadly engines of war and munitions in a great quantity, for a long purse sufficeth in all things.
5 ¶ And so the people did bring gold unto the rulers, some in pieces of ten, some in pieces of an hundred, and some in pieces of a thousand. Verily, whatever gold the people did have, that did they bring with them.
6 And as the people delivered their gold unto the one appointed, he would say unto them, How many pieces of gold hast thou brought, brother? And he would answer them, saying, Such and such a number have I brought.
7 And he would exchange him the gold for notes of paper, even one note of paper for each piece of gold that he did bring with him.
8 And the weight of gold that was exchanged in those days, it was very heavy, so that it did take seven hundred seventy and seven thousands of elephants for to move it.
9 ¶ And the number of the notes of paper was beyond all counting. Wherefore there was a dearth of paper in the land and the price of it became an high one.