29 ¶ And after he had made him secret preparations, he went out with a great multitude of men and much munition, and he made him a war, the like whereof was never known on earth before.
CHAPTER II.
1 Peace reigneth in En. 2 Internal discord is loosed. 4 The men of Ire have much power. 6 They obtain their demands. 12 Petty strife prevaileth. 14 The priests see wickedness everywhere. 19 The owners of ships raise their hire. 26 The rulers are blamed. 27 Concerning the war scribes.
Now there was peace throughout all the land of En, and the noise of battle was afar off. And the merchants of the world did bring their wares for to sell them, even fine cloth and spices that were rare did they bring in their ships.
2 ¶ But he that putteth away the sword doth loosen the tongue; wherefore it came to pass that there was great talk amongst the rulers, and the mighty men did say things, the one against the other.
3 And there were many jealousies amongst them, and they did utter spiteful sayings concerning each other; verily, they were like unto evil-minded children in a quarrel, and their pettiness of spirit was an abomination.
4 ¶ Now an House that is divided against itself will stand anything. And when men from the land of Ire took power into their own hands and did rule over En, there was no one amongst the rulers to say them nay.
5 And the men of Ire exacted tribute from the rulers, and the people of the land rebelled not; for penury doth bring forth wisdom, but prosperity breedeth only fools. And the prosperity of the land of En was great.
6 ¶ And when the men of Ire saw that all that which they demanded was given unto them, they did make them long faces, and did grumble aloud, and did utter groans in the public places and strange noises in the portals of the House. And when they had thus prepared the way for it, they did straightways ask for more.