Chapter I

1 _Artemas writeth again_. 3 _Concerning a journey_. 7 _And the things that he did learn_. 13 _One confesseth a secret_. 17 _And imparteth it_. 20 _His mendacity condemneth him_. 22 _The scribe revealeth himself_.

The words of Artemas of the scribes that _were_ in Lon in the land of En, being those _words_ that he did write him _also_;

2 Of the things that were and of the things that were to be: concerning men and the things that men did do.

3 ¶ Now it came to pass on an occasion that I, _being_ Artemas, the scribe, did journey in a certain carriage unto the city of Lon.

4 And it was a carriage that was full _of a_ multitude, such being the wont in those days, so that _I did_ perforce stand me up on my feet.

5 And, behold, _there was_ a man; and he did sit upon my right hand. And _there was_ another man also; and he did sit upon my left hand.

6 And they did hold speech, the one with the other. Yea, _even_ as I stood up between them did they speak familiarly across me.

7 ¶ Wherefore I did learn many _things_ concerning them, and concerning the course of the war, and concerning the rulers of the land,

8 And concerning the wives of the rulers and their children also, and concerning the money that _they were_ possessed of, and concerning their wickedness in secret _places_.

9 And after I had heard many _things_ that amazed me mightily, then he _that was_ upon my left hand, he did speak unto the other,

10 And he did say unto him, What thinkest thou concerning the Book _that is_ of Artemas?

11 And he that was upon my right hand, he did wriggle him about in strange ways.

12 And _after that_ he was wriggled about sufficiently, then did he make answer and he did say,

13 ¶ Speak not unto me concerning that Book, for _I have_ a reason. Also, it is a secret.

14 And I did ope mine ears full wide for to hear, notwithstanding that he was that manner _of man_ that expoundeth nought save _only_ the things that be secret.

15 And he did say unto his friend, Nevertheless, _because_ thou hast an open countenance and art, moreover, that man whom my soul loveth,

16 Therefore dost thou prevail upon me to impart unto thee _that which_ thou shalt tell unto no man.

17 ¶ For I, even I, am he that did write the Book _that is_ of Artemas.

18 Yea, notwithstanding that thou knowest me only as one that vendeth choice meats, nevertheless I did write me also that Book which is inscribed unto Eve.

19 And perchance I shall write me another book _also_ if, so be it, I am spared _and_ it pleaseth me so to do.

20 ¶ And after I had heard the things that he did say, then did I know him _for_ a liar.

21 For he was a man that was garbed in the raiment of peace, but he that men call Artemas, is he _not one_ of the host of En?

22 ¶ Verily, _it is_ even so, or otherwise. But which _of him_ be him, what man shall say anything to the contrary?