Chapter XII

1 _The women upbraid one another_. 5 _The virgins that made them munitions for the war_. 12 _Their anger_. 14 _They are appeased_. 15 _Concerning the choice of an habitation_. 25 _A chief factor donneth wondrous apparel_. 33 _Wherefor one believeth him to be the keeper of the gate_.

Now in the seventh month of the year and the first _week_ of the month upon the second day, all the women of the land rose up together and they made them an outcry, the one _against_ the other.

2 And they upbraided them that were barren, because they bore not children; and those that had begotten _a few_, they exhorted them to continue _along_ the way.

3 And the hearts of _the women_ were stirred within them, and the cry of their sisters, it filled them with zeal for the undertaking.

4 Nevertheless, there were certain men in the land that scoffed aloud, saying, By the fruits of their labour _only_ shall ye know them; and the words _that_ flow from a woman's mouth, what man shall give them a meaning?

5 ¶ Now there was a certain place in the land of En and it was _full up_ of workers that did make them munitions for the war.

6 And there were many women _amongst_ them also; and some of them were married unto men; and the others, they were virgins.

7 Wherefore it came to pass that the ruler of that place, he made him a plan; and, behold, _it was_ after this manner.

8 And he did design that whosoever amongst them should conceive and be with child, there should be provision made for that woman to sustain her during _the time_.

9 And whosoever amongst them should be spoken for in marriage, unto her there should be given _so much_ for her portion.

10 Now the tongue of rumour was very busy in that place, _being_ a place where women were, and many strange things were noised abroad _amongst_ them.

11 And it was reported that all the virgins, they must straightway get themselves _with_ child; also, that there was offered a reward _unto her_ that was the first amongst them for to do it; and the reward, _it was_ in fifty shekels of gold.

12 ¶ And when the virgins heard _about_ it, they waxed very wroth. And they did tear their hair in the violence of their rage; and with their mouths they _did_ utter terrible sayings.

13 And they did say, Are we, then, _women_ of Hu that we should do this wicked thing? Nay, the price of a virtuous woman, it is far _above_ fifty shekels of gold.

14 ¶ And after they had vented the violence of their indignation, then was the matter expounded unto them; and their anger, _it was_ appeased.

15 ¶ Now it came to pass that the rulers did make them councillors for _to be_ over the fighters of the air.

16 And after it was done, and they beheld their handiwork, _they said_, the one unto the other, Let us now get them an habitation lest the rain come down and _they be_ spoilt.

17 So they sent out messengers through all the city of Lon bidding them spy out the land for to find an house _that was_ suitable unto the purpose.

18 And on the seventh day the messengers returned unto them, bringing word that they had found them an house, _and_ suitable. And, behold, they did purport to put the councillors inside a large building, _being_ a museum.

19 And when the rulers spake unto the people, and told them about it, a great clamour arose _on the_ instant. And all the wise men did take up their pens, and _they did_ write. And the foolish, also, they did write them epistles as well.

20. And _because_ in the eyes of the rulers it was a proper habitation, _and_ suitable, therefore did they stand up against the voice of the people for a long time. And they said unto them,

21 Who _are ye_ to make a noise and in what manner doth it concern you? Ye know full well that in _that_ place are men of Egypt, ancient in years _and_ full of wisdom. Nevertheless, they complain not, _neither_ do they cry out.

22 But the people ceased not from their clamouring; and the wise men wrote them more _epistles_, and the foolish wrote in likewise. But the men of Egypt spake no word, being ancient in years _and_ full of wisdom.

23 And it came to pass _in time_ that the rulers, they relented their resolve. And they found them another _house_ for the councillors, saying, Because it is necessary to get them an habitation, lest the rain come down and _they be_ spoilt.

24 Nevertheless, the house that we did choose before, it was a proper house, _and_ suitable, because it was big; also, it was a museum.

25 ¶ Now there was a _certain_ merchant that dwelt in the city of Lon. And he had taken _unto him_ a chief factor, a bumptious man that was full of a great conceit.

26 And when the rulers commanded the men of En that they should go up for _to be_ with the host, then did the chief factor cast about in his mind for _a means_ whereby he might remain whole.

27 And he arrayed himself in a wonderful coat, _being_ of a blue colour; and his legs did he cover--even down to his knees did he cover them--_with_ cloth of a similar hue. And he put on ornaments _of_ braid, and trappings _of_ divers kind.

28 And because his legs were thin, being _like_ unto straws of a bad harvest, therefore was he unstable _upon_ them. Yea, notwithstanding the glory of his apparel, nevertheless, _he was_ wonky upon his feet.

29 Now it came to pass that he was sent unto a _certain_ man with whom his master was wont to make business; and he came _upon him_ suddenly in all his fine array.

30 And he spake unto him, saying, This and that, saith my master. And the man knew not that he was the chief factor, thinking _only_, This man, he showeth some understanding; _peradventure_ he will get him on.

31 Wherefore when another _occasion_ arose, he sent word unto the merchant, saying, Send thou unto me that _man_, thy servant, whom thou didst send unto me before, for he is a worthy fellow, knowing also a little of that _concerning_ which he speaketh.

32 And the merchant said unto him, Tell me further, that I may know what man _it is_ concerning whom thou speakest. Then will I search him out and I send him _unto thee_.

33 ¶ And he answered him, saying, Verily, it is _that man_ whom thou hast arrayed in wonderful raiment. By his legs thou _shalt_ know him; and is he not the keeper _of thy_ door?

34 And the merchant was filled with the light of a great understanding, and he knew the man, whom _it was_; nevertheless, he spake no word concerning it, thinking,

35 Assuredly, _it is_ better to have a doorkeeper that possesses wit, than a factor that _hath_ wonky legs. Therefore did he open not his mouth.