Chapter XIX

1 _Concerning the women_. 3 _Certain of them are rewarded_. 4 _And certain of them go forth with the fighters_. 7 _And certain of them become scribes unto the rulers_. 16 _Concerning revelations_. 19 _The young man and the maiden that was full up_.

Now the things that came to pass amongst the women of the land, they were of divers kinds _according_ to the manner of the women.

2 And _those_ that before the war had been wont to ride through the country carrying fire and brimstone, they became _full of_ zeal for the glory of En.

3 ¶ Wherefore they gat their reward, being vouchsafed the right to speak on the choice of the rulers. And they were filled with contentment, _saying_, the one unto the other, It is _the_ beginning.

4 ¶ And certain of the women did go forth for _to be_ with the fighters of En. And they were of two kinds. And some of them _were_ Waacs, and some of them _were_ Wrens.

5 And those that were Waacs, they were _of the_ land; and those that were Wrens, they were _of the_ sea.

6 And the things that _they did_ do made all men wonder, for they avoided not the hardships of their brothers, but shared with them the trials _on_ the way.

7 ¶ And certain of the damsels did contrive for to get them work _at the hands_ of the governors; and they did go unto those places where the business of war, _it was_ carried on.

8 And after the work of the day, it was come to an end, then would they foregather, and they would commune, the one with the other. And they would say,

9 Hast thou seen the new captain that be come _unto_ our room? Verily, he hath a countenance that pleaseth me mightily, and his eyes, they be blue; moreover, _there is_ hair upon his lip that tempteth exceedingly.

10 Also, he hath looked upon me _with a_ look; and, peradventure, I have found favour in his eyes. Yea, notwithstanding that men _do say_ he hath got shekels in abundance, nevertheless, I have a feeling towards him _in spite_ of it.

11 And the damsel unto whom she did speak, she would make answer, and she would say, Verily, there are _many_ that will envy thee because of thy captain. And now will I tell thee _something_ also.

12 There is a certain man and _he is_ of an high rank, being even _one_ that captains do salute. And he is _that man_ who doth say unto me the things that _I shall_ write.

13 And _after that_ I have brought the writing unto him and he hath made his mark _upon it_, then doth he reward me; and the manner of the reward, _it is_ a kiss.

14 Peradventure in a _little_ time he will make him an arrangement for to meet me afterwards, _the better_ to say unto me all those things that a man, who loveth much, doth speak to the maiden that _hath_ him.

15 And, _because_ thou art my friend, _therefore_ shalt thou be welcome to mine house when _the time_ cometh that we be wed.

16 ¶ And certain of the damsels did don strange apparel, that was _like_ unto the raiment of men. And their nether limbs did stand revealed; yea, their legs, _they were_ no longer hid.

17 And men perceived their shape, that some _of them_ were straight, and some were _of a_ curve; and the others, they knocked them _at_ the knees.

18 And they cursed the war in their hearts because of these things, that _it had_ revealed them. And they prayed that _the days_ of their innocence might be given back unto them and their faith again _made_ whole.

19 ¶ Now _there were_ some amongst the young men that, being with a maid, did wrongly read the tokens of the damsel's love, _and_ the look of it, thinking, Perchance the damsel fasteth over long.

20 And _he_ would say unto her, Let us now seek out _a place_ where we may regale ourselves with meat, _and_ with choice viands.

21 And with a measure of prepared wheat, _and_ with a little wine also, for _I perceive_ that thy stomach, it troubleth thee _somewhat_.

22 And the damsel, she would make denial _of it_, and she would be loth _for_ to go in, feigning to be freshly nourished, and abundantly.

23 And he would strive to cajole her; nevertheless, for a long time, she _would_ hearken not unto the voice of his pleadings.

24 But when he was come to the end of his persuasions and she did perceive that the meal, _it was_ in peril, then would she speak unto him _earnestly_.

25 And she would say unto him, For thy sake will I do _this thing_; yea, for none other would I eat at _a time_ when I be full up. And after that she was finished speaking, then _would_ she go in.

26 And if she did know that the taste of his mouth was _towards_ sweetness, then would she seek to gain favour in his eyes, and she would say unto him,

27 Take thou _the morsel_ of sugar that be mine, for the need of thy servant, it is nought in comparison with thine.

28 And so she would win his regard, even with _the morsel_ of sugar would she do it. And, _afterwards_, she would set about it, and she would _eat_.

29 And when she had made an end _of eating_, the young man, he would be amazed. And upon the next day, he would say unto his friend,

30 Verily, it were better to take an hungry man into _such a place_ than a maiden, full up, _that_ holdeth back.

31 Yea, what shall it profit a man that the music _tell_ of a perfect day, if his pockets be empty and the week, _it yet_ young.