Chapter XV

1 _Concerning the land of Amer_. 4 _And the ruler thereof_. 11 _Certain men of Amer are slain_. 12 _Wudro, the son of Wyl, writeth an epistle_. 26 _He writeth again_. 27 _He writeth many times_. 28 _Certain men do question him_. 38 _He revealeth himself_.

Now the land of Amer was at the other side of the sea _that is_ Atlantic, and it was many days' sail in a ship from the island of En.

2 And the bounds of that land were set far apart, and the people that did live there were more numerous than the waves of all the seas.

3 And it was a fertile land of extreme fruitfulness, and the earth _underneath_ it yielded precious metals in abundance. And the people were for ever extolling its greatness _amongst_ the nations of the earth.

4 ¶ Now the ruler of the land of Amer was a certain man and his name was Wudro, the son of Wyl; and it happened _in this wise_.

5 Whilst Wudro, the son of Wyl, was tending his flock of young men in the pasture _that is_ knowledge, and after he had taught them how they should go and what things they should know,

6 Behold, the men of Amer came unto him, saying, We have chosen thee for to rule over us; and we have _brought_ thee an high hat for to wear as the badge of thine office; and the size of the hat, _it is_ six seven-eighths.

7 And because he knew not what he was letting himself _in for_, he gave way to their importuning, and did put on the high hat, the _size_ whereof was six seven-eighths.

8 And it came to pass that when the men of En fought against the men of Hu, they did send messengers unto the land of Amer for to buy them munitions for the war. And they took _with them_ gold in great quantity wherewith to satisfy the merchants that did sell unto them. Therefore did the land of Amer prosper exceedingly.

9 Now when the men of Hu found out that _there was_ peril in the enterprise, they forbore to send out vessels of war for to fight; in place thereof, they did send them out for to murder those that _were_ peaceful and did _sail_ the seas without any weapon _wherewith_ to defend themselves.

10 And coming upon a large ship unawares, they did send it unto the bottom of the sea so that all _they_ that did travel upon it were cast into the waters for to drown. Yea, even the women and children that were aboard the vessel, all these perished miserably, and the men of Hu did watch their struggles with death unheeding.

11 ¶ Now amongst those that the men of Hu did slay there were _certain_ men of the land of Amer.

12 ¶ And when word was brought unto Wudro, the son of Wyl, _concerning_ it, and how the men of Hu had slain his servants, he waxed very wroth. And he betook himself unto a quiet place, _fearing lest_ in the height of his indignation he should do violence unto _any_ man.

13 And although he was enraged _beyond_ endurance, nevertheless he was a patient man withal.

14 Therefore he did sit him down _and_ he did write an epistle unto Willi, being him that ruled over _the men_ of Hu.

15 And he said _unto him_, Knowest thou not that thy servants have slain certain of the men of Amer _because_ they did sail upon the sea?

16 And Willi answered him, saying, Verily, all that thou sayest _is_ true. Let us therefore put on sackcloth and ashes, and rend our garments, for it is _a day_ of mourning unto thee, and I, _also_, am full of sorrow because of it.

17 And when Wudro, the son of Wyl, heard all that Willi had said, and how he made answer unto him in soft _words_, he knew not what to do, for _he was_ a peaceable man _and_ the land of Amer was prospering greatly.

18 So he sat him down and did write unto Willi again, saying unto him, Thy tears _are as_ an healing ointment. But _the thing_ that thou hast done, that shalt thou do not again, _for_ there is a penalty unto it. Take heed, therefore, and obey, for I am a terrible man, and fierce.

19 And Willi answered him and did say, Thou _hast_ said so and so, for I have _seen_ it with mine own eyes. Let us now speak _concerning_ other matters.

20 And he called unto him a messenger and did command him to deliver the epistle unto the ruler of the land of Amer.

21 And after he was gone, he set to work secretly and did _make_ him preparation, for it was his intendment to do again _that thing_ regarding which Wudro, the son of Wyl, had forewarned him.

22 And when the opportunity came, he did sink more ships, and he did leave those that were _on them_ to perish. And because they were all vessels of peace, and without armour, therefore was he strong _against them_.

23 And a messenger came unto Wudro, the son of Wyl, in hot haste, and he told him of the things that Willi had done and _how that_ he had slain yet more of the men of Amer.

24 And _because_ he was much agitated at the tidings that were brought unto him, _therefore_ did Wudro, the son of Wyl, swear an oath, making divers new _words_ for the occasion.

25 And he said unto the courier, The matter _concerning which_ thou hast spoken unto me is fraught with evil consequences, for I will write unto Willi another epistle, and I will use mighty words, and I _will_ affright him. Also, there shall be _an afterwards_.

26 ¶ So he sat him down and did write unto Willi another epistle; and the words _of it_ were so terrifying that the hand of his scribe _did_ tremble even in the putting of it down.

27 ¶ And for a long time it came to pass that whenever Willi did slay any of the men of Amer, _then_ did Wudro, the son of Wyl, send an epistle unto him, abounding in fearsome words and writ upon one _side_ of the paper only.

28 ¶ And certain men, _being_ of a curious mind, questioned him, saying, It is true that the epistles that thou writest are things _for_ terror, and that _the man_ who reads them, his blood becometh frozen so that it circulateth not.

29 And it is true, also, that the things which thou threatenest _are_ dire. But the _things_ that thou doest, what are they? Is it not an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth? Yet thou hast sold our lives _for_ gold. Thy threats are idle, and thy words serve but to tickle, not to scratch.

30 And Wudro, the son of Wyl, _having_ knowledge, did reason with them. And he spake unto them in these words, _saying_: What mean ye? Are not the epistles to your liking? Are not my words strong _and_ well chosen, and is not my meaning plain to all?

31 And they answered him, saying, Verily, these things are so. Have we not said it? Nevertheless, the man that is wounded by a word, he _sheweth_ no scar. _How then_ is the marksman to know?

32 And hast thou not perceived that Willi laughs at thee before thy face; and, _behind_ thy back, he doth extend his fingers towards thee, pointing them _from_ the apex of his nostrils.

33 At thy threats doth he scoff aloud, and thy servants doth he use _in a manner_ that is abominable.

34 If these things find not favour in thine eyes, send forth thine hosts that he may know that _there is_ might behind thy write.

35 And Wudro, the son of Wyl, did loose his tongue _upon them_ and he upbraided them, soundly, saying, Am I a fool and a blind man _that_ rule over you?

36 Wherefore, then, should ye upbraid me, and who are ye to choose _the time_? Verily, I say _unto you_ that a lack of understanding, it shineth from your eyes. And your words, they are wanting _of_ any wisdom.

37 But I am trusted of my people; neither shall I betray that trust _because_ of your importuning. And when he had spoken unto them in this wise, he sent them away. And he satisfied _them_ not on that day.