Chapter IV

1 _The caution of the rulers_. 4 _They make them a censor_. 11 _The people complain_. 14 _They tell the people more_. 15 _And appoint Balf to speak concerning the navy_. 20 _He doeth so_. 26 _And becometh a laughing stock_.

Now when the rulers of the land made them a war, they became very wary, fearing lest their enemies should discover _those things_ that they had in store for them.

2 And they said, the one unto the other, It were prudent to say nothing unto the common people _concerning_ what we have done. In this manner shall we preserve their peace of _mind_, and it will be a means also whereby we may throw dust in the eyes of the men of Hu. But _after_ it is all over, then will we tell the people.

3 And because the thing that they did contemplate was not possible, _therefore_ were they constrained to tell unto the people _certain things_ concerning the war and _how_ went the day.

4 ¶ Nevertheless, they _were_ affrighted lest the people should learn _too much_, and so they made them a censor. And this _was_ one that would say, This is so, and this only; the rest, _it is_ not so.

5 And they that sold news unto the people were vastly provoked, for it liked them not to be told _the things_ that they should say; also was it an hindrance _unto them_ to be circumscribed by the truth.

6 And when they came into the presence of the censor and bowed themselves low before him (for he was a great man), he _would_ have none of them.

7 And he would say unto them, These three lines, _they are_ official: but the other things that _have_ happened, they did happen not at all.

8 And those amongst the newsdealers that did _know something_ would foam at the mouth in the violence of their rage. And _they_ would spit upon the floor and would utter deep curses.

9 And because _he was_ an orderly man, therefore did the censor make him a scheme for the better administration of all _those things_ that were within his authority. And the scheme that he did make, _it was_ this.

10 After a thing had become known in the land of Hu for _the space_ of thirty days, then would he deliberate in his mind concerning it. And if it seemed good _unto him_, after seven days had passed he would impart it unto the people.

11 ¶ And there was a great outcry throughout all the land, for this was but one of _many things_. Verily, the patience of Job was not tried as the patience of the men of En in the days when they waged war.

12 And the people said unto the rulers, Why do ye these things, ye _men_ of little understanding? Are we children that ye treat us thus, and have ye no faith in the strength of _our_ conviction?

13 _All those things_ that are safe for us to know, them shall ye tell unto us. And if the tidings be good, assuredly we will rejoice. And if the tidings be bad, they shall but serve to fortify our purpose. The tempest disturbeth the waters, the tempest _revealeth_ the rock.

14 ¶ And the rulers heard what the people did say, and they hearkened unto them. And _they said_ unto him that was the censor, The people are complaining _because_ they know not how goes the day. Therefore shalt thou tell them more about it: but take care that _it be_ not much more. And he did that which the rulers had told him to do.

15 ¶ And the rulers of the land did also call _unto them_ a certain man, and his name _was_ Balf. And he was over all the vessels of war, a mighty force, supreme upon the seas.

16 And they said _unto him_, Because thou _art_ thou, therefore shalt thou say unto the people whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.

17 For thou hast a wise head _and_ a still tongue, and whatsoever thou sayest, _it will_ not be too much.

18 Now it came to pass that the vessels of the men of En did fight with the vessels of the men of Hu in a great battle, and it raged for a _long_ time.

19 And before it was come to an end, behold, the vessels of the men of Hu did steal away quickly and did _hide them_ in a mist, for the day had not gone well with them, and _they were_ sore afflicted.

20 ¶ And when word was brought unto Balf _concerning_ the battle, and _concerning_ the numbers that had perished on both sides, he did call the people unto him, and he spake unto them, saying,

21 Woe is this day that hath brought desolation unto En. Know ye, O my brothers, _how many_ be slain of them that sailed against the men of Hu? Assuredly, the number thereof, it is very great. And of the vessels of war, _there be_ many destroyed. Verily is this a day _that is_ full of woe.

22 And when the people heard that _which_ he did say unto them, they were perturbed beyond measure, fearing they knew not what.

23 And after a certain time had passed by, he called the people unto him again, and he spake unto them, saying, _Wherefore_ are ye perturbed and _why_ cast down?

24 Listen unto me, ye men of gloom, and rejoice at my words. For in that battle whereof I have told you, _many_ perished that sailed from En; but amongst the men of Hu there was carnage _that was_ great beyond compare. And that day did see our adversary vanquished in the fight.

25 And they that heard him were amazed and said, the one unto the other, What _strange_ fruits, _these_, of his philosophy!

26 ¶ But the news-mongers gloried in his foolishness, _because_ he was the mouthpiece of the rulers.

27 Nevertheless, he that _was_ the censor relaxed not his vigilance, so that nothing was known in the land of En save only _those things_ that were necessary for to quiet the people.