Chapter V

1 _Concerning the changes that were wrought by the war_. 2 _The debtors are given grace_. 4 _Strong drink becometh hard to get_. 10 _It groweth difficult to make a journey_. 16 _The bazaars are closed at an early hour_. 20 _Much money is earned by the workers_. 22 _The manner of spending it_.

And these are _certain_ of the things that did come to pass in the land of En during the days of the Great War.

2 ¶ Now immediately that there _was_ war, grace was given unto them that were in debt; and that which they did owe, for a certain time _they did_ not pay it.

3 Therefore was the war a mixed blessing unto such as _these_, and in those places _that are_ beyond the Gate of Notting Hill, the days of grace were welcomed with the sound of timbrels and there was much rejoicing.

4 ¶ And those that drank not strong drink set them to work. And they concealed _their purpose_ beneath the shadow of the war, and they prevailed upon the rulers _to be_ an help unto them.

5 And so _it was_ that the doors of the taverns were closed against the people save only for five hours during the day; neither was it lawful _for them_ to buy any strong drink from the publicans _except_ at the time appointed.

6 In this wise did the water bibbers advantage their object, for they had rightly conceived that the war _was_ an hefty lever wherewith to work their will.

7 And those that drank of the juice of the grape did become quick _at the_ swallow, for the time that they did have, it _was_ short.

8 And the preachers and all those that _did_ meddle with the independence of the people were filled with pious joy, and they rejoiced in their tabernacles of stone and of tin, and in their habitations _also_, saying, Thus are the wicked punished _and_ the thirsty sent empty away.

9 And because the publicans were the people to _go for_, and they did know it, therefore did they not complain; and the _cocoa_ gulpers triumphed on that day.

10 ¶ Now there were many sojourning in the land of En that came of an hostile country. And because _they were_ a danger unto the state, therefore did the rulers make _new_ laws concerning _them_.

11 And to _this_ end, whosoever did travel unto certain places was commanded to write him his name in a book that _was_ at the inn where he did rest.

12 Now when a man and a woman did journey unto the sea and did sojourn there _for a_ week-end, then would they say unto all and sundry, Behold, a priest has licensed us to do this thing, for _we are_ wed.

13 And sometimes it _was_ so: but there were some that did lie about it, hoping _perchance_ to save them lodgment money, or fearing to offend the righteous.

14 Therefore was the new law a cause of vexation _unto them_, for to write in a book their true names, it was not wise; and to write them names that were false, it was a dangerous thing _and_ costly withal.

15 And though many complained in secret, nevertheless, there was no _change_ made in the law, for the rulers of the land did rightly own no knowledge _touching_ such affairs; and they that _did_ transgress did pay the penalty.

16 ¶ And _it was_ ordained that all the bazaars throughout the land should close them their doors at eight hours after midday.

17 Yea, even _unto them_ that sold tobacco and unto the vendors of sweet stuffs was the mandate sent. And _because_ these were used to ply their trades by night as well as by day, therefore did the order seem the more amazing unto them.

18 And the damsels liked it not _because of_ their stomachs. And when a man did go for to buy him cigarettes and _it was_ too late, he would utter maledictions upon the doorstep; and the next time he _would_ remember.

19 And in the time of his extremity the married man did borrow from his wife; and _it did_ cost him dear because she _did have_ her price. Verily, whatsoever she desired, that did she get _out of_ him, for the moment _was_ favourable unto her purpose.

20 ¶ And many were put to labour on munitions, and they _did_ work them long hours at a goodly recompense.

21 And when the week _was come_ unto its end, then did they receive their hire; and because _it was_ a lot of money, they knew not what _to do_ with it.

22 ¶ And some bought them musical instruments; wherefore was there great complaining _amongst_ those that lived round about, for the noise that they did make was as the harmony of the damned.

23 And amongst the women, there were _some_ that bought them feathers and ribands of a gaudy hue; and they adorned _themselves_ most wonderfully.

24 And whensoever they ventured forth into the public places, there _was_ a stir amongst the populace. Yea, verily, from the north _unto_ the south, and from the east _unto_ the west, wheresoever they appeared, the people were amazed at the strangeness of their garb.

25 But there were many that _being_ full of wisdom and aflame with love of En, did lend a part of that _which_ they earned unto the rulers of the land _for_ to buy them munitions of war.

26 And, howsoever much it was, it did breed them profits during every year that it was _away_, so that they prospered and became men of substance.

27 Nevertheless, there was fear _in them_ that when the war was come to an end the rulers would take from each so _much_, saying unto him, A good and faithful servant has thou been and prudent, and thou _wast_ an help unto us _when_ we had need of thee. And now, listen:

28 Inasmuch as thy brothers have wasted their substance on idle _things_ of no account, therefore are they become paupers, and they _are_ hungerstarved.

29 But thou _hast_ been saving in the past and thine hire has bred thee profits. Thy foresight has delivered thee from want _during_ all the days of thy life.

30 Therefore shalt thou pay so much _unto each_ of thy poor brethren, for in this wise they shall have subsistence that _will_ keep them safe from want.

31 And the wasters winked them each the _left_ eye, for they knew full well that when _the time_ came that they were impoverished, then would the thrifty ones be taxed for to feed them.

32 For the frugal man _shall_ sweat; but the waster, he shall lap it up. And so _it was_ in the land of En.