Chapter VII

1 _The country is bereft of its young men_. 2 _The rulers send unto the women_. 3 _Who make them munitions of war_. 4 _And sell merchandise in the bazaars_. 8 _And watch over the people_. 11 _They receive much money_. 14 _Concerning a certain man that imbibed too freely_. 23 _The women work on the land_. 34 _They rebel_.

Now it came to pass that all the young men went forth for to fight, and there remained only those that _were_ old or infirm and _some_ that _had_ sneaked them through.

2 ¶ And _because_ there was much work to be done, therefore did the rulers of the land send word unto the women, saying, Come ye unto the workshops of the cities and there do all _those things_ that the young men were wont to do. And they came as with one accord.

3 ¶ And they did make them munitions of war of many kinds, and did become skilled artificers, _both_ in metal and in wood; and they rested not from their labours, save only _on the_ days appointed.

4 ¶ And there were others that _did_ sell merchandise in the bazaars. And so it fell out that when a man went forth for to buy him under-vestments, the damsel that was in the bazaar _would say_ unto him, What is thy need, O son of man?

5 And he was ashamed to tell her _all that_ which was in his heart, and he knew not what to say; wherefore was he halting in his speech and his countenance did take on the colour _of_ blood.

6 But the maiden that did tend unto his wants, she was _in no wise_ disquieted, and she did beseech him to impart unto her the name of _the thing_.

7 And, afterwards, she did hold up the leg of the garment for appraisement and did raise her voice in praise of it. And the young man was brought into a _proper state_ upon the instant, so that he did buy whatsoever she did shew unto him. And his going out from that place _was_ quicker than his coming in.

8 ¶ And there were women appointed for to see that the people did no wrong thing. And certain of these did betake them on the dark nights unto the quiet places _at a time_ when the mating season was nigh.

9 And they did flash them a light _on those_ that were unready; but those that did know _about it_, them did they find better circumstanced.

10 And the people liked it not, for there was no place that was safe unto them, and the course of true love was _an hard one_ and much beset with spies.

11 ¶ And because the women were given high places in the land, therefore was their recompense high _also_, and the money that they did earn, _it was_ a large sum.

12 And so it came to pass that certain men that were mean of spirit forsook their labours and _became_ idle. And when men spake unto them _concerning it_ and upbraided them, they answered them, saying, Wherefore should we go _about_ it? And why should we toil? Are not our wives diligent, and do they not provide for us according to their means?

13 And they that heard them were filled with a great aversion, and they were glad in their hearts that in all the land of En there _were_ few men like unto these.

14 ¶ Now there was a _certain_ man and he did imbibe of the juice of the grape in a manner that was not wise.

15 And every night when he returned unto his habitation he was full up with strong drink; and because he sought his bedchamber _in vain_, therefore would he make him a couch upon the mat _that was_ nigh unto the gate.

16 And it was a sore trial unto his wife, _for_ she knew not what to do. And she did cast about in her mind, seeking to devise some means whereby to make him whole.

17 And because she was a woman wise beyond the most, being also strong and lusty, _therefore_ did she contrive a plan; and she became one _of them_ that looked after the people.

18 And the same night when her husband returned unto her, walking in soulful meditation _because_ he was drunk, then did she go forth for to greet him; and she came _upon him_ in the way.

19 And she called unto her two women, mighty of stature, that were lying in ambush near by. And the muscles of their arms were _of a_ size and their strength was very great. And they _took_ him.

20 And it came to pass upon the morrow that he was brought _before_ the judge. And when he had heard all that the women had to say, he said unto him, Assuredly _thou art_ a guilty man.

21 For thine indiscretion thou shalt be mulcted in forty shekels of silver; and if thou payest not _upon_ the nail, then shalt thou be cast into prison, there to remain _during_ fourteen days.

22 And because he was a wise man when the morning _was come_, therefore he _paid_ up; and he returned unto his home much chastened. And from that day forth he put all strong drink away from him, wherefore he _was_ called Tam-ed, which signifieth, One that hath _been_ through it.

23 ¶ Now when the harvest was ripe, and there were no labourers in the fields for to gather it in, the husbandmen _that were_ on the land became cast down and they did make them an outcry.

24 And certain women approached unto them, and said, Wherefore are ye cast down, ye wealthy _men_ of the fields?

25 Behold, we and our sisters will gather in the standing corn, and _in the_ winter we will prepare the ground for the crops that are _to be_.

26 And because it is not _in them_ to be otherwise, therefore the husbandmen changed not their countenances that were woeful; but they said unto the women,

27 Forget ye not that _ye are_ what ye are. Nevertheless, because ye say it, _therefore_ it shall be so. First shall ye reap the harvest, and afterwards shall ye do the _other_ things whereof ye speak.

28 And so the women laboured all day in the fields. And they did take them cooling drinks _amongst_ the corn when the sun was high, and they did eat cream _that was_ rich unto yellowness, and _also_ pasties in abundance. Nevertheless, when night was come they _did_ sleep; neither did the things that they had eaten lie heavy upon _their_ stomachs.

29 And so the harvest was gathered in and there was much rejoicing because _of it_. But amongst the husbandmen there was only foreboding, for _such_ do never rejoice.

30 And when the cold of the year was come, the husbandmen spake unto the women, saying, Now is the time when ye shall go forth to prepare the ground for the crops that are _to be_.

31 And so the women went forth. And when they had come unto the place appointed, behold, there was a great heap before them, and _it was_ manure. And the husbandmen drew nigh and they said unto the women,

32 All this shall ye spread upon the fields, and _more_ also. And it shall come to pass, after that _ye have_ digged it in, that the earth shall be renewed; and the crops that ye shall sow, _these_ shall flourish exceedingly. And the husbandmen went their way.

33 Now the heap _that was_ manure, it was an abomination; and the stink thereof was so great that the women did cover over their nostrils with cambric and with pieces of fine lace.

34 ¶ And they followed _after_ the husbandmen with one accord, and spake unto them, saying, We did gather in your corn, even the oats and the barley did we reap for you: and the hay, we did _make_ it into stacks.

35 And the husbandmen answered them, _saying_, Verily all these things whereof ye speak, _them_ did ye do.

36 And the women said unto them, The scent of the harvest was sweet unto our nostrils; but this heap _that is_ manure, it is a stinking thing, and we will have none of it.

37 So they turned them about and hied them unto the cities for to become scribes. And they _did_ spend the wages of their first week's hire upon a measure of choice perfume. Nevertheless, the stink of the heap _that was_ manure abode with them during many days.