Chapter VIII

1 _The rulers make them new laws_. 2 _And close the bazaars_. 5 _They give more light_. 9 _They tax the profits that were made because of the war_. 13 _Bribery flourisheth_. 15 _The petrol is conserved_. 18 _They that seek after pleasure are taxed_. 20 _The taxes are paid gladly_. 23 _Concerning commissions_. 29 _And Northcliffe_.

Take heed, all ye that read, and pay attention, for _these_ are the things that the rulers of the land of En _did_ lay upon the people at a time when there was war.

2 ¶ Now they did make them a law and did enjoin upon all the dealers in merchandise that _they should_ cease from trafficking in the market places in the youth of the night; yea, at eight hours _after_ midday were they constrained to stop from selling their wares and merchandise.

3 And the reason thereof was uncertain, some saying it was _for a means_ of saving fuel, whilst others did say it was because those that served in the bazaars _were_ few and needed them rest.

4 But there were many that did say it _was_ but the spirit of interference that was rife in the land; and they were filled _with_ suspicion, thinking that the _early_ closers were grinding them _their_ axe.

5 ¶ And in the summer season the rulers did give unto the people more light. And _it was_ the light of day that they bestowed, but upon _the doings_ of the war they shed no more light.

6 Now the giving of more light was one of the things that the rulers did wisely, _wherefore_ the people did praise them; and they were amazed, for it was not the custom amongst the men of En to praise the rulers _of_ the land.

7 Neither was there _often_ cause therefor, for a wise ruler is precious _beyond_ price, howbeit many a fool is raised unto an high place;

8 For the fool speaketh _sometimes_ wisdom, and it _is_ recorded. But the foolishness of fools do men forget.

9 ¶ And certain men did set them about for to find a means whereby they might _make_ a good _thing_ out of the war.

10 And when word was brought unto the rulers _concerning_ what they were doing, they did make them a law. And they did take unto themselves a certain share from the profits that _these_ men did gather in.

11 And those that were at one with the patriots complained not; and those _that were_ making them _enough_, neither did these complain.

12 _And_ they that _did_ do things for the rulers _out of_ the generosity of their hearts, even these went not empty away.

13 ¶ And there were certain men amongst the servants of the rulers that did ask for _sweet_ oil, and they _did_ say unto the traders, Grease thou the palms of our hands that we _may_ bargain with thee to thy advantage.

14 And those that _were_ found out were cast into prison, and their names did stink _most_ vilely _throughout_ the length and breadth of the land.

15 ¶ And because it was a prudent thing _to do_, the rulers gave unto them that had chariots only _so much_ of what men called petrol as was left _over_. And the hosts of En did receive their portion before all others.

16 Therefore those that were wealthy amongst the people used not their chariots _save_ when there was need; and they that were _used_ to joy ride, they did do so no more.

17 For in all matters were the people ready to make them sacrifices _unto_ the needs of the war, and they did do all _those things_ that were _required of them_ for to bring nearer the end _of it_.

18 ¶ And a tax _was made_ upon all those that did go unto the theatre; yea, even upon them that did view the pictures and upon them that did watch men playing _with_ a ball, _was_ the tax imposed.

19 And because it was _not much_, and was, moreover, a righteous tax, they did pay it gladly; and the number of them that _did_ go unto such places, it was not less _than_ before.

20 ¶ And there were other taxes also and they were exceeding heavy, _so that_ all the money that was paid by the people unto the tax gatherers _was_ great beyond anything that men had thought possible.

21 Nevertheless _there was_ no murmuring in the land, and the people did push, the one against the other, _to be_ first at the receipt of custom, every man _with_ his money in his hand.

22 And he that was the chief amongst all the tax gatherers was amazed. And he spake unto _several_ concerning it, saying, Are not these that do shower their gold _upon_ me the same that before did curse my name? When I asked for a mite, _they_ reviled me shamefully; yet, now I ask for much, behold, they bring it flowing _over_. For he understood not that this _was_ the spirit of the nation.

23 ¶ Now when there was any matter that was _beyond_ the rulers so that they knew not what to do, they would appoint them a commission for to inquire _concerning_ it.

24 And a commission was an assembly of wise men _that were_ sometimes foolish; and they would gather themselves together, and they would question all and sundry, and they would talk.

25 But lest they should do _some thing_ in their carryings on, the rulers would give them instruction and would speak unto them, saying,

26 Go ye into a room apart and _gather round_. And send the young men into the highways and into the byways that _they may_ bring unto you all them that know aught concerning _the matter_. And whatsoever they may say unto you, that shall ye hear.

27 Afterwards, ye shall make us a report, for _that_ doeth injury unto no man. But woe be unto you if ye shall do _anything_ that exceedeth our commandment; verily shall our wrath burn thee up, and thy bones shall fall away into dust.

28 By this means did the rulers put away for a long time those things that _were_ vexatious unto them, having faith in the memory of the people that _it was_ short. Therefore was a commission unto the rulers _as_ a bag of sand unto him that fighteth, for it was a _shield_. And the day was not known _whereon_ the rulers appointed them not a commission.

29 ¶ But there was a _certain_ man and his name was Northcliffe. And the people were divided into two camps _concerning_ him, some saying that he _was_ a raiser of scares, whilst others did say that he _knew things_. And all were agreed that he was a thorn in the side of the rulers.

30 And when a commission did bring its report unto the rulers, then did _these_ retire unto the privacy of their bedchambers. And the report they did take _with them_ for to be a pillow unto their heads.

31 And Northcliffe would raise his voice on high and he would say many bitter words. And he would arouse them and would make them _to do_ things.

32 And though many were against him _because of it_, the good that he did do was manifest. And because he left not the rulers to sleep, therefore did men call him Helsabout, _which meaneth_ The Awakener.