第4章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"THE HOLY WAR",免费读到尾

  ’AgainIsaytothee,OMansoul,considerifitbenotamazinggracethatShaddaishouldsohumblehimselfashedoth:nowhe,byus,reasonswithyou,inawayofentreatyandsweetpersuasions,thatyouwouldsubjectyourselvestohim。Hashethatneedofyouthatwearesureyouhaveofhim?No,no;butheismerciful,andwillnotthatMansoulshoulddie,butturntohimandlive。’

  ThenstoodforthCaptainJudgment,whoseweretheredcolours,andforascutcheonhehadtheburningfieryfurnace,andhesaid,’Oye,theinhabitantsofthetownofMansoul,thathavelivedsolonginrebellionandactsoftreasonagainsttheKingShaddai,knowthatwecomenotto—

  daytothisplace,inthismanner,withourmessageofourownminds,ortorevengeourownquarrel;itistheKing,myMaster,thathathsentustoreduceyoutoyourobediencetohim;thewhichifyourefuseinapeaceablewaytoyield,wehavecommissiontocompelyouthereto。Andneverthinkofyourselves,noryetsufferthetyrantDiabolustopersuadeyoutothink,thatourKing,byhispower,isnotabletobringyoudown,andtolayyouunderhisfeet;forheistheformerofallthings,andifhetouchesthemountains,theysmoke。NorwillthegateoftheKing’sclemencystandalwaysopen;forthedaythatshallburnlikeanovenisbeforehim;

  yea,ithastethgreatly,itslumberethnot。

  ’OMansoul,isitlittleinthineeyesthatourKingdothoffertheemercy,andthataftersomanyprovocations?Yea,hestillholdethouthisgoldensceptretothee,andwillnotyetsufferhisgatetobeshutagainstthee:wiltthouprovokehimtodoit?Ifso,considerofwhatIsay;totheeitisopenednomoreforever。Ifthousayestthoushaltnotseehim,yetjudgmentisbeforehim;thereforetrustthouinhim。Yea,becausethereiswrath,bewarelesthetaketheeawaywithhisstroke;thenagreatransomcannotdeliverthee。Willheesteemthyriches?No,notgold,noralltheforcesofstrength。Hehathpreparedhisthroneforjudgment,forhewillcomewithfire,andwithhischariotslikeawhirlwind,torenderhisangerwithfury,andhisrebukeswithflamesoffire。Therefore,OMansoul,takeheedlest,afterthouhastfulfilledthejudgmentofthewicked,justiceandjudgmentshouldtakeholdofthee。’

  NowwhiletheCaptainJudgmentwasmakingthisorationtothetownofMansoul,itwasobservedbysomethatDiabolustrembled;butheproceededinhisparableandsaid,’OthouwofultownofMansoul,wiltthounotyetsetopenthygatetoreceiveus,thedeputiesofthyKing,andthosethatwouldrejoicetoseetheelive?Canthineheartendure,orcanthyhandsbestrong,inthedaythatheshalldealinjudgmentwiththee?Isay,canstthouenduretobeforcedtodrink,asonewoulddrinksweetwine,theseaofwraththatourKinghaspreparedforDiabolusandhisangels?Consider,betimesconsider。’

  Thenstoodforththefourthcaptain,thenobleCaptainExecution,andsaid,’OtownofMansoul,oncefamous,butnowlikethefruitlessbough,oncethedelightofthehighones,butnowadenforDiabolus,hearkenalsotome,andtothewordsthatIshallspeaktotheeinthenameofthegreatShaddai。Behold,theaxeislaidtotherootofthetrees:

  everytree,therefore,thatbringethnotforthgoodfruit,ishewndownandcastintothefire。

  ’Thou,OtownofMansoul,hasthithertobeenthisfruitlesstree;thoubearestnoughtbutthornsandbriars。Thyevilfruitbespeakstheenottobeagoodtree;thygrapesaregrapesofgall,thyclustersarebitter。ThouhastrebelledagainstthyKing;and,lo!we,thepowerandforceofShaddai,aretheaxethatislaidtothyroot。Whatsayestthou?Wiltthouturn?Isayagain,tellme,beforethefirstblowisgiven,wiltthouturn?OuraxemustfirstbelaidTOthyrootbeforeitbelaidATthyroot;itmustfirstbelaidTOthyrootinawayofthreatening,beforeitislaidATthyrootbywayofexecution;andbetweenthesetwoisrequiredthyrepentance,andthisisallthetimethatthouhast。Whatwiltthoudo?Wiltthouturn,orshallI

  smite?IfIfetchmyblow,Mansoul,downyougo;forIhavecommissiontolaymyaxeATaswellasTOthyroots,norwillanythingbutyieldingtoourKingpreventdoingofexecution。

  Whatartthoufitfor,OMansoul,ifmercypreventethnot,buttobehewndown,andcastintothefireandburned?

  ’OMansoul,patienceandforbearancedonotactforever:ayear,ortwo,orthree,theymay;butifthouprovokebyathreeyears’rebellion,(andthouhastalreadydonemorethanthis,)thenwhatfollowsbut,’Cutitdown’?nay,’Afterthatthoushaltcutitdown。’Anddostthouthinkthatthesearebutthreatenings,orthatourKinghasnotpowertoexecutehiswords?OMansoul,thouwiltfindthatinthewordsofourKing,whentheyarebysinnersmadelittleorlightof,thereisnotonlythreatening,butburningcoalsoffire。

  ’Thouhastbeenacumber—groundlongalready,andwiltthoucontinuesostill?Thysinhasbroughtthisarmytothywalls,andshallitbringitinjudgmenttodoexecutionintothytown?Thouhastheardwhatthecaptainshavesaid,butasyetthoushuttestthygates。Speakout,Mansoul;wiltthoudosostill,orwiltthouacceptofconditionsofpeace?’

  ThesebravespeechesofthesefournoblecaptainsthetownofMansoulrefusedtohear;yetasoundthereofdidbeatagainstEar—gate,thoughtheforcethereofcouldnotbreakitopen。

  Infine,thetowndesiredatimetopreparetheiranswertothesedemands。Thecaptainsthentoldthem,thatiftheywouldthrowouttothemoneIll—Pausethatwasinthetown,thattheymightrewardhimaccordingtohisworks,thentheywouldgivethemtimetoconsider;butiftheywouldnotcasthimtothemoverthewallofMansoul,thentheywouldgivethemnone;’for,’saidthey,’weknowthat,solongasIll—

  PausedrawsbreathinMansoul,allgoodconsiderationwillbeconfounded,andnothingbutmischiefwillcomethereon。’

  ThenDiabolus,whowastherepresent,beingloathtolosehisIll—Pause,becausehewashisorator,(andyetbesurehehad,couldthecaptainshavelaidtheirfingersonhim,)wasresolvedatthisinstanttogivethemanswerbyhimself;butthenchanginghismind,hecommandedthethenLordMayor,theLordIncredulity,todoit,saying,’Mylord,doyougivetheserunagatesananswer,andspeakout,thatMansoulmayhearandunderstandyou。’

  SoIncredulity,atDiabolus’command,began,andsaid,’Gentlemen,youhavehere,aswedobehold,tothedisturbanceofourprinceandthemolestationofthetownofMansoul,campedagainstit:butfromwhenceyoucome,wewillnotknow;andwhatyouare,wewillnotbelieve。Indeed,youtellusinyourterriblespeechthatyouhavethisauthorityfromShaddai,butbywhatrighthecommandsyoutodoit,ofthatweshallyetbeignorant。

  ’Youhavealso,bytheauthorityaforesaid,summonedthistowntodesertherlord,and,forprotection,toyieldupherselftothegreatShaddai,yourKing;flatteringlytellingher,thatifshewilldoit,hewillpassbyandnotchargeherwithherpastoffences。

  ’Further,youhavealso,totheterrorofthetownofMansoul,threatenedwithgreatandsoredestructionstopunishthiscorporation,ifsheconsentsnottodoasyourwillswouldhaveher。

  ’Now,captains,fromwhencesoeveryoucome,andthoughyourdesignsbeeversoright,yetknowyethatneithermyLordDiabolus,norI,hisservant,Incredulity,noryetourbraveMansoul,dothregardeitheryourpersons,message,ortheKingthatyousayhathsentyou。Hispower,hisgreatness,hisvengeance,wefearnot;norwillweyieldatalltoyoursummons。

  ’Asforthewarthatyouthreatentomakeuponus,wemustthereindefendourselvesaswellaswecan;andknowye,thatwearenotwithoutwherewithaltobiddefiancetoyou;and,inshort,(forIwillnotbetedious,)Itellyou,thatwetakeyoutobesomevagabondrunagatecrew,thathavingshakenoffallobediencetoyourKing,havegottentogetherintumultuousmanner,andarerangingfromplacetoplacetoseeif,throughtheflatteriesyouareskilledtomakeontheoneside,andthreatswherewithyouthinktofrightontheother,tomakesomesillytown,city,orcountry,deserttheirplace,andleaveittoyou;butMansoulisnoneofthem。

  ’Toconclude:wedreadyounot,wefearyounot,norwillweobeyyoursummons。Ourgateswewillshutuponyou,ourplacewewillkeepyououtof。Norwillwelongthussufferyoutositdownbeforeus:ourpeoplemustliveinquiet:

  yourappearancedothdisturbthem。Whereforearisewithbagandbaggage,andbegone,orwewillletflyfromthewallsagainstyou。’

  Thisoration,madebyoldIncredulity,wassecondedbydesperateWillbewill,inwordstothiseffect:’Gentlemen,wehaveheardyourdemands,andthenoiseofyourthreats,andhaveheardthesoundofyoursummons;butwefearnotyourforce,weregardnotyourthreats,butwillstillabideasyoufoundus。Andwecommandyou,thatinthreedays’timeyouceasetoappearintheseparts,oryoushallknowwhatitisoncetodareoffertorousethelionDiaboluswhenasleepinhistownofMansoul。’

  TheRecorder,whosenamewasForget—Good,healsoaddedasfolloweth:’Gentlemen,mylords,asyousee,havewithmildandgentlewordsansweredyourroughandangryspeeches:theyhave,moreover,inmyhearing,givenyouleavequietlytodepartasyoucame;wherefore,taketheirkindnessandbegone。Wemighthavecomeoutwithforceuponyou,andhavecausedyoutofeelthedintofourswords;butasweloveeaseandquietourselves,sowelovenottohurtormolestothers。’

  ThendidthetownofMansoulshoutforjoy,asifbyDiabolusandhiscrewsomegreatadvantagehadbeengottenofthecaptains。Theyalsorangthebells,andmademerry,anddanceduponthewalls。

  Diabolusalsoreturnedtothecastle,andtheLordMayorandRecordertotheirplace;buttheLordWillbewilltookspecialcarethatthegatesshouldbesecuredwithdoubleguards,doublebolts,anddoublelocksandbars;andthatEar—gateespeciallymightthebetterbelookedto,forthatwasthegateinatwhichtheKing’sforcessoughtmosttoenter。TheLordWillbewillmadeoneoldMr。Prejudice,anangryandill—

  conditionedfellow,captainofthewardatthatgate,andputunderhispowersixtymen,calleddeafmen;menadvantageousforthatservice,forasmuchastheymatterednowordsofthecaptains,norofthesoldiers。

  Nowwhenthecaptainssawtheanswerofthegreatones,andthattheycouldnotgetahearingfromtheoldnativesofthetown,andthatMansoulwasresolvedtogivetheKing’sarmybattle,theypreparedthemselvestoreceivethem,andtotryitoutbythepowerofthearm。And,first,theymadetheirforcemoreformidableagainstEar—gate;fortheyknewthat,unlesstheycouldpenetratethat,nogoodcouldbedoneuponthetown。Thisdone,theyputtherestoftheirmenintheirplaces;afterwhich,theygaveouttheword,whichwas,’YE

  MUSTBEBORNAGAIN。’Thentheysoundedthetrumpet;thentheyinthetownmadethemanswer,withshoutagainstshout,chargeagainstcharge,andsothebattlebegan。NowtheyinthetownhadplanteduponthetoweroverEar—gatetwogreatguns,theonecalledHigh—mind,andtheotherHeady。Untothesetwogunstheytrustedmuch;theywerecastinthecastlebyDiabolus’founder,whosenamewasMr。Puff—up,andmischievouspiecestheywere。Butsovigilantandwatchful,whenthecaptainssawthem,werethey,thatthoughsometimestheirshotwouldgobytheirearswithawhiz,yettheydidthemnoharm。BythesetwogunsthetownsfolkmadenoquestionbutgreatlytoannoythecampofShaddai,andwellenoughtosecurethegate;buttheyhadnotmuchcausetoboastofwhatexecutiontheydid,asbywhatfollowswillbegathered。

  ThefamousMansoulhadalsosomeothersmallpiecesinit,ofthewhichtheymadeuseagainstthecampofShaddai。

  Theyfromthecampalsodidasstoutly,andwithasmuchofthatasmayintruthbecalledvalour,letflyasfastatthetownandatEar—gate;fortheysawthat,unlesstheycouldbreakopenEar—gate,itwouldbebutinvaintobatterthewall。NowtheKing’scaptainshadbroughtwiththemseveralslings,andtwoorthreebattering—rams;withtheirslings,therefore,theybatteredthehousesandpeopleofthetown,andwiththeirramstheysoughttobreakEar—gateopen。

  Thecampandthetownhadseveralskirmishesandbriskencounters,whilethecaptainswiththeirenginesmademanybraveattemptstobreakopenorbeatdownthetowerthatwasoverEar—gate,andatthesaidgatetomaketheirentrance;

  butMansoulstooditoutsolustily,throughtherageofDiabolus,thevalouroftheLordWillbewill,andtheconductofoldIncredulity,theMayor,andMr。Forget—Good,theRecorder,thatthechargeandexpenseofthatsummer’swars,ontheKing’sside,seemedtobealmostquitelost,andtheadvantagetoreturntoMansoul。Butwhenthecaptainssawhowitwastheymadeafairretreat,andentrenchedthemselvesintheirwinterquarters。Now,inthiswar,youmustneedsthinktherewasmuchlossonbothsides,ofwhichbepleasedtoacceptofthisbriefaccountfollowing。

  TheKing’scaptains,whentheymarchedfromthecourttocomeupagainstMansoultowar,astheycamecrossingoverthecountry,theyhappenedtolightuponthreeyoungfellowsthathadamindtogoforsoldiers:propermentheywere,andmenofcourageandskill,toappearance。TheirnameswereMr。

  Tradition,Mr。Human—Wisdom,andMr。Man’s—Invention。Sotheycameuptothecaptains,andprofferedtheirservicetoShaddai。Thecaptainsthentoldthemoftheirdesign,andbidthemnottoberashintheiroffers;buttheyoungmentoldthemtheyhadconsideredthethingbefore,andthathearingtheywereupontheirmarchforsuchadesign,camehitheronpurposetomeetthem,thattheymightbelistedundertheirexcellencies。ThenCaptainBoanerges,forthattheyweremenofcourage,listedthemintohiscompany,andsoawaytheywenttothewar。

  Now,whenthewarwasbegun,inoneofthebriskestskirmishes,soitwas,thatacompanyoftheLordWillbewill’smensalliedoutatthesallyportorposternofthetown,andfellinupontherearofCaptainBoanerges’

  men,wherethesethreefellowshappenedtobe;sotheytookthemprisoners,andawaytheycarriedthemintothetown,wheretheyhadnotlainlongindurance,butitbegantobenoisedaboutthestreetsofthetownwhatthreenotableprisonerstheLordWillbewill’smenhadtaken,andbroughtinprisonersoutofthecampofShaddai。AtlengthtidingsthereofwerecarriedtoDiabolustothecastle,towitwhatmyLordWillbewill’smenhaddone,andwhomtheyhadtakenprisoners。

  ThenDiaboluscalledforWillbewill,toknowthecertaintyofthismatter。Soheaskedhim,andhetoldhim。Thendidthegiantsendfortheprisoners,and,whentheywerecome,demandedofthemwhotheywere,whencetheycame,andwhattheydidinthecampofShaddai;andtheytoldhim。Thenhesentthemtowardagain。Notmanydaysafter,hesentforthemtohimagain,andthenaskedthemiftheywouldbewillingtoservehimagainsttheirformercaptains。Theythentoldhimthattheydidnotsomuchlivebyreligionasbythefatesoffortune;andthatsincehislordshipwaswillingtoentertainthem,theyshouldbewillingtoservehim。Nowwhilethingswerethusinhand,therewasoneCaptainAnything,agreatdoer,inthetownofMansoul;andtothisCaptainAnythingdidDiabolussendthesemen,andanoteunderhishand,toreceivethemintohiscompany,thecontentsofwhichletterwerethus:

  ’Anything,mydarling,—Thethreementhatarethebearersofthisletterhaveadesiretoservemeinthewar;norknowIbettertowhoseconducttocommitthemthantothine。

  Receivethem,therefore,inmyname,and,asneedshallrequire,makeuseofthemagainstShaddaiandhismen。

  Farewell。’

  Sotheycame,andhereceivedthem;andhemadeoftwoofthemsergeants;buthemadeMr。Man’s—Inventionhisancient—

  bearer。Butthusmuchforthis,andnowtoreturntothecamp。

  Theyofthecampdidalsosomeexecutionuponthetown;fortheydidbeatdowntheroofoftheLordMayor’shouse,andsolaidhimmoreopenthanhewasbefore。Theyhadalmost,withasling,slainmyLordWillbewilloutright;buthemadeashifttorecoveragain。Buttheymadeanotableslaughteramongthealdermen,forwithoneonlyshottheycutoffsixofthem;towit,Mr。Swearing,Mr。Whoring,Mr。Fury,Mr。

  Stand—to—Lies,Mr。Drunkenness,andMr。Cheating。

  TheyalsodismountedthetwogunsthatstooduponthetoweroverEar—gate,andlaidthemflatinthedirt。ItoldyoubeforethattheKing’snoblecaptainshaddrawnofftotheirwinterquarters,andhadthereentrenchedthemselvesandtheircarriages,soaswiththebestadvantagetotheirKing,andthegreatestannoyancetotheenemy,theymightgiveseasonableandwarmalarmstothetownofMansoul。Andthisdesignofthemdidsohit,thatImaysaytheydidalmostwhattheywouldtothemolestationofthecorporation。FornowcouldnotMansoulsleepsecurelyasbefore,norcouldtheynowgototheirdebaucherieswiththatquietnessasintimespast;fortheyhadfromthecampofShaddaisuchfrequent,warm,andterrifyingalarms,yea,alarmsuponalarms,firstatonegateandthenatanother,andagainatallthegatesatonce,thattheywerebrokenastoformerpeace。Yea,theyhadtheiralarmssofrequently,andthatwhenthenightswereatlongest,theweathercoldest,andsoconsequentlytheseasonmostunseasonable,thatthatwinterwastothetownofMansoulawinterbyitself。Sometimesthetrumpetswouldsound,andsometimestheslingswouldwhirlthestonesintothetown。SometimestenthousandoftheKing’ssoldierswouldberunningroundthewallsofMansoulatmidnight,shoutingandliftingupthevoiceforthebattle。Sometimes,again,someoftheminthetownwouldbewounded,andtheircryandlamentablevoicewouldbeheard,tothegreatmolestationofthenowlanguishingtownofMansoul。Yea,sodistressedwiththosethatlaidsiegeagainstthemwerethey,that,Idaresay,Diabolus,theirking,hadinthesedayshisrestmuchbroken。

  Inthesedays,asIwasinformed,newthoughts,andthoughtsthatbegantoruncounteronetoanother,begantopossessthemindsofthemenofthetownofMansoul。Somewouldsay,’Thereisnolivingthus。’Otherswouldthenreply,’Thiswillbeovershortly。’Thenwouldathirdstandupandanswer,’LetusturntotheKingShaddai,andsoputanendtothesetroubles。’Andafourthwouldcomeinwithafear,saying,’Idoubthewillnotreceiveus。’Theoldgentleman,too,theRecorder,thatwassobeforeDiabolustookMansoul,healsobegantotalkaloud,andhiswordswerenowtothetownofMansoulasiftheyweregreatclapsofthunder。NonoisenowsoterribletoMansoulaswashis,withthenoiseofthesoldiersandshoutingsofthecaptains。

  AlsothingsbegantogrowscarceinMansoul;nowthethingsthathersoullustedafterweredepartingfromher。Uponallherpleasantthingstherewasablast,andburninginsteadofbeauty。Wrinklesnow,andsomeshowsoftheshadowofdeath,wereupontheinhabitantsofMansoul。Andnow,OhowgladwouldMansoulhavebeentohaveenjoyedquietnessandsatisfactionofmind,thoughjoinedwiththemeanestconditionintheworld!

  Thecaptainsalso,inthedeepofthiswinter,didsendbythemouthofBoanerges’trumpeterasummonstoMansoultoyieldupherselftotheKing,thegreatKingShaddai。Theysentitonce,andtwice,andthrice;notknowingbutthatatsometimestheremightbeinMansoulsomewillingnesstosurrenderupthemselvesuntothem,mighttheybuthavethecolourofaninvitationtodoitunder。Yea,sofarasI

  couldgather,thetownhadbeensurrendereduptothembeforenow,haditnotbeenfortheoppositionofoldIncredulity,andtheficklenessofthethoughtsofmyLordWillbewill。

  Diabolusalsobegantorave;whereforeMansoul,astoyielding,wasnotyetallofonemind;thereforetheystilllaydistressedundertheseperplexingfears。

  ItoldyoubutnowthattheyoftheKing’sarmyhadthiswintersentthreetimestoMansoultosubmitherself。

  Thefirsttimethetrumpeterwenthewentwithwordsofpeace,tellingthemthatthecaptains,thenoblecaptainsofShaddai,didpityandbewailthemiseryofthenowperishingtownofMansoul,andweretroubledtoseethemsomuchtostandinthewayoftheirowndeliverance。Hesaid,moreover,thatthecaptainsbidhimtellthem,thatifnowpoorMansoulwouldhumbleherselfandturn,herformerrebellionsandmostnotorioustreasonsshouldbytheirmercifulKingbeforgiventhem,yea,andforgottentoo。Andhavingbidthembewarethattheystoodnotintheirownway,thattheyopposednotthemselves,normadethemselvestheirownlosers,hereturnedagainintothecamp。

  Thesecondtimethetrumpeterwent,hedidtreatthemalittlemoreroughly;for,aftersoundoftrumpet,hetoldthemthattheircontinuingintheirrebelliondidbutchafeandheatthespiritofthecaptains,andthattheywereresolvedtomakeaconquestofMansoul,ortolaytheirbonesbeforethetownwalls。

  Hewentagainthethirdtime,anddealtwiththemyetmoreroughly;tellingthemthatnow,sincetheyhadbeensohorriblyprofane,hedidnotknow,notcertainlyknow,whetherthecaptainswereincliningtomercyorjudgment。

  ’Only,’saidhe,’theycommandedmetogiveyouasummonstoopenthegatesuntothem。’Sohereturned,andwentintothecamp。

  Thesethreesummonses,andespeciallythelasttwo,didsodistressthetownthattheypresentlycallaconsultation,theresultofwhichwasthis—ThatmyLordWillbewillshouldgouptoEar—gate,andthere,withsoundoftrumpet,calltothecaptainsofthecampforaparley。Well,theLordWillbewillsoundeduponthewall;sothecaptainscameupintheirharness,withtheirtenthousandsattheirfeet。Thetownsmenthentoldthecaptainsthattheyhadheardandconsideredtheirsummons,andwouldcometoanagreementwiththem,andwiththeirKingShaddai,uponsuchcertainterms,articles,andpropositionsas,withandbytheorderoftheirprince,theytothemwereappointedtopropound;towit,theywouldagreeuponthesegroundstobeonepeoplewiththem。

  1。Ifthatthoseoftheirowncompany,asthenowLordMayorandtheirMr。Forget—Good,withthenbraveLordWillbewill,might,underShaddai,bestillthegovernorsofthetown,castle,andgatesofMansoul。

  2。ProvidedthatnomanthatnowservethundertheirgreatgiantDiabolusbebyShaddaicastoutofhouse,harbour,orthefreedomthathehathhithertoenjoyedinthefamoustownofMansoul。

  3。Thatitshallbegrantedthem,thattheyofthetownofMansoulshallenjoycertainoftheirrightsandprivileges;

  towit,suchashaveformerlybeengrantedthem,andthattheyhavelonglivedintheenjoymentof,underthereignoftheirkingDiabolus,thatnowis,andlonghasbeen,theironlylordandgreatdefender。

  4。Thatnonewlaw,officer,orexecutioneroflaworoffice,shallhaveanypoweroverthem,withouttheirownchoiceandconsent。

  ’Thesebeourpropositions,orconditionsofpeace;andupontheseterms,’saidthey,’wewillsubmittoyourKing。’

  ButwhenthecaptainshadheardthisweakandfeebleofferofthetownofMansoul,andtheirhighandbolddemands,theymadetothemagain,bytheirnoblecaptain,theCaptainBoanerges,thisspeechfollowing:

  ’OyeinhabitantsofthetownofMansoul,whenIheardyourtrumpetsoundforaparleywithus,IcantrulysayIwasglad;butwhenyousaidyouwerewillingtosubmityourselvestoourKingandLord,thenIwasyetmoreglad;butwhen,byyoursillyprovisosandfoolishcavils,youlaidthestumbling—blockofyouriniquitybeforeyourownfaces,thenwasmygladnessturnedintosorrows,andmyhopefulbeginningsofyourreturn,intolanguishingfaintingfears。

  ’IcountthatoldIll—Pause,theancientenemyofMansoul,diddrawupthoseproposalsthatnowyoupresentuswithastermsofanagreement;buttheydeservenottobeadmittedtosoundintheearofanymanthatpretendstohaveserviceforShaddai。Wedothereforejointly,andthatwiththehighestdisdain,refuseandrejectsuchthings,asthegreatestofiniquities。

  ’But,OMansoul,ifyouwillgiveyourselvesintoourhands,orratherintothehandsofourKing,andwilltrusthimtomakesuchtermswithandforyouasshallseemgoodinhiseyes,(andIdaresaytheyshallbesuchasyoushallfindtobemostprofitabletoyou,)thenwewillreceiveyou,andbeatpeacewithyou;butifyoulikenottotrustyourselvesinthearmsofShaddaiourKing,thenthingsarebutwheretheywerebefore,andweknowalsowhatwehavetodo。’

  ThencriedoutoldIncredulity,theLordMayor,andsaid,’Andwho,beingoutofthehandsoftheirenemies,asyeseewearenow,willbesofoolishastoputthestaffoutoftheirownhandsintothehandsoftheyknownotwho?I,formypart,willneveryieldtosounlimitedaproposition。DoweknowthemannerandtemperoftheirKing?Itissaidbysomethathewillbeangrywithhissubjectsifbutthebreadthofanhairtheychancetostepoutoftheway;andbyothers,thatherequirethofthemmuchmorethantheycanperform。Wherefore,itseems,OMansoul,tobethywisdomtotakegoodheedwhatthoudostinthismatter;forifyouonceyield,yougiveupyourselvestoanother,andsoyouarenomoreyourown。Wherefore,togiveupyourselvestoanunlimitedpower,isthegreatestfollyintheworld;fornowyouindeedmayrepent,butcanneverjustlycomplain。Butdoyouindeedknow,whenyouarehis,whichofyouhewillkill,andwhichofyouhewillsavealive;orwhetherhewillnotcutoffeveryoneofus,andsendoutofhisowncountryanothernewpeople,andcausethemtoinhabitthistown?’

  ThisspeechoftheLordMayorundidall,andthrewflattothegroundtheirhopesofanaccord。Whereforethecaptainsreturnedtotheirtrenches,totheirtents,andtotheirmen,astheywere;andtheMayortothecastleandtohisKing。

  NowDiabolushadwaitedforhisreturn,forhehadheardthattheyhadbeenattheirpoints。So,whenhewascomeintothechamberofstate,Diabolussalutedhimwith—’Welcome,mylord。Howwentmattersbetwixtyouto—day?’SotheLordIncredulity,withalowcongee,toldhimthewholeofthematter,saying,’ThusandthussaidthecaptainsofShaddai,andthusandthussaidI。’ThewhichwhenitwastoldtoDiabolus,hewasverygladtohearit,andsaid,’MyLordMayor,myfaithfulIncredulity,Ihaveprovedthyfidelityabovetentimesalready,butneveryetfoundtheefalse。I

  dopromisethee,ifweruboverthisbrunt,toprefertheetoaplaceofhonour,aplacefarbetterthantobeLordMayorofMansoul。Iwillmaketheemyuniversaldeputy,andthoushalt,nexttome,haveallnationsunderthyhand;yea,andthoushaltlaybandsuponthem,thattheymaynotresistthee;norshallanyofourvassalswalkmoreatliberty,butthosethatshallbecontenttowalkinthyfetters。’

  NowcametheLordMayoroutfromDiabolus,asifhehadobtainedafavourindeed。Whereforetohishabitationhegoesingreatstate,andthinkstofeedhimselfwellenoughwithhopes,untilthetimecamethathisgreatnessshouldbeenlarged。

  Butnow,thoughtheLordMayorandDiabolusdidthuswellagree,yetthisrepulsetothebravecaptainsputMansoulintoamutiny。ForwhileoldIncredulitywentintothecastletocongratulatehislordwithwhathadpassed,theoldLordMayor,thatwassobeforeDiaboluscametothetown,towit,myLordUnderstanding,andtheoldRecorder,Mr。

  Conscience,gettingintelligenceofwhathadpassedatEar—

  gate,(foryoumustknowthattheymightnotbesufferedtobeatthatdebate,lesttheyshouldthenhavemutiniedforthecaptains;but,Isay,theygotintelligenceofwhathadpassedthere,andweremuchconcernedtherewith,)whereforethey,gettingsomeofthetowntogether,begantopossessthemwiththereasonablenessofthenoblecaptains’demands,andwiththebadconsequencesthatwouldfollowuponthespeechofoldIncredulity,theLordMayor;towithowlittlereverenceheshowedthereineithertothecaptainsortotheirKing;alsohowheimplicitlychargedthemwithunfaithfulnessandtreachery。’Forwhatless,’quoththey,’couldbemadeofhiswords,whenhesaidhewouldnotyieldtotheirproposition;andadded,moreover,asuppositionthathewoulddestroyus,whenbeforehehadsentuswordthathewouldshowusmercy!’Themultitude,beingnowpossessedwiththeconvictionoftheevilthatoldIncredulityhaddone,begantoruntogetherbycompaniesinallplaces,andineverycornerofthestreetsofMansoul;andfirsttheybegantomutter,thentotalkopenly,andafterthattheyruntoandfro,andcriedastheyrun,’OhthebravecaptainsofShaddai!wouldwewereunderthegovernmentofthecaptains,andofShaddaitheirKing!’WhentheLordMayorhadintelligencethatMansoulwasinanuproar,downhecomestoappeasethepeople,andthoughttohavequashedtheirheatwiththebignessandtheshowofhiscountenance;butwhentheysawhim,theycamerunninguponhim,andhaddoubtlessdonehimamischief,hadhenotbetakenhimselftohouse。

  However,theystronglyassaultedthehousewherehewas,tohavepulleditdownabouthisears;buttheplacewastoostrong,sotheyfailedofthat。Sohe,takingsomecourage,addressedhimself,outatawindow,tothepeopleinthismanner:

  ’Gentlemen,whatisthereasonthatthereisheresuchanuproarto—day?’

  ThenansweredmyLordUnderstanding,’Itisevenbecausethatthouandthymasterhavecarrieditnotrightly,andasyoushould,tothecaptainsofShaddai;forinthreethingsyouarefaulty。First,inthatyouwouldnotletMr。Conscienceandmyselfbeatthehearingofyourdiscourse。Secondly,inthatyoupropoundedsuchtermsofpeacetothecaptainsthatbynomeanscouldbegranted,unlesstheyhadintendedthattheirShaddaishouldhavebeenonlyatitularprince,andthatMansoulshouldstillhavehadpowerbylawtohavelivedinalllewdnessandvanitybeforehim,andsobyconsequenceDiabolusshouldstillherebekinginpower,andtheotheronlykinginname。Thirdly,forthatthoudidstthyself,afterthecaptainshadshowedusuponwhatconditionstheywouldhavereceivedustomercy,evenundoallagainwiththyunsavoury,unseasonable,andungodlyspeech。’

点击下载App,搜索"THE HOLY WAR",免费读到尾