首页 >出版文学> THE HOLY WAR>第13章

第13章

  Norhathmylordlaiditdownasthatwhichmustnotberecededfrom;forIknowthathesaiditonlytoprovoketoawarmdebatethereabout。Thereforewemustunderstand,ifwecan,whetherthetownofMansoulhassuchsenseandknowledgeofherdecayedstate,andofthedesignthatwehaveonfootagainsther,asdothprovokehertosetwatchandwardathergates,andtodoublethemonmarket—days。Butif,afterinquirymade,itshallbefoundthattheyareasleep,thenanydaywilldo,butamarket—dayisbest;andthisismyjudgmentinthiscase。’
  ThenquothDiabolus,’Howshouldweknowthis?’anditwasanswered,’InquireaboutitatthemouthofMr。Profane。’SoProfanewascalledin,andaskedthequestion,andhemadehisanswerasfollows:—
  PROF。Mylords,sofarasIcangather,thisisatpresenttheconditionofthetownofMansoul:theyaredecayedintheirfaithandlove;Emmanuel,theirPrince,hasgiventhemtheback;theysendoftenbypetitiontofetchhimagain,buthemakethnothastetoanswertheirrequest,noristheremuchreformationamongthem。
  DIAB。Iamgladthattheyarebackwardinareformation,butyetIamafraidoftheirpetitioning。However,theirloosenessoflifeisasignthatthereisnotmuchheartinwhattheydo,andwithouttheheartthingsarelittleworth。
  Butgoon,mymasters;Iwilldivertyou,mylords,nolonger。
  BEEL。IfthecasebesowithMansoul,asMr。Profanehasdescribedittobe,itwillbenogreatmatterwhatdayweassaultit;nottheirprayers,northeirpowerwilldothemmuchservice。
  WhenBeelzebubhadendedhisoration,thenApollyondidbegin。’Myopinion,’saidhe,’concerningthismatter,is,thatwegoonfairandsoftly,notdoingthingsinahurry。
  LetourfriendsinMansoulgoonstilltopolluteanddefileit,byseekingtodrawityetmoreintosin(forthereisnothinglikesintodevourMansoul)。Ifthisbedone,andittakeseffect,Mansoul,ofitself,willleaveofftowatch,topetition,oranythingelsethatshouldtendtohersecurityandsafety;forshewillforgetherEmmanuel,shewillnotdesirehiscompany,andcanshebegottenthustolive,herPrincewillnotcometoherinhaste。Ourtrustyfriend,Mr。
  Carnal—Security,withoneofhistricksdiddrivehimoutofthetown;andwhymaynotmyLordCovetousness,andmyLordLasciviousness,bywhattheymaydo,keephimoutofthetown?AndthisIwilltellyou,(notbecauseyouknowitnot,)thattwoorthreeDiabolonians,ifentertainedandcountenancedbythetownofMansoul,willdomoretothekeepingofEmmanuelfromthem,andtowardsmakingthetownofMansoulyourown,thancananarmyofalegionthatshouldbesentoutfromustowithstandhim。Let,therefore,thisfirstprojectthatourfriendsinMansoulhavesetonfoot,bestronglyanddiligentlycarriedon,withallcunningandcraftimaginable;andletthemsendcontinually,underoneguiseoranother,moreandotheroftheirmentoplaywiththepeopleofMansoul;andthen,perhaps,weshallnotneedtobeatthechargeofmakingawaruponthem;orifthatmustofnecessitybedone,yetthemoresinfultheyare,themoreunable,tobesure,theywillbetoresistus,andthenthemoreeasilyweshallovercomethem。Andbesides,suppose(andthatistheworstthatcanbesupposed)thatEmmanuelshouldcometothemagain,whymaynotthesamemeans,orthelike,drivehimfromthemoncemore?Yea,whymayhenot,bytheirlapseintothatsinagain,bedrivenfromthemforever,forthesakeofwhichhewasatthefirstdrivenfromthemforaseason?Andifthisshouldhappen,thenawaygowithhimhisrams,hisslings,hiscaptains,hissoldiers,andheleavethMansoulnakedandbare。Yea,willnotthistown,whensheseesherselfutterlyforsakenofherPrince,ofherownaccordopenhergatesagainuntoyou,andmakeofyouasinthedaysofold?Butthismustbedonebytime,afewdayswillnoteffectsogreataworkasthis。’
  SosoonasApollyonhadmadeanendofspeaking,Diabolusbegantoblowouthisownmalice,andtopleadhisowncause;
  andhesaid,’Mylords,andpowersofthecave,mytrueandtrustyfriends,Ihavewithmuchimpatience,asbecomesme,giveneartoyourlongandtediousorations。Butmyfuriousgorge,andemptypaunch,solustethafterarepossessionofmyfamoustownofMansoul,thatwhatevercomesout,Icanwaitnolongertoseetheeventsoflingeringprojects。I
  must,andthatwithoutfurtherdelay,seek,byallmeansI
  can,tofillmyinsatiablegulfwiththesoulandbodyofthetownofMansoul。Thereforelendmeyourheads,yourhearts,andyourhelp,nowIamgoingtorecovermytownofMansoul。’
  WhenthelordsandprincesofthepitsawtheflamingdesirethatwasinDiabolustodevourthemiserabletownofMansoul,theyleftofftoraiseanymoreobjections,butconsentedtolendhimwhatstrengththeycould,thoughhadApollyon’sadvicebeentaken,theyhadfarmorefearfullydistressedthetownofMansoul。But,Isay,theywerewillingtolendhimwhatstrengththeycould,notknowingwhatneedtheymighthaveofhim,whentheyshouldengageforthemselves,ashe。
  Whereforetheyfelltoadvisingaboutthenextthingpropounded,namely,whatsoldierstheywere,andalsohowmany,withwhomDiabolusshouldgoagainstthetownofMansoultotakeit;andaftersomedebate,itwasconcluded,accordingasinthelettertheDiabolonianshadsuggested,thatnoneweremorefitforthatexpeditionthananarmyofterribledoubters。TheythereforeconcludedtosendagainstMansoulanarmyofsturdydoubters。Thenumberthoughtfittobeemployedinthatservicewasbetweentwentyandthirtythousand。Sothentheresultofthatgreatcouncilofthosehighandmightylordswas—ThatDiabolusshouldevennow,outofhand,beatuphisdrumformeninthelandofDoubting,whichlandliethupontheconfinesoftheplacecalledHell—GateHill,formenthatmightbeemployedbyhimagainstthemiserabletownofMansoul。Itwasalsoconcluded,thattheselordsthemselvesshouldhelphiminthewar,andthattheywouldtothatendheadandmanagehismen。
  Sotheydrewupaletter,andsentbacktotheDiaboloniansthatlurkedinMansoul,andthatwaitedfortheback—comingofMr。Profane,tosignifytothemintowhatmethodandforwardnesstheyatpresenthadputtheirdesign。Thecontentswhereofnowfollow:—
  ’Fromthedarkandhorribledungeonofhell,Diaboluswithallthesocietyoftheprincesofdarkness,sendstoourtrustyones,inandaboutthewallsofthetownofMansoul,nowimpatientlywaitingforourmostdevilishanswertotheirvenomousandmostpoisonousdesignagainstthetownofMansoul。
  ’Ournativeones,inwhomfromdaytodayweboast,andinwhoseactionsalltheyearlongwedogreatlydelightourselves,wereceivedyourwelcome,becausehighlyesteemedletter,atthehandofourtrustyandgreatlybeloved,theoldgentleman,Mr。Profane。Anddogiveyoutounderstand,thatwhenwehadbrokenitup,andhadreadthecontentsthereof,toyouramazingmemorybeitspoken,ouryawninghollow—belliedplace,whereweare,madesohideousandyellinganoiseforjoy,thatthemountainsthatstandroundaboutHell—GateHill,hadliketohavebeenshakentopiecesatthesoundthereof。
  part7
  Part7
  ’Wecouldalsodonolessthanadmireyourfaithfulnesstous,withthegreatnessofthatsubtiltythatnowhathshoweditselftobeinyourheadstoserveusagainstthetownofMansoul。Foryouhaveinventedforussoexcellentamethodforourproceedingagainstthatrebelliouspeople,amoreeffectualcannotbethoughtofbyallthewitsofhell。Theproposals,therefore,whichnow,atlast,youhavesentus,sincewesawthem,wehavedonelittleelsebuthighlyapprovedandadmiredthem。
  ’Nay,weshall,toencourageyouintheprofundityofyourcraft,letyouknow,that,atafullassemblyandconclaveofourprincesandprincipalitiesofthisplace,yourprojectwasdiscoursedandtossedfromonesideofourcavetotheotherbytheirmightinesses;butabetter,andaswasbythemselvesjudged,amorefitandproperwaybyalltheirwits,couldnotbeinvented,tosurprise,take,andmakeourown,therebellioustownofMansoul。
  ’Wherefore,infine,allthatwassaidthatvariedfromwhatyouhadinyourletterpropounded,fellofitselftotheground,andyoursonlywasstucktobyDiabolus,theprince;
  yea,hisgapinggorgeandyawningpaunchwasonfiretoputyourinventionintoexecution。
  ’Wethereforegiveyoutounderstandthatourstout,furious,andunmercifulDiabolusisraising,foryourrelief,andtheruinoftherebellioustownofMansoul,morethantwentythousanddoubterstocomeagainstthatpeople。Theyareallstoutandsturdymen,andmenthatofoldhavebeenaccustomedtowar,andthatcanthereforewellendurethedrum。Isay,heisdoingthisworkofhiswithallthepossiblespeedhecan;forhisheartandspiritisengagedinit。Wedesire,therefore,that,asyouhavehithertostucktous,andgivenusbothadviceandencouragementthusfar,youstillwillprosecuteourdesign;norshallyoulose,butbegainersthereby;yea,weintendtomakeyouthelordsofMansoul。
  ’Onethingmaynotbyanymeansbeomitted,thatis,thosewithusdodesirethateveryoneofyouthatareinMansoulwouldstilluseallyourpower,cunning,andskill,withdelusivepersuasions,yettodrawthetownofMansoulintomoresinandwickedness,eventhatsinmaybefinishedandbringforthdeath。
  ’Forthusitisconcludedwithus,thatthemorevile,sinful,anddebauchedthetownofMansoulis,morebackwardwillbetheirEmmanueltocometotheirhelp,eitherbypresenceorotherrelief;yea,themoresinful,themoreweak,andsothemoreunablewilltheybetomakeresistancewhenweshallmakeourassaultuponthemtoswallowthemup。
  Yea,thatmaycausethattheirmightyShaddaihimselfmaycastthemoutofhisprotection;yea,andsendforhiscaptainsandsoldiershome,withhisslingsandrams,andleavethemnakedandbare;andthenthetownofMansoulwillofitselfopentous,andfallasthefigintothemouthoftheeater。Yea,tobesure。thatwethenwithagreatdealofeaseshallcomeuponherandovercomeher。
  ’AstothetimeofourcominguponMansoul,we,asyet,havenotfullyresolveduponthat,thoughatpresentsomeofusthinkasyou,thatamarket—day,oramarket—dayatnight,willcertainlybethebest。However,doyoubeready,andwhenyoushallhearourroaringdrumwithout,doyoubeasbusytomakethemosthorribleconfusionwithin。SoshallMansoulcertainlybedistressedbeforeandbehind,andshallnotknowwhichwaytobetakeherselfforhelp。MyLordLucifer,myLordBeelzebub,myLordApollyon,myLordLegion,withtherest,saluteyou,asdoesalsomyLordDiabolus;andwewishbothyou,withallthatyoudo,orshallpossess,theveryself—samefruitandsuccessfortheirdoingasweourselvesatpresentenjoyforours。
  ’Fromourdreadfulconfinesinthemostfearfulpit,wesaluteyou,andsodothosemanylegionsherewithus,wishingyoumaybeashellishlyprosperousaswedesiretobeourselves。Bytheletter—carrier,Mr。Profane。’
  ThenMr。ProfaneaddressedhimselfforhisreturntoMansoul,withhiserrandfromthehorriblepittotheDiaboloniansthatdweltinthattown。SohecameupthestairsfromthedeeptothemouthofthecavewhereCerberuswas。NowwhenCerberussawhim,heaskedhowdidmattersgobelow,aboutandagainstthetownofMansoul。
  PROF。Thingsgoaswellaswecanexpect。TheletterthatI
  carriedthitherwashighlyapproved,andwelllikedbyallmylords,andIamreturningtotellourDiaboloniansso。I
  haveananswertoithereinmybosom,thatIamsurewillmakeourmastersthatsentmeglad;forthecontentsthereofaretoencouragethemtopursuetheirdesigntotheutmost,andtobereadyalsotofallonwithin,whentheyshallseemyLordDiabolusbeleagueringthetownofMansoul。
  CERB。Butdoesheintendtogoagainstthemhimself?
  PROF。Doeshe!Ay!andhewilltakealongwithhimmorethantwentythousand,allsturdyDoubters,andmenofwar,pickedmenfromthelandofDoubting,toservehimintheexpedition。
  ThenwasCerberusglad,andsaid,’Andistheresuchbravepreparationsa—makingtogoagainstthemiserabletownofMansoul?AndwouldImightbeputattheheadofathousandofthem,thatImightalsoshowmyvalouragainstthefamoustownofMansoul。’
  PROF。Yourwishmaycometopass;youlooklikeonethathasmettleenough,andmylordwillhavewithhimthosethatarevaliantandstout。Butmybusinessrequireshaste。
  CERB。Ay,soitdoes。SpeedtheetothetownofMansoul,withallthedeepestmischiefsthatthisplacecanaffordthee。AndwhenthoushaltcometothehouseofMr。Mischief,theplacewheretheDiaboloniansmeettoplot,tellthemthatCerberusdothwishthemhisservice,andthatifhemay,hewillwiththearmycomeupagainstthefamoustownofMansoul。
  PROF。ThatIwill。AndIknowthatmylordsthataretherewillbegladtohearit,andtoseeyoualso。
  Soafterafewmoresuchkindofcompliments,Mr。ProfanetookhisleaveofhisfriendCerberus;andCerberusagain,withathousandoftheirpit—wishes,bidhimhaste,withallspeed,tohismasters。Thewhichwhenhehadheard,hemadeobeisance,andbegantogatheruphisheelstorun。
  Thus,therefore,hereturned,andwentandcametoMansoul;
  andgoing,asafore,tothehouseofMr。Mischief,therehefoundtheDiaboloniansassembled,andwaitingforhisreturn。
  Nowwhenhewascome,andhadpresentedhimself,healsodeliveredtothemhisletter,andadjoinedthiscomplimenttothemtherewith:’Mylords,fromtheconfinesofthepit,thehighandmightyprincipalitiesandpowersofthedensaluteyouhere,thetrueDiaboloniansofthetownofMansoul。
  Wishingyoualwaysthemostproperoftheirbenedictions,forthegreatservice,highattempts,andbraveachievementsthatyouhaveputyourselvesupon,fortherestoringtoourprinceDiabolusthefamoustownofMansoul。’
  ThiswasthereforethepresentstateofthemiserabletownofMansoul:shehadoffendedherPrince,andhewasgone;shehadencouragedthepowersofhell,byherfoolishness,tocomeagainsthertoseekherutterdestruction。
  True,thetownofMansoulwassomewhatmadesensibleofhersin,buttheDiaboloniansweregottenintoherbowels;shecried,butEmmanuelwasgone,andhercriesdidnotfetchhimasyetagain。Besides,sheknewnotnowwhether,everornever,hewouldreturnandcometohisMansoulagain;nordidtheyknowthepowerandindustryoftheenemy,norhowforwardtheyweretoputinexecutionthatplotofhellthattheyhaddevisedagainsther。
  Theydid,indeed,stillsendpetitionafterpetitiontothePrince,butheansweredallwithsilence。Theydidneglectreformation,andthatwasasDiaboluswouldhaveit;forheknew,iftheyregardediniquityintheirheart,theirKingwouldnotheartheirprayer;theythereforedidstillgrowweakerandweaker,andwereasarollingthingbeforethewhirlwind。TheycriedtotheirKingforhelp,andlaidDiaboloniansintheirbosoms:whatthereforeshouldaKingdotothem?Yea,thereseemednowtobeamixtureinMansoul;
  theDiaboloniansandtheMansoulianswouldwalkthestreetstogether。Yea,theybegantoseektheirpeace;fortheythoughtthat,sincethesicknesshadbeensomortalinMansoul,itwasinvaintogotohandygripeswiththem。
  Besides,theweaknessofMansoulwasthestrengthoftheirenemies;andthesinsofMansoul,theadvantageoftheDiabolonians。ThefoesofMansouldidalsonowbegintopromisethemselvesthetownforapossession:therewasnogreatdifferencenowbetwixtMansouliansandDiabolonians:
  bothseemedtobemastersofMansoul。Yea,theDiaboloniansincreasedandgrew,butthetownofMansouldiminishedgreatly。Thereweremorethaneleventhousandmen,women,andchildrenthatdiedbythesicknessinMansoul。
  Butnow,asShaddaiwouldhaveit,therewasonewhosenamewasMr。Prywell,agreatloverofthepeopleofMansoul。Andhe,ashismannerwas,didgolisteningupanddowninMansoultosee,andtohear,ifatanytimehemight,whethertherewasanydesignagainstitorno。Forhewasalwaysajealousman,andfearedsomemischiefsometimewouldbefalit,eitherfromtheDiabolonianswithin,orfromsomepowerwithout。Nowuponatimeitsohappened,asMr。Prywellwentlisteninghereandthere,thathelighteduponaplacecalledVilehill,inMansoul,whereDiaboloniansusedtomeet;sohearingamuttering,(youmustknowthatitwasinthenight,)hesoftlydrewneartohear;norhadhestoodlongunderthehouse—end,(fortherestoodahousethere,)butheheardoneconfidentlyaffirm,thatitwasnot,orwouldnotbelongbeforeDiabolusshouldpossesshimselfagainofMansoul;andthatthentheDiaboloniansdidintendtoputallMansoulianstothesword,andwouldkillanddestroytheKing’scaptains,anddriveallhissoldiersoutofthetown。
  Hesaid,moreover,thatheknewtherewereabovetwentythousandfightingmenpreparedbyDiabolusfortheaccomplishingofthisdesign,andthatitwouldnotbemonthsbeforetheyallshouldseeit。
  WhenMr。Prywellhadheardthisstory,hedidquicklybelieveitwastrue:whereforehewentforthwithtomyLordMayor’shouse,andacquaintedhimtherewith;who,sendingforthesubordinatepreacher,brakethebusinesstohim;andheassoongavethealarmtothetown;forhewasnowthechiefpreacherinMansoul,because,asyet,myLordSecretarywasillatease。Andthiswasthewaythatthesubordinatepreacherdidtaketoalarmthetowntherewith。Thesamehourhecausedthelecturebelltoberung;sothepeoplecametogether:hegavethemthenashortexhortationtowatchfulness,andmadeMr。Prywell’snewstheargumentthereof。’For,’saidhe,’anhorribleplotiscontrivedagainstMansoul,eventomassacreusallinaday,noristhisstorytobeslighted;forMr。Prywellistheauthorthereof。Mr。PrywellwasalwaysaloverofMansoul,asoberandjudiciousman,amanthatisnotattler,norraiseroffalsereports,butonethatlovestolookintotheverybottomofmatters,andtalksnothingofnews,butbyverysolidarguments。
  ’Iwillcallhim,andyoushallhearhimyourownselves;’sohecalledhim,andhecameandtoldhistalesopunctually,andaffirmeditstruthwithsuchamplegrounds,thatMansoulfellpresentlyunderaconvictionofthetruthofwhathesaid。Thepreacherdidalsobackhim,saying,’Sirs,itisnotirrationalforustobelieveit,forwehaveprovokedShaddaitoanger,andhavesinnedEmmanueloutofthetown;
  wehavehadtoomuchcorrespondencewithDiabolonians,andhaveforsakenourformermercies:nomarvelthen,iftheenemybothwithinandwithoutshoulddesignandplotourruin;andwhattimelikethistodoit?Thesicknessisnowinthetown,andwehavebeenmadeweakthereby。Manyagoodmeaningmanisdead,andtheDiaboloniansoflategrowstrongerandstronger。
  ’Besides,’quoththesubordinatepreacher,’Ihavereceivedfromthisgoodtruth—tellerthisoneinklingfurther,thatheunderstoodbythosethatheoverheard,thatseverallettershavelatelypassedbetweenthefuriesandtheDiaboloniansinordertoourdestruction。’WhenMansoulheardallthis,andnotbeingabletogainsayit,theyliftuptheirvoiceandwept。Mr。Prywelldidalso,inthepresenceofthetownsmen,confirmallthattheirsubordinatepreacherhadsaid。
  Whereforetheynowsetafreshtobewailtheirfolly,andtoadoublingofpetitionstoShaddaiandhisSon。Theyalsobrakethebusinesstothecaptains,highcommanders,andmenofwarinthetownofMansoul,entreatingthemtousethemeanstobestrong,andtotakegoodcourage;andthattheywouldlookaftertheirharness,andmakethemselvesreadytogiveDiabolusbattlebynightandbyday,shallhecome,astheyareinformedhewill,tobeleaguerthetownofMansoul。
  Whenthecaptainsheardthis,theybeingalwaystrueloversofthetownofMansoul,whatdotheybutlikesomanySamsonstheyshakethemselves,andcometogethertoconsultandcontrivehowtodefeatthoseboldandhellishcontrivancesthatwereuponthewheelbythemeansofDiabolusandhisfriendsagainstthenowsickly,weakly,andmuchimpoverishedtownofMansoul;andtheyagreeduponthesefollowingparticulars:—
  1。ThatthegatesofMansoulshouldbekeptshut,andmadefastwithbarsandlocks,andthatallpersonsthatwentout,orcamein,shouldbeverystrictlyexaminedbythecaptainsoftheguards,’totheend,’saidthey,’thatthosethataremanagersoftheplotamongstus,may,eithercomingorgoing,betaken;andthatwemayalsofindoutwhoarethegreatcontrivers,amongstus,ofourruin。’
  2。Thenextthingwas,thatastrictsearchshouldbemadeforallkindofDiaboloniansthroughoutthewholetownofMansoul;andthateveryman’shousefromtoptobottomshouldbelookedinto,andthat,too,housebyhouse,thatifpossibleafurtherdiscoverymightbemadeofallsuchamongthemashadahandinthesedesigns。
  3。Itwasfurtherconcludedupon,thatwheresoeverorwithwhomsoeveranyoftheDiabolonianswerefound,thateventhoseofthetownofMansoulthathadgiventhemhouseandharbour,shouldtotheirshame,andthewarningofothers,takepenanceintheopenplace。
  4。Itwas,moreover,resolvedbythefamoustownofMansoul,thatapublicfast,andadayofhumiliation,shouldbekeptthroughoutthewholecorporation,tothejustifyingoftheirPrince,theabasingofthemselvesbeforehimfortheirtransgressionsagainsthim,andagainstShaddai,hisFather。
  Itwasfurtherresolved,thatallsuchinMansoulasdidnotonthatdayendeavourtokeepthatfast,andtohumblethemselvesfortheirfaults,butthatshouldmindtheirworldlyemploys,orbefoundwanderingupanddownthestreets,shouldbetakenforDiabolonians,andshouldsufferasDiaboloniansforsuchtheirwickeddoings。
  5。Itwasfurtherconcludedthen,thatwithwhatspeed,andwithwhatwarmthofmindtheycould,theywouldrenewtheirhumiliationforsin,andtheirpetitionstoShaddaiforhelp;
  theyalsoresolved,tosendtidingstothecourtofallthatMr。Prywellhadtoldthem。
  6。Itwasalsodetermined,thatthanksshouldbegivenbythetownofMansoultoMr。Prywell,forhisdiligentseekingofthewelfareoftheirtown:andfurther,thatforasmuchashewassonaturallyinclinedtoseektheirgood,andalsotounderminetheirfoes,theygavehimacommissionofscout—
  master—general,forthegoodofthetownofMansoul。
  Whenthecorporation,withtheircaptains,hadthusconcluded,theydidastheyhadsaid;theyshutuptheirgates,theymadeforDiaboloniansstrictsearch,theymadethosewithwhomanywerefoundtotakepenanceintheopenplace:theykepttheirfast,andrenewedtheirpetitionstotheirPrince,andMr。PrywellmanagedhischargeandthetrustthatMansoulhadputinhishands,withgreatconscienceandgoodfidelity;forhegavehimselfwhollyuptohisemploy,andthatnotonlywithinthetown,buthewentouttopry,tosee,andtohear。
  Andnotmanydaysafterheprovidedforhisjourney,andwenttowardsHell—GateHill,intothecountrywheretheDoubterswere,whereheheardofallthathadbeentalkedofinMansoul,andheperceivedalsothatDiaboluswasalmostreadyforhismarch,etc。Sohecamebackwithspeed,and,callingthecaptainsandeldersofMansoultogether,hetoldthemwherehehadbeen,whathehadheard,andwhathehadseen。
  Particularly,hetoldthemthatDiaboluswasalmostreadyforhismarch,andthathehadmadeoldMr。Incredulity,thatoncebrakeprisoninMansoul,the,generalofhisarmy;thathisarmyconsistedallofDoubters,andthattheirnumberwasabovetwentythousand。Hetold,moreover,thatDiabolusdidintendtobringwithhimthechiefprincesoftheinfernalpit,andthathewouldmakethemchiefcaptainsoverhisDoubters。Hetoldthem,moreover,thatitwascertainlytruethatseveraloftheblackdenwould,withDiabolus,ridereformadestoreducethetownofMansoultotheobedienceofDiabolus,theirprince。
  Hesaid,moreover,thatheunderstoodbytheDoubters,amongwhomhehadbeen,thatthereasonwhyoldIncredulitywasmadegeneralofthewholearmy,wasbecausenonetruerthanhetothetyrant;andbecausehehadanimplacablespiteagainstthewelfareofthetownofMansoul。Besides,saidhe,herememberstheaffrontsthatMansoulhasgivenhim,andheisresolvedtoberevengedofthem。
  Buttheblackprincesshallbemadehighcommanders,onlyIncredulityshallbeoverthemall;because,whichIhadalmostforgot,hecanmoreeasily,andmoredexterously,beleaguerthetownofMansoul,thancananyoftheprincesbesides。
  Now,whenthecaptainsofMansoul,withtheeldersofthetown,hadheardthetidingsthatMr。Prywelldidbring,theythoughtitexpedient,withoutfurtherdelay,toputintoexecutionthelawsthatagainsttheDiabolonianstheirPrincehadmadeforthem,andgiventhemincommandmenttomanageagainstthem。Wherefore,forthwithadiligentandimpartialsearchwasmadeinallhousesinMansoul,forallandallmannerofDiabolonians。Now,inthehouseofMr。Mind,andinthehouseofthegreatLordWillbewill,weretwoDiaboloniansfound。InMr。Mind’shousewasoneLordCovetousnessfound;buthehadchangedhisnametoPrudent—
  Thrifty。InmyLordWillbewill’shouse,oneLasciviousnesswasfound;buthehadchangedhisnametoHarmless—Mirth。
  ThesetwothecaptainsandeldersofthetownofMansoultook,andcommittedthemtocustodyunderthehandofMr。
  Trueman,thegaoler;andthismanhandledthemsoseverely,andloadedthemsowellwithirons,thatintimetheybothfellintoaverydeepconsumption,anddiedintheprison—
  house;theirmastersalso,accordingtotheagreementofthecaptainsandelders,werebroughttotakepenanceintheopenplacetotheirshame,andforawarningtotherestofthetownofMansoul。
  Now,thiswasthemannerofpenanceinthosedays:thepersonsoffendingbeingmadesensibleoftheeviloftheirdoings,wereenjoinedopenconfessionoftheirfaults,andastrictamendmentoftheirlives。
  Afterthis,thecaptainsandeldersofMansoulsoughtyettofindoutmoreDiabolonians,wherevertheylurked,whetherindens,caves,holes,vaults,orwhereelsetheycould,inoraboutthewallortownofMansoul。Butthoughtheycouldplainlyseetheirfooting,andsofollowthembytheirtrackandsmelltotheirholds,eventothemouthsoftheircavesanddens,yettakethem,holdthem,anddojusticeuponthem,theycouldnot;theirwaysweresocrooked,theirholdssostrong,andtheysoquicktotakesanctuarythere。
  ButMansouldidnowwithsostiffanhandruleovertheDiaboloniansthatwereleft,thattheyweregladtoshrinkintocorners:timewaswhentheydurstwalkopenly,andintheday;butnowtheywereforcedtoembraceprivacyandthenight:timewaswhenaMansoulianwastheircompanion;butnowtheycountedthemdeadlyenemies。ThisgoodchangedidMr。Prywell’sintelligencemakeinthefamoustownofMansoul。
  Bythistime,DiabolushadfinishedhisarmywhichheintendedtobringwithhimfortheruinofMansoul;andhadsetoverthemcaptains,andotherfieldofficers,suchaslikedhisfuriousstomachbest:himselfwaslordparamount,Incredulitywasgeneralofhisarmy,theirhighestcaptainsshallbenamedafterwards;butnowfortheirofficers,colours,andscutcheons。
  1。TheirfirstcaptainwasCaptainRage:hewascaptainovertheelectiondoubters,hisweretheredcolours;hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Destructive,andthegreatreddragonhehadforhisscutcheon。
  2。ThesecondcaptainwasCaptainFury:hewascaptainoverthevocationdoubters;hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Darkness,hiscolourswerethosethatwerepale,andhehadforhisscutcheonthefieryflyingserpent。
  3。ThethirdcaptainwasCaptainDamnation:hewascaptainoverthegracedoubters;hisweretheredcolours,Mr。No—
  Lifebarethem,andhehadforhisscutcheontheblackden。
  4。ThefourthcaptainwasCaptainInsatiable;hewascaptainoverthefaithdoubters:hisweretheredcolours,Mr。
  Devourerbarethem,andhehadforascutcheontheyawningjaws。
  5。ThefifthcaptainwasCaptainBrimstone:hewascaptainovertheperseverancedoubters;hisalsoweretheredcolours,Mr。Burningbarethem,andhisscutcheonwastheblueandstinkingflame。
  6。ThesixthcaptainwasCaptainTorment:hewascaptainovertheresurrectiondoubters;hiscolourswerethosethatwerepale;Mr。Gnawwashisstandard—bearer,andhehadtheblackwormforhisscutcheon。
  7。TheseventhcaptainwasCaptainNo—Ease;hewascaptainoverthesalvationdoubters;hisweretheredcolours,Mr。
  Restlessbarethem,andhisscutcheonwastheghastlypictureofdeath。
  8。TheeighthcaptainwastheCaptainSepulchre:hewascaptainovertheglorydoubters;hisalsowerethepalecolours,Mr。Corruptionwashisstandard—bearer,andhehadforhisscutcheonaskull,anddeadmen’sbones。
  9。TheninthcaptainwasCaptainPast—Hope;hewascaptainofthosethatarecalledthefelicitydoubters;hisstandard—
  bearerwasMr。Despair;hisalsoweretheredcolours,andhisscutcheonwasahotironandthehardheart。
  Thesewerehiscaptains,andtheseweretheirforces,theseweretheirstandards,theseweretheircolours,andtheseweretheirscutcheons。Now,overthesedidthegreatDiabolusmakesuperiorcaptains,andtheywereinnumberseven:as,namely,theLordBeelzebub,theLordLucifer,theLordLegion,theLordApollyon,theLordPython,theLordCerberus,andtheLordBelial;thesesevenhesetoverthecaptains,andIncredulitywaslord—general,and,Diaboluswasking。Thereformadesalso,suchaswerelikethemselves,weremadesomeofthemcaptainsofhundreds,andsomeofthemcaptainsofmore。AndthuswasthearmyofIncredulitycompleted。