首页 >出版文学> THE HOLY WAR>第5章

第5章

  WhenoldIncredulityhadheardthisspeech,hecriedout,’Treason!treason!Toyourarms!toyourarms!Oye,thetrustyfriendsofDiabolusinMansoul。’
  UND。—Sir,youmayputuponmywordswhatmeaningyouplease;butIamsurethatthecaptainsofsuchanhighlordastheirsis,deservedabettertreatmentatyourhands。
  ThensaidoldIncredulity,’Thisisbutlittlebetter。But,Sir,’quothhe,’whatIspakeIspakeformyprince,forhisgovernment,andthequietingofthepeople,whombyyourunlawfulactionsyouhavethisdaysettomutinyagainstus。’
  ThenrepliedtheoldRecorder,whosenamewasMr。Conscience,andsaid,’Sir,yououghtnotthustoretortuponwhatmyLordUnderstandinghathsaid。Itisevidentenoughthathehathspokenthetruth,andthatyouareanenemytoMansoul。
  Beconvinced,then,oftheevilofyoursaucyandmalapertlanguage,andofthegriefthatyouhaveputthecaptainsto;
  yea,andofthedamagesthatyouhavedonetoMansoulthereby。Hadyouacceptedoftheconditions,thesoundofthetrumpetandthealarmofwarhadnowceasedaboutthetownofMansoul;butthatdreadfulsoundabides,andyourwantofwisdominyourspeechhasbeenthecauseofit。’
  ThensaidoldIncredulity,’Sir,ifIlive,IwilldoyourerrandtoDiabolus,andthereyoushallhaveananswertoyourwords。Meanwhilewewillseekthegoodofthetown,andnotaskcounselofyou。’
  UND。—Sir,yourprinceandyouarebothforeignerstoMansoul,andnotthenativesthereof;andwhocantellbutthat,whenyouhavebroughtusintogreaterstraits,(whenyoualsoshallseethatyourselvescanbesafebynoothermeansthanbyflight,)youmayleaveusandshiftforyourselves,orsetusonfire,andgoawayinthesmoke,orbythelightofourburning,andsoleaveusinourruins?
  INCRED。—Sir,youforgetthatyouareunderagovernor,andthatyououghttodemeanyourselflikeasubject;andknowye,whenmylordthekingshallhearofthisday’swork,hewillgiveyoubutlittlethanksforyourlabour。
  Nowwhilethesegentlemenwerethusintheirchidingwords,downcomefromthewallsandgatesofthetowntheLordWillbewill,Mr。Prejudice,oldIll—Pause,andseveralofthenew—madealdermenandburgesses,andtheyaskedthereasonofthehubbubandtumult;andwiththateverymanbegantotellhisowntale,sothatnothingcouldbehearddistinctly。
  Thenwasasilencecommanded,andtheoldfoxIncredulitybegantospeak。’Mylord,’quothhe,’hereareacoupleofpeevishgentlemen,thathave,asafruitoftheirbaddispositions,and,asIfear,throughtheadviceofoneMr。
  Discontent,tumultuouslygatheredthiscompanyagainstmethisday,andalsoattemptedtorunthetownintoactsofrebellionagainstourprince。’
  ThenstoodupalltheDiaboloniansthatwerepresent,andaffirmedthesethingstobetrue。
  NowwhentheythattookpartwithmyLordUnderstandingandwithMr。Conscienceperceivedthattheywereliketocometotheworst,forthatforceandpowerwasontheotherside,theycameinfortheirhelpandrelief;soagreatcompanywasonbothsides。ThentheyonIncredulity’ssidewouldhavehadthetwooldgentlemenpresentlyawaytoprison;buttheyontheothersidesaidtheyshouldnot。Thentheybegantocryuppartiesagain:theDiabolonianscriedupoldIncredulity,Forget—Good,thenewaldermen,andtheirgreatoneDiabolus;andtheotherparty,theyasfastcriedupShaddai,thecaptains,hislaws,theirmercifulness,andapplaudedtheirconditionsandways。Thusthebickermentwentawhile;atlasttheypassedfromwordstoblows,andnowtherewereknocksonbothsides。Thegoodoldgentleman,Mr。
  Conscience,wasknockeddowntwicebyoneoftheDiabolonians,whosenamewasMr。Benumbing;andmyLordUnderstandinghadliketohavebeenslainwithanarquebuse,butthathethatshotdidnottakehisaimaright。Nordidtheothersidewhollyescape;fortherewasoneMr。Rashhead,aDiabolonian,thathadhisbrainsbeatenoutbyMr。Mind,theLordWillbewill’sservant;anditmademelaughtoseehowoldMr。Prejudicewaskickedandtumbledaboutinthedirt;forthough,awhilesince,hewasmadecaptainofacompanyoftheDiabolonians,tothehurtanddamageofthetown,yetnowtheyhadgothimundertheirfeet,and,I’llassureyou,hehad,bysomeoftheLordUnderstanding’sparty,hiscrowncrackedtoboot。Mr。Anythingalso,hebecameabriskmaninthebroil;butbothsideswereagainsthim,becausehewastruetonone。Yethehad,forhismalapertness,oneofhislegsbroken,andhethatdiditwishedithadbeenhisneck。Muchmoreharmwasdoneonbothsides,butthismustnotbeforgotten;itwasnowawondertoseemyLordWillbewillsoindifferentashewas:hedidnotseemtotakeonesidemorethananother,onlyitwasperceivedthathesmiledtoseehowoldPrejudicewastumbledupanddowninthedirt。Also,whenCaptainAnythingcamehaltingupbeforehim,heseemedtotakebutlittlenoticeofhim。
  Now,whentheuproarwasover,DiabolussendsformyLordUnderstandingandMr。Conscience,andclapsthembothupinprisonastheringleadersandmanagersofthismostheavy,riotousroutinMansoul。Sonowthetownbegantobequietagain,andtheprisonerswereusedhardly;yea,hethoughttohavemadethemaway,butthatthepresentjuncturedidnotserveforthatpurpose,forthatwarwasinalltheirgates。
  Butletusreturnagaintoourstory。Thecaptains,whentheyweregonebackfromthegate,andwerecomeintothecampagain,calledacouncilofwar,toconsultwhatwasfurtherforthemtodo。Now,somesaid,’Letusgouppresently,andfalluponthetown;’butthegreatestpartthoughtratherbetteritwouldbetogivethemanothersummonstoyield;andthereasonwhytheythoughtthistobebestwas,becausethat,sofarascouldbeperceived,thetownofMansoulnowwasmoreinclinablethanheretofore。
  ’Andif,’saidthey,’whilesomeofthemareinawayofinclination,weshouldbyruggednessgivethemdistaste,wemaysetthemfurtherfromclosingwithoursummonsthanwewouldbewillingtheyshould。’Whereforetothisadvicetheyagreed,andcalledatrumpeter,putwordsintohismouth,sethimhistime,andbidhimGodspeed。Well,manyhourswerenotexpiredbeforethetrumpeteraddressedhimselftohisjourney。Wherefore,cominguptothewallofthetown,hesteerethhiscoursetoEar—gate,andtheresounded,ashewascommanded。Theythenthatwerewithincameouttoseewhatwasthematter,andthetrumpetermadethemthisspeechfollowing:
  ’Ohard—heartedanddeplorabletownofMansoul,howlongwiltthoulovethysinful,sinfulsimplicity,and,yefools,delightinyourscorning?Asyetdespiseyoutheoffersofpeaceanddeliverance?AsyetwillyerefusethegoldenoffersofShaddai,andtrusttotheliesandfalsehoodsofDiabolus?Thinkyou,whenShaddaishallhaveconqueredyou,thattheremembranceoftheseyourcarriagestowardshimwillyieldyoupeaceandcomfort,orthatbyrufflinglanguageyoucanmakehimafraidasagrasshopper?Dothheentreatyouforfearofyou?Doyouthinkthatyouarestrongerthanhe?
  Looktotheheavens,andbeholdandconsiderthestars,howhigharethey?Canyoustopthesunfromrunninghiscourse,andhinderthemoonfromgivingherlight?Canyoucountthenumberofthestars,orstaythebottlesofheaven?Canyoucallforthewatersofthesea,andcausethemtocoverthefaceoftheground?Canyoubeholdeveryonethatisproud,andabasehim,andbindtheirfacesinsecret?YetthesearesomeoftheworksofourKing,inwhosenamethisdaywecomeupuntoyou,thatyoumaybebroughtunderhisauthority。Inhisname,therefore,Isummonyouagaintoyieldupyourselvestohiscaptains。’
  AtthissummonstheMansouliansseemedtobeatastand,andknewnotwhatanswertomake。WhereforeDiabolusforthwithappeared,andtookuponhimtodoithimself;andthushebegins,butturnshisspeechtothemofMansoul。
  ’Gentlemen,’quothhe,’andmyfaithfulsubjects,ifitistruethatthissummonerhathsaidconcerningthegreatnessoftheirKing,byhisterroryouwillalwaysbekeptinbondage,andsobemadetosneak。Yea,howcanyounow,thoughheisatadistance,enduretothinkofsuchamightyone?Andifnottothinkofhimwhileatadistance,howcanyouenduretobeinhispresence?I,yourprince,amfamiliarwithyou,andyoumayplaywithmeasyouwouldwithagrasshopper。
  Consider,therefore,whatisforyourprofit,andremembertheimmunitiesthatIhavegrantedyou。
  ’Farther,ifallbetruethatthismanhathsaid,howcomesittopassthatthesubjectsofShaddaiaresoenslavedinallplaceswheretheycome?Noneintheuniversesounhappyasthey,nonesotrampleduponasthey。
  ’Consider,myMansoul:wouldthouwertasloathtoleavemeasIamloathtoleavethee。Butconsider,Isay,theballisyetatthyfoot;libertyyouhave,ifyouknowhowtouseit;yea,akingyouhavetoo,ifyoucantellhowtoloveandobeyhim。’
  part3
  Part2
  Uponthisspeech,thetownofMansouldidagainhardentheirheartsyetmoreagainstthecaptainsofShaddai。Thethoughtsofhisgreatnessdidquitequashthem,andthethoughtsofhisholinesssunkthemindespair。Wherefore,afterashortconsult,they(oftheDiabolonianpartytheywere)sentbackthiswordbythetrumpeter,That,fortheirparts,theywereresolvedtosticktotheirking,butnevertoyieldtoShaddai;soitwasbutinvaintogivethemanyfurthersummons,fortheyhadratherdieupontheplacethanyield。Andnowthingsseemedtobegonequiteback,andMansoultobeoutofreachorcall,yetthecaptainswhoknewwhattheirLordcoulddo,wouldnotyetbebeatoutofheart;
  theythereforesentthemanothersummons,moresharpandseverethanthelast;buttheoftenertheyweresentto,toreconciletoShaddai,thefurtherofftheywere。’Astheycalledthem,sotheywentfromthem—yea,thoughtheycalledthemtotheMostHigh。’
  Sotheyceasedthatwaytodealwiththemanymore,andinclinedtothinkofanotherway。Thecaptains,therefore,didgatherthemselvestogether,tohavefreeconferenceamongthemselves,toknowwhatwasyettobedonetogainthetown,andtodeliveritfromthetyrannyofDiabolus;andonesaidafterthismanner,andanotherafterthat。ThenstooduptherightnobletheCaptainConviction,andsaid,’Mybrethren,mineopinionisthis:
  ’First,thatwecontinuallyplayourslingsintothetown,andkeepitinacontinualalarm,molestingthemdayandnight。Bythusdoing,weshallstopthegrowthoftheirrampantspirit;foralionmaybetamedbycontinualmolestation。
  ’Secondly,thisdone,Iadvisethat,inthenextplace,wewithoneconsentdrawupapetitiontoourLordShaddai,bywhich,afterwehaveshowedourKingtheconditionofMansoulandofaffairshere,andhavebeggedhispardonforournobettersuccess,wewillearnestlyimplorehisMajesty’shelp,andthathewillpleasetosendusmoreforceandpower,andsomegallantandwell—spokencommandertoheadthem,thatsohisMajestymaynotlosethebenefitofthesehisgoodbeginnings,butmaycompletehisconquestuponthetownofMansoul。’
  TothisspeechofthenobleCaptainConvictiontheyasonemanconsented,andagreedthatapetitionshouldforthwithbedrawnup,andsentbyafitmanawaytoShaddaiwithspeed。
  Thecontentsofthepetitionwerethus:—
  ’MostgraciousandgloriousKing,theLordofthebestworld,andthebuilderofthetownofMansoul,wehave,dreadSovereign,atthycommandment,putourlivesinjeopardy,andatthybiddingmadeawaruponthefamoustownofMansoul。
  Whenwewentupagainstit,wedid,accordingtoourcommission,firstofferconditionsofpeaceuntoit。Butthey,greatKing,setlightbyourcounsel,andwouldnoneofourreproof。Theywereforshuttingtheirgates,andforkeepingusoutofthetown。Theyalsomountedtheirguns,theysalliedoutuponus,andhavedoneuswhatdamagetheycould;butwepursuedthemwithalarmuponalarm,requitingthemwithsuchretributionaswasmeet,andhavedonesomeexecutionuponthetown。
  ’Diabolus,Incredulity,andWillbewillarethegreatdoersagainstus:nowweareinourwinterquarters,butsoasthatwedoyetwithanhighhandmolestanddistressthetown。
  ’Once,aswethink,hadwehadbutonesubstantialfriendinthetown,suchaswouldbuthavesecondedthesoundofoursummonsastheyought,thepeoplemighthaveyieldedthemselves;buttherewerenonebutenemiesthere,noranytospeakinbehalfofourLordtothetown。Wherefore,thoughwehavedoneaswecould,yetMansoulabidesinastateofrebellionagainstthee。
  ’Now,Kingofkings,letitpleasetheetopardontheunsuccessfulnessofthyservants,whohavebeennomoreadvantageousinsodesirableaworkastheconqueringofMansoulis。Andsend,Lord,aswenowdesire,moreforcestoMansoul,thatitmaybesubdued;andamantoheadthem,thatthetownmaybothloveandfear。
  ’Wedonotthusspeakbecausewearewillingtorelinquishthewars,(forweareforlayingofourbonesagainsttheplace,)butthatthetownofMansoulmaybewonforthyMajesty。WealsopraythyMajesty,forexpeditioninthismatter,that,aftertheirconquest,wemaybeatlibertytobesentaboutotherthygraciousdesigns。Amen。’
  Thepetition,thusdrawnup,wassentawaywithhastetotheKingbythehandofthatgoodman,Mr。Love—to—Mansoul。
  WhenthispetitionwascometothepalaceoftheKing,whoshoulditbedeliveredtobuttotheKing’sSon?Sohetookitandreadit,andbecausethecontentsofitpleasedhimwell,hemended,andalsoinsomethingsaddedtothepetitionhimself。So,afterhehadmadesuchamendmentsandadditionsashethoughtconvenient,withhisownhand,hecarrieditintotheKing;towhom,whenhehadwithobeisancedeliveredit,heputonauthority,andspaketoithimself。
  NowtheKing,atthesightofthepetition,wasglad;buthowmuchmore,thinkyou,whenitwassecondedbyhisSon!ItpleasedhimalsotohearthathisservantswhocampedagainstMansoulweresoheartyinthework,andsosteadfastintheirresolves,andthattheyhadalreadygotsomegrounduponthefamoustownofMansoul。
  WhereforetheKingcalledtohimEmmanuel,hisSon,whosaid,’HereamI,myFather。’ThensaidtheKing,’Thouknowest,asIdomyself,theconditionofthetownofMansoul,andwhatwehavepurposed,andwhatthouhastdonetoredeemit。
  Comenow,therefore,mySon,andpreparethyselfforthewar,forthoushaltgotomycampatMansoul。Thoushaltalsothereprosperandprevail,andconquerthetownofMansoul。’
  ThensaidtheKing’sSon,’Thylawiswithinmyheart:I
  delighttodothywill。ThisisthedaythatIhavelongedfor,andtheworkthatIhavewaitedforallthiswhile。
  Grantme,therefore,whatforcethoushaltinthywisdomthinkmeet;andIwillgoandwilldeliverfromDiabolus,andfromhispower,thyperishingtownofMansoul。MyhearthasbeenoftenpainedwithinmeforthemiserabletownofMansoul;butnowitisrejoiced,butnowitisglad,’
  Andwiththatheleapedoverthemountainsforjoy,saying,’Ihavenot,inmyheart,thoughtanythingtoodearforMansoul:thedayofvengeanceisinmineheartforthee,myMansoul:andgladamIthatthou,myFather,hastmademetheCaptainoftheirsalvation。AndIwillnowbegintoplagueallthosethathavebeenaplaguetomytownofMansoul,andwilldeliveritfromtheirhand。’
  WhentheKing’sSonhadsaidthustohisFather,itpresentlyflewlikelightningroundaboutatcourt;yea,ittherebecametheonlytalkwhatEmmanuelwastogotodoforthefamoustownofMansoul。Butyoucannotthinkhowthecourtiers,too,weretakenwiththisdesignofthePrince;
  yea,soaffectedweretheywiththiswork,andwiththejustnessofthewar,thatthehighestlordandgreatestpeerofthekingdomdidcovettohavecommissionsunderEmmanuel,togotohelptorecoveragaintoShaddaithemiserabletownofMansoul。
  Thenwasitconcludedthatsomeshouldgoandcarrytidingstothecamp,thatEmmanuelwastocometorecoverMansoul,andthathewouldbringalongwithhimsomighty,soimpregnableaforce,thathecouldnotberesisted。But,oh!
  howreadywerethehighonesatcourttorunlikelackeystocarrythesetidingstothecampthatwasatMansoul。Now,whenthecaptainsperceivedthattheKingwouldsendEmmanuelhisSon,andthatitalsodelightedtheSontobesentonthiserrandbythegreatShaddaihisFather,theyalso,toshowhowtheywerepleasedatthethoughtsofhiscominggaveashoutthatmadetheearthrendatthesoundthereof。Yea,themountainsdidansweragainbyecho,andDiabolushimselfdidtotterandshake。
  Foryoumustknow,thatthoughthetownofMansoulitselfwasnotmuch,ifatallconcernedwiththeproject,(for,alasforthem!theywerewofullybesotted,fortheychieflyregardedtheirpleasureandtheirlusts,)yetDiabolustheirgovernorwas;forhehadhisspiescontinuallyabroad,whobroughthimintelligenceofallthings,andtheytoldhimwhatwasdoingatcourtagainsthim,andthatEmmanuelwouldshortlycertainlycomewithapowertoinvadehim。Norwasthereanymanatcourt,norpeerofthekingdom,thatDiabolussofearedashefearedthisPrince;for,ifyouremember,IshowedyoubeforethatDiabolushadfelttheweightofhishandalready;sothat,sinceitwashethatwastocome,thismadehimthemoreafraid。
  Well,youseehowIhavetoldyouthattheKing’sSonwasengagedtocomefromthecourttosaveMansoul,andthathisFatherhadmadehimtheCaptainoftheforces。Thetime,therefore,ofhissettingforthbeingnowexpired,headdressedhimselfforhismarch,andtakethwithhim,forhispower,fivenoblecaptainsandtheirforces。
  1。Thefirstwasthatfamouscaptain,thenobleCaptainCredence。Hisweretheredcolours,andMr。Promisebarethem;andforascutcheonhehadtheholylambandgoldenshield;andhehadtenthousandmenathisfeet。
  2。Thesecondwasthatfamouscaptain,theCaptainGood—Hope。
  Hiswerethebluecolours;hisstandard—bearerwasMr。
  Expectation,andforhisscutcheonhehadthethreegoldenanchors;andhehadtenthousandmenathisfeet。
  3。Thethirdwasthatvaliantcaptain,theCaptainCharity。
  Hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Pitiful:hiswerethegreencolours,andforhisscutcheonhehadthreenakedorphansembracedinthebosom;andhehadtenthousandmenathisfeet。
  4。Thefourthwasthatgallantcommander,theCaptainInnocent。Hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Harmless:hiswerethewhitecolours,andforhisscutcheonhehadthethreegoldendoves。
  5。Thefifthwasthetrulyloyalandwell—belovedcaptain,theCaptainPatience。Hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Suffer—
  Long:hisweretheblackcolours,andforascutcheonhehadthreearrowsthroughthegoldenheart。
  ThesewereEmmanuel’scaptains;thesetheirstandard—bearers,theircolours,andtheirscutcheons;andthesethemenundertheircommand。So,aswassaid,thebravePrincetookhismarchtogotothetownofMansoul。CaptainCredenceledthevan,andCaptainPatiencebroughtuptherear;sotheotherthree,withtheirmen,madeupthemainbody,thePrincehimselfridinginhischariotattheheadofthem。
  Butwhentheysetoutfortheirmarch,oh,howthetrumpetssounded,theirarmourglittered,andhowthecolourswavedinthewind!ThePrince’sarmourwasallofgold,anditshonelikethesuninthefirmament;thecaptains’armourwasofproof,andwasinappearanceliketheglitteringstars。
  TherewerealsosomefromthecourtthatrodereformadesforthelovethattheyhadtotheKingShaddai,andforthehappydeliveranceofthetownofMansoul。
  Emmanuelalso,whenhehadthussetforwardstogotorecoverthetownofMansoul,tookwithhim,atthecommandmentofhisFather,fifty—fourbattering—rams,andtwelveslingstowhirlstoneswithal。Everyoneofthesewasmadeofpuregold,andthesetheycarriedwiththem,intheheartandbodyoftheirarmy,allalongastheywenttoMansoul。
  Sotheymarchedtilltheycamewithinlessthanaleagueofthetown;theretheylaytillthefirstfourcaptainscamethithertoacquaintthemwithmatters。ThentheytooktheirjourneytogotothetownofMansoul,anduntoMansoultheycame;butwhentheoldsoldiersthatwereinthecampsawthattheyhadnewforcestojoinwith,theyagaingavesuchashoutbeforethewallsofthetownofMansoul,thatitputDiabolusintoanotherfright。Sotheysatdownbeforethetown,notnowastheotherfourcaptainsdid,towit,againstthegatesofMansoulonly;buttheyenvironeditroundoneveryside,andbesetitbehindandbefore;sothatnow,letMansoullookwhichwayitwill,itsawforceandpowerlieinsiegeagainstit。Besides,thereweremountscastupagainstit。TheMountGraciouswasontheoneside,andMountJusticewasontheother。Further,therewereseveralsmallbanksandadvance—grounds,asPlain—TruthHillandNo—SinBanks,wheremanyoftheslingswereplacedagainstthetown。
  UponMountGraciouswereplantedfour,anduponMountJusticewereplacedasmany,andtherestwereconvenientlyplacedinseveralpartsroundaboutthetown。Fiveofthebestbattering—rams,thatis,ofthebiggestofthem,wereplaceduponMountHearken,amountcastuphardbyEar—gate,withintenttobreakthatopen。
  Nowwhenthemenofthetownsawthemultitudeofthesoldiersthatwerecomeupagainsttheplace,andtheramsandslings,andthemountsonwhichtheywereplanted,togetherwiththeglitteringofthearmourandthewavingoftheircolours,theywereforcedtoshift,andshift,andagaintoshifttheirthoughts;buttheyhardlychangedforthoughtsmorestout,butratherforthoughtsmorefaint;forthoughbeforetheythoughtthemselvessufficientlyguarded,yetnowtheybegantothinkthatnomanknewwhatwouldbetheirhaporlot。
  WhenthegoodPrinceEmmanuelhadthusbeleagueredMansoul,inthefirstplacehehangsoutthewhiteflag,whichhecausedtobesetupamongthegoldenslingsthatwereplanteduponMountGracious。Andthishedidfortworeasons:1。TogivenoticetoMansoulthathecouldandwouldyetbegraciousiftheyturnedtohim。2。Andthathemightleavethemthemorewithoutexcuse,shouldhedestroythem,theycontinuingintheirrebellion。
  Sothewhiteflag,withthethreegoldendovesinit,washungoutfortwodaystogether,togivethemtimeandspacetoconsider;butthey,aswashintedbefore,asiftheywereunconcerned,madenoreplytothefavourablesignalofthePrince。
  Thenhecommanded,andtheysettheredflaguponthatmountcalledMountJustice。ItwastheredflagofCaptainJudgment,whosescutcheonwastheburningfieryfurnace;andthisalsostoodwavingbeforetheminthewindforseveraldaystogether。Butlookhowtheycarrieditunderthewhiteflag,whenthatwashungout,sodidtheyalsowhentheredonewas;andyethetooknoadvantageofthem。
  Thenhecommandedagainthathisservantsshouldhangouttheblackflagofdefianceagainstthem,whosescutcheonwasthethreeburningthunderbolts;butasunconcernedwasMansoulatthisasatthosethatwentbefore。ButwhenthePrincesawthatneithermercynorjudgment,norexecutionofjudgment,wouldorcouldcomeneartheheartofMansoul,hewastouchedwithmuchcompunction,andsaid,’SurelythisstrangecarriageofthetownofMansouldothratherarisefromignoranceofthemannerandfeatsofwar,thanfromasecretdefianceofus,andabhorrenceoftheirownlives;oriftheyknowthemannerofthewaroftheirown,yetnottheritesandceremoniesofthewarsinwhichweareconcerned,whenI
  makewarsuponmineenemyDiabolus。’
  ThereforehesenttothetownofMansoul,toletthemknowwhathemeantbythosesignsandceremoniesoftheflag;andalsotoknowofthemwhichofthethingstheywouldchoose,whethergraceandmercy,orjudgmentandtheexecutionofjudgment。Allthiswhiletheykepttheirgatesshutwithlocks,bolts,andbars,asfastastheycould。Theirguardsalsoweredoubled,andtheirwatchmadeasstrongastheycould。Diabolusalsodidpluckupwhathearthecould,toencouragethetowntomakeresistance。
  ThetownsmenalsomadeanswertothePrince’smessenger,insubstanceaccordingtothatwhichfollows:—
  ’GreatSir,—Astowhat,byyourmessenger,youhavesignifiedtous,whetherwewillacceptofyourmercy,orfallbyyourjustice,weareboundbythelawandcustomofthisplace,andcangiveyounopositiveanswer;foritisagainstthelaw,government,andtheprerogativeroyalofourking,tomakeeitherpeaceorwarwithouthim。Butthiswewilldo,—wewillpetitionthatourprincewillcomedowntothewall,andtheregiveyousuchtreatmentasheshallthinkfitandprofitableforus。’
  WhenthegoodPrinceEmmanuelheardthisanswer,andsawtheslaveryandbondageofthepeople,andhowmuchcontenttheyweretoabideinthechainsofthetyrantDiabolus,itgrievedhimattheheart;and,indeed,whenatanytimeheperceivedthatanywerecontentedundertheslaveryofthegiant,hewouldbeaffectedwithit。
  Buttoreturnagaintoourpurpose。AfterthetownhadcarriedthisnewstoDiabolus,andhadtoldhim,moreover,thatthePrince,thatlayintheleaguerwithoutthewall,waiteduponthemforananswer,herefused,andhuffedaswellashecould;butinhearthewasafraid。
  Thensaidhe,’Iwillgodowntothegatesmyself,andgivehimsuchananswerasIthinkfit。’SohewentdowntoMouth—gate,andthereaddressedhimselftospeaktoEmmanuel,(butinsuchlanguageasthetownunderstoodnot,)thecontentswhereofwereasfollows:—
  ’OthougreatEmmanuel,Lordofalltheworld,Iknowthee,thatthouarttheSonofthegreatShaddai!Whereforeartthoucometotormentme,andtocastmeoutofmypossession?
  ThistownofMansoul,asthouverywellknowest,ismine,andthatbyatwofoldright。1。Itisminebyrightofconquest;
  Iwonitintheopenfield;andshallthepreybetakenfromthemighty,orthelawfulcaptivebedelivered?2。ThistownofMansoulisminealsobytheirsubjection。Theyhaveopenedthegatesoftheirtownuntome;theyhaveswornfidelitytome,andhaveopenlychosenmetobetheirking;
  theyhavealsogiventheircastleintomyhands;yea,theyhaveputthewholestrengthofMansoulunderme。
  ’Moreover,thistownofMansoulhathdisavowedthee,yea,theyhavecastthylaw,thyname,thyimage,andallthatisthine,behindtheirback,andhaveacceptedandsetupintheirroommylaw,myname,myimage,andallthateverismine。Askelsethycaptains,andtheywilltelltheethatMansoulhath,inanswertoalltheirsummonses,shownloveandloyaltytome,butalwaysdisdain,despite,contempt,andscorntotheeandthine。Now,thouarttheJustOneandtheHoly,andshouldestdonoiniquity。Depart,then,Ipraythee,therefore,fromme,andleavemetomyjustinheritancepeaceably。’
  ThisorationwasmadeinthelanguageofDiabolushimself;
  foralthoughhecan,toeveryman,speakintheirownlanguage,(elsehecouldnottemptthemallashedoes,)yethehasalanguagepropertohimself,anditisthelanguageoftheinfernalcave,orblackpit。
  WhereforethetownofMansoul(poorhearts!)understoodhimnot;nordidtheyseehowhecrouchedandcringedwhilehestoodbeforeEmmanuel,theirPrince。
  Yea,theyallthiswhiletookhimtobeoneofthatpowerandforcethatbynomeanscouldberesisted。Wherefore,whilehewasthusentreatingthathemighthaveyethisresidencethere,andthatEmmanuelwouldnottakeitfromhimbyforce,theinhabitantsboastedevenofhisvalour,saying,’Whoisabletomakewarwithhim?’
  Well,whenthispretendedkinghadmadeanendofwhathewouldsay,Emmanuel,thegoldenPrince,stoodupandspake;
  thecontentsofwhosewordsfollow:—
  ’Thoudeceivingone,’saidhe,’Ihave,inmyFather’sname,inmineownname,andonthebehalfandforthegoodofthiswretchedtownofMansoul,somewhattosayuntothee。Thoupretendestaright,alawfulright,tothedeplorabletownofMansoul,whenitismostapparenttoallmyFather’scourtthattheentrancewhichthouhastobtainedinatthegatesofMansoulwasthroughthylieandfalsehood;thoubeliedstmyFather,thoubeliedsthislaw,andsodeceivedstthepeopleofMansoul。Thoupretendestthatthepeoplehaveacceptedtheefortheirking,theircaptain,andrightliegelord;butthatalsowasbytheexerciseofdeceitandguile。Now,iflying,wiliness,sinfulcraft,andallmannerofhorriblehypocrisy,willgoinmyFather’scourt(inwhichcourtthoumustbetried)forequityandright,thenwillIconfessuntotheethatthouhastmadealawfulconquest。But,alas!whatthief,whattyrant,whatdevilistherethatmaynotconquerafterthissort?ButIcanmakeitappear,ODiabolus,thatthou,inallthypretencestoaconquestofMansoul,hastnothingoftruthtosay。Thinkestthouthistoberight,thatthatdidstputthelieuponmyFather,andmadesthim(toMansoul)thegreatestdeluderintheworld?Andwhatsayestthoutothypervertingknowinglytherightpurportandintentofthelaw?WasitgoodalsothatthoumadestapreyoftheinnocencyandsimplicityofthenowmiserabletownofMansoul?Yea,thoudidstovercomeMansoulbypromisingtothemhappinessintheirtransgressionsagainstmyFather’slaw,whenthouknewest,andcouldestnotbutknow,hadstthouconsultednothingbutthineownexperience,thatthatwasthewaytoundothem。Thouhastalsothyself,Othoumasterofenmity,ofspitedefacedmyFather’simageinMansoul,andsetupthyowninitsplace,tothegreatcontemptofmyFather,theheighteningofthysin,andtotheintolerabledamageoftheperishingtownofMansoul。
  ’Thouhast,moreover,(asifallthesewerebutlittlethingswiththee,)notonlydeludedandundonethisplace,but,bythyliesandfradulentcarriage,hastsetthemagainsttheirowndeliverance。HowhastthoustirredthemupagainstmyFather’scaptains,andmadethemtofightagainstthosethatweresentofhimtodeliverthemfromtheirbondage!Allthesethings,andverymanymore,thouhastdoneagainstthylight,andincontemptofmyFatherandofhislaw,yea,andwithdesigntobringunderhisdispleasureforeverthemiserabletownofMansoul。IamthereforecometoavengethewrongthatthouhastdonetomyFather,andtodealwiththeefortheblasphemieswherewiththouhastmadepoorMansoulblasphemehisname。Yea,uponthyhead,thouprinceoftheinfernalcave,willIrequiteit。