’For,’quoththeoldgentleman,’youareallofyousensiblethatweallhavebeentraitorstothatoncedespised,butnowfamouslyvictoriousandgloriousPrinceEmmanuel;forhenow,asyousee,dothnotonlylieinclosesiegeaboutus,buthathforcedhisentranceinatourgates。Moreover,Diabolusfleesbeforehim;andhehath,asyoubehold,madeofmyhouseagarrisonagainstthecastlewhereheis。I,formypart,havetransgressedgreatly,andhethatisclean,itiswellforhim。ButIsayIhavetransgressedgreatlyinkeepingsilencewhenIshouldhavespoken,andinpervertingjusticewhenIshouldhaveexecutedthesame。True,IhavesufferedsomethingatthehandofDiabolusfortakingpartwiththelawsofKingShaddai;butthat,alas!whatwillthatdo?WillthatmakecompensationfortherebellionsandtreasonsthatIhavedone,andhavesufferedwithoutgainsayingtobecommittedinthetownofMansoul?Oh!I
trembletothinkwhatwillbetheendofthissodreadfulandsoirefulabeginning!’
Now,whilethesebravecaptainswerethusbusyinthehouseoftheoldRecorder,CaptainExecutionwasasbusyinotherpartsofthetown,insecuringthebackstreetsandthewalls。HealsohuntedtheLordWillbewillsorely;hesufferedhimnottorestinanycorner;hepursuedhimsohardthathedrovehismenfromhim,andmadehimgladtothrusthisheadintoahole。AlsothismightywarriordidcutthreeoftheLordWillbewill’sofficersdowntotheground:onewasoldMr。Prejudice,hethathadhiscrowncrackedinthemutiny。ThismanwasmadebyLordWillbewillkeeperoftheEar—gate,andfellbythehandofCaptainExecution。TherewasalsooneMr。Backward—to—all—but—
naught,andhealsowasoneofLordWillbewill’sofficers,andwasthecaptainofthetwogunsthatonceweremountedonthetopofEar—gate;healsowascutdowntothegroundbythehandsofCaptainExecution。Besidesthesetwotherewasanother,athird,andhisnamewasCaptainTreacherous;avilemanthiswas,butonethatWillbewilldidputagreatdealofconfidencein;buthimalsodidthisCaptainExecutioncutdowntothegroundwiththerest。
HealsomadeaverygreatslaughteramongmyLordWillbewill’ssoldiers,killingmanythatwerestoutandsturdy,andwoundingmanythatforDiaboluswerenimbleandactive。ButallthesewereDiabolonians;therewasnotaman,anativeofMansoul,hurt。
Otherfeatsofwarwerealsolikewiseperformedbyotherofthecaptains,asatEye—gate,whereCaptainGood—HopeandCaptainCharityhadacharge,wasgreatexecutiondone;fortheCaptainGood—Hope,withhisownhands,slewoneCaptainBlindfold,thekeeperofthatgate。ThisBlindfoldwascaptainofathousandmen,andtheyweretheythatfoughtwithmauls;healsopursuedhismen,slewmany,andwoundedmore,andmadetheresthidetheirheadsincorners。
TherewasalsoatthatgateMr。Ill—Pause,ofwhomyouhaveheardbefore。Hewasanoldman,andhadabeardthatreacheddowntohisgirdle:thesamewashethatwasoratortoDiabolus:hedidmuchmischiefinthetownofMansoul,andfellbythehandofCaptainGood—Hope。
WhatshallIsay?TheDiaboloniansinthesedayslaydeadineverycorner,thoughtoomanyyetwerealiveinMansoul。
Now,theoldRecorderandmyLordUnderstanding,withsomeothersofthechiefofthetown,towit,suchasknewtheymuststandandfallwiththefamoustownofMansoul,cametogetheruponaday,andafterconsultationhad,didjointlyagreetodrawupapetition,andtosendittoEmmanuel,nowwhilehesatinthegateofMansoul。SotheydrewuptheirpetitiontoEmmanuel,thecontentswhereofwerethese:Thatthey,theoldinhabitantsofthenowdeplorabletownofMansoul,confessedtheirsin,andweresorrythattheyhadoffendedhisprincelyMajesty,andprayedthathewouldsparetheirlives。
Untothispetitionhegavenoansweratall,andthatdidtroublethemyetsomuchthemore。Now,allthiswhilethecaptainsthatwereintheRecorder’shousewereplayingwiththebattering—ramsatthegatesofthecastle,tobeatthemdown。Soaftersometime,labour,andtravail,thegateofthecastlethatwascalledImpregnablewasbeatenopen,andbrokenintoseveralsplinters,andsoawaymadetogouptotheholdinwhichDiabolushadhidhimself。ThenweretidingssentdowntoEar—gate,forEmmanuelstillabodethere,tolethimknowthatawaywasmadeinatthegatesofthecastleofMansoul。But,oh!howthetrumpetsatthetidingssoundedthroughoutthePrince’scamp,forthatnowthewarwassonearanend,andMansoulitselfofbeingsetfree。
ThenthePrincearosefromtheplacewherehewas,andtookwithhimsuchofhismenofwaraswerefittestforthatexpedition,andmarchedupthestreetofMansoultotheoldRecorder’shouse。
Now,thePrincehimselfwascladallinarmourofgold,andsohemarchedupthetownwithhisstandardbornebeforehim;
buthekepthiscountenancemuchreservedallthewayashewent,sothatthepeoplecouldnottellhowtogathertothemselvesloveorhatredbyhislooks。Now,ashemarchedupthestreet,thetownsfolkcameoutateverydoortosee,andcouldnotbutbetakenwithhispersonandtheglorythereof,butwonderedatthereservednessofhiscountenance;
forasyethespakemoretothembyhisactionsandworksthanhedidbywordsorsmiles。ButalsopoorMansoul,(asinsuchcasesallareapttodo,)theyinterpretedthecarriageofEmmanueltothemasdidJoseph’sbrethrenhistothem,evenallthequitecontraryway。’For,’thoughtthey,’ifEmmanuellovedus,hewouldshowittousbywordofcarriage;butnoneofthesehedoth,thereforeEmmanuelhatesus。Now,ifEmmanuelhatesus,thenMansoulshallbeslain,thenMansoulshallbecomeadunghill。’TheyknewthattheyhadtransgressedhisFather’slaw,andthatagainsthimtheyhadbeeninwithDiabolus,hisenemy。TheyalsoknewthatthePrinceEmmanuelknewallthis;fortheywereconvincedthathewasanangelofGod,toknowallthingsthataredoneintheearth;andthismadethemthinkthattheirconditionwasmiserable,andthatthegoodPrincewouldmakethemdesolate。
’And,’thoughtthey,’whattimesofittodothisinasnow,whenhehasthebridleofMansoulinhishand?’AndthisI
tookspecialnoticeof,thattheinhabitants,notwithstandingallthis,couldnot—no,theycouldnot,whentheyseehimmarchthroughthetown,butcringe,bow,bend,andwerereadytolickthedustofhisfeet。TheyalsowishedathousandtimesoverthathewouldbecometheirPrinceandCaptain,andwouldbecometheirprotection。Theywouldalsoonetoanothertalkofthecomelinessofhisperson,andhowmuchforgloryandvalourheoutstrippedthegreatonesoftheworld。But,poorhearts,astothemselves,theirthoughtswouldchance,andgouponallmannerofextremes。Yea,throughtheworkingofthembackwardandforward,Mansoulbecameasaballtossed,andasarollingthingbeforethewhirlwind。
Now,whenhewascometothecastlegates,hecommandedDiabolustoappear,andtosurrenderhimselfintohishands。
But,oh!howloathwasthebeasttoappear!howhestuckatit!howheshrank!howhecringed!yetouthecametothePrince。ThenEmmanuelcommanded,andtheytookDiabolusandboundhimfastinchains,thebettertoreservehimtothejudgmentthathehadappointedforhim。ButDiabolusstooduptoentreatforhimselfthatEmmanuelwouldnotsendhimintothedeep,butsufferhimtodepartoutofMansoulinpeace。
WhenEmmanuelhadtakenhimandboundhiminchains,heledhimintothemarketplace,andthere,beforeMansoul,strippedhimofhisarmourinwhichheboastedsomuchbefore。ThisnowwasoneoftheactsoftriumphofEmmanueloverhisenemy;andallthewhilethatthegiantwasstripping,thetrumpetsofthegoldenPrincedidsoundamain;thecaptainsalsoshouted,andthesoldiersdidsingforjoy。
ThenwasMansoulcalledupontobeholdthebeginningofEmmanuel’striumphoverhiminwhomtheysomuchhadtrusted,andofwhomtheysomuchhadboastedinthedayswhenheflatteredthem。
ThushavingmadeDiabolusnakedintheeyesofMansoul,andbeforethecommandersofthePrince,inthenextplace,hecommandsthatDiabolusshouldbeboundwithchainstohischariotwheels。Thenleavingsomeofhisforces,towit,CaptainBoanergesandCaptainConviction,asaguardforthecastle—gates,thatresistancemightbemadeonhisbehalf,(ifanythatheretoforefollowedDiabolusshouldmakeanattempttopossessit,)hedidrideintriumphoverhimquitethroughthetownofMansoul,andsooutatandbeforethegatecalledEye—gate,totheplainwherehiscampdidlie。
Butyoucannotthink,unlessyouhadbeenthere,asIwas,whatashouttherewasinEmmanuel’scampwhentheysawthetyrantboundbythehandoftheirnoblePrince,andtiedtohischariotwheels!
Andtheysaid,’Hehathledcaptivitycaptive,hehathspoiledprincipalitiesandpowers。Diabolusissubjectedtothepowerofhissword,andmadetheobjectofallderision。’
Thosealsothatrodereformades,andthatcamedowntoseethebattle,theyshoutedwiththatgreatnessofvoice,andsungwithsuchmelodiousnotes,thattheycausedthemthatdwellinthehighestorbstoopentheirwindows,putouttheirheads,andlooktoseethecauseofthatglory。
Thetownsmenalso,somanyofthemassawthissight,were,asitwere,whiletheylooked,betwixttheearthandtheheavens。True,theycouldnottellwhatwouldbetheissueofthingsastothem;butallthingsweredoneinsuchexcellentmethods,andIcannottellhow,butthingsinthemanagementofthemseemedtocastasmiletowardsthetown,sothattheireyes,theirheads,theirhearts,andtheirminds,andallthattheyhad,weretakenandheldwhiletheyobservedEmmanuel’sorder。
So,whenthebravePrincehadfinishedthispartofhistriumphoverDiabolushisfoe,heturnedhimupinthemidstofhiscontemptandshame,havinggivenhimachargenomoretobeapossessorofMansoul。ThenwenthefromEmmanuel,andoutofthemidstofhiscamp,toinherittheparchedplacesinasaltland,seekingrest,butfindingnone。
Now,CaptainBoanergesandCaptainConvictionwere,bothofthem,menofverygreatmajesty;theirfaceswerelikethefacesoflions,andtheirwordsliketheroaringofthesea;
andtheystillquarteredinMr。Conscience’shouse,ofwhommentionwasmadebefore。When,therefore,thehighandmightyPrincehadthusfarfinishedhistriumphoverDiabolus,thetownsmenhadmoreleisuretoviewandtobeholdtheactionsofthesenoblecaptains。Butthecaptainscarrieditwiththatterroranddreadinallthattheydid,(andyoumaybesurethattheyhadprivateinstructionssotodo,)thattheykeptthetownundercontinualheart—aching,andcaused(intheirapprehension)thewell—beingofMansoulforthefuturetohangindoubtbeforethem,sothatforsomeconsiderabletimetheyneitherknewwhatrest,orease,orpeace,orhopemeant。
NordidthePrincehimselfasyetabideinthetownofMansoul,butinhisroyalpavilioninthecamp,andinthemidstofhisFather’sforces。So,atatimeconvenient,hesentspecialorderstoCaptainBoanergestosummonsMansoul,thewholeofthetownsmen,intothecastle—yard,andthenandthere,beforetheirfaces,totakemyLordUnderstanding,Mr。
Conscience,andthatnotableone,theLordWillbewill,andputthemallthreeinward,andthattheyshouldsetastrongguarduponthemthere,untilhispleasureconcerningthemwasfurtherknown:thewhichorders,whenthecaptainshadputtheminexecution,madenosmalladditiontothefearsofthetownofMansoul;fornow,totheirthinking,weretheirformerfearsoftheruinofMansoulconfirmed。Now,whatdeaththeyshoulddie,andhowlongtheyshouldbeindying,wasthatwhichmostperplexedtheirheadsandhearts;yea,theywereafraidthatEmmanuelwouldcommandthemallintothedeep,theplacethattheprinceDiaboluswasafraidof,fortheyknewthattheyhaddeservedit。Alsotodiebytheswordinthefaceofthetown,andintheopenwayofdisgrace,fromthehandofsogoodandsoholyaprince,that,too,troubledthemsore。Thetownwasalsogreatlytroubledforthementhatwerecommittedtoward,forthattheyweretheirstayandtheirguide,andforthattheybelievedthat,ifthosemenwerecutoff,theirexecutionwouldbebutthebeginningoftheruinofthetownofMansoul。Wherefore,whatdothey,but,togetherwiththemeninprison,drawupapetitiontothePrince,andsentittoEmmanuelbythehandofMr。Would—live。Sohewent,andcametothePrince’squarters,andpresentedthepetition,thesumofwhichwasthis:
’GreatandwonderfulPotentate,victoroverDiabolus,andconquerorofthetownofMansoul,We,themiserableinhabitantsofthatmostwofulcorporation,dohumblybegthatwemayfindfavourinthysight,andremembernotagainstusformertransgressions,noryetthesinsofthechiefofourtown:butspareusaccordingtothegreatnessofthymercy,andletusnotdie,butliveinthysight。Soshallwebewillingtobethyservants,and,ifthoushaltthinkfit,togatherourmeatunderthytable。Amen。’
Sothepetitionerwent,aswassaid,withhispetitiontothePrince;andthePrincetookitathishand,butsenthimawaywithsilence。ThisstillafflictedthetownofMansoul;butyet,consideringthatnowtheymusteitherpetitionordie,fornowtheycouldnotdoanythingelse,thereforetheyconsultedagain,andsentanotherpetition;andthispetitionwasmuchaftertheformandmethodoftheformer。
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Butwhenthepetitionwasdrawnup,Bywhomshouldtheysendit?wasthenextquestion;fortheywouldnotsendthisbyhimbywhomtheysentthefirst,fortheythoughtthatthePrincehadtakensomeoffenceatthemannerofhisdeportmentbeforehim:sotheyattemptedtomakeCaptainConvictiontheirmessengerwithit;buthesaidthatheneitherdurstnorwouldpetitionEmmanuelfortraitors,norbetothePrinceanadvocateforrebels。’Yetwithal,’saidhe,’ourPrinceisgood,andyoumayadventuretosenditbythehandofoneofyourtown,providedhewentwitharopeabouthishead,andpleadednothingbutmercy。’
Well,theymade,throughfear,theirdelaysaslongastheycould,andlongerthandelaysweregood;butfearingatlastthedangerousnessofthem,theythought,butwithmanyafaintingintheirminds,tosendtheirpetitionbyMr。
Desires—awake;sotheysentforMr。Desires—awake。NowhedweltinaverymeancottageinMansoul,andhecameathisneighbour’srequest。Sotheytoldhimwhattheyhaddone,andwhattheywoulddo,concerningpetitioning,andthattheydiddesireofhimthathewouldgotherewithtothePrince。
ThensaidMr。Desires—awake,’WhyshouldnotIdothebestI
cantosavesofamousatownasMansoulfromdeserveddestruction?’Theythereforedeliveredthepetitiontohim,andtoldhimhowhemustaddresshimselftothePrince,andwishedhimtenthousandgoodspeeds。SohecomestothePrince’spavilion,asthefirst,andaskedtospeakwithhisMajesty。SowordwascarriedtoEmmanuel,andthePrincecameouttotheman。WhenMr。Desires—awakesawthePrince,hefellflatwithhisfacetotheground,andcriedout,’OhthatMansoulmightlivebeforethee!’andwiththathepresentedthepetition;thewhichwhenthePrincehadread,heturnedawayforawhileandwept;butrefraininghimself,heturnedagaintotheman,whoallthiswhilelaycryingathisfeet,asatthefirst,andsaidtohim,’Gothywaytothyplace,andIwillconsiderofthyrequests。’
Now,youmaythinkthattheyofMansoulthathadsenthim,whatwithguilt,andwhatwithfearlesttheirpetitionshouldberejected,couldnotbutlookwithmanyalonglook,andthat,too,withstrangeworkingsofheart,toseewhatwouldbecomeoftheirpetition。Atlasttheysawtheirmessengercomingback。So,whenhewascome,theyaskedhimhowhefared,whatEmmanuelsaid,andwhatwasbecomeofthepetition。ButhetoldthemthathewouldbesilenttillhecametotheprisontomyLordMayor,myLordWillbewill,andMr。Recorder。Sohewentforwardstowardstheprison—house,wherethemenofMansoullaybound。But,oh!whatamultitudeflockedafter,tohearwhatthemessengersaid。
So,whenhewascome,andhadshownhimselfatthegateoftheprison,myLordMayorhimselflookedaswhiteasaclout;
theRecorderalsodidquake。Buttheyaskedandsaid,’Come,goodsir,whatdidthegreatPrincesaytoyou?’ThensaidMr。Desires—awake,’WhenIcametomyLord’spavilion,I
called,andhecameforth。SoIfellprostrateathisfeet,anddeliveredtohimmypetition;forthegreatnessofhisperson,andthegloryofhiscountenance,wouldnotsuffermetostanduponmylegs。Now,ashereceivedthepetition,I
cried,"OhthatMansoulmightlivebeforethee!"So,whenforawhilehehadlookedthereon,heturnedhimabout,andsaidtohisservant,"Gothywaytothyplaceagain,andI
willconsiderofthyrequests。"’Themessengeradded,moreover,andsaid,’ThePrincetowhomyousentmeissuchaoneforbeautyandglory,thatwhososeeshimmustbothloveandfearhim。I,formypart,candonoless;butIknownotwhatwillbetheendofthesethings。’
Atthisanswertheywereallatastand,boththeyinprison,andtheythatfollowedthemessengerthithertohearthenews;norknewtheywhat,orwhatmannerofinterpretationtoputuponwhatthePrincehadsaid。Now,whentheprisonwasclearedofthethrong,theprisonersamongthemselvesbegantocommentuponEmmanuel’swords。MyLordMayorsaid,thattheanswerdidnotlookwitharuggedface;butWillbewillsaidthatitbetokenedevil;andtheRecorder,thatitwasamessengerofdeath。Now,theythatwereleft,andthatstoodbehind,andsocouldnotsowellhearwhattheprisonerssaid,someofthemcatchedholdofonepieceofasentence,andsomeonabitofanother;sometookholdofwhatthemessengersaid,andsomeoftheprisoners’judgmentthereon;
sononehadtherightunderstandingofthings。Butyoucannotimaginewhatworkthesepeoplemade,andwhataconfusiontherewasinMansoulnow。
Forpresentlytheythathadheardwhatwassaidflewaboutthetown,onecryingonething,andanotherthequitecontrary;andbothweresureenoughtheytoldtrue;fortheydidhear,theysaid,withtheirearswhatwassaid,andthereforecouldnotbedeceived。Onewouldsay,’Wemustallbekilled;’anotherwouldsay,’Wemustallbesaved;’andathirdwouldsaythatthePrincewouldnotbeconcernedwithMansoul;andafourth,thattheprisonersmustbesuddenlyputtodeath。And,asIsaid,everyonestoodtoitthathetoldhistaletherightest,andthatallothersbuthewereout。WhereforeMansoulhadnowmolestationuponmolestation,norcouldanymanknowonwhattorestthesoleofhisfoot;
foronewouldgobynow,andashewent,ifheheardhisneighbourtellhistale,tobesurehewouldtellthequitecontrary,andbothwouldstandinitthathetoldthetruth。
Nay,someofthemhadgotthisstorybytheend,thatthePrincedidintendtoputMansoultothesword。Andnowitbegantobedark,whereforepoorMansoulwasinsadperplexityallthatnightuntilthemorning。
But,sofarasIcouldgatherbythebestinformationthatI
couldget,allthishubbubcamethroughthewordsthattheRecordersaidwhenhetoldthemthat,inhisjudgment,thePrince’sanswerwasamessengerofdeath。Itwasthisthatfiredthetown,andthatbeganthefrightinMansoul;forMansoulinformertimesdidusetocountthatMr。Recorderwasaseer,andthathissentencewasequaltothebestoforators;andthuswasMansoulaterrortoitself。
Andnowdidtheybegintofeelwhatweretheeffectsofstubbornrebellion,andunlawfulresistanceagainsttheirPrince。Isay,theynowbegantofeeltheeffectsthereofbyguiltandfear,thatnowhadswallowedthemup;andwhomoreinvolvedintheonebuttheythatweremostintheother,towit,thechiefofthetownofMansoul?
Tobebrief:whenthefameofthefrightwasoutofthetown,andtheprisonershadalittlerecoveredthemselves,theytaketothemselvessomeheart,andthinktopetitionthePrinceforlifeagain。Sotheydiddrawupathirdpetition,thecontentswhereofwerethese:—
’PrinceEmmanueltheGreat,Lordofallworlds,andMasterofmercy,we,thypoor,wretched,miserable,dyingtownofMansoul,doconfessuntothygreatandgloriousMajestythatwehavesinnedagainstthyFatherandthee,andarenomoreworthytobecalledthyMansoul,butrathertobecastintothepit。Ifthouwiltslayus,wehavedeservedit。Ifthouwiltcondemnustothedeep,wecannotbutsaythouartrighteous。Wecannotcomplainwhateverthoudost,orhoweverthoucarriestittowardsus。But,oh!letmercyreign,andletitbeextendedtous!Oh!letmercytakeholduponus,andfreeusfromourtransgressions,andwewillsingofthymercyandofthyjudgment。Amen。’
Thispetition,whendrawnup,wasdesignedtobesenttothePrinceasthefirst。Butwhoshouldcarryit?—thatwasthequestion。Somesaid,’Lethimdoitthatwentwiththefirst,’butothersthoughtnotgoodtodothat,andthatbecausehespednobetter。Now,therewasanoldmaninthetown,andhisnamewasMr。Good—Deed;amanthatbareonlythename,buthadnothingofthenatureofthething。Now,somewereforsendinghim;buttheRecorderwasbynomeansforthat。’For,’saidhe,’wenowstandinneedof,andarepleadingformercy:wherefore,tosendourpetitionbyamanofthisname,willseemtocrossthepetitionitself。ShouldwemakeMr。Good—Deedourmessenger,whenourpetitioncriesformercy?
’Besides,’quoththeoldgentleman,’shouldthePrincenow,ashereceivesthepetition,askhim,andsay,"Whatisthyname?"asnobodyknowsbuthewill,andheshouldsay,"OldGood—Deed,"what,thinkyou,wouldEmmanuelsaybutthis?
"Ay!isoldGood—DeedyetaliveinMansoul?thenletoldGood—Deedsaveyoufromyourdistresses。"Andifhesaysso,Iamsurewearelost;norcanathousandofoldGood—DeedssaveMansoul。’
AftertheRecorderhadgiveninhisreasonswhyoldGood—DeedshouldnotgowiththispetitiontoEmmanuel,therestoftheprisonersandchiefofMansoulopposeditalso,andsooldGood—Deedwaslaidaside,andtheyagreedtosendMr。
Desires—awakeagain。Sotheysentforhim,anddesiredhimthathewouldasecondtimegowiththeirpetitiontothePrince,andhereadilytoldthemhewould。ButtheybidhimthatinanywiseheshouldtakeheedthatinnowordorcarriagehegaveoffencetothePrince;’Forbydoingso,foroughtwecantell,youmaybringMansoulintoutterdestruction,’saidthey。
NowMr。Desires—awake,whenhesawthathemustgoonthiserrand,besoughtthattheywouldgrantthatMr。Wet—Eyesmightgowithhim。NowthisMr。Wet—EyeswasanearneighbourofMr。Desires,apoorman,amanofabrokenspirit,yetonethatcouldspeakwelltoapetition;sotheygrantedthatheshouldgowithhim。Wherefore,theyaddressthemselvestotheirbusiness:Mr。Desiresputaropeuponhishead,andMr。Wet—Eyeswentwithhishandswringingtogether。
ThustheywenttothePrince’spavilion。
Now,whentheywenttopetitionthisthirdtime,theywerenotwithoutthoughtsthat,byoftencoming,theymightbeaburdentothePrince。Wherefore,whentheywerecometothedoorofhispavilion,theyfirstmadetheirapologyforthemselves,andfortheircomingtotroubleEmmanuelsooften;andtheysaid,thattheycamenothitherto—dayforthattheydelightedinbeingtroublesome,orforthattheydelightedtohearthemselvestalk,butforthatnecessitycausedthemtocometohisMajesty。Theycould,theysaid,havenorestdaynornightbecauseoftheirtransgressionsagainstShaddaiandagainstEmmanuel,hisSon。TheyalsothoughtthatsomemisbehaviourofMr。Desires—awakethelasttimemightgivedistastetohisHighness,andsocausethathereturnedfromsomercifulaPrinceempty,andwithoutcountenance。So,whentheyhadmadethisapology,Mr。
Desires—awakecasthimselfprostrateupontheground,asatthefirst,atthefeetofthemightyPrince,saying,’Oh!
thatMansoulmightlivebeforethee!’andsohedeliveredhispetition。ThePrincethen,havingreadthepetition,turnedasideawhileasbefore,andcomingagaintotheplacewherethepetitionerlayontheground,hedemandedwhathisnamewas,andofwhatesteemintheaccountofMansoul,forthathe,aboveallthemultitudeinMansoul,shouldbesenttohimuponsuchanerrand。ThensaidthemantothePrince,’OhletnotmyLordbeangry;andwhyinquirestthouafterthenameofsuchadeaddo—asIam?Passby,Ipraythee,andtakenotnoticeofwhoIam,becausethereis,asthouverywellknowest,sogreatadisproportionbetweenmeandthee。
WhythetownsmenchosetosendmeonthiserrandtomyLordisbestknowntothemselves,butitcouldnotbeforthattheythoughtthatIhadfavourwithmyLord。Formypart,I
amoutofcharitywithmyself;who,then,shouldbeinlovewithme?YetliveIwould,andsowouldIthatmytownsmenshould;andbecauseboththeyandmyselfareguiltyofgreattransgressions,thereforetheyhavesentme,andIamcomeintheirnamestobegofmyLordformercy。Letitpleasethee,therefore,toinclinetomercy;butasknotwhatthyservantsare。’
ThensaidthePrince,’Andwhatishethatisbecomethycompanioninthissoweightyamatter?’SoMr。DesirestoldEmmanuelthathewasapoorneighbourofhis,andoneofhismostintimateassociates。’Andhisname,’saidhe,’mayitpleaseyourmostexcellentMajesty,isWet—Eyes,ofthetownofMansoul,Iknowthattherearemanyofthatnamethatarenaught;butIhopeitwillbenooffencetomyLordthatI
havebroughtmypoorneighbourwithme。’
ThenMr。Wet—Eyesfellonhisfacetotheground,andmadethisapologyforhiscomingwithhisneighbourtohisLord:—
’O,myLord,’quothhe,’whatIamIknownotmyself,norwhethermynamebefeignedortrue,especiallywhenIbegintothinkwhatsomehavesaid,namely,ThatthisnamewasgivenmebecauseMr。Repentancewasmyfather。Goodmenhavebadchildren,andthesinceredooftentimesbegethypocrites。
Mymotheralsocalledmebythisnamefromthecradle;butwhetherbecauseofthemoistnessofmybrain,orbecauseofthesoftnessofmyheart,Icannottell。Iseedirtinmineowntears,andfilthinessinthebottomofmyprayers。ButI
praythee(andallthiswhilethegentlemanwept)thatthouwouldestnotrememberagainstusourtransgressions,nortakeoffenceattheunqualifiednessofthyservants,butmercifullypassbythesinofMansoul,andrefrainfromtheglorifyingofthygracenolonger。’
Soathisbiddingtheyarose,andbothstoodtremblingbeforehim,andhespaketothemtothispurpose:—
"ThetownofMansoulhathgrievouslyrebelledagainstmyFather,inthattheyhaverejectedhimfrombeingtheirKing,anddidchoosetothemselvesfortheircaptainaliar,amurderer,andarunagateslave。ForthisDiabolus,yourpretendedprince,thoughoncesohighlyaccountedofbyyou,maderebellionagainstmyFatherandme,eveninourpalaceandhighestcourtthere,thinkingtobecomeaprinceandking。Butbeingtheretimelydiscoveredandapprehended,andforhiswickednessboundinchains,andseparatedtothepitwiththosethatwerehiscompanions,heofferedhimselftoyou,andyouhavereceivedhim。
’Nowthisis,andforalongtimehathbeen,ahighaffronttomyFather;whereforemyFathersenttoyouapowerfularmytoreduceyoutoyourobedience。Butyouknowhowthesemen,theircaptainsandtheircounsels,wereesteemedofyou,andwhattheyreceivedatyourhand。Yourebelledagainstthem,youshutyourgatesuponthem,youbidthembattle,youfoughtthem,andfoughtforDiabolusagainstthem。SotheysenttomyFatherformorepower,andI,withmymen,arecometosubdueyou。Butasyoutreatedtheservants,soyoutreatedtheirLord。Youstoodupinhostilemanneragainstme,youshutupyourgatesagainstme,youturnedthedeafeartome,andresistedaslongasyoucould;butnowIhavemadeaconquestofyou。Didyoucrymemercysolongasyouhadhopesthatyoumightprevailagainstme?ButnowIhavetakenthetown,youcry;butwhydidyounotcrybefore,whenthewhiteflagofmymercy,theredflagofjustice,andtheblackflagthatthreatenedexecution,weresetuptociteyoutoit?NowIhaveconqueredyourDiabolus,youcometomeforfavour;butwhydidyounothelpmeagainstthemighty?
YetIwillconsideryourpetition,andwillansweritsoaswillbeformyglory。
’Go,bidCaptainBoanergesandCaptainConvictionbringtheprisonersouttomeintothecampto—morrow,andsayyoutoCaptainJudgmentandCaptainExecution,"Stayyouinthecastle,andtakegoodheedtoyourselvesthatyoukeepallquietinMansouluntilyoushallhearfurtherfromme。"’Andwiththatheturnedhimselffromthem,andwentintohisroyalpavilionagain。
Sothepetitioners,havingreceivedthisanswerfromthePrince,returned,asatthefirst,togototheircompanionsagain。Buttheyhadnotgonefar,butthoughtsbegantoworkintheirmindsthatnomercyasyetwasintendedbythePrincetoMansoul。Sotheywenttotheplacewheretheprisonerslaybound;buttheseworkingsofmindaboutwhatwouldbecomeofMansoulhadsuchstrongpoweroverthem,thatbythattheywerecomeuntothemthatsentthem,theywerescarceabletodelivertheirmessage。
Buttheycameatlengthtothegatesofthetown,(nowthetownsmenwithearnestnesswerewaitingfortheirreturn,)
wheremanymetthem,toknowwhatanswerwasmadetothepetition。Thentheycriedouttothosethatweresent,’WhatnewsfromthePrince?andwhathathEmmanuelsaid?’Buttheysaidthattheymust,asafore,gouptotheprison,andtheredelivertheirmessage。Soawaytheywenttotheprison,withamultitudeattheirheels。Now,whentheywerecometothegatesoftheprison,theytoldthefirstpartofEmmanuel’sspeechtotheprisoners,towit,howhereflectedupontheirdisloyaltytohisFatherandhimself,andhowtheyhadchosenandclosedwithDiabolus,hadfoughtforhim,hearkenedtohim,andbeenruledbyhim;buthaddespisedhimandhismen。
第7章