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CHAPTER I
1. Now it came to' pass, when five score seven and ten moons had passed over his head, that they did place him, even Simplicitas, surnamed Mac — which being interpreted meaneth son of — Sporran, in a chariot of iron on the road that is called B'ee Arr.
2. Ami in the fullness of time did he come to the City of Dun, in the land of Cal; being the place where the road doth divide itself in twain, unto the uttermost ends of the land.
3. Then did he descend from the chariot, and it did depart, going exceeding swift; and Simplicitas did cast his eyes about him for to see where he was.
4. And lo! one in raiment of azure, a man of substance and portly, did approach unto him, and said:— "Art thou he for whom. I seek, even Simplicitas, the son of Sporran?"
5. Whereupon Simplicitas. being filled with wonder that one, a stranger, should speak his name, did answer "Aye"; and he did gaze upon him affrighted, for upon his garment did gleam two crowns of gold, being the emblems of the servants of the Kings o'f En.
6. And the knees of Simplicitas did knock erne against the other, for, he thought, of a surety this is the mighty chief who' doth govern the place of learning where I go; and at his feet shall I sit all the days of my youth, and wax wise by the words which shall fall from his mouth.
7. Then spake him of the azure garment:— "Ye'll juist cam wi' me"; and Simplicitas did gird up his loins, and did follow after him, and they departed and did pass through the streets of the city unto the north.
8. Then when the sun was high, came they to a mighty house, standing foursquare on a hill, and girded about with a wall, and all around did swarm a multitude of children whose nether garments were o'f a strange shape, being like unto the kirfcles of women, but pleated wondrously, short, and exceeding full.
9. These were the sons of the warriors of C'al, those who' had fallen in battle, and others, whom Simplicitasi came to join, and he gazed upon them, and was sore amazed at the number of them, and the mighty noise which they did make.
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26. Moreover he did bring him, even Simplicitas, where lay those stricken with divers' diseases, and lo! one clothed in white raiment, upon her head a mighty crown, exceeding white and dazzling.
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28. So he knew her to be a chieftainess, and he was sore amazed, and did get himi the wind up; his feet did lose their heat, and he would
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fain have cast himself upon his face and have bowed his head in the dust before her.
29. But lo! there was no dust where she was, and she commanded him, saying: "Oast off thy raiment that I may see what manner of boy thou art."
30. And she bade him to jump and to cough, to hop both upon the left foot and upon the right, and to say ninety and nine, and divers other things; for the rest is it not written in the Book of the Laws of the Aray Emess?
31. Around her were many phials and philtres, so that Simplicitas did know her to be a magician, mighty in the arts of physick, and his bowels did turn to water within him.
32. And when she commanded him that he should don his raiment, his going out from that place was quicker than his coming in.
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43. Now there arose the sound of a mighty trumpet, yea, a hefty blast; and upon the instant the sound of running feet, for the multitude of the children of the north did rush suddenly with one accord unto a place.
44. And Simplicitas was also there, whether
he would or no, for they did sweep him along with them, neither did his feet touch the ground; the chatter of many tongues did fill the place where they were, nor could they hear each other. but each and all did cry out with a loud voice.
45. Then came one bearing chevrons on his
arm, a beardless youth, and the hair of his head it did gleam with the shine that cometh from. the fat of the bear; the scent thereof did rise like Incense.
46. And behold; he spake in a mighty voice
like unto thunder, saying unto them':— "Shurrup!" and lo! they did shurrup; all of them that we're within that place, and there was a great calm.
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50. Then did he lead him (Simplicitas) in the
path which the multitudes bad trod, and they came unto a place where the soup did steam upon the platters, and the smell thereof did rise up, so that Simplicitas would fair. have filled his wam'e.
CHAPTER II
1. Now when the sun had gone down did Simplicitas awake him from slumber, and his
waking was of a sudden.
2. For of the children of the North, even the
Victor Yans, some did lay their heads on pillows of straw, hard and weighty.
3. And there came one, a sprightly youth, full of mischief, and carrying such a pillow, who did smite Simplicitas as he slumbered
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