Now, upon a time, Emmanuel made a feast for the town of Mansoul; and upon the feasting-day the townsfolk were come to the castle to partake of his banquet; and he feasted them with all manner of outlandish food;—­food that grew not in the fields of Mansoul; nor in all the whole Kingdom of Universe; it was food that came from his Father’s court.  And so there was dish after dish set before them, and they were commanded freely to eat.  But still, when a fresh dish was set before them, they would whisperingly say to each other, ‘What is it?’ for they wist not what to call it.  They drank also of the water that was made wine, and were very merry with him.  There was music also all the while at the table; and man did eat angels’ food, and had honey given him out of the rock.  So Mansoul did eat the food that was peculiar to the court; yea, they had now thereof to the full.

I must not forget to tell you, that as at this table there were musicians, so they were not those of the country, nor yet of the town of Mansoul; but they were the masters of the songs that were sung at the court of Shaddai.

Now, after the feast was over, Emmanuel was for entertaining the town of Mansoul with some curious riddles of secrets drawn up by his Father’s secretary, by the skill and wisdom of Shaddai; the like to these there is not in any kingdom.  These riddles were made upon the King Shaddai himself, and upon Emmanuel his Son, and upon his wars and doings with Mansoul.

Emmanuel also expounded unto them some of those riddles himself; but, oh! how they were lightened!  They saw what they never saw; they could not have thought that such rarities could have been couched in so few and such ordinary words.  I told you before, whom these riddles did concern; and as they were opened, the people did evidently see it was so.  Yea, they did gather that the things themselves were a kind of a portraiture, and that of Emmanuel himself; for when they read in the scheme where the riddles were writ, and looked in the face of the Prince, things looked so like the one to the other, that Mansoul could not forbear but say, ’This is the lamb! this is the sacrifice! this is the rock! this is the red cow! this is the door! and this is the way!’ with a great many other things more.

And thus he dismissed the town of Mansoul.  But can you imagine how the people of the corporation were taken with this entertainment!  Oh! they were transported with joy, they were drowned with wonderment, while they saw and understood, and considered what their Emmanuel entertained them withal, and what mysteries he opened to them.  And when they were at home in their houses, and in their most retired places, they could not but sing of him and of his actions.  Yea, so taken were the townsmen now with their Prince, that they would sing of him in their sleep.

Now, it was in the heart of the Prince Emmanuel to new-model the town of Mansoul, and to put it into such a condition as might be most pleasing to him, and that might best stand with the profit and security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul.  He provided also against insurrections at home, and invasions from abroad, such love had he for the famous town of Mansoul.