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Chapter 4
1. Towards evening he entered the city—and the craftsmen gathered around him.
2. Now, he saw one who seemed very weary—and who walked barefoot in the mud.
3. He asked him, ‘What is your trade?’—and the craftsman answered, ‘I work ten hours a day making shoes.’
4. And he saw a woman whose eyes were red—who was dressed in mended rags.
5. He asked her, ‘And you, what do your do?’—She answered, ‘Day and night I sew for the big clothes manufacturers.’
6. Then he said to them, ‘When the Hour sounds, go from the suburbs to the center of the city;
7. ‘Open the stores and clothe yourselves without fear—however you want, for your hands have created them.
8. ‘But not like monkeys that they show in the circus—but how is suitable for reasonable men.’
9. Now, since night was coming, the people dispersed—but the homeless stayed with him crossing through the streets.
10. And they went through the large squares and the large avenues—full of monuments and grand palaces.
11. He asked, ‘Who sleeps in these enormous residences?’—and they answered, ‘No one,
12. ‘Because this is a church, that’s a courthouse—this is a government building and that’s a bank.’
13. So, he sat on a bench near the park and said, ‘Let’s sleep here’—but they warned him, ‘Friend, it’s forbidden.’
14. He repeated, ‘The foxes have their burrows and the crows their nests—but a man doesn’t know where to lay his head…
15. ‘When you finally hear the sounding of the Hour—invade these luxurious districts,
16. ‘Open these palaces and monuments—and come to live here without fear.
17. ‘For, it’s fitting that those who are homeless today—then have the most beautiful homes.’
18. But on the corner a prostitute called to him and said, ‘Come make love to me.’ And she wanted to drag him away.
19. But he said to her, ‘Your voice sounds false and your face is not sincere—I don’t want this love that you’re selling.’
20. Then the woman’s mask fell and she groaned, ‘I’m hungry and I have a young son whose father left—he’s hungry too…’
21. But he asked her, ‘Why don’t you work like the others—to earn your living for yourself and your child?’
22. She said, ‘Why?! They kicked me out of the factory when I became pregnant—and now I’m not used to working.
23. ‘And if you knew how they paid women’s work—you wouldn’t say such things to me.
24. ‘If you don’t want me, let me look for someone else—who will give me something to eat for tomorrow.’
25. Then he told her, ‘Woman, the Hour is going to sound—when you and your child can live without you selling false love.
26. ‘And moreover, no one will want false love—for true love will henceforth be free and open.’
27. –And he stayed there alone and thoughtful on the corner of the street—when an armed man who was watching came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder,
28. Saying to him, ‘You can’t stand here.’—But he asked him, ‘And who are you?’
29. The armed man answered, ‘I am the Night Watchman—and I’m doing my job, obeying the orders they gave me.
30. ‘Because in these palaces there is enormous wealth—and if thieves entered on my shift, I’d be sorely punished.’
31. But the man asked, ‘Is this wealth yours—or will they give you some of it?’
32. The man laughed and said, ‘I have nothing—except a petty wage.’
33. So the man said, ‘Thus a dog guards the wealth of its master—and he’s paid with a bone and lashing.’
Chapter 3 * Chapter 5
Black Lung
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