Episode 62 of The Holy War by John Bunyan. The Diabolonians had written a letter to Diabolus and sent it by the hand of Mr. Profane. Delighted with their correspondence, the evil giant Diabolus sent Mr. Profane back to the Diabolonians with his reply. Therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, continues still to pry more into an endeavor to spy out the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We also desire that you yourselves attempt to weaken them more and more. Send us word also by whatever means you think we best attempt in regaining the town thereof. Namely, whether by persuasion to evade and lose life, or whether by tempting them to doubt and despair, or whether by blowing up of the town by the gunpowder of pride and self-conceit. Also, O you brave Diabolonians and true sons of the pit, be ready always to make a most hideous assault within when we are ready to storm it without. Now make haste in your project, as we will also in our desires, to the utmost power of our gates. This is the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy, as he who trembles when he thinks of judgment to come. All the blessings of the pit be upon you. And so we close our letter, given at the pit's mouth by the joint consent of all the princes of darkness to be sent to the force and power that we have yet remaining in Mansoul by the hand of Mr. Profane, by me, Diabolus. The letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul to the Diabolonians who still remained there and inhabited the wall from the dark dungeon of Diabolus by the hand of Mr. Profane, by whom they also in Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now, when this Mr. Profane returned and had come to Mansoul again, he went to the house of Mr. Mischief, as was his custom. For there was the gathering, being the place where the contrivers met. When they saw that their messenger returned safe and sound, they were greatly pleased. When he presented them with the letter he brought from Diabolus for them, the which, when they read and considered its contents, it increased their gladness. They asked him after the welfare of their friends, and how their Lord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub were with the rest of those of the den, to which this profane answered, Well, Well, my lords, they are well, even as well as can be in their place. They also, said he, rang the bell for joy after reading your letter, as you well perceived when you read the reply. Now, as was said, when they read their letter and realized it encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way of contriving again, namely, how they might complete their Diabolonian design upon Mansoul. And the first thing they agreed upon was to keep all things from Mansoul as much as they could. Let it not be known, let not Mansoul be acquainted with what we plan against it. The next thing was how or by what means they should try to bring to pass the ruin and overthrow of Mansoul. One said this and another said that. Then Mr. Deceit stood up and said, my right Diabolonian friends, our lords and high ones of the deep dungeon have proposed unto us these three possible ways. One, whether it was best for us to seek its ruin by making Mansoul loose and vain. Two, or whether it best to drive them to doubt and despair. Three, or whether it best to endeavor to blow them up by the gunpowder of pride and self-conceit. Take heed, Mansoul. Now, I think if we shall tempt them to pride, that that may do something. And if we tempt them to wantonness, that may help. But in my mind, if we could drive them into desperation, that would hit the nail on the head. For then, in the first place, we would have them question the truth of the love of the heart of their prince towards them. and that will disgust him greatly. This, if it works well, will cause them to stop sending petitions to him. Then goodbye earnest solicitations for help and supply. For then they will naturally come to this conclusion. May as well do nothing if we do it for no good reason. So to Mr. Deceit, they unanimously consented. Take heed, man's soul. Then the next question was, but how shall we bring this scheme to pass? This was answered by the same gentleman that this might be the best way to do it. Even let, said he, as many of our friends as are willing to venture themselves to promote their prince's cause disguise themselves with apparel, changing their names and go into the market like far countrymen. they can offer themselves as servants to the famous town of Mansoul, and let them pretend to do for their masters as beneficially as may be. For by doing so, if Mansoul shall hire them, in little time they may so corrupt and defile the corporation that our current prince shall not only be further offended by them, but he will eventually spit them out of his mouth. And when this is done, our Prince Diabolus shall prey upon them with ease. Yes, of themselves, they shall fall into the mouth of the eater. Take heed, Mansoul." This plan was no sooner proposed that it was as highly accepted, and all Diabolonians were now eager to engage in such a delicate enterprise. It was not, It was not thought suitable, however, that all should do this. Therefore they chose two or three, namely the Lord Covetousness, the Lord Lasciviousness, and the Lord Anger. The Lord Covetousness called himself by the name of Prudent Thrifty. The Lord Lasciviousness called himself by the name Harmless Mirth. And the Lord Anger called himself by the name of Good Zeal. Take heed, Mansoul. So upon a market day, they came into the marketplace. Three handsome fellows they were to look upon. They were clothed in rustic country clothes, which were also now in a manner as white as were white robes of the men of Mansoul. Now these men could speak the language of Mansoul well. So when they had come into the marketplace and offered themselves as servants to the townsmen, they were immediately taken up on their offer. For they asked very little wages and promised to do their master's great service, take heed, Mansoul. Mr. Mind hired Prudent Thrifty, and Mr. Godly Fear hired Good Zeal. True, this fellow harmless mirth had to hang around for a while because he could not get a master as soon as the others. Excuse me. For there was a long and sober religious observance in the town of Mansoul, but after a while, because their observance would be over, the Lord will be well hired Harmless Mirth to be both his butler and his messenger, and thus they got masters for themselves, take heed Mansoul." The take heed Mansoul was actually a note in the side of the original publishing where it was written on the side of the columns of the of the story, take heed, Mansoul, because this is where we need to pay attention of the corruptions that arise in the flesh. Also, when he mentioned the religious observance, this was also John Bunyan's knock at the Catholic Church, because he wrote down Lent, and Lent is a period before Passover where they're fasting for quite a long period of time. This is why, why, what was his name? Harmless mirth, you know, casual happiness. Harmless mirth would not have had somebody take over until after their fasting took place, their religious observance. Next paragraph, it says, these villains now having gotten this far into the houses of the men of Mansoul quickly began to do great mischief therein. For being filthy, cunning, and sly, they quickly corrupted the families where they were. Yes, they polluted their masters greatly, especially this prudent thrifty, and also one they called harmless mirth. True, he who went masked as good zeal was not as well liked by his master, because his master was godly fear. For he quickly found that he was just a counterfeit rascal. So when the fellow perceived his scam was discovered, he escaped speedily from the house. Or I doubt not that his master would have hanged him on the gallows. So he escaped from godly fear. Well, when these vagabonds had thus far carried out their plan and had corrupted the town as much as they could, the next thing they considered among themselves was what time their prince, Diabolus, outside the town should attempt to seize upon Mansoul while they themselves were still within. And they all agreed upon this, that a market day would be best for the work. Why? For then the townsfolk would be busy in their ways, and always take this for a rule. When people are most busy in the world, they least fear a surprise. We also then, said they, shall be able, with less suspicion too, be continued. Dun, dun, dun! Take heed, Mansel. But I thought I'd keep that in where in the margins, the publishers under John Bunyan's direction wrote, take heed, Mansoul, under every paragraph where there would be trouble to take heed, to take care, to be on the lookout for these things of the flesh that could rise up and steal our joy and deceive us.