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CHAPTER 4

Melph writes some final thoughts. He meets Moroni. Decides Nephites are okay. Forgives the Three Nephites for killing his father. Hires them to perform magic at his casino - disguised as Lamanites. They do tricks like catch arrows in their mouths. The Three Nephite's freak show is very popular among the Lamanites. The Three Nephites get rich from their show, and save their money. Melph also gets rich and spends his money. Melph and The Three Nephites become best friends.  [About 400 A.D.]

1. And now I, Melph, shall finish the account of my life by saying a few more things that I think would be good to say.

2. Now it came to pass that one day as I prepared to close my casino for the night, yea, a stranger entered, and desired a drink before departing on his journey.

3. And because I be in a good mood, I let him come in, and did serveth him a drink. And the stranger wore a robe, even with a hood that did conceal much of his face. And I asked him what it was he desired to drink, wine or other strong drink?

4. And the stranger replied: Nay, giveth unto me grape juice, for I drinketh not wine nor strong drink, and I desire to drink grape juice before departing on my journey.

5. And it came to pass that I did pour some grape juice into a glass and gaveth it unto the stranger. And I beheld his concealed face, and beheld that he haddest a beard, and he did havest dark skin, even exceedingly dark, even as if he did paint it dark to conceal his whiteness.

6. And I spake unto him: Behold, stranger, where art thou going?

7. And the stranger replied: Verily I say unto thee, I embark upon a long journey, for I have a package to deliver.

8. And it came to pass that the stranger held up a bundle, and the bundle had the appearance of exceeding heaviness, for the stranger's muscles strained exceedingly to heft the bundle. And I asked what be in the bundle, but the stranger said he could reveal not the contents, for they are sacred.

9. And I beheld a white spot on his arm, yea, even a spot of much whiteness, even a spot which the stranger missed when he painted himself brown. Wherefore, I think this stranger to be a Nephite, yea, even did I suspect him to be Moroni, the king of spades. Nevertheless, I spake not these things unto him, for Moroni desired to escape from this land, and I desired to stop him not, for I tired of war and contention, and Moroni had not an ally in all the land, and was no threat unto me.

10. And it came to pass that after the manner in which the stranger, whom I suspect to be Moroni, did finish his grape juice, he spake unto me: Verily I say unto thee, thanks for the drink, what do I owest thee?

11. And I replied: Behold, 'tis on the house.

12. And Moroni thanked me exceedingly for my hospitality, and departed from my casino, and embarked on his journey into the wilderness.

13. And it came to pass that a few days after the visit of Moroni, yea, I haddest even more Nephite guests, for the Three Nephites came upon my casino, yea, even to apologize unto me for my father's death. And the one who did accidentally slay my father bade me to forgive him, for he had a heavy heart and a contrite spirit for the thing he did.

14. And I spake unto the Nephite to worry not about it, for it was an accident. And I spake unto him that I apologized for my anger, and for my violent threats unto them the day my father did perish. Nevertheless, I inquired how they had traveled about without attracting Lamanites, for all Nephites are to be hunted down and killed, according to the laws of the Lamanites.

15. And the Three Nephites spake that they are exceedingly skilled in the art of hiding.

16. And I spake that I blame them not for my father's death, and I spake unto the Three Nephites about the mysterious Nephite in disguise. And after the manner in which I described the stranger in great detail, and did say I suspect the stranger to be Moroni, yea, the Three Nephites did agree with mine assessment that the stranger be Moroni, for they spake unto Moroni last week, and he sayeth that he must to go on a long journey to deposit the Nephite record so as the gospel shall be restored upon the land.

17. And I replied that Moroni said not what his journey was about, for he sayeth unto me that his journey was too sacred to speak of.

18. And after the manner in which I sayeth these things unto the three Nephites, behold the Nephites did change their story about Moroni depositing the Nephite record so as the restored gospel shall come forth, yea, even do the three Nephites now say that they know not why Moroni doth journey far away.

19. And it came to pass that because the Three Nephites had no friends in all the land, and not anywhere to go, and because they shall live for an exceedingly long time, and because the Lamanites desire to hunt and kill all Nephites, yea, I spake unto the Three Nephites, even did I make unto them an offer. And the offer I did make was to lettest them hide themselves within my casino if they agree to perform magic tricks for me, even to replace my mother. And because I am a goodly employer, yea, I did offer to pay unto them exceedingly much money to perform magic for my customers.

20. And the Three Nephites, being religious men, spake that they practiced not priestcraft, for it is an abomination to their god to accept money. And I replied that they shall not perform priestcraft, only shall they show off their immortality, yea, even shall they do things such as wrestle alligators and swallow flaming torches and so forth. And the Lamanites shall pay much for such things, for the Lamanites know not the Three Nephite's havest the gift of not dying, and shall be exceedingly impressed with their tricks, even shall the Lamanites enjoy freak shows, and pay much to see them.

21. And one of the Three Nephites spake unto me and said: Behold, none shall desire to see Nephites perform tricks, for the Lamanites doth hate Nephites, and thy Lamanite customers shall desire to slay us. And because the Lamanites lack civility, yea, even do they know not how to be reverent, they shall riot at the site of us, and they shall burn down thy casino, and kill thee for employing Nephites.

22. And because I thinketh of this issue already, yea, I did already think up a plan, and I spake unto the Three Nephites: Behold, I did already thinketh up a plan, yea, even shall ye disguise thyselves as Lamanites, even with brown paint. And ye shall be the Three Lamanites when ye doth perform. And when the Lamanite customers depart from the casino at night, and I do close, yea, then shall ye remove thy disguises and be the Three Nephites again, even shall ye be Nephites while hiding out. And I shall let ye live in the secret room, and hide there, and none shall detect thee.

23. And it came to pass that the Three Nephites huddled together, and did havest a counsel, even to discuss my offer. And after the manner in which they did discuss my offer, yea, they spake that my idea was an exceedingly goodly idea, even did they accept my offer.

24. Nevertheless, the Three Nephites desired to only hide within my casino during the reign of the Lamanites. But yea, the Three Nephites desired to leave after the reign of the Lamanites doth end. For in one-thousand years more white men shall come to this land, and they shall prepare this land for the coming forth of the restored gospel, for Moroni did prophecy these things before he departeth on his journey. And the Three Nephites shall be needed to assist the white men.

25. And I spake unto the Three Nephites, and said that since I will give up the ghost before that time, it shall be okay.

26. And it came to pass that the Three Nephites and I did liveth many years within the casino, and the Three Nephites were known throughout the land as the Three Lamanites. And many Lamanites did come upon my casino, yea, even multitudes of Lamanites did come, and they beheld The Three Lamanites (who are really the Three Nephites in brown paint.) And The Three Lamanites performed much exciting entertainment, even a freak show, even did they walk over red-hot coals, and drive stakes through their necks, and catch arrows with their mouths, and wrestle alligators and wolves, and they did eat fire, and swallow swords, and handle poisonous snakes, even did they put their heads inside a curelom's mouth.

27. And the Lamanite customers enjoyed exceedingly the Three Lamanite's act, and the customers did pay exceedingly much money to see them, and the customers tossed much tips on stage, even much gold, and silver, and precious things, and they drinketh much wine, and getteth exceedingly drunk.

28. And it came to pass that after many years, yea, the Three Nephites haddest exceeding wealth. And they did save their wealth, yea, even did they save their wealth for the coming forth of the restored gospel, which shall come to pass in over one-thousand years.

29. And also I haddest exceeding wealth, even do I have exceeding wealth, from the profits of mine casino, and I spend my profits on much fine apparel, and an exceedingly impressive chariot, and I did build golden walls in my bed chambers, yea, even to impress women. And I am exceedingly wealthy, and engulfed in wealth, even do I havest much pride in my success and desire exceedingly to show it off. For I have not the gift of immortality, wherefore, I must enjoy life now.

30. And I liveth the good life with my friends, the Three Nephites, for they are my best friends, and we do live the good life together, yea, even is there much light mindedness and loud laughter in my casino.

31. And I shall now seal up my father's abridgment of the Lamanite record. And I do finish my writings, even the account of the Lamanites, upon these leather plates, which are bound together by three rings in book format. And I shall place this leather book upon my bookshelf, and I shall retire to bed, for a Lamanite woman of exceeding beauty doth await me.

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