按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
against the Israelites； and sent to all their confederates that
they would go along with them to the war to Reggan； ＇near the
city Shunem；＇ whence they might gather themselves together； and
suddenly attack the Hebrews。 Then did Achish； the king of Gath；
desire David to assist them with his armed men against the
Hebrews。 This he readily promised； and said that the time was now
come wherein he might requite him for his kindness and
hospitality。 So the king promised to make him the keeper of his
body； after the victory； supposing that the battle with the enemy
succeeded to their mind； which promise of honor and confidence he
made on purpose to increase his zeal for his service。
2。 Now Saul； the king of the Hebrews； had cast out of the country
the fortune…tellers； and the necromancers； and all such as
exercised the like arts； excepting the prophets。 But when he
heard that the Philistines were already come； and had pitched
their camp near the city Shunem； situate in the plain； he made
haste to oppose them with his forces； and when he was come to a
certain mountain called Gilboa； he pitched his camp over…against
the enemy； but when he saw the enemy's army he was greatly
troubled； because it appeared to him to be numerous； and superior
to his own； and he inquired of God by the prophets concerning the
battle； that he might know beforehand what would be the event of
it。 And when God did not answer him； Saul was under a still
greater dread； and his courage fell； foreseeing； as was but
reasonable to suppose； that mischief would befall him； now God
was not there to assist him； yet did he bid his servants to
inquire out for him some woman that was a necromancer and called
up the souls of the dead； that So he might know whether his
affairs would succeed to his mind； for this sort of necromantic
women that bring up the souls of the dead； do by them foretell
future events to such as desire them。 And one of his servants
told him that there was such a woman in the city Endor； but was
known to nobody in the camp； hereupon Saul put off his royal
apparel； and took two of those his servants with him； whom he
knew to be most faithful to him； and came to Endor to the woman；
and entreated her to act the part of a fortune…teller； and to
bring up such a soul to him as he should name to her。 But when
the woman opposed his motion； and said she did not despise the
king； who had banished this sort of fortune…tellers； and that he
did not do well himself； when she had done him no harm； to
endeavor to lay a snare for her； and to discover that she
exercised a forbidden art； in order to procure her to be
punished； he sware that nobody should know what she did； and that
he would not tell any one else what she foretold； but that she
should incur no danger。 As soon as he had induced her by this
oath to fear no harm； he bid her bring up to him the soul of
Samuel。 She； not knowing who Samuel was； called him out of Hades。
When he appeared； and the woman saw one that was venerable； and
of a divine form； she was in disorder； and being astonished at
the sight； she said； 〃Art not thou king Saul？〃 for Samuel had
informed her who he was。 When he had owned that to be true； and
had asked her whence her disorder arose； she said that she saw a
certain person ascend； who in his form was like to a god。 And
when he bid her tell him what he resembled； in what habit he
appeared； and of what age he was； she told him he was an old man
already； and of a glorious personage； and had on a sacerdotal
mantle。 So the king discovered by these signs that he was Samuel；
and he fell down upon the ground； and saluted and worshipped him。
And when the soul of Samuel asked him why he had disturbed him；
and caused him to be brought up； he lamented the necessity he was
under； for he said； that his enemies pressed heavily upon him；
that he was in distress what to do in his present circumstances；
that he was forsaken of God； and could obtain no prediction of
what was coming； neither by prophets nor by dreams； and that
〃these were the reasons why I have recourse to time； who always
took great care of me。〃 But （27） Samuel； seeing that the end of
Saul's life was come； said； 〃It is in vain for thee to desire to
learn of me any thing future； when God hath forsaken thee：
however； hear what I say； that David is to be king； and to finish
this war with good success； and thou art to lose thy dominion and
thy life； because thou didst not obey God in the war with the
Amalekites； and hast not kept his commandments； as I foretold
thee while I was alive。 Know； therefore； that the people shall be
made subject to their enemies； and that thou； with thy sons；
shall fall in the battle tomorrow； and thou shalt then be with me
＇in Hades＇。〃
3。 When Saul heard this； he could not speak for grief； and fell
down on the floor； whether it were from the sorrow that arose
upon what Samuel had said； or from his emptiness； for he had
taken no food the foregoing day nor night； he easily fell quite
down： and when with difficulty he had recovered himself； the
woman would force him to eat； begging this of him as a favor on
account of her concern in that dangerous instance of
fortune…telling； which it was not lawful for her to have done；
because of the fear she was under of the king； while she knew not
who he was； yet did she undertake it； and go through with it； on
which account she entreated him to admit that a table and food
might be set before him； that he might recover his strength； and
so get safe to his own camp。 And when he opposed her motion； and
entirely rejected it； by reason of his anxiety； she forced him；
and at last persuaded him to it。 Now she had one calf that she
was very fond of； and one that she took a great deal of care of；
and fed it herself； for she was a woman that got her living by
the labor of her own hands； and had no other possession but that
one calf； this she killed； and made ready its flesh； and set it
before his servants and himself。 So Saul came to the camp while
it was yet night。
4。 Now it is but just to recommend the generosity of this woman；
（28） because when the king had forbidden her to use that art
whence her circumstances were bettered and improved； and when she
had never seen the king before； she still did not remember to his
disadvantage that he had condemned her sort of learning； and did
not refuse him as a stranger； and one that she had had no
acquaintance with； but she had compassion upon him； and comforted
him； and exhorted him to do what he was greatly averse to； and
offered him the only creature she had； as a poor woman； and that
earnestly； and with great humanity； while she had no requital
made her for her kindness； nor hunted after any future favor from
him； for she knew he was to die； whereas men are naturally either
ambitious to please those that bestow benefits upon them； or are
very ready to serve those from whom
they may receive some advantage。 It would be well therefore to
imitate the example and to do kindnesses to all such as are in
want and to think that nothing is better； nor more becoming
mankind； than such a general beneficence； nor what will sooner
render God favorable； and ready to bestow good things upon us。
And so far may suffice to have spoken concerning this woman。 But
I shall speak further upon another subject； which will afford me
all opportunity of discoursing on what is for the advantage of
cities； and people； and nations； and suited to the taste of good
men； and will encourage them all in the prosecution of virtue；
and is capable of showing them the of acquiring glory； and an
everlasting fame； and of imprinting in the kings of nations； and
the rulers of cities； great inclination and diligence of doing
well； as also of encouraging them to undergo dangers； and to die
for their countries； and of instructing them how to despise all
the most terrible adversities： and I have a fair occasion offered
me to enter on such a discourse by Saul the king of the Hebrews；
for although he knew what was coming upon him； and that he was to
die immediately； by the prediction of the prophet； he did not
resolve to fly from death； nor so far to indulge the love of life
as to betray his own people to the enemy； or to bring a disgrace
on his royal dignity； but exposing himself； as well as all his
family and children； to dangers； he thought it a brave thing to
fall together with them； as he was fighting for his subjects； and
that it was better his sons should die thus； showing their
courage； than to leave them to their uncertain conduct afterward；
while； instead of succession and posterity； they gained
commendation and a lasting name。 Such a one alone seems to me to
be a just； a courageous； and a prudent man； and when any one has
arrived at these dispositions； or shall hereafter arrive at them；
he is the man that ought to be by all honored with the testimony
of a virtuous or courageous man： for as to those that go out to
war with hopes of success； and that they shall return safe；
supposing they should have performed some glorious action； I
think those do not do well who call these valiant men； as so many
historians and other writers who treat of them are won