Liber I Regum

Fugit autem David de Najoth, quæ est in Ramatha, veniensque locutus est coram Jonatha: Quid feci? quæ est iniquitas mea, et quod peccatum meum in patrem tuum, quia quærit animam meam?

But David fled from Najoth, which is in Ramatha, and came and said to Jonathan: What have I done? what is my iniquity, and what is my sin against thy father, that he seeketh my life?

Davide autem fuge de Naioth, que es in Ramatha, et veniente locuto es coram Ionatha: quid fac? Que es iniquitate meo, et quod peccato meo in patre tuo, quia quaere anima meo?

Qui dixit ei: Absit, non morieris: neque enim faciet pater meus quidquam grande vel parvum, nisi prius indicaverit mihi: hunc ergo celavit me pater meus sermonem tantummodo? nequaquam erit istud.

And he said to him: (God forbid, thou shalt not die: for my father will do nothing, great or little, without first telling me: hath then my father hid this word only from me? no, this shall not be.

Qui dic ad illo: abes, non more: neque nam patre meo ullo grandi vel minimo i fac, nisi ante indica ad me: hoc ergo patre meo cela me sermone tantummodo? Nequaquam isto es.

Et juravit rursum Davidi. Et ille ait: Scit profecto pater tuus quia inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, et dicet: Nesciat hoc Jonathas, ne forte tristetur. Quinimmo vivit Dominus, et vivit anima tua, quia uno tantum (ut ita dicam) gradu ego morsque dividimur.

And he swore again to David. And David said: Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, and he will say: Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me and death.

Et iura iterum ad Davidio. Et illo dic: patre profecto tuo sci quia inveni gratia in oculos tuo, et dic: Ionathase ne sci hoc, ne forte trista. Quisnimmo Domino vive, et anima tuo vive, quia uno tanto (ut ita dic) gradu me et morte divide.

Et ait Jonathas ad David: Quodcumque dixerit mihi anima tua, faciam tibi.

And Jonathan said to David: Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee.

Et Ionathase dic ad Davide: anima tuo ad me dic omni, fac ad te.

Dixit autem David ad Jonathan: Ecce calendæ sunt crastino, et ego ex more sedere soleo juxta regem ad vescendum: dimitte ergo me ut abscondar in agro usque ad vesperam diei tertiæ.

And David said to Jonathan: Behold to morrow is the new moon, and I, according to custom, am wont to sit beside the king to eat: let me go then that I may be hid in the field till the evening of the third day.

Davide autem dic ad Ionathane: ecce cale es crastino, et me ex more sede sole juxta rege ad vesce: remitte ergo me ut absconde in agro usque ad vespera de die de tertio.

Si respiciens requisierit me pater tuus, respondebis ei: Rogavit me David ut iret celeriter in Bethlehem civitatem suam, quia victimæ solemnes ibi sunt universis contribulibus suis.

If thy father look and inquire for me, thou shalt answer him: David asked me that he might run to Bethlehem, his own city: because there are solemn sacrifices there for all of his tribe.

Si respice patre tuo require me, responde ad illo: Davide roga me ut i celeriter in Bethleheme civitate suo, quia victimas solemne ibi es universa contribules suo.

Si dixerit: Bene: pax erit servo tuo. Si autem fuerit iratus, scito quia completa est malitia ejus.

If he shall say: It is well: thy servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, know that his malice is come to its height.

Si dic: bene: pace es ad servo tuo. Si autem es irascor, sci quia comple es malitia de illo.

Fac ergo misericordiam in servum tuum, quia fœdus Domini me famulum tuum tecum inire fecisti: si autem est iniquitas aliqua in me, tu me interfice, et ad patrem tuum ne introducas me.

Deal mercifully then with thy servant: for thou hast brought me, thy servant, into a covenant of the Lord with thee. But if there be any iniquity in me, do thou kill me, and bring me not in to thy father.

Fac ergo misericordia in servo tuo, quia foedere de Domino me famulo tuo tecum intra fac: si autem iniquitate aliquo es in me, te interfice me, et ad patre tuo ne introduce me.

Et ait Jonathas: Absit hoc a te: neque enim fieri potest, ut si certe cognovero completam esse patris mei malitiam contra te, non annuntiem tibi.

And Jonathan said: Far be this from thee: for if I should certainly know that evil is determined by my father against thee, I could do no otherwise than tell thee.

Et Ionathase dic: hoc abes ab te: neque nam fieri pote, ut si certe cognosce comple es de patre meo malitia contra te, non annuntia ad te.

Responditque David ad Jonathan: Quis renuntiabit mihi, si quid forte responderit tibi pater tuus dure de me?

And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy father should answer thee harshly concerning me?

Et Davide responde ad Ionathane: qui renuntia ad me, si patre forte tuo ad te responde quid dure de me?

Et ait Jonathas ad David: Veni, et egrediamur foras in agrum. Cumque exissent ambo in agrum,

And Jonathan said to David: Come, and let us go out into the field. And when they were both of them gone out into the field,

Et Ionathase dic ad Davide: venie, et egredior foras in agro. Cumque ambo exi in agro,

ait Jonathas ad David: Domine Deus Israël, si investigavero sententiam patris mei crastino vel perendie, et aliquid boni fuerit super David, et non statim misero ad te, et notum tibi fecero,

Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall discover my father's mind, to morrow, or the day after, and there be any thing good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make it known to thee,

Dic Ionathase ad Davide: domino Deo Israële, si investiga sententia de patre meo crastino vel perendi, et aliquo de bono es super Davide, et non statim mitte ad te, et noto ad te fac,

hæc faciat Dominus Jonathæ, et hæc addat. Si autem perseveraverit patris mei malitia adversum te, revelabo aurem tuam, et dimittam te, ut vadas in pace, et sit Dominus tecum, sicut fuit cum patre meo.

May the Lord do so and so to Jonathan, and add still more. But if my father shall continue in malice against thee, I will discover it to thy ear, and will send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace, and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

Domino que fac hoc de Ionatha, et hoc adde. Si autem persevera de patre meo malitia contra te, revela aure tuo, et dimitte te, ut vade in pace, et es Domino tecum, sicut es cum patre meo.

Et si vixero, facies mihi misericordiam Domini: si vero mortuus fuero,

And if I live, thou shalt shew me the kindness of the Lord: but if I die,

Et si vive, fac ad me misericordia de Domino: si vero morto es,

non auferes misericordiam tuam a domo mea usque in sempiternum, quando eradicaverit Dominus inimicos David, unumquemque de terra: auferat Jonathan de domo sua, et requirat Dominus de manu inimicorum David.

Thou shalt not take away thy kindness from my house for ever, when the Lord shall have rooted out the enemies of David, every one of them from the earth, may he take away Jonathan from his house, and may the Lord require it at the hands of David's enemies.

Non aufer misericordia tuo ab domo meo usque in sempiterno, quando eradica Domino inimicos Davide, et unumquem de terra: aufer Ionathane de domo suo, et Domino require de manu de inimicos Davide.

Pepigit ergo Jonathas fœdus cum domo David: et requisivit Dominus de manu inimicorum David.

Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David's enemies.

Ionathase ergo pepega foedere cum domo Davide: et Domino require de manu de inimicos Davide.

Et addidit Jonathas dejerare David, eo quod diligeret illum: sicut enim animam suam, ita diligebat eum.

And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.

Et Ionathase adde deiera Davide, eo quod dilige illo: sicut nam anima suo, ita dilige illo.

Dixitque ad eum Jonathas: Cras calendæ sunt, et requireris:

And Jonathan said to him: To morrow is the new moon, and thou wilt be missed:

Et Ionathase ad illo dic: cras cale es, et require:

requiretur enim sessio tua usque perendie. Descendes ergo festinus, et venies in locum ubi celandus es in die qua operari licet, et sedebis juxta lapidem cui nomen est Ezel.

For thy seat will be empty till after to morrow. So thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou must he hid, on the day when it is lawful to work, and thou shalt remain beside the stone, which is called Ezel.

Sessione nam tuo require usque perendi. Descende ergo festino, et veni in loco ubi cela es in die quo operor lice, et sede juxta lapide ad que nomine es Ezele.

Et ego tres sagittas mittam juxta eum, et jaciam quasi exercens me ad signum.

And I will shoot three arrows near it, and will shoot as if I were exercising myself at a mark.

Et me mitte tre sagittate juxta illo, et iace quasi exerce me ad signo.

Mittam quoque et puerum, dicens ei: Vade, et affer mihi sagittas.

And I will send a boy, saying to him: Go and fetch me the arrows.

Mitte etiam et puero, dicente ad illo: vade, et ad-fer ad me sagittates.

Si dixero puero: Ecce sagittæ intra te sunt, tolle eas: tu veni ad me, quia pax tibi est, et nihil est mali, vivit Dominus. Si autem sic locutus fuero puero: Ecce sagittæ ultra te sunt: vade in pace, quia dimisit te Dominus.

If I shall say to the boy: Behold the arrows are on this side of thee, take them up: come thou to me, because there is peace to thee, and there is no evil, as the Lord liveth. But if I shall speak thus to the boy: Behold the arrows are beyond thee: go in peace, for the Lord hath sent thee away.

Si dic ad puero: ecce sagittas intra te es, tolle illas: te veni ad me, quia pace ad te es, et nihil es de malo, Domino vive. Si autem sic locuto es ad puero: ecce sagittas ultra te es: vade in pace, quia Domino remitte te.

De verbo autem quod locuti sumus ego et tu, sit Dominus inter me et te usque in sempiternum.

And concerning the word which I and thou have spoken, the Lord be between thee and me forever.

De verbo autem quod loque es me et te, es Domino inter me et te usque in sempiterno.

Absconditus est ergo David in agro, et venerunt calendæ, et sedit rex ad comedendum panem.

So David was hid in the field, and the new moon came, and the king sat down to eat bread.

Absconditus es ergo Davide in agro, et veni cale, et rege sede ad comede pane.

Cumque sedisset rex super cathedram suam (secundum consuetudinem) quæ erat juxta parietem, surrexit Jonathas, et sedit Abner ex latere Saul: vacuusque apparuit locus David.

And when the king sat down upon his chair, (according to custom) which was beside the wall, Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place appeared empty.

Cumque rege sede super cathedra suo (secundo consuetudine) que es juxta pariete, Ionathase surge, et Abnro sede ex latere Saulo: et vacuo loco Davide appare.

Et non est locutus Saul quidquam in die illa: cogitabat enim quod forte evenisset ei, ut non esset mundus, nec purificatus.

And Saul said nothing that day, for he thought it might have happened to him, that he was not clean, nor purified.

Et non es locuto Saulo ullo in die illa: cogita nam quod forte eveni ad illo, ut non mundo es, nec purifica.

Cumque illuxisset dies secunda post calendas, rursus apparuit vacuus locus David. Dixitque Saul ad Jonathan filium suum: Cur non venit filius Isai nec heri nec hodie ad vescendum?

And when the second day after the new moon was come, David's place appeared empty again. And Saul said to Jonathan, his son: Why cometh not the son of Isai to meat neither yesterday, nor to day?

Cumque die secundo illucesce post cale, iterum vacuo loco Davide appare. Et dic Saulo ad Ionathane filio suo: quare non filio Isa veni nec heri nec hodie ad vesce?

Responditque Jonathas Sauli: Rogavit me obnixe ut iret in Bethlehem,

And Jonathan answered Saul: He asked leave of me earnestly to go to Bethlehem.

Et Ionathase de Saule responde: roga me obnixe ut i in Bethleheme,

et ait: Dimitte me, quoniam sacrificium solemne est in civitate, unus de fratribus meis accersivit me: nunc ergo si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, vadam cito, et videbo fratres meos. Ob hanc causam non venit ad mensam regis.

And he said: Let me go, for there is a solemn sacrifice in the city, one of my brethren hath sent for me: and now if I have found favour in thy eyes, I will go quickly, and see my brethren. For this cause he came not to the king's table.

Et dic: remitte me, quia sacrificio solemne es in civitate, uno de fratres meo accerga me: nunc ergo si inveni gratia in oculos tuo, vade cito, et vide fratres meo. Ob hoc causa non veni ad mensa de rege.

Iratus autem Saul adversum Jonathan, dixit ei: Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis, numquid ignoro quia diligis filium Isai in confusionem tuam, et in confusionem ignominiosæ matris tuæ?

Then Saul being angry against Jonathan, said to him: Thou son of a woman that is the ravisher of a man, do I not know that thou lovest the son of Isai to thy own confusion, and to the confusion of thy shameless mother?

Irato autem Saulo contra Ionathane, dic ad illo: filio de muliere viro ultro rape, numquid ignora quia dilige filio Isa in confusione tuo, et in confusione ignominioso de matre tuo?

Omnibus enim diebus quibus filius Isai vixerit super terram, non stabilieris tu, neque regnum tuum. Itaque jam nunc mitte, et adduc eum ad me: quia filius mortis est.

For as long as the son of Isai liveth upon earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Therefore now presently send, and fetch him to me: for he is the son of death.

Ad omni nam dies ad que filio Isa vive super terra, non te stabili, neque regno tuo. Itaque jam nunc mitte, et adduce illo ad me: quia filio de morte es.

Respondens autem Jonathas Sauli patri suo, ait: Quare morietur? quid fecit?

And Jonathan answering Saul, his father, said: Why shall he die? What hath he done?

Respondente autem Ionathase ad Saule ad patre suo, dic: quare more? Quid fac?

Et arripuit Saul lanceam ut percuteret eum. Et intellexit Jonathas quod definitum esset a patre suo, ut interficeret David.

And Saul caught up a spear to strike him. And Jonathan understood that it was determined by his father to kill David.

Et Saulo arripie lancea ut percute illo. Et Ionathase quod definie es ab patre suo intellege, ut interfice Davide.

Surrexit ergo Jonathas a mensa in ira furoris, et non comedit in die calendarum secunda panem. Contristatus est enim super David, eo quod confudisset eum pater suus.

So Jonathan rose from the table in great anger, and did not eat bread on the second day after the new moon. For he was grieved for David, because his father had put him to confusion.

Ionathase ergo surge ab mensa in ira de furore, et non comede in die cale secundo pane. Contrista es nam super Davide, eo quod patre suo confunde illo.

Cumque illuxisset mane, venit Jonathas in agrum juxta placitum David, et puer parvulus cum eo.

And when the morning came, Jonathan went into the field according to the appointment with David, and a little boy with him.

Cumque illucesce mane, Ionathase veni in agro juxta place Davide, et puero parvulo cum eo.

Et ait ad puerum suum: Vade, et affer mihi sagittas quas ego jacio. Cumque puer cucurrisset, jecit aliam sagittam trans puerum.

And he said to his boy: Go, and fetch me the arrows which I shoot. And when the boy ran, he shot another arrow beyond the boy.

Et dic ad puero suo: vade, et ad-fer ad me sagittates me iace que. Cumque puero curre, ice alio sagitta trans puero.

Venit itaque puer ad locum jaculi quod miserat Jonathas: et clamavit Jonathas post tergum pueri, et ait: Ecce ibi est sagitta porro ultra te.

The boy therefore came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot: and Jonathan cried after the boy, and said: Behold the arrow is there further beyond thee.

Puero itaque veni ad loco de iaculo Ionathase mitte quod: et Ionathase clama post tergo de puero, et dic: ecce ibi es sagitta porro ultra te.

Clamavitque iterum Jonathas post tergum pueri, dicens: Festina velociter, ne steteris. Collegit autem puer Jonathæ sagittas, et attulit ad dominum suum:

And Jonathan cried again after the boy, saying: Make haste speedily, stand not. And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and brought them to his master:

Et Ionathase iterum clama post tergo de puero, dicente: festina velociter, ne sta. Puero autem de Ionatha collige sagittates, et ad-fer ad domino suo:

et quid ageretur, penitus ignorabat, tantummodo enim Jonathas et David rem noverant.

And he knew not at all what was doing: for only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

Et quid age, penitus Ionathase, tantummodo nam et Davide ignora re nosce.

Dedit ergo Jonathas arma sua puero, et dixit ei: Vade, et defer in civitatem.

Jonathan therefore gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: Go, and carry them into the city.

Ionathase ergo da armas suo ad puero, et dic ad illo: vade, et defer in civitate.

Cumque abiisset puer, surrexit David de loco qui vergebat ad austrum, et cadens pronus in terram, adoravit tertio: et osculantes se alterutrum, fleverunt pariter, David autem amplius.

And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which was toward the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored thrice: and kissing one another, they wept together; but David more.

Cumque puero i ab, Davide surge de loco qui verge ad austro, et cade prono in terra, adora tertio: et oscula se alterutra, Davide pariter, autem fle ample.

Dixit ergo Jonathas ad David: Vade in pace: quæcumque juravimus ambo in nomine Domini, dicentes: Dominus sit inter me et te, et inter semen meum et semen tuum usque in sempiternum.

And Jonathan said to David: Go in peace: and let all stand that we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying: The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.

Ionathase ergo dic ad Davide: vade in pace: ambo iura omni in nomine de Domino, dicente: domino es inter me et te, et inter semine meo et semine tuo usque in sempiterno.

Et surrexit David, et abiit: sed et Jonathas ingressus est civitatem.

And David arose, and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

Et Davide surge, et i ab: sed et Ionathase ingredior es civitate.