Liber II Regum

Intelligens autem Joab filius Sarviæ quod cor regis versum esset ad Absalom,

And Joab the son of Sarvia, understanding that the king's heart was turned to Absalom,

Intellige autem Ioabe filio de Sarvia quod corde de rege verte es ad Absalom,

misit Thecuam, et tulit inde mulierem sapientem: dixitque ad eam: Lugere te simula, et induere veste lugubri, et ne ungaris oleo, ut sis quasi mulier jam plurimo tempore lugens mortuum:

Sent to Thecua, and fetched from thence a wise woman: and said to her: Feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, and be not anointed with oil, that thou mayest be as a woman that had a long time been mourning for one dead.

Mitte Thecua, et fer inde muliere sapiens: et dic ad illa: luge te simula, et indue veste lugubri, et ne ungaris oleo, ut es quasi muliere jam multo tempore luge more:

et ingredieris ad regem, et loqueris ad eum sermones hujuscemodi. Posuit autem Joab verba in ore ejus.

And thou shalt go in to the king, and shalt speak to him in this manner. And Joab put the words in her mouth.

Et ingredior ad rege, et loque ad illo sermones huiuscemodudi. Ioabe autem pone verbos in ore de illo.

Itaque cum ingressa fuisset mulier Thecuitis ad regem, cecidit coram eo super terram, et adoravit, et dixit: Serva me, rex.

And when the woman of Thecua was come in to the king, she fell before him upon the ground, and worshipped, and said: Save me, O king.

Itaque cum ingredior es muliere Thecuitas ad rege, cade coram eo super terra, et adora, et dic: serva me, rege.

Et ait ad eam rex: Quid causæ habes? Quæ respondit: Heu, mulier vidua ego sum: mortuus est enim vir meus.

And the king said to her: What is the matter with thee? She answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead.

Et rege ad illa dic: quid de causa habe? Que responde: heu, muliere vidua me es: morto es nam viro meo.

Et ancillæ tuæ erant duo filii: qui rixati sunt adversum se in agro, nullusque erat qui eos prohibere posset: et percussit alter alterum, et interfecit eum.

And thy handmaid had two sons: and they quarrelled with each other in the field, and there was none to part them: and the one struck the other, and slew him.

Et ancillas tuo es duo filio: qui rixa es contra se in agro, et nullo es qui illos prohibe pote: et altero percute altero, et interfice illo.

Et ecce consurgens universa cognatio adversum ancillam tuam, dicit: Trade eum qui percussit fratrem suum, ut occidamus eum pro anima fratris sui quem interfecit, et deleamus hæredem: et quærunt extinguere scintillam meam quæ relicta est, ut non supersit viro meo nomen, et reliquiæ super terram.

And behold the whole kindred rising against thy handmaid, saith: Deliver him that hath slain his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother, whom he slew, and that we may destroy the heir: and they seek to quench my spark which is left, and will leave my husband no name, nor remainder upon the earth.

Et ecce consurge universa cognatione contra ancilla tuo, dic: trade illo qui percute fratre suo, ut occide illo pro anima de fratre suo quem interfice, et dele haere: et quaere extingue scintillo meo que relinque es, ut non supersum ad viro meo nomine, et reliquias super terra.

Et ait rex ad mulierem: Vade in domum tuam, et ego jubebo pro te.

And the king said to the woman: Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

Et rege dic ad muliere: vade in domo tuo, et me iube pro te.

Dixitque mulier Thecuitis ad regem: In me, domine mi rex, sit iniquitas, et in domum patris mei: rex autem et thronus ejus sit innocens.

And the woman of Thecua said to the king: Upon me, my lord be the iniquity, and upon the house of my father: but may the king and his throne be guiltless.

Et muliere Thecuitas dic ad rege: in me, domino meo rege, es iniquitate, et in domo de patre meo: rege autem et throno de illo es innocente.

Et ait rex: Qui contradixerit tibi, adduc eum ad me, et ultra non addet ut tangat te.

And the king said: If any one shall say ought against thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

Et dic rege: qui contradice ad te, adduce illo ad me, et ultra non adde ut tange te.

Quæ ait: Recordetur rex Domini Dei sui, ut non multiplicentur proximi sanguinis ad ulciscendum, et nequaquam interficiant filium meum. Qui ait: Vivit Dominus, quia non cadet de capillis filii tui super terram.

And she said: Let the king remember the Lord his God, that the next of kin be not multiplied to take revenge, and that they may not kill my son. And he said: As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

Que dic: rege de Domino de Deo suo recordor, ut non proximo de sanguine multiplica ad ulciscor, et nequaquam interfice filio meo. Qui dic: Domino vive, quia non cade de capillos de filio tuo super terra.

Dixit ergo mulier: Loquatur ancilla tua ad dominum meum regem verbum. Et ait: Loquere.

The woman said: Let thy hand maid speak one word to my lord the king. And he said: Speak.

Muliere ergo dic: ancilla tuo loque ad domino meo rege verbo. Et dic: loque.

Dixitque mulier: Quare cogitasti hujuscemodi rem contra populum Dei, et locutus est rex verbum istud, ut peccet, et non reducat ejectum suum?

And the woman said: Why hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, to sin, and not bring home again his own exile?

Et muliere dic: quare cogita huiuscemodudi re contra populo de Deo, et locuto es rege verbo isto, ut pecca, et non reduce eicie suo?

Omnes morimur, et quasi aquæ dilabimur in terram, quæ non revertuntur: nec vult Deus perire animam, sed retractat cogitans ne penitus pereat qui abjectus est.

We all die, and like waters that return no more, we fall down into the earth: neither will God have a soul to perish, but recalleth, meaning that he that is cast off should not altogether perish.

Omni more, et quasi de aqua dila in terra, que non reverte: nec Deo vol peri anima, sed retracta cogita ne penitus qui abice es peri.

Nunc igitur veni, ut loquar ad dominum meum regem verbum hoc, præsente populo. Et dixit ancilla tua: Loquar ad regem, si quomodo faciat rex verbum ancillæ suæ.

Now therefore I am come, to speak this word to my lord the king before the people. And thy handmaid said: I will speak to the king, it maybe the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

Nunc ergo veni, ut loque ad domino meo rege verbo hoc, praesenti populo. Et ancilla tuo dic: loque ad rege, si quomodo rege que fac verbo de ancilla suo.

Et audivit rex, ut liberaret ancillam suam de manu omnium qui volebant de hæreditate Dei delere me, et filium meum simul.

And the king hath hearkened to me to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of all that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.

Et rege audi, ut libera ancilla suo de manu de omni qui vol de haereditate de Deo dele me, et filio meo simul.

Dicat ergo ancilla tua, ut fiat verbum domini mei regis sicut sacrificium. Sicut enim angelus Dei, sic est dominus meus rex, ut nec benedictione, nec maledictione moveatur: unde et Dominus Deus tuus est tecum.

Then let thy handmaid say, that the word of the Lord the king be made as a sacrifice. For even as an angel of God, so is my lord the king, that he is neither moved with blessing nor cursing: wherefore the Lord thy God is also with thee.

Ancilla ergo tuo que dic, ut verbo de domino meo de rege que fi sicut sacrificio. Sicut nam angelo de Deo, sic es domino meo rege, ut nec benedictione, nec maledictione move: unde et Domino Deo tuo es tecum.

Et respondens rex, dixit ad mulierem: Ne abscondas a me verbum quod te interrogo. Dixitque ei mulier: Loquere, domine mi rex.

And the king answering, said to the woman: Hide not from me the thing that I ask thee. And the woman said to him: Speak, my lord the king.

Et respondente rege, dic ad muliere: ne absconde ab me verbo te interroga quod. Et dic ad illo muliere: loque, domino meo rege.

Et ait rex: Numquid manus Joab tecum est in omnibus istis? Respondit mulier, et ait: Per salutem animæ tuæ, domine mi rex, nec ad sinistram, nec ad dexteram est ex omnibus his quæ locutus est dominus meus rex: servus enim tuus Joab, ipse præcepit mihi, et ipse posuit in os ancillæ tuæ omnia verba hæc.

And the king said: Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? The woman answered, and said: By the health of thy soul, my lord, O king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right, in all these things which my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he commanded me, and he put all these words into the mouth of thy handmaid.

Et rege dic: numquid manus Ioabe tecum es in omni isto? Muliere responde, et dic: per salute de anima tuo, domino meo rege, nec ad sinistra, nec ad dextera es ex omni hoc que locuto es domino meo rege: servo nam tuo Ioabe, ipso praecipie ad me, et ipso pone in ore de ancilla tuo omni verbos hoc.

Ut verterem figuram sermonis hujus, servus tuus Joab præcepit istud: tu autem, domine mi rex, sapiens es, sicut habet sapientiam angelus Dei, ut intelligas omnia super terram.

That I should come about with this form of speech, thy servant Joab commanded this: but thou, my lord, O king, art wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to understand all things upon earth.

Ut verte figura de sermone de hoc, servo tuo Ioabe praecipie isto: te autem, domino meo rege, sape es, sicut angelo de Deo habe sapientia, ut intellege omni super terra.

Et ait rex ad Joab: Ecce placatus feci verbum tuum: vade ergo, et revoca puerum Absalom.

And the king said to Joab: Behold I am appeased and have granted thy request: Go therefore and fetch back the boy Absalom.

Et rege dic ad Ioabe: ecce placa fac verbo tuo: vade ergo, et revova puero Absalom.

Cadensque Joab super faciem suam in terram, adoravit, et benedixit regi: et dixit Joab: Hodie intellexit servus tuus quia inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, domine mi rex: fecisti enim sermonem servi tui.

And Joab falling down to the ground upon his face, adored, and blessed the king: and Joab said: This day thy servant hath understood, that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king: for thou hast fulfilled the request of thy servant.

Et cade Ioabe super facie suo in terra, adora, et benedic ad rege: et dic Ioabe: hodie servo tuo intellege quia inveni gratia in oculos tuo, domino meo rege: fac nam sermone de servo tuo.

Surrexit ergo Joab et abiit in Gessur, et adduxit Absalom in Jerusalem.

Then Joab arose and went to Gessur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

Ioabe ergo surge et i ab in Gessure, et adduce Absalom in Ierusalem.

Dixit autem rex: Revertatur in domum suam, et faciem meam non videat. Reversus est itaque Absalom in domum suam, et faciem regis non vidit.

But the king said: Let him return into his house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned into his house, and saw not the king's face.

Rege autem dic: reverte in domo suo, et facie meo non vide. Reverte es itaque Absalom in domo suo, et facie de rege non vide.

Porro sicut Absalom, vir non erat pulcher in omni Israël, et decorus nimis: a vestigio pedis usque ad verticem non erat in eo ulla macula.

But in all Israel there was not a man so comely, and so exceedingly beautiful as Absalom: from the sole of the foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

Porro sicut Absalom, viro non es pulcherrimo in omni Israële, et decora nimis: ab vestigio de pede usque ad vertice non es in eo ullo macula.

Et quando tondebat capillum (semel autem in anno tondebatur, quia gravabat eum cæsaries), ponderabat capillos capitis sui ducentis siclis, pondere publico.

And when he polled his hair (now he was polled once a year, because his hair was burdensome to him) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred sicles, according to the common weight.

Et quando tonde capillo (semel autem in anno tonde, quia caesarie grava illo), pondera capillos de capite suo ducenti sicle, pondere publica.

Nati sunt autem Absalom filii tres, et filia una nomine Thamar, elegantis formæ.

And there were born to Absalom three sons: and one daughter, whose name was Thamar, and she was very beautiful.

Nato es autem Absalom filios tre, et filia uno nomine Thamare, elega de forma.

Mansitque Absalom in Jerusalem duobus annis, et faciem regis non vidit.

And Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

Et Absalom mane in Ierusalem duo anno, et facie de rege non vide.

Misit itaque ad Joab, ut mitteret eum ad regem: qui noluit venire ad eum. Cumque secundo misisset, et ille noluisset venire ad eum,

He sent therefore to Joab, to send him to the king: but he would not come to him. And when he had sent the second time, and he would not come to him,

Mitte itaque ad Ioabe, ut mitte illo ad rege: qui ne vol venire ad illo. Cumque secundo mitte, et illo ne vol venire ad illo,

dixit servis suis: Scitis agrum Joab juxta agrum meum, habentem messem hordei: ite igitur, et succendite eum igni. Succenderunt ergo servi Absalom segetem igni. Et venientes servi Joab, scissis vestibus suis, dixerunt: Succenderunt servi Absalom partem agri igni.

He said to his servants: You know the field of Joab near my field, that hath a crop of barley: go now and set it on fire. So the servants of Absalom set the corn on fire. And Joab's servants coming with their garments rent, said: The servants of Absalom have set part of the field on fire.

Dic ad servos suo: sci agro Ioabe juxta agro meo, habe messe de hordeo: i ergo, et succende illo igni. Servos ergo succende Absalom segete igni. Et veni servos Ioabe, scinde vestes suo, dic: servos succende Absalom parte de agro igni.

Surrexitque Joab, et venit ad Absalom in domum ejus, et dixit: Quare succenderunt servi tui segetem meam igni?

Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said: Why have thy servants set my corn on fire?

Et Ioabe surge, et veni ad Absalom in domo de illo, et dic: quare servos tuo succende segete meo igni?

Et respondit Absalom ad Joab: Misi ad te obsecrans ut venires ad me, et mitterem te ad regem, et diceres ei: Quare veni de Gessur? melius mihi erat ibi esse: obsecro ergo ut videam faciem regis: quod si memor est iniquitatis meæ, interficiat me.

And Absalom answered Joab: I sent to thee beseeching thee to come to me, that I might send thee to the king, to say to him: Wherefore am I come from Gessur? it had been better for me to be there: I beseech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: and if he be mindful of my iniquity, let him kill me.

Et Absalom responde ad Ioabe: mitte ad te obsecra ut veni ad me, et mitte te ad rege, et dic ad illo: quare veni de Gessure? Bene ad me es ibi es: obsecra ergo ut vide facie de rege: quod si memore es de iniquitate meo, interfice me.

Ingressus itaque Joab ad regem, nuntiavit ei omnia: vocatusque est Absalom, et intravit ad regem, et adoravit super faciem terræ coram eo: osculatusque est rex Absalom.

So Joab going in to the king, told him all: and Absalom was called for, and, he went in to the king: and prostrated himself on the ground before him: and the king kissed Absalom.

Ingredior itaque Ioabe ad rege, nuntia ad illo omni: et vocato es Absalom, et intra ad rege, et adora super facie de terra coram eo: et oscula es rege Absalom.