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 wont to do；
although I confess those do justly deserve some commendation
also； but those only may be styled courageous and bold in great
undertakings； and despisers of adversities； who imitate Saul： for
as for those that do not know what the event of war will be as to
themselves； and though they do not faint in it； but deliver
themselves up to uncertain futurity； and are tossed this way and
that way； this is not so very eminent an instance of a generous
mind； although they happen to perform many great exploits； but
when men's minds expect no good event； but they know beforehand
they must die； and that they must undergo that death in the
battle also； after this neither to be aftrighted； nor to be
astonished at the terrible fate that is coming； but to go
directly upon it； when they know it beforehand； this it is that I
esteem the character of a man truly courageous。 Accordingly this
Saul did； and thereby demonstrated that all men who desire fame
after they are dead are so to act as they may obtain the same：
this especially concerns kings； who ought not to think it enough
in their high stations that they are not wicked in the government
of their subjects； but to be no more than moderately good to
them。 I could say more than this about Saul and his courage； the
subject affording matter sufficient； but that I may not appear to
run out improperly in his commendation； I return again to that
history from which I made this digression。
5。 Now when the Philistines； as I said before； had pitched their
camp； and had taken an account of their forces； according to
their nations； and kingdoms； and governments； king Achish came
last of all with his own army； after whom came David with his six
hundred armed men。 And when the commanders of the Philistines saw
him； they asked the king whence these Hebrews came； and at whose
invitation。 He answered that it was David； who was fled away from
his master Saul； and that he had entertained him when he came to
him； and that now he was willing to make him this requital for
his favors； and to avenge himself upon Saul； and so was become
his confederate。 The commanders complained of this； that he had
taken him for a confederate who was an enemy； and gave him
counsel to send him away； lest he should unawares do his friends
a great deal of mischief by entertaining him； for that he
afforded him an opportunity of being reconciled to his master by
doing a mischief to our army。 They thereupon desired him； out of
a prudent foresight of this； to send him away； with his six
hundred armed men； to the place he had given him for his
habitation； for that this was that David whom the virgins
celebrated in their hymns； as having destroyed many ten thousands
of the Philistines。 When the king of Gath heard this； he thought
they spake well； so he called David； and said to him； 〃As for
myself； I can bear witness that thou hast shown great diligence
and kindness about me； and on that account it was that I took
thee for my confederate； however； what I have done does not
please the commanders of the Philistines； go therefore within a
day's time to the place I have given thee； without suspecting any
harm； and there keep my country； lest any of our enemies should
make an incursion upon it； which will be one part of that
assistance which I expect from thee。〃 So David came to Ziklag； as
the king of Gath bade him； but it happened； that while he was
gone to the assistance of the Philistines； the Amalekites had
made an incursion； and taken Ziklag before； and had burnt it； and
when they had taken a great deal of other prey out of that place；
and out of the other parts of the Philistines' country； they
departed。
6。 Now when David found that Ziklag was laid waste； and that it
was all spoiled； and that as well his own wives； who were two； as
the wives of his companions； with their children； were made
captives； he presently rent his clothes； weeping and lamenting；
together with his friends； and indeed he was so cast down with
these misfortunes； th