And it came to pass after this, that Amnon the son of David loved the sister of Absalom the son of David, who was very beautiful, and her name was Thamar.

Factum est autem post hæc ut Absalom filii David sororem speciosissimam, vocabulo Thamar, adamaret Amnon filius David,

A maid there was of rare beauty, called Tamar, sister to David’s son Absalom; and it befell at this time that another of David’s sons, Amnon, fell in love with her.

And he was exceedingly fond of her, so that he fell sick for the love of her: for as she was a virgin, he thought it hard to do any thing dishonestly with her.

et deperiret eam valde, ita ut propter amorem ejus ægrotaret: quia cum esset virgo, difficile ei videbatur ut quippiam inhoneste ageret cum ea.

Such was his longing that he pined away wanting her; how should he approach a maid unwed, to compass her dishonour?

Now Amnon had a friend, named Jonadab the son of Semmaa the brother of David, a very wise man:

Erat autem Amnon amicus nomine Jonadab, filius Semmaa fratris David, vir prudens valde.

But he had a friend called Jonadab, son to Semmaa that was David’s brother, a man of shrewd wits, that expostulated with him,

And he said to him: Why dost thou grow so lean from day to day, O son of the king? why dost thou not tell me the reason of it? And Amnon said to him: I am in love with Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom.

Qui dixit ad eum: Quare sic attenuaris macie, fili regis, per singulos dies? cur non indicas mihi? Dixitque ei Amnon: Thamar sororem fratris mei Absalom amo.

Should a royal prince pine away, day in, day out, and not tell the reason? Then Amnon told him, I am in love with my brother Absalom’s sister, Tamar.

And Jonadab said to him: Lie down upon thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to visit thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray thee, come to me, to give me to eat, and to make me a mess, that I may eat it at her hand.

Cui respondit Jonadab: Cuba super lectum tuum, et languorem simula: cumque venerit pater tuus ut visitet te, dic ei: Veniat, oro, Thamar soror mea, ut det mihi cibum, et faciat pulmentum, ut comedam de manu ejus.

Lie down on thy bed, Jonadab told him, and feign illness; then, when thy father visits thee, ask him to let thy sister Tamar come and tend thy wants, cook some dainty for thee, and give it thee with her own hand.

So Amnon lay down, and made as if he were sick: and when the king came to visit him, Amnon said to the king: I pray thee let my sister Thamar come, and make in my sight two little messes, that I may eat at her hand.

Accubuit itaque Amnon, et quasi ægrotare cœpit: cumque venisset rex ad visitandum eum, ait Amnon ad regem: Veniat, obsecro, Thamar soror mea, ut faciat in oculis meis duas sorbitiunculas, et cibum capiam de manu ejus.

So Amnon lay down, and feigned to fall sick, and said to the king, when he came to visit him, Pray send my sister Tamar to boil me two mouthfuls of gruel, here in my presence, and give them me with her own hand.

Then David sent home to Thamar, saying: Come to the house of thy brother Amnon, and make him a mess.

Misit ergo David ad Thamar domum, dicens: Veni in domum Amnon fratris tui, et fac ei pulmentum.

So David sent word to Tamar’s home, bidding her go to her brother Amnon’s house and make gruel for him;

And Thamar came to the house of Amnon her brother: but he was laid down: and she took meal and tempered it: and dissolving it in his sight she made little messes.

Venitque Thamar in domum Amnon fratris sui: ille autem jacebat. Quæ tollens farinam commiscuit, et liquefaciens, in oculis ejus coxit sorbitiunculas.

and to her brother Amnon’s house she went, to find him lying abed. She took the flour and stirred it and boiled it, and when her cooking was done, she poured it out, and put it down beside him;

And taking what she had boiled, she poured it out, and set it before him, but he would not eat: and Amnon said: Put out all persons from me. And when they had put all persons out,

Tollensque quod coxerat, effudit, et posuit coram eo, et noluit comedere: dixitque Amnon: Ejicite universos a me. Cumque ejecissent omnes,

but he refused to eat. Then Amnon would have all that were there leave his presence, and when all had left him,

Amnon said to Thamar: Bring the mess into the chamber, that I may eat at thy hand. And Thamar took the little messes which she had made, and brought them in to her brother Amnon in the chamber.

dixit Amnon ad Thamar: Infer cibum in conclave, ut vescar de manu tua. Tulit ergo Thamar sorbitiunculas quas fecerat, et intulit ad Amnon fratrem suum in conclave.

he bade her come into his room and give it to him with her own hand. So Tamar took the gruel and brought it into her brother Amnon’s room;

And when she had presented him the meat, he took hold of her, and said: Come lie with me, my sister.

Cumque obtulisset ei cibum, apprehendit eam, et ait: Veni, cuba mecum, soror mea.

but when she held it out, he caught hold of his sister and would have her bed with him.

She answered him: Do not so, my brother, do not force me: for no such thing must be done in Israel. Do not thou this folly.

Quæ respondit ei: Noli frater mi, noli opprimere me: neque enim hoc fas est in Israël: noli facere stultitiam hanc.

Nay, brother, said she, do not force me to thy will; in all Israel, that were deemed great wrong. Forbear thy recklessness;

For I shall not be able to bear my shame, and thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel: but rather speak to the king, and he will not deny me to thee.

Ego enim ferre non potero opprobrium meum, et tu eris quasi unus de insipientibus in Israël: quin potius loquere ad regem, et non negabit me tibi.

else can I never shew my face, and all Israel will cry out on thy reckless folly. Ask me of the king for thy bride; he will not deny thee.

But he would not hearken to her prayers, but being stronger overpowered her and lay with her.

Noluit autem acquiescere precibus ejus, sed prævalens viribus oppressit eam, et cubavit cum ea.

But Amnon would not listen to her; he forced her to his will and so bedded her.

Then Amnon hated her with an exceeding great hatred: so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her before. And Amnon said to her: Arise, and get thee gone.

Et exosam eam habuit Amnon odio magno nimis: ita ut majus esset odium quo oderat eam, amore quo ante dilexerat. Dixitque ei Amnon: Surge, et vade.

And now Amnon conceived a hatred of her that passed all measure; the love he once had for her could not compare with his hatred now; Up, he cried, and begone!

She answered him: The evil which now thou dost against me, in driving me away, is greater than that which thou didst before. And he would not hearken to her:

Quæ respondit ei: Majus est hoc malum quod nunc agis adversum me, quam quod ante fecisti, expellens me. Et noluit audire eam:

Nay, said she, this is a greater wrong than the first wrong thou didst me, to drive me away thus. But he would not listen to her;

But calling the servants that ministered to him, he said: Thrust this woman out from me: and shut the door after her.

sed vocato puero qui ministrabat ei, dixit: Ejice hanc a me foras, et claude ostium post eam.

he called to the serving-man that waited on him, and bade him thrust the woman out and shut the door on her.

And she was clothed with a long robe: for the king’s daughters that were virgins, used such kind of garments. Then his servant thrust her out: and shut the door after her.

Quæ induta erat talari tunica: hujuscemodi enim filiæ regis virgines vestibus utebantur. Ejecit itaque eam minister illius foras: clausitque fores post eam.

Clad in the long robe of a princess, she was thrust out, and the door was shut on her.

And she put ashes on her head, and rent her long robe and laid her hands upon her head, and went on crying.

Quæ aspergens cinerem capiti suo, scissa talari tunica, impositisque manibus super caput suum, ibat ingrediens, et clamans.

Dust she sprinkled on her hair, tore the long robe, put her head between her hands, and went on her way in tears.

And Absalom her brother said to her: Hath thy brother Amnon lain with thee? but now, sister, hold thy peace, he is thy brother: and afflict not thy heart for this thing. So Thamar remained pining away in the house of Absalom her brother.

Dixit autem ei Absalom frater suus: Numquid Amnon frater tuus concubuit tecum? sed nunc soror, tace: frater tuus est: neque affligas cor tuum pro hac re. Mansit itaque Thamar contabescens in domo Absalom fratris sui.

So thy brother Amnon bedded thee? Absalom said to her. Keep silent for this while; he is thy brother. Do not eat thy heart out over it. So Tamar remained there in Absalom’s house, pining away.

And when king David heard of these things he was exceedingly grieved: and he would not afflict the spirit of his son Amnon, for he loved him, because he was his firstborn.

Cum autem audisset rex David verba hæc, contristatus est valde: et noluit contristare spiritum Amnon filii sui, quoniam diligebat eum, quia primogenitus erat ei.

Great sorrow had king David when the news came to him, but he would do nothing to cross his son Amnon, that he loved dearly; was he not his first-born?

But Absalom spoke not to Amnon neither good nor evil: for Absalom hated Amnon because he had ravished his sister Thamar.

Porro non est locutus Absalom ad Amnon nec malum nec bonum: oderat enim Absalom Amnon, eo quod violasset Thamar sororem suam.

As for Absalom, he spoke no word to Amnon, fair or foul; so deeply did he hate him for dishonouring his sister Tamar.

And it came to pass after two years, that the sheep of Absalom were shorn in Baalhasor, which is near Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons:

Factum est autem post tempus biennii ut tonderentur oves Absalom in Baalhasor, quæ est juxta Ephraim: et vocavit Absalom omnes filios regis,

Two years after, when it was shearing-time for Absalom’s sheep at Baal-Hasor, by Ephraim, he would have all the king’s sons there.

And he came to the king, and said to him: Behold thy servant’s sheep are shorn. Let the king, I pray, with his servants come to his servant.

venitque ad regem, et ait ad eum: Ecce tondentur oves servi tui: veniat, oro, rex cum servis suis ad servum suum.

But when he went to the king, and said, Thy servant’s sheep are a-shearing, will not my lord king come to the feast, and his servants with him?

And the king said to Absalom: Nay, my son, do not ask that we should all come, and be chargeable to thee. And when he pressed him, and he would not go, he blessed him.

Dixitque rex ad Absalom: Noli fili mi, noli rogare ut veniamus omnes et gravemus te. Cum autem cogeret eum, et noluisset ire, benedixit ei.

the king answered, Nay, my son, do not ask us all to come and be a burden to thee; nor would he consent, for all Absalom’s pleading; he would only give him his blessing for the journey.

And Absalom said: If thou wilt not come, at least let my brother Amnon, I beseech thee, come with us. And the king said to him: It is not necessary that he should go with thee.

Et ait Absalom: Si non vis venire, veniat, obsecro, nobiscum saltem Amnon frater meus. Dixitque ad eum rex: Non est necesse ut vadat tecum.

Then at least, said Absalom, let my brother Amnon come with us, if thou wilt not. There is no need for that, David said,

But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. And Absalom made a feast as it were the feast of a king.

Coëgit itaque Absalom eum, et dimisit cum eo Amnon et universos filios regis. Feceratque Absalom convivium quasi convivium regis.

but at last Absalom had his way, and David sent Amnon and all the princes with him. It was a royal banquet Absalom prepared for them;

And Absalom had commanded his servants, saying: Take notice when Amnon shall be drunk with wine, and when I shall say to you: Strike him, and kill him, fear not: for it is I that command you: take courage, and be valiant men.

Præceperat autem Absalom pueris suis, dicens: Observate cum temulentus fuerit Amnon vino, et dixero vobis: Percutite eum, et interficite: nolite timere: ego enim sum qui præcipio vobis: roboramini, et estote viri fortes.

but first he gave orders to his men, Wait till Amnon is bemused with wine; then, when I say Strike, slay him. Have no fear; you do but execute my orders; take heart, and shew yourselves men of mettle.

And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded them. And all the king’s sons arose and got up every man upon his mule, and fled.

Fecerunt ergo pueri Absalom adversum Amnon sicut præceperat eis Absalom. Surgentesque omnes filii regis ascenderunt singuli mulas suas, et fugerunt.

So Absalom’s servants did his bidding on Amnon; and all the rest of the princes mounted on their mules and fled.

And while they were yet in the way, a rumour came to David, saying: Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.

Cumque adhuc pergerent in itinere, fama pervenit ad David, dicens: Percussit Absalom omnes filios regis, et non remansit ex eis saltem unus.

While they were still on their way, the story reached David that Absalom had slain all the princes, and not one had escaped with his life.

Then the king rose up, and rent his garments: and fell upon the ground, and all his servants, that stood about him, rent their garments.

Surrexit itaque rex, et scidit vestimenta sua, et cecidit super terram: et omnes servi illius qui assistebant ei, sciderunt vestimenta sua.

At that the king rose up, and tore his garments, and cast himself down on the ground; and his servants tore their garments, all that stood by waiting on him.

But Jonadab the son of Semmaa David’s brother answering, said: Let not my lord the king think that all the king’s sons are slain: Amnon only is dead, for he was appointed by the mouth of Absalom from the day that he ravished his sister Thamar.

Respondens autem Jonadab filius Semmaa fratris David, dixit: Ne æstimet dominus meus rex quod omnes pueri filii regis occisi sint: Amnon solus mortuus est, quoniam in ore Absalom erat positus ex die qua oppressit Thamar sororem ejus.

Only Jonadab, son of Semmaa that was David’s brother, would have none of it; Do not believe, my lord King, he said, that all the princes have been killed; Amnon is dead, but only he. His name was ever on Absalom’s lips, since the day of his sister Tamar’s dishonouring.

Now therefore let not my lord the king take this thing into his heart, saying: All the king’s sons are slain: for Amnon only is dead.

Nunc ergo ne ponat dominus meus rex super cor suum verbum istud, dicens: Omnes filii regis occisi sunt: quoniam Amnon solus mortuus est.

Never burden thy heart, my lord king, with the fancy that all are dead; it is only Amnon.

But Absalom fled away: and the young man that kept the watch, lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there came much people by a by-way on the side of the mountain.

Fugit autem Absalom. Et elevavit puer speculator oculos suos, et aspexit: et ecce populus multus veniebat per iter devium ex latere montis.

Absalom betook himself to flight. Meanwhile, a servant that was on the watch looked out and saw a throng of men coming down by an unfrequented path on the mountain-side;

And Jonadab said to the king: Behold the king’s sons are come: as thy servant said, so it is.

Dixit autem Jonadab ad regem: Ecce filii regis adsunt: juxta verbum servi tui, sic factum est.

whereupon Jonadab said to the king, It is the princes that are coming; thy servant was in the right.

And when he made an end of speaking, the king’s sons also appeared: and coming in they lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very much.

Cumque cessasset loqui, apparuerunt et filii regis: et intrantes levaverunt vocem suam, et fleverunt: sed et rex et omnes servi ejus fleverunt ploratu magno nimis.

And indeed, as soon as he had finished speaking, the princes came in view, and loud they wept as they came; the king, too, and all his servants made great lament.

But Absalom fled, and went to Tholomai the son of Ammiud the king of Gessur. And David mourned for his son every day.

Porro Absalom fugiens abiit ad Tholomai filium Ammiud regem Gessur. Luxit ergo David filium suum cunctis diebus.

Absalom took refuge with Tholomai, son of Ammiud king of Gessur; and David all the while went on mourning for his son.

And Absalom after he was fled, and come into Gessur, was there three years. And king David ceased to pursue after Absalom, because he was comforted concerning the death of Amnon.

Absalom autem cum fugisset, et venisset in Gessur, fuit ibi tribus annis.

Three years Absalom spent at Gessur as a fugitive;

Cessavitque rex David persequi Absalom, eo quod consolatus esset super Amnon interitu.

then David gave up the quest for him; already his grief for Amnon was assuaged.