Eliseus maketh iron to swim upon the water: 8. leadeth the king of Syria his men (sent to apprehend him) blindly into Samaria. 20. Where their eyes being opened, they are courteously entertained, and freely dismissed. 24. The Syrians besiege Samaria. 26. For extreme famine a mother eateth her child. 31. And the king commandeth to kill Eliseus.Eliseus maketh iron to swimme vpon the water: 8. leadeth the king of Syria his men (sent to apprehend him) blindly into Samaria. 20. Where their eyes being opened, they are curtously interteined, and freely dismissed. 24. The Syrians besiege Samaria. 26. For extreme famine a mother eateth her child. 31. And the king commandeth to kil Eliseus.✦
And the children of the prophets said to Eliseus: Behold the place, wherein we dwell before thee is angustus: straight, not crooked; narrow, too cramped for us.AND the children of the prophetes sayd to Eliseus: Behold the place, wherin we dwel before thee is streite for vs.✦Dixerunt autem filii prophetarum ad Eliseum : Ecce locus in quo habitamus coram te, angustus est nobis.
2Let us go as far as Jordan, and take out of the wood every man some timber, that we may build there a place to dwell in. Who said: Go.Let vs goe as far as Iordan, and take out of the wood euerie man some timber, that we may build there a place to dwel in. Who said: Goe.Eamus usque ad Jordanem, et tollant singuli de silva materias singulas, ut ædificemus nobis ibi locum ad habitandum. Qui dixit : Ite.
3And one of them said: Come therefore thou also with thy servants. He answered: I will come.And one of them sayd: Come therfore thou also with thy seruantes. He answered: I wil come.Et ait unus ex illis : Veni ergo et tu cum servis tuis. Respondit : Ego veniam.
4And he went with them. And when they were come to Jordan they cut wood.And he went with them. And when they were come to Iordan they cut wood.Et abiit cum eis. Cumque venissent ad Jordanem, cædebant ligna.
5And it chanced, that when one had cut down timber, the head of the axe fell into the water: and he cried out, and said: Alas alas alas my lord, this same also I did borrow.And it chanced, that when one had cut downe timber, the head of the axe fel into the water: and he cried out, and said: Alas alas alas my lord, this same also I did borow.✦Accidit autem ut cum unus materiam succidisset, caderet ferrum securis in aquam : exclamavitque ille, et ait : Heu ! heu ! heu ! domine mi : et hoc ipsum mutuo acceperam.
6And the man of God said: where fell it? and he showed him the place: he therefore cut off a piece of wood, and cast it thither: and the iron did swim,And the man of God sayd: where fel it? and he shewed him the place: he therfore cut of a pece of wood, and cast it thither: and the yron did swimme,✦Dixit autem homo Dei : Ubi cecidit ? At ille monstravit ei locum. Præcidit ergo lignum, et misit illuc : natavitque ferrum,
7and he said: Take it up. Who stretched forth his hand, and took it.and he said: Take it vp. Who stretched forth his hand, and tooke it.et ait : Tolle. Qui extendit manum, et tulit illud.
8And the king of Syria fought against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying: In that and that place let us lay insidias: ambushes, hidden traps.And the king of Syria fought against Israel, and tooke counsel with his seruantes, saying: In that and that place let vs lay embushementes.Rex autem Syriæ pugnabat contra Israël, consiliumque iniit cum servis suis, dicens : In loco illo et illo ponamus insidias.
9Therefore the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: Beware thou pass not into such a place: because the Syrians are there in ambushments.Therfore the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: Beware thou passe not into such a place: because the Syrians are there in embushementes.Misit itaque vir Dei ad regem Israël, dicens : Cave ne transeas in locum illum : quia ibi Syri in insidiis sunt.
10The king of Israel therefore sent to the place, which the man of God had told him, and præoccupavit: stopped, hindered; forestalled, secured beforehand him, and looked well to himself there not once or twice.The king of Israel therfore sent to the place, which the man of God had told him, and preuented him, and looked wel to him self there not once or twise.Misit itaque rex Israël ad locum quem dixerat ei vir Dei, et præoccupavit eum, et observavit se ibi non semel neque bis.
11And the heart of the king of Syria was troubled for this thing. And calling together his servants, he said: Why do you not tell me who is the betrayer of me to the king of Israel?And the hart of the king of Syria was trubled for this thing. And calling together his seruantes, he sayd: Why doe you not tel me who is the betraier of me to the king of Israel?Conturbatumque est cor regis Syriæ pro hac re : et convocatis servis suis, ait : Quare non indicatis mihi quis proditor mei sit apud regem Israël ?
12And one of his servants said: Not so my lord king, but Eliseus the prophet, which is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel all words, whatsoever thou shalt speak in thy privy chamber.And one of his seruantes sayd: Not so my lord king, but Eliseus the prophet, which is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel al wordes, whatsoeuer thou shalt speake in thy priuy chamber.✦Dixitque unus servorum ejus : Nequaquam, domine mi rex, sed Eliseus propheta qui est in Israël, indicat regi Israël omnia verba quæcumque locutus fueris in conclavi tuo.
13And he said to them: Go, and see where he is: that I may send, and take him. And they told him, saying: Behold in Dothan.And he sayd to them: Goe, and see where he is: that I may send, and take him. And they told him, saying: Behold in Dothan.Dixitque eis : Ite, et videte ubi sit, ut mittam, et capiam eum. Annuntiaveruntque ei, dicentes : Ecce in Dothan.
14He therefore sent thither horses and chariots, and the force of his army: who when they were come in the night, they beset the city.He therfore sent thither horses and chariotes, and the force of his armie: who when they were come in the night, they besette the citie.Misit ergo illuc equos et currus, et robur exercitus : qui cum venissent nocte, circumdederunt civitatem.
15And the servant of the man of God rising early, went out, and saw an army round about the city, and horses and chariots: and he told him, saying: Alas alas alas my lord, what shall we do.And the seruant of the man of God rising early, went out, and saw an armie round about the citie, and horses and chariotes: and he told him, saying: Alas alas alas my lord, what shal we doe.Consurgens autem diluculo minister viri Dei, egressus vidit exercitum in circuitu civitatis, et equos et currus : nuntiavitque ei, dicens : Heu ! heu ! heu ! domine mi : quid faciemus ?
16But he answered: Fear not: for there are more with us than with them.But he answered: Feare not: for there are more with vs then with them.✦At ille respondit : Noli timere : plures enim nobiscum sunt, quam cum illis.
17And when Eliseus had prayed, he said: Lord open the eyes of this man, that he may see. And our Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he beheld: and lo the mountain full of horses, and of fiery chariots round about Eliseus.And when Eliseus had prayed, he sayd: Lord open the eies of this man, that he may see. And our Lord opened the eies of the seruant, and he behold: and loe the mountaine ful of horses, and of fiere chariotes round about Eliseus.✦Cumque orasset Eliseus, ait : Domine, aperi oculos hujus, ut videat. Et aperuit Dominus oculos pueri, et vidit : et ecce mons plenus equorum et curruum igneorum in circuitu Elisei.
18But the enemies went down to him: moreover Eliseus prayed to our Lord, saying: Strike, I beseech thee, this people with blindness. And our Lord smote them, that they saw not, according to the word of Eliseus.But the enemies went downe to him: moreouer Eliseus prayed to our Lord, saying: Strike, I besech thee, this people with blindenesse. And our Lord smote them, that they saw not, according to the word of Eliseus.✦Hostes vero descenderunt ad eum : porro Eliseus oravit ad Dominum, dicens : Percute, obsecro, gentem hanc cæcitate. Percussitque eos Dominus ne viderent, juxta verbum Elisei.
19And Eliseus said to them: This is not the way neither is this the city: follow me, and I will show you the man, whom you seek. He therefore led them into Samaria:And Eliseus sayd to them: This is not the way neither is this the citie: folow me, & I wil shew you the man, whom you seeke. He therfore led them into Samaria:✦Dixit autem ad eos Eliseus : Non est hæc via, neque ista est civitas : sequimini me, et ostendam vobis virum quem quæritis. Duxit ergo eos in Samariam :
20and when they were entered into Samaria, Eliseus said: Lord open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And our Lord opened their eyes, and they saw themselves to be in the midst of Samaria.and when they were entered into Samaria, Eliseus said: Lord open the eies of these men, that they may see. And our Lord opened their eies, and they saw them selues to be in the middes of Samaria.cumque ingressi fuissent in Samariam, dixit Eliseus : Domine, aperi oculos istorum, ut videant. Aperuitque Dominus oculos eorum, et viderunt se esse in medio Samariæ.
21And the king of Israel said to Eliseus, when he had seen them: Shall I strike them, my father?And the king of Israel said to Eliseus, when he had sene them: Shal I strike them, my father?Dixitque rex Israël ad Eliseum, cum vidisset eos : Numquid percutiam eos, pater mi ?
22And he said: Thou shalt not strike them: for thou didst not take them with thy sword, and thy bow, that thou mayst strike them: but set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.And he said: Thou shalt not strike them: for thou didst not take them with thy sword, and thy bow, that thou mayst strike them: but set bread and water before them, that they may eate and drinke, and goe to their maister.✦At ille ait : Non percuties : neque enim cepisti eos gladio et arcu tuo, ut percutias : sed pone panem et aquam coram eis, ut comedant et bibant, et vadant ad dominum suum.
23And a great preparation of meats was set before them, and they did eat and drink, and he dismissed them, and they went away to their master, and the robbers of Syria came no more into the Land of Israel.And a great preparation of meates was sette before them, and they did eate and drinke, and he dismissed them, and they went away to their maister, and the robbers of Syria came no more into the Land of Israel.✦Appositaque est eis ciborum magna præparatio, et comederunt et biberunt, et dimisit eos, abieruntque ad dominum suum, et ultra non venerunt latrones Syriæ in terram Israël.
24And it came to pass after these things, Benadad the king of Syria gathered together all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.And it came to passe after these thinges, Benadad the king of Syria gathered together al his armie, and went vp, and besieged Samaria.Factum est autem post hæc, congregavit Benadad rex Syriæ universum exercitum suum, et ascendit, et obsidebat Samariam.
25And there was a great famine in Samaria: and so long it was besieged, till the head of an ass was sold for four score silver pieces, and the fourth part of a cabi: a Hebrew dry measure, about two quarts of pigeons dung, for five silver pieces.And there was a great famine in Samaria: and so long it was besieged, til the head of an asse was sold for foure score siluer peeces, & the fourth part of a cabe of pigeons dung, for fiue siluer peeces.✦Factaque est fames magna in Samaria : et tamdiu obsessa est, donec venundaretur caput asini octoginta argenteis, et quarta pars cabi stercoris columbarum quinque argenteis.
26And when the king of Israel passed by the wall, a certain woman cried out to him, saying: Save me my lord king.And when the king of Israel passed by the wall, a certayne woman cried out to him, saying: Saue me my lord king.Cumque rex Israël transiret per murum, mulier quædam exclamavit ad eum, dicens : Salva me, domine mi rex.
27Who said: No, our Lord save thee: how can I save thee? of the area: floor of a room; threshing floor, or of the torculari: a crowd, or a printing press; winepress? And the king said to her: What aileth thee? Who answered:Who sayd: No, our Lord saue thee: how can I saue thee? of the floore, or of the presse? And the king sayd to her: What ayleth thee? Who answered:✦Qui ait : Non te salvat Dominus : unde te possum salvare ? de area, vel de torculari ? Dixitque ad eam rex : Quid tibi vis ? Quæ respondit :
28This woman said to me: Give thy son, that we may eat him today, and my son we will eat to morrow.This woman sayd to me: Geue thy sonne, that we may eate him to day, & my sonne we wil eate to morrow.Mulier ista dixit mihi : Da filium tuum, ut comedamus eum hodie, et filium meum comedemus cras.
29We therefore boiled my son, and did eat him. And I said to her the next day: Give thy son, that we may eat him. Who hath hid her son.We therfore boyled my sonne, and did eate him. And I sayd to her the next day: Geue thy sonne, that we may eate him. Who hath hid her sonne.✦Coximus ergo filium meum, et comedimus. Dixique ei die altera : Da filium tuum, ut comedamus eum. Quæ abscondit filium suum.
30Which when the king had heard, he rent his garments, and passed by the wall. And all the people saw the cilicium: sackcloth of hair, worn next the skin in penance, which he vestitus erat: wore: past of wear next upon his flesh.Which when the king had heard, he rent his garmentes, and passed by the wal. And al the people saw the hearecloth, which he ware next vpon his flesh.✦Quod cum audisset rex, scidit vestimenta sua, et transibat per murum. Viditque omnis populus cilicium quo vestitus erat ad carnem intrinsecus.
31And the king said: These things do God to me, and these add he, if the head of Eliseus the son of Saphat shall stand upon him this day.And the king sayd: These thinges doe God to me, and these adde he, if the head of Eliseus the sonne of Saphat shal stand vpon him this day.✦Et ait rex : Hæc mihi faciat Deus, et hæc addat, si steterit caput Elisei filii Saphat super ipsum hodie.
32But Eliseus sat in his house, and the ancients sat with him. He therefore sent a man before: and before that messenger came, he said to the ancients: Do you know that this murderer's son hath sent to cut off my head? See therefore, when the messenger shall come, shut the door, and suffer him not to enter in: for behold the sound of his master's feet is behind him.But Eliseus sate in his house, and the ancientes sate with him. He therfore sent a man before: and before that messenger came, he sayd to the ancientes: Doe you know that this murderers sonne hath sent to cut of my head? See therfore, when the messenger shal come, shut the doore, and suffer him not to enter in: for behold the sound of his maisters feete is behinde him.✦Eliseus autem sedebat in domo sua, et senes sedebant cum eo. Præmisit itaque virum : et antequam veniret nuntius ille, dixit ad senes : Numquid scitis quod miserit filius homicidæ hic, ut præcidatur caput meum ? videte ergo : cum venerit nuntius, claudite ostium, et non sinatis eum introire : ecce enim sonitus pedum domini ejus post eum est.
33Whiles he was yet speaking to them, the messenger appeared, which came to him. And he said: Behold, this so great evil is of our Lord: what shall I look for more of our Lord?Whiles he was yet speaking to them, the messenger appeared, which came to him. And he sayd: Behold, this so great euil is of our Lord: what shal I looke for more of our Lord?Adhuc illo loquente eis, apparuit nuntius qui veniebat ad eum. Et ait : Ecce, tantum malum a Domino est : quid amplius expectabo a Domino ?
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.