I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.; # , ^TC~Y^ — ^ — ■ t t jM.^X:i^. I I UNITED STATES OF AMEEIOA. ^ L/« ^ \ ^ V^ ZETETIC METHOD. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. HIS TO IRE SAINTE. IN THREE PARTS. FIRST PART CONTAINING AN INTERLINEAR LITERAL TRANSLATION FROM FRENCH INTO ENGLISH. SECOND PART CONTAINING THE FRENCH ALONE. THIRD PART CONTAINING THE LITERAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION FROM THE FRENCH. THE WHOLE ARRANGED SO AS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSLATION OF FRENCH INTO ENGLISH ANC ENGLISH INTO FRENCH. 3^' BY A. A. ROUX, PROFESSOH OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN THE MOUNT PLEASANT ACADEMY, AND AUTHOR OF THE ZETETIC METHOD, OR EASIEST METHOD OF LEARNING FRENCH; ALSO, OF A NEW METHOD FOR ENGLISH, FRENCH, LATIN AND GREEK COMPOSITION, &C. &C. X E V/ - Y O R K : SPALDING & SHEPAP.D, R. LOCKWOOD & SON, 189i Broadway. 411 Broadway. BERARD & MONDON, JOHN WILEY, '"'"- 315 Broadway. 161 Broadway. PHILADELPHIA : R. E. PETERSON, E. H. BUTLER & CO., Cor. 5th & Arch sts. 23 Minor st. BOSTON: B. B. 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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by ALPHONSE A. ROUX, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New- York. PREFACE " This abridgment of Sacred History has been undertaken in order to faciUtate, in the study of the Latin language, those children who are jufet commencing to learn it. I have en- deavored to graduate it to their understanding without obscur- ing the purity of the expression, which should always be Latin, smce it is the Latin that is to be learned." Thus does the modest and learned Lhomond commence the preface of his Epitome Historice Sacrce. That which Lhomond has done with so much success for the Latin we have endeavored to do for the French, by translating his little work into French. We have added to it an English translation, interlinear and literal, leaving to the scholar and the professor the care of correcting our translation when it maybe necessary. We have ourselves set the example, by putting in Italics the words which, gram- matically speaking, must not be translated into English, and by enclosing in parentheses ( ) the words which should take the place of the literal translation. We regret that the want of space has prevented us from making these corrections more numerous. The first lessons in a foreign language are always tiresome for children, since they have either to commit to memory phrases or grammatical rules, or to translate from French into English, or to write exercises. In these last two cases, children find great labor and difficulty in searching for the proper words in their dictionaries ; in our translation we have almost always given the correct word. We have thought it useless to number the arrangement of the words, since all these marks offend the eye of the scholar, without producing any favorable result, for experience has proved to us that chil- dren seldom pay attention to them. We will not enlarge upon the advantages that an interlinear and literal translation presents ; suffice it to cite some names Vlll TREFACE. under the protection of which we respectfully place ourselves : Cicero, Q,uintilian, and the younger Pliny, among the ancients ; Erasmus, Milton, Locke, Dumarsais, Condillac, and many others, among the moderns. There are extant, both in French and English, several interlinear works. These works are all composed of fables, or select pieces, which are far from being progressive ; but there is no collection which, like the present one, presents an interesting series of historical events, written in a style which, though simple and easy, is rigorously gram- matical. We have divided our little work into three parts, so that it might be truly progressive ; it should be employed in the following manner : The scholar will first prepare his lesson in the interlinear translation, but when he appears in the class the second or third part only is to be used. The third part will be useful to habituate the pupil to the French idiom and for trans- lating English into French ; in this he must follow the arrange- ment of the English words, in order to give a good transla- tion. These arrangements, the fruits of the reflections and of the long experience of the author, it is hoped will facilitate the progress of pupils more than any other method now employed. In closing these observations, we would beg all teachers using our little work, to remember that we have endeavored to translate not the idea only, but the words ; consequently our rendering into Enghsh is more frequently a hteral translation of the French idiom than according to the rules of ^English syntax ; and we rely upon them to make such corrections as may seem to be required. CONTENTS. Dieu cree le monde en six jours 13 Dieu forme le corps d'Adam 13 Dieu place I'homme dans le Paradis 14 Desobeissance d'Adam et d'Eve 14 Adam et Eve se cachent 15 Dieu punit le serpent 15 Adam est chasse du Paradis - , . . . 16 Cain et Abel 16 Cain tue Abel 17 Punition de Cain 17 La construction de I'arche 18 Le deluge 18 Fin du deluge 18 Noe sort de I'arche 19 Corruption du genre humain 20 Vocation d' Abraham 20 Naissance d'Isaac 21 Abraham et son fils 21 Le sacrifice d' Abraham 22 Ehezer serviteur d' Abraham 22 ;6hezer consulte Dieu 23 Rebecca et sa famille 23 La maison de Bathuel 24 Le consentement 24 Depart de Rebecca 25 Mariage d'Isaac 25 flsaii vend son droit 26 Isaac et ;^sau 26 Conseil de Rebecca .27 Rebecca prepare la nourriture 27 Isaac beni^ Jacob 28 Retour d'Esaii 29 Depart de Jacob 29 Vision de Jaco.b 30 Arrivee de Jacob 30 Reception de Jacob 31 Retour de Jacob 31 Enfance de Joseph 32 Songes de Joseph 32 Resolution des freres de Joseph.. 33 109 181 109 181 109 181 110 181 110 181 110 182 111 182 111 182 111 182 112 182 112 182 112 183 112 183 113 183 113 183 113 183 114 184 114 184 114 184 115 184 115 184 115 184 116 185 116 185 116 185 117 185 117 185 117 186 118 186 118 186 118 186 119 186 119 187 119 187 120 187 120 187 120 187 121 187 121 188 121 188 CONTENTS. Ruben essaie de sauver Joseph 33 Joseph vendu par ses freres 33 La robe de Joseph. 34 Putiphar achete Joseph 35 Joseph est jete en prison 35 Songes de deux officiers J . . . . 35 Interpretation du premier songe 36 Interpretation du second songe 36 Accomphssement des deux songes 37 Songe de Pharaon 37 Le chef des echansons et Joseph 38 Joseph exphque le songe du roi..^ 39 Joseph devient Gouverneur de I'Egypte 39 Prudence de Joseph 40 Les fils de Jacob vont en Egypte 40 Joseph et ses freres 41 Joseph retient Simeon 41 Depart des freres de Joseph 42 Douleur de Jacob 43 Refus des fils de Jacob 43 Jacob consent enfin 44 Joseph et ses freres 44 Emotion de Joseph 45 La coupe d'argent 46 Joseph et son intendant 46 Le sac de Benjamin 47 Chagrins des fils de Jacob 47 Judas et Benjamin 48 Joseph se fait connaitre 48 Desir de Joseph 49 Pharaon envoie des presents a Jacob 49 Etonnement et joie de Jacob 50 Depart de Jacob 50 Joseph et Pharaon. 51 Joseph presente son pere a Pharaon 51 Desir de Jacob 52 Joseph presente ses fils a son pere 52 Mort de Jacob 53 Joseph console ses freres 53 La mort de Joseph „ 54 Les Israelites sont persecutes 54 Naissance de Moise 55 La filie de Pharaon sauve I'enfant 56 Des plaies d'Egypte 56 Les Hebreux sortent d'lGgypte 57 Moise separe les eaux de la mer 57 Les Hebreux passent la mer 58 Destruction de I'armee egyptienne. 58 pages 122 188 122 188 122 188 123 189 123 189 123 189 123 189 124 189 124 189 124 190 125 190 125 190 125 190 126 190 126 191 126 191 127 191 127 191 128 191 128 192 128 192 129 192 129 192 129 192 130 193 130 193 130 193 131 193 131 193 132 194 132 194 132 194 132 194 133 194 133 194 133 195 134 195 134 195 134 195 135 195 135 196 135 196 136 196 136 196 137 197 137 197 137 197 138 197 CONTENTS. XI Dieu nourrit son peuple 59 Dieu publie sa loi 60 Principaux articles de la loi 60 Construction du tabernacle 61 Les Hebreux passent le Jourdain 61 Josue eieve un monument 62 Les murs de Jericho tombent 62 Josue arrete le soleil 63 Mort de Josue 64 Un ange apparait a Gedeon 64 Gedeon le ve une armee 65 Gedeon remporte la victoire 65 Naissance de Samson. 66 Samson moleste les Philistins 67 Samson enleve les portes d'une ville 67 Samson est trahi 68 Mort de Samson 69 Naissance de Samuel 69 Dieu parle a Samuel 70 Resignation d'Heli 70 Malheurs d'Heli et de ses enfants 71 Saiil est elu roi 71 Premiere desobeissance de Saiil 72 Jonathas, fils de Saiil 73 Saiil veut punir son fils 73 Saiil desobeit une seconde fois 74 David calme Saiil 74 Goliath defie les Hebreux 75 David se presente contre Goliath 76 David prend seulement une fronde 76 David tue Gohath 77 Jalousie de Saiil contre David 77 Mauvaise foi de Saiil 78 Saiil essaye de tuer David 78 Saiil poursuit David 79 Mort de Saiil 80 David pleure la mort de Saiil SO David commet deux grands crimes 81 Parabole du prophete Nathan 81 Nathan explique la parabole 82 David jeiine et prie 82 Re volte d'Absalon contre son pere 83 Patience admirable de David 83 David rassemble une armee 84 Absalon est vaincu 85 Mort d'Absalon 85 David deplore la mort de son fils 86 Mort de David 86 138 197 138 197 139 198 139 198 139 198 140 198 140 198 140 199 141 199 141 199 141 199 142 200 142 200 143 200 143 200 143 200 144 201 144 201 144 201 145 201 145 201 145 102 146 202 146 202 147 202 147 203 147 203 148 203 148 203 148 203 149 204 149 204 150 204 150 204 150 204 151 205 151 205 151 205 152 205 152 205 153 206 153 206 153 206 154 206 154 206 154 207 155 207 155 207 Xli CONTENTS. pages Sagesse de Salomon 87 156 207 Tribunal de Salomon 87 155 207 Le jugement de Salomon 88 156 208 Temple de Jerusalem 88 157 208 Desordre et idolatrie de Salomon 89 157 208 Roboam aigrit le peuple 89 157 208 Dix tribus abandonnent Roboam 90 158 209 Courte duree du royaume d'Israel 90 158 209 Asa et Josaphat, rois de Juda 91 158 209 Joram et Ochosias, rois de Juda. 91 159 209 Mort d'Athalie. Regne de Joas 92 159 209 Crimes et mort de Joas 92 159 210 Amasias, roi de Juda 93 160 210 Osias et Joathan, rois de Juda 93 160 210 Achas, roi de Juda 94 160 210 Regne d'Ezechias ; sa piete 94 161 211 Siege de Jerusalem 95 161 211 Mort du roi Ezechias 96 161 211 Crimes de Manasses, sa repentance 96 162 211 Amon et Josias, rois de Juda 97 162 211 Destruction de Jerusalem 97 163 212 Daniel et ses compagnons 98 163 212 Les troLs Hebreux dans la fournaise 99 164 212 Festin impie de Balthazar 99 164 212 Daniel et les lions 100 164 213 Aman et Mardochee 100 165 213 Lamentations de Mardochee 101 165 213 Disgrace d'Aman 101 165 213 Cyrus accorde aux Juifs leur liberte 102 166 214 Etat des Juifs apres leur retour 103 166 214 Persecutions d'Antiochus 103 167 214 Martyre d'une mere et de ses fils 104 167 214 Premiere action de Judas Machab6e 105 167 215 Victoire de Judas sur Nicanor 105 168 215 Lysias vaincu par Judas 106 168 215 Judas purifie le temple 106 169 215 Guerre des nations voisines 107 169 216 Rois de Judee. Le Messie 108 170 216 HISTOIRE SAINTE. PREMIERE PARTIE. 1— DIEU CREE LE MONDE EN SIX JOURS. GOD CREATES THE WORLD IN SIX DAYS. B. c. 4004. Dieu crea le ciel et la terre en six jours. Le premier God created the heaven and the earth within six days. The first jour, il fit la lumiere. Le second jour, il fit le firma- day, he made the light. The second day, he made the firma- ment, qu'il appela ciel. Le troisieme jour, il rassembla ment, which he called Heaven. The third day, he collected les eaux dans un seul lieu, et fit-sortir de la terre les the waters into one place, and brought-out from the earlh the plantes et les arbres. Le quatrieme jour, il fit le soleil, plants and the trees. The fourth day, he made the sun, la lune et les etoiles. Le cinquieme jour, il fit les the moon and the stars. The fifth day, he made the oiseaux qui volent dans Fair, et les poissons qui nagent birds which fly in the air, and the fish wriich swim dans les eaux. Le sixieme jour, il fit tous les animaux, in the waters. The sixth day, he made all the animals, enfin il fit I'homme ; et il se reposa le septieme jour. at last he made the man ; and he * rested the seventh day. 2.— DIEU FORME LE CORPS D'ADAM. GOD MAKES THE BODY OF ADAM. Dieu forma le corps de I'homme du limon de la terre; God formed the body of the man from the clay of the earth ; il lui donna une ame vivante : il le fit a son image, he to him gave a soul living : he him made in his image, d'apres sa ressemblance, et il le nomma Adam. Ensuite after his likeness, and he him named Adam. Then 2 14 ZETETIC METHOD. il envoya un sommeil a Adam, et tira une de ses cotes he sent a sleep upon Adam, and drew out one of his ribs pendant son sommeil. De cette cote il forma une femme during his sleep. From this rib he formed a woman qu'il donna pour compagne a Adam : et c'est ainsi qu'il whom he gave for (a) companion to Adam: and il is thus that he institua le mariage. Le nom de la premiere femme fut instituted the marriage. The name of the first woman was Eve. Eve. 3.- -DIEU PLACE L'HOMME DANS LE PARADIS. GOD PLACES THE MAN IN THE PARADISE. God placa Adam et Eve dans un jardin tres-agreable, God placed Adam and Eve in a garden very delightful, appele Paradis terrestre. Un grand fleuve arrosait ce called Paradise earthly. A s^reat river watered this jardin : la etaient toutes sortes d'arbres agreables a la vue, garden : there were all sorts of trees pleasant to the sight, et des fruits doux au goat. Parmi ces arbres etait I'arbre and some fruits grateful to the taste. Among these trees was the tree de la science du bien et du mal. Dieu dit a I'homme : of the knowledge o(the good &nAoithe evil. God said to the man : Usez des fruits de tous les arbres du Paradis, excepte le Use o/the fruits of all the trees of the Paradise, except the fruit de I'arbre de la science du bien et du mal : car, si fruit of the tree of the knowledge oi Ike good and oi the evil: for, if vous mangez ce fruit, vous mourrez. you eat that fruit, you shall die. 4.— DESOBEISSANCE D'ADAM ET D'EVE. DISOBEDIENCE OF ADAM AND OF EVE. Le serpent, qui etait le plus ruse de tous les animaux, dit The serpent, which was the most cunning of all the animals, said a la femme : Pourquoi ne mangez- vous point le fruit de cet to the woman : Why — do eat you not the fruit of thia arbre ? La femme repondit : Dieu I'a defend u ; si nous y tree 1 The woman replied : God it has forbidden ; if we it PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. W touchons, nous mourrons. Non, dit le serpent, vous ne touch, we shall die. No, said the serpent, you — nnourrez pas ; mais vous serez semblables a Dieu, con- shall die not; but you shall be like to God, know- naissant le bien et le mal. La femme, trompee par ces ing the good and the evil. The woman, deceived by these paroles, cueillit et mangea le fruit : ensuite elle en cueillit words, plucked and ale the fruit: then she of it plucked de nouveau et en offrit a son mari, qui en mangea aussi. again and q/li oifered to her husband, who of it ate . also. 5.— ADAM ET EVE SE CACHENT. ADAM AND EVE THEMSELVES HIDE. Adam, fuyant la presence de Dieu, se cacha. Dieu Adam, flying the sight of God, himself hid. God I'appela et lui dit : '•' Adam, pourquoi vous cachez-vous ?" him called and to him said : "Adam, why you do hide yourself 1" II repondit : "J'ai craint votre presence." "Pourquoi He answered: " I have feared your sight." "Why craignez-vous, dit Dieu, si ce n'est parce que vous avez do fear you, said God, if it not is because you liave mange le fruit defendu?" Adam repondit : " La femme eaten the fruit forbidden?" Adam replied: "The woman que vous m'avez donnee pour compagne m'a presente ce whom you to me have given for / there to find their money. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 43: 59.->-DOULEUR DE JACOB. SORROW OF JACOB. Jacob, ayant appris que le gouverneur de FEgypte Jacob, having hear.1 that the governor of the Eygpt demandait Benjamin, se plaignit amerement. "Vous voulez asked for Benjamin, * complained bitterly. " You wish me priver de tons mes enfants : Joseph est mort, Simeon me to deprive of all my children : Joseph is dead, Simeon est retenu en Egypte, et vous voulez emmener Benja- is detained in Egypt, and you wish to take away Benja- min. Tous ces maux retombent sur moi ; je n'enverrai min. AH these evils fall upon me; I — will send away point Benjamin ; car si quelque malheur lui arrivait en not Benjamin; for if any evil to him s/tow/rf happen in chemin, je ne pourrais lui sui^vivre, et je mourrais (the) way, I not could tohxvn survive, and I should dio accable de douleur." overcome with grief." 60.— REFUS DES FILS DE JACOB. REFUSAL OF THE SONS OF JACOB. Quand les vivres qu'ils avaient apportes eurent ete When the provisions which they had brought had been consommes, Jacob dit a ses fils : '' Retournez en Egypte, consumed, Jacob said to his sons: '-Return into Egypt, pour acheter des vivres." lis lui repondirent : " Noiis in order to buy some provisions." They ^o him answered: "We ne pouvons pas aller en Egypte sans Benjamin, car le — can not go into Egypt without Benjamin, for the gouverneur de ce pays nous a ordonne d'amener notre governor of that country ^ous has ordered of to bring our jeune frere en Egypte." '' Pourquoi," dit le pere, young brother into Egypt." " Why," said the father, *' avez-vous fait mention de votre jeune frere ?" '' Le "have you made mention of your young brother?" "The gouverneur," dirent-ils, " nous demanda si notre pere governor," said they, " to us asked whether our father vivait, si nous avions un autre frere. Nous re'pondimes lived, whether we had an other brother. We replied ^ 44 . ZETETIC METHOD. a ses questions ; nous ne pouvions prevoir qu'il nous to his questions; we not ^could foreknow tiiat he to us dirait : Amenez ici votre frere." would say : Bring hither your brother." 61.— JACOB CONSENT ENFIN. JACOB CONSENTS AT LAST. Alors Judas, Fun des nls de Jacob, dit a son pere : Then Judah, I he one of the sons of Jacob, said to his > father; " Confiez-moi cet enfant: je le prends sous ma pro- " Trust to nrie this child : I him take under my pro- tection : j'en prendrai soin ; je vous le rendrai, et tection : lofhiai will take care; I to you liim will restore, and si je ne tiens pas ma promesse, la faute tombera sur moi. if " I — keep not my word, the fault shall fall upon me. Si VOUS aviez consent! au depart de notre frere, nous If you had consented to the departure of our brother, we serions deja de retour ici^pour la seconde fois." Enfifj would be already back here for the second time.'^ At last Jacob consentit au depart de son fils cheri. " Puisque Jacob consented to the departure of his son beloved. "Since cela est necessaire," dit-il, " Benjamin partira avec it is necessary," said he, " Benjamin shalLdepart with VOUS. Portez au gouverneur de I'Egypte des presents you. Bear to the governor of the Egypt some presents et une somme considerable, car ce fut peut-etre par and a sum considerable, for it was perhaps by erreur que votre premier argent vous fut rendu." mistake that your former money to you was restored." . 62.— JOSEPH ET SES FRERES. JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS. On annonca a Joseph que les memes hommes etaient ar- They announced to Joseph that the same men ti)ere(had) ar- rives avec leur jeune frere. Joseph ordonna qu'ils fussent rived with their young brother. Joseph ordered that they might be introduits, et donna ordre a ses officiers de preparer un introduced, and gave order to his officers ^ to prepare a PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 45 festin splendide. Mais les jeunes Hebreux craignaient feai;t splendid. But the young Hebrews feared d'etre accuses a-cause-de 1' argent qu'ils avaient trouve to be accused on account of the money which they had found dans leurs sacs : c'est pourquoi ils se justifierent. in their sacks : wherefore they themselves excused. lis -dirent a I'intendant de Joseph : '•' A notre retour a la They said to the steward of Joseph: "At our return at the maison. nous trouvames le prix du ble dans nos sacs : home, we found the price of the corn in our sacks: nous ne savons par quel hasard cela arriva.'' L'intendant we not know by what chance that happened." The steward leur dit : " Ayez bon courage, et ne vous inquietez to them said: "Have good courage, and — yourselves trouble pas." Ensuite il leur amena Simeon^ qui avait etc retenu. not." Afterwards he to them led Simeon, who had been retained. 63.— EMOTION DE JOSEPH. AGITATION OF JOSEPH. Ensuite Joseph entra dans la salle oii etaient ses freres ; Then Joseph entered into the room where were his brothers ; ils lui rendirent hommage et lui ofFrirent des presents. they to him rendered homage and to him offered some presents. Joseph les salua amicalement et leur demanda si leur Joseph them saluted amicably and to them asked if their pere etait encore vivant. Ils repondirent: "Notre pere father was yet living. They answered : " Our father vit encore, et il est en bonne sante." Mais Joseph, lives still, and he is in good health." But Joseph, ayant jet" les yeux sur Benjamin, dit : " Get enfant having cast the (his) eyes .upon Benjamin, said : " This child est sans doute votre jeune frere qui etait reste a la is without doubt your young brother who was (had) remained at the inaison avec votre pere ?" Alors Joseph dit a Benjamin : home with your father?" Then Joseph said to Benjamin: *"■ Que Dieu vous soit propice, mon ills.'" En pro- " That God to you maybe kind, my son." In pro- uoncant ces mots, il sortit brusquement, parce que son nouncing these words, he went out hastily, because hia cceur etait emu. heart was moved. ; 46 ZETETIC METHOD. 64.— LA COUPE D'ARGENT. THE CUP OF SILVER. Joseph, ayant lave son visage, revint, se retint, Joseph, having washed his face, I'eturned, himself restrained, et ordonna a son intendant de servir le diner. Alors and ordered to his steward of to serve the dinner. Then Joseph distribua la nourriture a chacun de ses freres ; Joseph distributed tho food to each one of his brothers; mais la part de Benjamin etait cinq fois plus grande que but the part of Benjamin was ftve times greater than celle des autres. Apres le festin, Joseph dit a son that of the others. After the feast, Joseph said to his intendant de remplir leurs sacs de ble, d'y remettre steward of to fill their sacks with corn, 0/ there to replace I'argent et de cacher une coupe d'argent dans le sac de the money and of to hide a cup of silver in the sack of Benjamin. L'intendant fit avec soin ce que Joseph lui Benjamin. Tne steward did with care what Joseph to him avait commande. had commanded. 65.— JOSEPH ET SON INTENDANT. JOSEPH AND mS STEWARD. Les freres de Joseph etaient partis, mais ils n'etaient pas The brothers of Joseph were (had) departed, but they were not encore loin de la ville. Alors Joseph appela son intendant yet far from the city. Then Joseph called his steward et lui dit : " Poursuivez ces hommes, et lorsque vous les and to him said : '• Pursue these men, and when you them aurez rejoints, dites-leur : ' Pourquoi avez-vous rendu le shall have overtaken, say to them : ' Why have you repaid the mal pour le bien ? Vous avez derobe la coupe d'argent evil for the good? You have stolen the cup of silver de mon maitre : vous avez agi contre la probite.' " of my master: you have acted contrary to /Ae probity.'" L'intendant executa les ordres de son maitre ; il vola im- The steward executed the orders of his master; he flew im- mediatement vers les freres de Joseph ; il les accusa de mediately to the brothers of Joseph ; he them accused of vol; et leur exposa I'indignite de cette action. robbery, and to them explained the disgrace of that action. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 47 66.— LE SAC DE BENJAMIN. THE SACK OF BEN.IAMLN. Les freres de Joseph repondirent a rintendant : " Nous The brothers of Joseph replied to the stevvaui: "We sommes bien eloignes d'avoir commis un tel crime, car, are very far /o/«are (of liaving) coaimitted a such crime, for, vous le savez vous-meme, nous avons rapporte de bonne you it know yourself, we have brought back with good foi I'argent que nous avions trouvc dans nos sacs. Chacun faith the money that we had found in our sacks. Each one de nous est si certain de Tinnocence de ses freres, que of us is so certain of the innocence of his brothers, that nous desirons que vous punissiez de mort quiconque a we wish that you may punish with death whomsoever has derobe la coupe." Aussitot ils deposent leurs sacs et les stolen the cup." Immediately they take down Iheir sacks and them ouvrent ; I'intendant les ayant fouiiles, trouva la coupe open ; the steward them having searched, found Ihe cup dans le sac de Benjamin. in the sack of Benjamin. 67.— CHAGRINS DES FILS DE JACOB. SORROWS OF THE SONS OF JACOB. Alors les fils de Jacob, accables de chagrin, retournerent Then the sons of Jacob, (being) oppressed by grief, returned c\ la ville. Etant amenes devant Joseph, ils se jeterent into the city. Being led before Joseph, they themselves cast a ses pieds. Joseph feign ant d'etre dans une grande at his feet. Joseph pretending of to be in a great colere s'ecria : '' Quelle action avez-vous faite !" Judas passion exclaimed : " What deed have you done !" Judah repondit : " Je I'avoue, la chose est manifeste ; nous ne replied : " I it confess, the thing is manifest ; we not pouvons donner d'excuse ; tous, nous serons vos esclaves." can to give any excuse ; all, we will be your slaves." " Point-du-tout," dit Joseph, "celui sur qui la coupe a ete " Not-at-all," said Joseph, " he with whom the cup has been trouvee sera mon esclave, mais ses freres seront libres." found shall be my slave, but his brother sshall be free." 48 ZETETIC METHOD. 68.— JUDAS ET BENJAMIN. JUDAH AND BENJAMIN. Alors Judas, s'approchant de Joseph, lui dit : " Mon- Then Judah, * approaching of Joseph, to him said : My seigneur, je vous prie d'ecouter avec bonte ce que j'ai a lord, I yoa pray of to hear with kindness what I have to VOUS dire. Notre pere aime tendrement cat enfant ; il ne you say. Our father loves tenderly this child ; he — voulait pas d'abord Tenvoyer avec nous ; je ne pus was willing not at first him to send with us ; I not could obtenir cela de lui, qu'apres que je lui eus promis qu'il obtain that from him, until after that I to him had promised that he serait a I'abri de tout danger. Si nous retournons a la would be sheltered from all danger. If we return aL the maison sans cet enfant, notre pere, accable de douleur, home without this child, our father, oppressed with grief, succombera sous le poids de sa detresse. Je vous prie, je will sink under the weight of his distress. I you pray, 1 vous conjure de permettre a cet enfant de partir, je m'ofFre you entreat of to permit to this child of to go, I myself offer d'etre votre esclave a sa place, et de subir le chatiment of to be your slave in his place, and of to suffer the punishment qu'il merite." which he deserves." 69.— JOSEPH SE FAIT CONNAITRE. JOSEPH HIMSELF MAKES KNOWN. Pendant que Judas parlait, Joseph pouvait a peine se While that Judah was speaking, Joseph was able scarcely himself retenir ; il ordonna done aux Egyptiens qui etaient pre- to restrain ; he ordered wherefore to the Egyptians who were pre- sents de se retirer. Alors il dit en pleurant : " Je suis sent of * to retire. Then he said in weeping: "I am Joseph: mon pere vit-il encore?" Ses freres, qui etaient Joseph : my father does live he still 7" His brothers, who were saisis de crainte, ne pouvaient lui repondre. Joseph leur seized with fear, not were able to him to answer. Joseph to them dit amicalement: "Approchez,je suis Joseph votre frere que eaid amicably : " Approach, I am Joseph your brother whom PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRAXSLATOR. 49 V0U3 avez vendu a des marchands qui allaient en Egypt : you have sold to some merchants who were going into Egypt : ne craignez rien ; cela arriva par la providence de Dieu, — fear nothing ; it happened by the providence of God, afin que je pourvusse a votre conservation. to the end that I might provide for your safety. 70.— DESIR DE JOSEPH. DESIRE OF JOSEPH. Ayant dit ces mots, Joseph embrassa son frere Benjamin Having said these words, Joseph embraced his brother Benjamin et I'arrosa de larmes. II embrassa aussi ses autres freres and him sprinkled with tears. He kissed also his other brothers en pleurant avec eux. Alors enfin ils lui parlerent avec in weeping with them. Then at last they to him spoke with confiance. Joseph leur dit : '• Retournez promptement confidence. Joseph to them said: "Return promptly chez mon pere ; annoncez-lui que son fils est vivant et to my father ; announce to him that his son is living and qu'il a bsaucoup de credit aupres de Pharaon : persuadez- that he has much of power near of Pharaoh : persuade lui de passer en Egypte avec loute sa famille.'* him of to pass into Egypt with all his family.'' 71. -PHARAON ENVOIE DES PRESENTS A JACOB. PHARAOH SENDS SOME PRESENTS TO .JACOB. Le bruit de I'arrivee des freres de Joseph parvint aux The report of the arrival of the brothers of Joseph came to the oreilles du roi : il leur donna des presents pour leur pere, ears of the king : he to them gave some presents for their father, et leur exprima son desir de le voir. II leur dit aussi : and to them expressed his desire of him to see. He to them said also : "Amenez ici votre pere et toute sa famille ; je vous fournirai '• Bring here your father and all his family ; I to you will furnish toutes les choses qui vous seront necessaires, et toutes les all the things which to you shall be necessary, and all tlie richesses de I'Egypte seront a votre disposition." II envoya riches of the Egypt shall be at your disposal." He sent 50 ZETETIC METHOD. aussi des chariots pour transporter le vieillard, les enfants also some chariots in order to bring down the old man, the children et les femmes. and the women. 72.— ETONNEMENT ET JOIE DE JACOB. ASTONISHMENT AND JOY OF JACOB. Les freres de Joseph se haterent de retourner chez leur The brothers of Joseph * hastened of to return to their pere, et lui annoncerent que Joseph etait vivant et qu'il farther, and to him related that Joseph was living and that he etait gouverneur de toute I'Egypte. En apprenant ces was governor of all the Egypt. In tiearing this nouvellesj Jacob, comme reveille d'un profond sommeil, fut news, Jacob, as if aroused from a profound sleep, was saisi d'etonnement. D'abord il ne voulut pas croire ce que seized with astonishment. At first he — would not believe what ses fils lui avaient dit, mais, quand il eut vu les chariots et his sons to him had said, but, when he had seen the chariots and les presents envoyes par le roi, il revint bientot a lui et the presents sent by the king, he came again soon to himself and dit: "C'est assez, Joseph mon fils vit encore, j'irai et je le said: "It is enough, Joseph my son lives still, I will go and I him verrai avant que je meure." will see before that I may die." 73.— DEPART DE JACOB. DEPARTURE OF JACOB. Jacob, etant parti avec toute sa famille, arriva en Egyyte, .Jacob, ftemg- (having) departed with all his family, arrived in Egypt, et 11 envoya Judas a Joseph pour lui annoncer son arrivee. and he sent Judah to Joseph in order to him announce his arrival. Aussitot Joseph partit pour recevoir son pere : des qu'il Immediately Joseph set out in order to meet his father : as soon as he 1q vit, il se jeta a son cou et embrassa en pleurant le him saw, he himself threw on his neck and embraced in weeping the vieillard qui pleurait aussi. Alors Jacob dit : " J'ai assez old maa who was weeping also. Then Jacob said : " I have enough PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 51 vecu, puisque j'ai vu votre visage, et puisque les promesses lived, since I have seen your face, and since the promises du Dieu de nos peres sont accomplies." of the God of our fathers are fulfilled." 74._JOSEPH ET PHARAON. JOSEPH AND PHARAOH. Joseph alia au palais de Pharaon et annonca au roi I'ar- Joseph went to tbe palace of Pharaoh and announced to the king the ar- rivee de son pere ; ensuite il lui presenta cinq de ses rival of his father ; afterwards he to him presented five of his freres. Le roi leur demanda quelle etait leur occupation. brothers. The king to them asked what was their business. lis repondirent qu'ils etaient bergers. Alors le roi dit a They answered that they were shepherds. Then the king said to Joseph : " L'Egypte est sous votre pouvoir : ayez soin que Joseph : " The Egypt is under your power : have care that votre pere et vos freres habitent dans le meilleur pays. Si your father and your brothers dwell in the best land. If parmi vos freres quelques-uns sont tres actifs et tres indus- among your brothers some ones are very active and very indus- trieux, confiez-leur le soin de mes troupeaux." trious, confide to them the care of my flocks." 75.— JOSEPH PRESENTS SON P:&RE A PHARAON. JOSEPH PRESENTS HIS FATHER TO PHARAOH. Joseph presenta aussi son pere a Pharaon : Jacob I'ayant Joseph presented also his father to Pharaoh : Jacob him having salue, le roi lui demanda quel age il avait. Jacob saluted, the king to him asked what age he had. Jacob repondit au roi : " J'ai vecu cent trente ans, mais je answered to the king : " I have lived (an) hundred (and) thirty years, but I n'ai pas joui d'une vieillesse aussi heureuse que celle de — have not enjoyed of an old age as happy as that of mes ayeux." Ensuite, apres avoir prie pour le roi, il my ancestors." Then, after io/taiJC (having) prayed for the king, he sortit. Joseph placa son pere et ses freres dans la meilleure went out. Joseph placed his father and his brothers in the best 52 ZETETIC METHOD. partie de I'Egypte et leur fournit toutes choses en abon- part of the Egypt and to them supplied all things in abun- dance, dance. 76.— DESIR DE JACOB. DESIRE OF JACOB. Jacob vecut dix-sept ans apres son arrivee en Egypte. Jacob lived seventeen years after his arrival in Egypt. Quand il sentit que la mort le menacait il appela Joseph, , When he perceived that the death him threatened he called Joseph, et lui dit : *' Si vous m'aimez, promettez-moi de faire and to him said : " If you me love, promise to me — to do ce que je vais vous demander." Joseph le promit. what J am going you to ask." Joseph it promised. Jacob continua : " Je desire que mon corps ne soit pas Jacob continued : " I desire that my body — may be not enterre en Egypte, mais qu'il soit transporte hors de ce buried in Egypt, but that it may be carried out from this pays, ear je desire qu'il soit place dans le tombeau de country, for I desire that it may be placed in the tomb of mes ancetres." Joseph repondit : " O mon pere [ je ferai my ancestors." Joseph answered : " O my father ! I will do ce que vous m'ordonnez." what you to me order." 77.— JOSEPH PRESENTE SES FILS A SON VtKE. JOSEPH PRESENTS HIS SONS TO HIS FATHER. Joseph amena a son pere ses deux fils, Manasse et Ephraim; Joseph led to his father his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim ; • il placa Manasse, qui etait I'aine, a la droite du vieillard> he placed Manasseh, who was the elder, to the right (hand) of the old man, et il placa Ephraim, qui etait le plus jeune, a la gauche and he placed Ephraim, who was the youngest, to the left (hand) de Jacob. Mais Jacob, croisant ses mains, mit sa main of Jacob. But Jacob, crossing his hands, put his hand droite sur Ephraim, et sa main gauche sur Manasse, et right on Ephraim, and his hand left on Manasseh, and PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 53 benit les deux enfants. Joseph, ayant remarque cela, blessed the two children. Joseph, having observed that, tacha de changer les mains de son pere. Mais son pere attempted oj to change the hands of his father. But his father refusa, at dit a Joseph : " Je sais, mon fils, je sais que refused, and said to Joseph : '• I know, my son, I know that celui-ci est I'aine, et celui-la le plus jeune : j'ai fait cela this one is the elder, and that one the youngest : I have done it avec intention." Ainsi Jacob prefera Ephraim a Manasse. with intention." Thus Jacob preferred Ephraim to Manasseh. 78.— MORT DE JACOB. DEATH OF JACOB. Des que Joseph vit son pere mort, il se jeta sur lui en As soon as Joseph saw his father dead, he himself threw upon him in pleurant et I'embrassa longtemps. Ensuite il commanda weeping and him kissed long time. Then he commanded aux medecins d'embaumer le corps, et avec ses freres et to the physicians of to embalm the body, and with his brothers and plusieurs Egyptiens, il transporta le corps de son pere dans several Egyptians, he carried the body of his father into la terre deChanaan. La, ils ensevelirent le corps dans le the land of Canaan. There, they buried the body in the tombeau ou reposaient Abraham et Isaac, et puis ils re- tomb where were laying Abraham and Isaac, and then they re> tournerent en Egypte. turned . into Egypt. 79._JOSEPH CONSOLE SES FRERES. JOSEPH COMFORTS HIS BROTHERS. Apres la mort de leur pere, les freres de Joseph craignaient After the death of their father, the brothers of Joseph feared qu'il voulut se venger de I'injure qu'il avait re- that he would himself revenge of the injiiry which he bad re- cue ; ils lui envoyerent done un messager, pour le ceived ; they to him sent therefore a messenger, in order him supplier, au nom de leur pere, de leur pardonner cette to supi>licate, in the name of their father, of /o them to pardon thaj, 5* 54 ZETETIC METHOD. offense. Joseph leur repondit : " Vous n'avez rien a oflfence. Joseph to them answered : " You — have nothing to craindre j il est vrai que vous avez agi contre moi avec fear; it is true that you have acted against me with une mauvaise intention ; mais Dieu a change cela en bien ; a bad intention ; but God has chanced that into good ; ainsi ne craignez rien, je vous nourrirai, vous et vos so — fear nothing, I you will feed, yourselves and your families." II leur parla long temps avec bonte, et families." He to them spoke long time with kindness, and les consola. them comforted. ^ 80.— LA MORT DE JOSEPH. THE DEATH OF JOSEPH. Joseph vecut cent dix ans, et lorsqu'il sentit qu'il Joseph lived (an) hundred (and) ten years, and when he perceived that he allait mourir, il assembla ses freres. " Je sens que je was going to die, he assembled his brothers. " I perceive that I mourrai bientot," leur dit-il : " Dieu ne vous abandonnera shall die soon," to them said he : " God — you will desert pas, mais il sera votre protecteur, il vous conduira dans not, but he will be your protector, he you will lead into le pays qui a ete promis a nos peres ; je vous prie, je the land which has been promised to our fathers ; I you pray, I VOUS conjure d'y transporter mes osseraents." Ensuite il you, entreat there to carry my bones." Then he expira tranquillement ; son corps fut embaume avec expired peacefully ; his body was embalmed with (a) beaucoup de soin, et puis les freres de Joseph placerent great deal of care, and afterwards the brothers of Joseph placed le corps de leur bienfaiteur dans un cercueil. the body of their benefactor in a coffin. 81.— LES ISRAELITES SONT PERSECUTES. THE ISRAELITES ARE PERSECUTED. Apres la mort de Joseph, les Israelites (c'etait le nom que After the death of Joseph, the Israelites (it was the name that PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR.' 55 Dieu leur avait donne,) augmenterent en nombre d une God to them had given,) increased in number in a maniere etonnante, et leur nombre, croissant de jour en manner wonderful, and their number, increasing from day to jour, inspirait beaucoup^ de crainte aux Egyptiens. Un day, inspired (a) great deal of fear to the Egyptians. A nouveau roi posseda le trone ; il n'avait pas vu Joseph, et new king possessed the throne ; he — had not seen Joseph, and ne se souvenait point de ses services. Ce roi, done, — * did remember not of his services. This king, therefore, pour opprimer les Hebreux ou Israelites, les accablait in order to oppress the Hebrews or Israehtes, (hem wore out d'abord de travaux penibles ; ensuite il osa ordonner de at first by labors hard ; then he dared to order of Jeter dans le fleuve les enfants nouvellement nes. to throw into the river the children newly born. 82.— NAISSANCE DE MOISE.— a. m. 2433. _ BIRTH OF MOSES.— b. c. 1571. Une femme israelite engendra un fils, et, voyS.nt qu'il etait a woman Israelite bore a son, and, seeing that he was tres joli, elle voulut le sauver. C'est pourquoi elle le very handsome, she wished him to preserve. Wherefore she him cacha pendant trois mois ; mais quand elle ne put le concealed during three months; but when she not could him cacher plus longtemps, elle prit une corbeille de jonc, to hide any longer, she took a basket of rush, qu'elle enduisit de bitume et de poix. Ensuite elle placa which she smeared with pitch and with tar. Then she placed le petit enfant dans la corbeille, et I'exposa parmi les the little infant in the basket, and him exposed among the roseaux qui etaient sur les bords du fleuve. Elle avait reeds which were oa the shores of the river. She had avec elle pour compagne une des soeurs de I'enfant; with her for (a) companion one of the sisters of the infant; elle lui ordonna de se tenir a une certaine distance, she to her ordered of nerself to keep at a certain distance, pour voir ce que le petit enfant deviendrait. in order to see what the little infant would become!. 56 ZETETIC METHOD. 83.— LA FILLE DE PHARAON SAUVE L'ENFANT. THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH PRESERVES THE INFANT. Bientot apres, la fille de Pharaon vint au fleuve pour Soon after, the daughter of Pharaoh came to the river in order prendre un bain. Elle apercul la corbeille qui etait dans to take a bath. She perceived the basket which was among les roseaux, et y envoya une de ses servantes. the reeds, and there sent one of her female servants. Ayant ouvert la corbeille, elle vit le petit enfant, qui Having opened the basket, she saw the little infant, who criait, et en eut pitie : " C'est," dit-elle, " un des was crying, and of him had pity: "This is," said she, "one of tfte enfants des Hebreux." Alors la sceur de I'enfant s'ap- infants of the Hebrews." Then the sister of the boy * ap- prochant, lui dit: " Voulez-vous une nourrice Israelite ?" proaching, to her said: "Will (have) you a nurse Israelite?" et elle appela sa mere. La fille de Pharaon lui donna and she called her mother. The daughter of Pharaoh to her gave I'enfant, Ainsi I'enfant fut nourri par sa propre mere ; the boy. - Thus the boy was nursed by his own mother; et quand il eut grandi elle le rendit a la fille de and when he had (was) grown she him restored to the daughter of Pharaon, qui I'adopta et le nomma Moise, c'est a dire, Pharaoh, who him adopted and him named Moses, that is to say, sauve des eaux. saved from the waters. 84.— LES PLATES D'EGYPTE. THE, PLAGUES OF EGYPT, Moise, deja vieux, alia, par I'ordre de Dieu, trouver Pha- Moses, now old, went, by the order of God, to meet Pha- raon, et lui commanda, au nom de Dieu, de laisser raoh, and to him commanded, to (in) the name of God, of to let partir les Hebreux. Le roi refusa d'obeir aux ordres ?o depart the Hebrews. The king refused q/" to obey to {he orders de Dieu. Moise, pour vaincre I'opiniatrete de Pharaon, of God. Moses, in order to conquer the obstinacy of Pharaoh, fit plusieurs prodiges etonnants, qu'on appelle les performed many prodigies wonderful, which they call ttie PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 57 plaies d'Egypte. Neanmoins Pharaon persista dans son plagues of Egypt. Nevertheless, Pharaoh persisted in his aveuglement ; alors Dieu frappa le fils premier ne du roi, blindness; then God slew the son first-born of the king, et tons les premiers nes des Egyptiens. Enfin, vaincu and all the first-born of the Egyptians. At last, conquered par la crainte, le roi obeit, et donna aux Hebreux la per- by the fear, the king obeyed, and gave to the Hebrews (he per- mission de partir. missioQ of to depart. 85.--LES HEBREUX SORTENT D'EGYPTE. THE HEBREWS GO OUT OF EGYPT. Les Hebreux partirent d'Egypte au nombre de six cent The Hebrews departed from Egypt to the number of six hundred mille hommes, outre les enfants et les femmes. Moise thousand men, besides the children and the women. Moses prit avec lui les ossements de Joseph, car les freres de Jo- took with him the bones of Joseph, for the brothers of Jo- seph avaient promis a leur protecteur de transporter ses seph had promised to their protector of to carry his ossements dans la terre promise. Pendant le jour, une bones into the land promised. During the day, a colonne de nuee, et pendant la nuit, une colonne de feu, column of cloud, and during the night, a column of fire, allaient devant les Israelites, pour les guider. Quelques went before the Israelites, in order them to guide. (A) few jours apres leur depart d'Eg^ypte, les Hebreux arriverent days after their departure from Egypt, the Hebrews arrived aux bords de la mer rouge, et y camperent. to the shores of the Sea Red, and there encamped. 86.— MOISE SEPARE LES EAUX DE LA MER. MOSES DIVIDES THE WATERS OF THE SEA. Bientot le roi fut fache d'avoir permis le depart de Soon the king was sorry of lo have permitted the departure of tant de milliers d'hommes ; il assembla, done, une so many of thousands of men ; he collected, therefore, an 58 ZETETIC METHOD. armee, et poursuivit les Hebreux, LesHebreux, se army, and pursued the Hebrews. The Hebrews, themselves voyant d'un cote arretes par la mer, et de I'autre c6te seeing from one side enclosed by the sea, and from the other side, presses par Pharaon avec toutes ses troupes, furent saisis pressed on by Pharaoh with all his troops, were seized d'une grande crainte. Alors Dieu dit a Moise : with a great fear. Then God said to Moses: " Etendez votre main droite sur la mer, et divisez les «' Stretch forth your hand right over the sea, and divide the eaux, afin qu'elles ouvrent un chemin sec aux He- waters, to the end that they may open a path dry to the He- breux." brews." 87.— LES HEBREUX PASSENT LA MER. THE HEBREWS PASS THE SEA. Moise fit ce que Dieu lui avait commande : lorsqu'il tenait Moses did what God fo him had commanded: when he held sa main etendue sur la mer, les eaux se diviserent ; et un his hand extended over the sea, the waters * divided ; and a vent violent dessecha le lit de la mer. Alors les Hebreux wind strong dried up the channel of the sea. Then the Hebrews entrerent dans la mer, qui etait a-sec ; car I'eau se tenait entered into the sea, which was dried up ; for the water itself held comme un mur a leur droite et a leur gauche. Le roi as a wall at their right hand and at their left hand. The king d'Egypte, poursuivant les Hebreux, n'hesita point a entrer of Egypt, pursuing the Hebrews, — did hesitate not to enter dans la mer avec toute son armee. into the sea with all his army. 88.— DESTRUCTION DE L'ARMEE EGYPTIENNE. DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMY EGYPTIAN. Lorsque les Egyptiens s'avancaient au milieu de la mer, While the Egyptians * were proceeding into the midst of the sea, le Seigneur renversa leurs chars et leurs cavaliers. Les the Lord threw down their chariots and their horsemen. The PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 59 Egyptiens, frappes de terreur, commencerent a fair ; mais Egyptians, struck with terror, began to fly ; but Dieu dit a Moise : "Etendez encore votre main droite sur God said to Moses: '' Stretch forth again your hand right over la mer, afin que les eaux reviennent a leur place." Moise the sea, in order that the waters come back to their place." Moses obeit ; et aussitot les eaux, reprenant leur cours, englou- obeyed ; and immediately the waters, taking again their course, over- tirent les Egyptiens avec leurs chars et leurs cavaliers ; whelmed the Egyptians with their chariots and their horsemen ; toute I'armee de Pharaon fut detruite au milieu des flots. all the army of Pharaoh was destroyed in the midst of the waves. C'est ainsi que Dieu delivra les Hebreux de I'injuste It is thus that God freed the Hebrews from the unjust servitude des Egyptiens. slavery of the Egyptians. 89.— DIEU NOURRIT SON PEUPLE. GOD NOURISHES HIS PEOPLE. Les Hebreux, apres avoir traverse la Mer Rouge, errerent The Hebrews, after having crossed the Sea Red, wandered longtemps dans un grand desert. Le pain leur manquait ; for a long time in a great desert. The bread to them was wanting ; mais Dieu lui-meme les nourrit: pendant quarante ans, but God himself them fed : during forty years, une nourriture qu'ils appelerent manne tomba du ciel. a food which they called manna fell from //te heaven. Cette nourriture etait excellente ; elle avait le gout de This food was excellent; it had the taste o' farine melee avec du miel. Quelquefois aussi, I'eau leur meal mingled with som€ honey. Sometimes also, the water to them manquait ; mais, par I'ordre de Dieu, Moise frappa un was wanting ; but, by the order of God, Moses struck a rocher avec sa baguette, et aussitot des sources d'eau douce rock with his rod, and immediately some springs of water sweet jaillirent. burst forth. 60 ZETETIC METHOD. 90.— DIEU PUBLIE SA LOI. GOD PUBLISHES HIS LAW.— B. c. 1491. Le troisieme mois apres que les Hebreux eurent quitte The third month after that the Hebrews had left I'Egypte, ils arriv^rent au mont Sinai. La, Dieu leur the Egypt, they arrived to the mount Sinai. There, God to them donna sa loi avec une solemnite efFrayante. II commenca gave his law with a solemnity frightful, Ic began a tonner, les eclairs brillerent ; une nuee epaisse couvrit to thunder, the lightnings shone ; a cloud thick covered la montagne, et le son de la trompette retentit avec un the mountain, and the sound of the trumpet resounded with a grand bruit. Le peuple, trennblant de frayeur et de respect, . great noise. The people, trembling with fear and with respect, se tenait debout au pied du mont qui fumait. Mais Dieu, * stood up at the foot of the inoimt which was smoking. But God, sur la montagne, parla du milieu de la nue, entre les on the mountain, spoke from the midst of the cloud, amidst the eclairs _et les tonnerres. lightnings and the thunders. 91.— PRINCIPAUX ARTICLES DE LA LOI. PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF THE LAW. Voici les paroles que Dieu prononca : " Je suis le Seigneur, Here are the words which God uttered: "I am the Lord, qui vous ai tires de la servitude des Egyptiens. Vous who you has led from the slavery of the Egyptians. You n'aurez point de dieux etrangers ; car je suis le seul vrai — shall have not any gods strange j for I am the only true Dieu. Vous n'emploierez point le nom de votre Dieu God. you — shall use not the name of your God temerairement et sans sujet. Vous ne ferez aucun ou- rcishly and without cause. You — shall do no la- vrage le jour du Sabbat. Honorez votre pere et votre bour(on)the day of the Sabbath. Honour your father and your mere. Vous ne tuerez point. Vous ne commettrez point mother. You — shall kill not. You — shall commit not d'aduletre. Vous ne deroberez point. Vous ne porterez any adultery. You — shall steal not. You — shall bear PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 61 point de faux tcmoignage centre votre prochain. Vous ne not any false testimony against yi)ur neighbor. You — convoitercz point le bien d'autrui." sliall covet not the wealth oi ano.her." 92._CONSTRUCTION DU TABERNACLE. CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE, Moise, par I'avis de Dieu, ordonna aux Flebreux de cons- Mo:?es, by the ailvice of Go(J, onlere*! to tlie Hebrews of to con- truire le tabernacle avec des praux et des etoffes tres- struct the latbernacle with Sdine skins and some stuffs very precieuses ; 11 ordonna aussi que I'arche d'alliance, dans preciiius ; he ordered also tliat the ark of (lie covenant, in laquelle il mit les tables de la loi divine, fut revetue d'or which he put the tablets of the law ilivine, should be clothed with gold pur. Lorsqu'il etait deja pres de la terre que Dieu avait pure. When he was alreaily near of the land which God had promise a son people, cet homme. vraiment adtTiirable par promised to his people, this man, truly admirable by sa sagesse et ses autres vertus, mourut. Le peuple le his wisdom and his other virtues, died. The people him pleura pendant trente jours. A Moise succeda Josue, que mourned fluring" thirty days. To Moses succeeded Joshua, whom Moise avait lui-meme designe avant sa nnort. Moses had himself pointed out before liis death. 93.— LES HEBREUX PASSRNT LE JOURDAIN. THE HEUP.EVVS PASS THE JORDAN.— b c. 1451. Pour introduire les Hebreux dans la terre promise, il etait In order to introduce the Htbrews into the land promised, it was necessaire de passer le Jourdain, mais ils n'avaient pas une necessary of to cross the Jordan, but they — had not a quantite suffisante de vaisseaux, et le fleuve, coulant alors quantity snfBoienl of ships, and the river, Iluwing then a plein lit, n'offrait pas un endroit gueable. Dieu vint with full channel, — ofTered not a place fordable. God came a leur secours : Josuej ordonna de porter I'arche d'alliance to their help: Joshua ordeied of lo carry the ark of covenant 6 62 ZETETIC METHOD. devant le peuple, qui recut I'ordre de la suivre. A I'ap- before the people, who received the order of it to follow. At the ap- proche de I'arche, les eaux qui coulaient d'en haut se tinrent proach of the ark, the waters which were running from above * stood comme un mur, et celles qui etaient au-dessous s'ecoulerent as a wall, and those which were below * flowed off et laisserent le lit saris eau. and left the channel without water. 94.— JOSUE ELEVE UN MONUMENT. JOSHUA ERECTS A ' MONUMENT. Les Hebreux mareherent a travers le lit dessecbe du The Hebrews walked through the channel dry of the fleuve, jusqu'a ce qu'ils eussent atteint la rive opposee ; river, until that they had reached the bank opposite ; alors les eaux retournerent dans leur ancienne place. then the waters returned to their former place. Mais Josue prit douze pierres du milieu du fleuve, et Then Joshua took twelve stones from the midst of the river, and les disposa sur la rive, afin qu'elles fussent un monument them raised on the bank, that they might be a monument ^ternel de ce miracle. II dit aux Hebreux : " Si un jour everlasting of that miracle. He said to the Hebrews : " If one day vos enfants vous demandent ce que signifie cet amas de your children to you ask what signifies this mass of pi6rres, vous leur repondrez : Nous avons passe le fleuve stones, you to them shall reply : We have passed the river du Jourdain a pied sec, et c'est pour cette raison que of the Jordan v^ith foot dry, and it is for that reason that nous avons place ces pierres, afm que nos enfants we have placed these stones, in order that our children apprennent combien est grande la puissance de Dieu." : may learn how is great the power of _God." 95.— LES MURS DE JERICHO TOMBENT. THE WALLS OF JERICHO FALL. II y avait dans ces lieux une villd nommee Jericho, // there had (was) in these places a city named Jericho, PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 63 defendue par des murs tres-forts et par des tours ; elle ne defended by soma walls very strong and by some lowers ; it — pouvait ni otre prLse d'assaiit, ni etre assiegee could neither ;« be taken by assault, nor toba besieged facilement. Josu', se confiant au secours de Dieu, at- easily. Joshua, * trusting to the aid of God, at- taqua la ville, rioii par les armes ni par la force. II or- taclied tlie city, not by the arms nor by the strength. He or- donna de porter I'arche auiour des murs, il ordonna dered of to carry the ark around o/the walls, he ordered aussi aux pretres de marcher devant elle en sonnant de la also to the pries'.s of to walk before it in sounding q/ the trompette. Lorsque I'arche eut ete portee sept fois autour trumpet. When the ark had been borne seven times around de la ville, les murs et les tours tomberent immediatement, of the city, the walls and the towers fell down immediately, et la ville fut prise et pillee. and the city was taken and plundered. 96._JOSUE ARRETS LE SOLEIL. JOSHUA STOPS THE SUN. Les rols de Chanaan, ayant reuni leurs forces, s'avancerent The kings of Canaan, having united their forces, * proceeded centre les Hebreux ; mais Dieu dit a Josue : *' Ne les against the Hebrews; but- God said to Joshua: " — them craignez point ; la victoire sera a vous." C'est pourquoi do fear not; the victory shall be to you." Therefore Josue fondit avec impetuosite sur ces rois, qui, etant Joshua rushed with impetuosily upon these kings, who, being saisis d'une frayeur soudaine, prirent la fuite. Alors une seized with a fear sudden, took the flight. Then a grele de pierres tomba sur les ennemis des Hebreux et hail of stones fell upon the enemies ol tlie Hebrews and en tua un grand nombre. Mais comme le jour baissait of them killed a great number. But as the day inclined sur le soir, et I'afTaire n'etant pas encore terminee, towards the evening, and the conflict — being not yet terminated, Josue ordonna au soleil de s'arreter : et, en effet, le soleil Joshua ordered /othe sun of * to stand : and, in fact, the sun 64 ZETETIC METHOD. s'arreta et prolongea le jour jusqu'a ce que I'armee des * slood aiul prnlonued ihe day until that the army of the ennemis eut ete entierement detruite. enemies had been entirely destroyed. 97._MORT DE JOSUE.~a. m. 2578. DEATH OF JOSHUA. -B. c. 1426. Josuu, apres avoir vaincu tousles peuples de la Palestine, Joshua, after having conquered all the people of Ihe Palestine, etablit les Hebreux dans la terre promise;' il divisa entre established the Hebrews in the land promi.sed; he divided among chaque tribu les terres et les villes conquises, et il mourut. each tribe the lands and the cities conquered, and he died. Apres la mort de Josue, le supreme pouvoir fut defere After the death of Joshua, the supreme power was transferred k des juges, parmi lesquels furent Gedeon, Samson et to some judges, among whom were Gideon, Samson arid Samuel. Dans la suite, la fortune des Hebreux fut difFe- Samuel. Afterwards, the fortune of the Hebrews Vvas diflffe- rente selon leurs difforentes moeurs; souvent ils rent according to their different manners ; often they p'cherent centre Dieu ; alors etant prives du secours divin, sinned against Gcjd ; then being deprived oftho help divine, ils etaient vaincus par leurs ennemis: mais, aussi souvent they were conquered by their enemies: but, as often que, retournanta Dieu, ils implorerent son secours, Dieu, as, reurning to God, they entreated his aid, God, etant apaise, les delivra. being appeased, them freed. 98._-UN ANGE APPARAIT A GEDEON. AN ANGEL APPEARS TO GIDEON. Les Hebreux, etant tourmentes par les Madianites, The Hebrews, being troubled by the Midianites', implorerent le secours de Dieu, qui entendit leurs prieres. sought the aid of God, who heard their prayers. Un ange se presenta a Gedeon : " Homnae tres-coura- An angel himself presented to Gideon : " Man very coura- PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 65 geux," lui dit-il, " le Seigneur est avec vous." Gedeon geous," to him said he, " the Lord is with you." Gideon repondit : " Si Dieu est avec nous, pourquoi souimes-nous answered: "If God is with us, why are we accables par un cruel esclavage V L'ange lui repondit : oppressed with a cruel slavery ?" The angel to him answered : " Avancez avec courage, et vous delivrerez votre peuple "Advance with courage, and you shall free your people de la servitude des Madianites." Gedeon ne voulait from the slavery of the Midianltes." Gideon — was willing pas d'abord entreprendre une si grande tache ; raais etant not at first to undertake a so great task ; but being encourage par un double miracle, il ne refusa pas. strengthened by a double miracle, he — refused not. 99._GEDEON LEVE UNE ARMEE. Gedeon, ayant leve une armce, partit avec trente-deux Gideon, having raised an army, departed with thiriy-two mille hommes, et placa son cannp pres de celui des enne- thousand men, and placed his camp near of that of the ene- mis. Or, il y avait une multitude infinie de soldats mies. Moreover, it there /icd(was) a multitude infinite of soldiers dans I'armee des Madianites ; car le roi des Amalecites in the army of the Midianites ; for the king of the Amalekites avait joint ses troupes aux leurs. Cependant Dieu dit a had joined his troops to the theirs. Nevertheless God said to Gedeon: "Vous n'avez pas besoin de tant de milliers Gideon: ''You —have not want of so many of thousands d 'hommes : gardez seulement trois cents combattants, et of men : keep only three hundred combatants, and congediez les autres, de peur qu'ils n'attribuent la victoire send away the others, for fear that they — may attribute the victory a leur courage, et non a la puissance divine." to their courage, and not to the power divine." 100.— GEDEON REMPORTE LA VICTOIRE. GIDEON GAINS THE VICTORY. Gedeon divisa les trois cents hommes en trois com- GideoD divided the three hundred men into three com- 6* 66 ZETETIC METHOD. panies, et leur donna des trompettes el des cruches dans panies, and to them gave some trumpets and some pitcliers in lesquelles etaient des lairipes allumees. Au milieu de la which were some lampd li^jhled. In the middle of the nuit, ils entrerent dans le canap des ennemis, et night, they entered into the camp of the enemies, and commencerent a sonner de la trompelte et a briser les began to sound of the trumpet and to break the cruches qui etaient en leurs mains. Les Madianites, pitchers that were in tlieir hands. The Midianites, entendant le bruit des trompettes et voyant les lampes, hearing the noise of the trumpets and seeing the lamps, furenl efFrajLes et prirent la fuite. Enfin ils tournerent were - frightened and took the. flight. Finally they turned leurs epees les uns contre les autres, et se their swords the ones against the others, and themselves massacrerent mutuellement. Gedeon poursuivit les rois butchered mutually. Guieon pursued the kings des ennemis, et les ayant pris, il les condamna a mort. of the enemies, and them having seized, he them! sentenced to death. 101.— NAISSANCE DE SAMSON. BIRTH OF SAMSON. Lorsque les Hebreux etaient sous le pouvoir des Philis- When the Hebrev^rs were in the power of the Philis- tins, qui les persscutaient, Samson naquit pour etre le tines, who them persecuted, Samson was born for to be the vengeur des enfants d'Israel. Sa mere avait ete long- avenger of the chilrh-en of Israel. Ilis mother had been (for a) long temps steril'^ ; mais un ange du Seigneur lui apparut, et time ciiildless; but an angel of the Lord to her appeared, and lui predit qu^elle - aurait un fils qui rendrait un jour Jo her foretold that she should have a sou who should restore one day ses concitoyens a la liberte. Ayant engendre cet enfant, his countrymen to the liberty. Havmg borne this child, elle lui donna le nom de Samson. L'enfant grandit ; sa she to him gave the name of fc-amson. The child grew; his mere ne lui coupa point les cheveux ; il ne but ni mother — to him did cut not the hair ; he — drank neither PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 67 vin ni biere ; il fut d'line force incroyable : il tua de wine nor beer; he was of an strength incredible: he slew with sa propre main un enorme lion. his own hand an enormous lion. 102.— SAMSON MOLESTE LES PHILTSTINS. S.\MSON MOLESTS THE PHILISTINES. Un jour Samson prit trois cents renards, il attacha a leur One day Samson look three hundred foxes, he bound lo their queue des torches allumees, et les chas.sa dans les champs tails some torclies burning, and them drove into the fields des Philistins. Alors par hasard la moisson etait mure, of the Philistines. Then by chance the harvest was ripe, ainsi I'incendie se repandit facilement. Toutes les so the conflagration itself spread easily. All the vignes et les oliviers furent brules; et il ne cessa de vines and the olive-trees were burnt; and he not did cease of tourmenter cette nation ennemie par divers dommages. iTo trouble this nation hostile with various losses. Samson, ayant ete livre aux Philistins, rompit les liens Samson, having been delivered to the Philistines, broke the bonds avec lesquels il avait ete garrote, et avant saisi la machoire with which he had been tied, and having seized the jaw-bone d'un ane, il terrassa un grand nombre de ses ennemis avec of an ass, he overthrew a great number of his enemies with cette arme que le hasard lui avait presentee. this weapon which the chance to him had presented. 103-SAMSON ENLEVE LES PORTES D'UNE VILLE. SAMSON BEARS OFF THE GATES OF A CITY. Un jour Samson entra dans une ville des Philistins ou 11 One day Samson entered into a city of the Philistines where he dcsirait passer la nuit. Les Philistins, saisissant I'occasion, wished to pass the night. The Plulislines, seizing "the occasion, fermerent les portes de la ville, afin que personne ne put locked the gales of the city, so that nobody — could sortir. Pendant toute la nuit, ils attendirent, pour tuer go out. During whole the night, they waited, in order to kill 68 ZETETIC METHOD. Samson lorsqu'iV sortirait de la ville. Mais Samsoirse SamsoQ when he would go out from the city. But Samson * leva au milieu de la iiuit, et alia a la porte principale de arose in the middle of the night, and went to the gate principal of la ville ; I'ayant trouvee fermee, il Tenleva sur ses epaules the city ; it having found _"closed, he it bore off on his shoulders et la transporta sur le sommet de la montagne voisine. and it carried upon the top of the mountain neighboring. 104— SAMSON EST TRAHI. SAMSON IS BETRAYED. Enfin les Philistins, qui ne pouvaient prendre Samson, At length the Philistines, who not were able to seize Samson, corrompirent sa femme avec une^ grosse somme d'argent, bribed his wife with a great sum of money, afin qu'elle trahit son mari. Cette femme persuada a &p that she would betray her husband. This woman persuaded to son mari de lui indiquer la cause d'une si grande force, her husband of to her to tell the cause of a so great strength, et quand elle sut que Ta cause de sa force etait placee and when she knew that the cause of his strength wa^ placed dans ses cheveux, elle lui rasa la ^tete pendant son in his hair, she to him shaved the head during his sommeil, et le livra ainsi aux Philistins. Ses ennemis, sleep, and him delivered thus to the Philistines. His enemies, lui ay ant creve les yeux, le lie rent et le mirent en pri- to him having put out the eyes, him bound and him liift in pri- son, et pendant longtemps lis le montrerent comme un son, and for (a) long time they him showed as a amusement public. Mais, au bout de quelque temps, amusement public. But, at the end of some time, ses cheveux coupes commencerent a croitre, et avec ses his hairs cut off began to grow, and with his cheveux, son courage commenca a revenir. Deja Samson, hairs, his courage began to return. Now Samson, sentant sa force revenue, attendait le temps d'une juste feehng hfs strength recovered, waited for the time of a just vengeance. revenge. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 69 105.— MORT DE SAMSON. DEATH OF SAMSON. C'ctait une nouvelle coutume des Philistins. quand ils It was a new ciisioni of ihe Pliilistines, when Ihey celebraient leurs jours de fete, de montrer Samson. Uii were celcbraling their tla^'s of feast, of lo lead out Samson. One jour, les Philistins donnaient un festin public, et ils day, the PliilUiines were {iiviiig a feast public, and they desirerent voir Samson. La maison, ou les princip;^,ax wished lo see Samson. The house, where the piiiicipal dignitaires des Philistins etaient assembles, etait supportce dijjnitaries cfthe Phiiisiines were astsembled, was suj-ported par deux colonnes d'une grandeur prodigieuse. On amena by two columns of a size womlerful. They led out Samson et on le placa entre ces colonnes. Alors, pro- Samson and they him placed between these columns. Then, pro- fitant de cette opportunite, il ebranla les colonnes, et tou.s filing by this opportunity, he sliook the columns, and all ces hommes, et Samson lui-meme, furent ecrases sous these men, and Samson himself, were overwhelm' d under les ruines de la maison. the ruins of the house. 106.— NAISSANCE DE SAMUEL. BIRTH OF SAMUEL. Lorsque Heli etait grand pretre, Samuel naquit : sa mere When Eli was great priest, Samuel was born : hismoilier I'amena au grand pretre et Toffrit au Seigneur. him led to the great priest and him ot!ered lo the Lord. L'enfant, doue d'un excellent naturel, croissait, et etait The infant, endued with an excellent disposition, grew, and waa cher a Dieu et aux hommes : sa mere lui apportait a dear to God and lo /he men: his mother to him brought at certains temps une petite tunique qu'elle-meme avait faite. certain times a little coat which she herself had made. Mais Heli avait des enfants de mceurs dissolues, et ils But Eli had some children of morals abandoned, and they detournaient le peuple d'honorer Dieu, et jamais leur led away the people from lo honor God, and never their 79 ZETETIC METHOD. pere ne les reprimanda assez sevurement. C'est pourquoi father — them did rebuke enough severely. Wherefore Diau etait irrite contre les enfants et contre le pere. God ' was angry against the children and against the father. 107.— DIEU PARLE A SAMUEL. GOD SPEAKS TO .SAMUEL. line nuit, lorsque Heli etait couche dans son lit, le One night, when Eh was lying in his bed, the Seigneur appela Samuel, qui s'imaginant que le grand Lord called Saniuel, who * supj)osing that the great pretre I'appelait, accourut et dit a Fleli : " Je viens pres priest hiin was calling, ran ^ and said to Eli: "I come near de vous, car vous m'avez appele." iVIais Heli lui dit : of you, for you me have called." But Eli to him said: "Je ne vous ai point appele, mon fils ; retournez dans "I — you have not called, my son ; return into votre lit." Et cela arriva une seconde et une troisieme your bed." And that happened a second and a third fois. Enfin Samuel, etant averti par le grand pretre, time. At length Samuel, being warned by the great priest, repondit a Dieu, qui I'appelait: " Parlez, Seigneur, car answered to God, who him was calling: "Speak, Lord, for votre serviteur ecoute." Alors Dieu dit a Samuel : ''J'- your servant hears." Then God said to Samuel: "I accablerai la famille d'Hr'li de grands maux ; parce qu'il will afflict the family of Eli with great evils; because he a ete trop indulgent envers ses enfants." has been too indulgent towards his children." \ 108.— PvESIGNATION D'HELI. RESIGNATION OF ELL Ensuite un sommeil trcs profond s'empara de Samuel, Afterwards a sleep very sound took possession of Samuel, qui dormit jusqu'au m itin. Dos que le jour eut paru, who slept until to the momiiig. As soon as the day had appeared, Samuel se leva de son lit, et ouvrit la porte de la tente Samuel ♦ arose from his bed, and opened the door of the tent PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 71 d'Heli ; or il craignait de faire connaitre au grand of Eli; but he feared of to make to know iothe great pretre les paroles de Dieu. Heli dit a Samuel : " Je vous priest the words of God. Eli said to Samuel: "I you prie, je vous conjure de me rapporter les paroles de Dieu; pray. " I you entreat of tome to relate the words of God; et surtout ne me cachez rien." Samuel obeit aux or- and above all — from me hide nothing." Samuel obeyed ^othe or- dres du grand pretre et lui rapporta toutes les paroles ders of the great priest and to him related all the words du Seigneur. Heli dit : " C'est le Seigneur ; qu'il fasse of the Lord. Eli said: "He is tlie Lord; let him do ce qui lui plaira." what to him will please." 109.— MALHEURS D'HELI ET DE SES ENFANTS. MISFORTUNES OF ELI AND OF HIS CHILDREN. Quelque temps apres, la guerre eclata entre les Philistins Some time after, the war arose between the Phihstines et les H'breux. Les enfants d'Israel portent I'arche and the Hebrews. The children of Israel bear the ark d'alliance au combat, et les fils du grand pretre of covenant to the combat, and the sons of'the great priest s'avancent avec elle ; mais Dieu etant irrite centre eux, * advance with it ; but God being angry against them, I'arcbe leur fut plus fatale qu'utile. Les Hebreux the ark to ihem was more fatal than useful. The Hebrews furent vaincus, les fils du grand pretre furent tues, et were conquered, the sons of the great priest were slain, and I'arche elle-meme fut prise. H^eli, ayant recu la nouvelle the ark itself was taken. Eli, having received the news d'une si grande defaite, tomba de son siege, eut la tete of a so great defeat, fell from his seat, had the (his) head brisee et mourut immediatement. broken and died immediately. IIO.—SAUL EST ELU ROL— a. m. 2909. SAUL IS ELECTED KING. — e. c. 1095. Samuel fut le dernier juge des Hrbreux, et il administra Samuel was the last judge of the Hebrews, and he administered 72 ZETETIC BIETHOD. leurs affaires dans une paix tres-grande et dans une tran- their affairs in a peace Very great and in a tran- quillite continuelle. Mais lorsqae Samuel fat devenu quility continual. But when Samuel was (iiaO) become vieux, ses enfants s'ucarterent de rexemple de leur pere, old, his children * departed from the example of their father, et le peuple, amateur de la nouveaute, demanda un roi and the people, fund of the novelty, asked a king a - Samuel. D'abord Samuel tacha de detourner les" to (of) Samuel.' At first Samuel attempted of to turn the Hebreux de ce dessein ; mais ils persisterent dans leur Hebrews from this design; but they persitied in tlieir sentiment.^ C'est pourquoi Samuel, sur I'avis de Dieu, purpose. Wherefore Samuel, ' on 4he advice of God, consentit a leur demande, et sacra Siijl roi. Saiil consented to their demand, and consecrated Saul king. Saul etait grand et sa figure etait tres belle; ainsi la prestance \vas tall and his face was very fine; so the dignity de sa personne repondait parfaitement a la majeste royale. of his- body corresponded perfectly to the dignity royal. lll._PREMIERE DSSOBEISSANCE DE SAUL. FIRST DISOBEDIENCE OF SAUL. Les Philistins firent une irruption sur le territoire des The Philistines li.ulm.ide an inroad upon the territory of the H^breux. C'est pourquoi Saul s'avanca contre eux, et Hebrews. Wherelore Saul * advanced against Ihem, and placa son camp pres de Galgala, ville remarquable de ee placed his camp near of Gelgal, (a) city distinguished of this pays. Samuel avait ordonne de I'attendre pendant sept country. Samuel had ordered of him to wait for seven jours, et de ne point engager le combat avant qu'il eut days, and (f not enga.:e the combat before he had offert lui-meme un sacrifice a Dieu. Le septiyme jour, offered himself a sacrifice to God. The seventh ' day, Samuel tarda a venir ; le peuple, ennuye de ce retard, Samuel delayed to come: the people, weary of this delay, commencait a se disperser, alors Saiil offrit lui-meme le began to steal away, then Saul offered himself the sacrifice a la place du grand pretre. Le sacrifice etait sacrifice in the place of the great priest. The sacrifice was PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 73 a peine acheve, Samuel arriva, et reprimanda severement scarcely perfermed, Samupl came, and rebuked severely le roi; il lui reprocha sa temerite pour avoir ose the king; he to him reproached his temerity for to have dared usurper une fonction qui n'appartenait qu'aux pretres. to usurp an office which— did belong only to the priests. 112.--J0NATHAS, FILS DE SAUL. JONATHAN, SON OF SAUL. Les Hcbreux etaient entoures par les Philistins, Jonathas, The Hebrews were surrounded by the Philistines, Jonathan, fils de Sai'il, forma un dessein hardi, et I'executa. Etant son of Saul, framed a design bold, and it performed. Being accompagne de son ecuyer, il entra dans le camp des attended by his armour-bearer, he erxtered into the camp of the ennemis, et apres avoir tue environ vingt Philistins, il enemies, and after having killed about twenty Phihstines, he fmppa de terreur toute I'armee ennemie. Alors les Phi- struck with terror all the army hostile. Then the Phi- listins, etant troubles, commencerent a ne plus garder listines, being troubled, began to not any more keep leurs rangs, a ne plus suivre les ordres de leurs chefs, their ranks, to not any more follow the orders of their chiefs, mais a prendre la fuite. Des que Saiil eut aperc'i cela, il but to take the flight. As soon as Saul had perceived that, he se mit a la tete de ses soldats, poursuivit les ennemis, himself put at the head of his soldiers, pursued the enemies, et remporta une victoire remarquable. and obtained a victory distinguished. 113.— SAUL VEUT PUNIR SON FILS. SAUL WISHES TO PUNISH HIS SON. Saiil, en poursuivant les Philistins, avait ordonne que Saul, in pursuin^ the Philistines, had ordered that personne ne prit de nourriture qu'apres la defaite corn- no one — should take some food only after the defeat com- plete des ennemis, et menaca de mort celui qui agirait plete of the enemies, and threatened with death him wh^ should act centre son ordre. Jonathas etait alors absent, et against his order. Jonathan was then absent, and 7 74 ZETETIC METHOD. par consequent n'avait point entendu I'ordre du roi. II consequently — had not heard the order of the king. It arriva que I'armee passa par une foret ou il y avait happened that the army passed through a wood where t^ there Aad (was) beaucoup de miel sauvage. Jonathas, ignorant I'ordre de much of honey wild. Jonathan, ignorant of the order of son pere, etendit la baguette qu'il tenait a la main, at his father, put out the rod which he held in the hand, and I'ayant trempee dans le niiel, il I'approcha de sa bouche. it having dipped in the honey, he itapproached of (to) his mouth. Quand le roi eut appris cela, il voulut que son fils fut puni When tlie king had learned it, he wished that his son was punished de mort ; mais le peuple ne souffrit point que le jeune 'with death ; but the people — suffered not that the young prince . fut conduit au supplice. prince might be led to the punishment. 114.— SAUL DESOBEIT UNE SECONDE FOIS. SAUL DISOBEYS A SECOND TIME. Apres cela, Saiil, par I'ordre de Dieu, declara la guerre After that, Saul, by the order of God, declared the war aux Amalecites. D'abord il eut des succes. Les enne- io the Amalekites. At first he had some success. The ene- mis furent tailles en pieces, et leur roi fut fait prisonnier. mies were cut to pieces, and their king was made prisoner. Mais ensuite Saiil offensa Dieu tres-grievement. Dieu avait But afterwards Saul offended God very grievously. God had defendu de rien reserver des depouilles des ennemis ; forbidden of anything to keep from the spoils of the enemies; mais SaiJl, apres la defaite des Amalecites, garda une but Saul, after the defeat of the Amalekites, -preserved a partie du butin. C'est pourquoi Dieu le rejeta, et a sa part of the plunder. Wherefore God him rejected, and to his place, David fut choisi et sacre par Samuel. place, David was chosen and anointed by Samuel. 115.— DAVID CALME SAUL. DAVID CALMS SAUL. Saiil ayant meprise les ordres de Dieu, I'esprit malin prit Saul having despised the orders of God, the spirit evil took PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 76 possession de son corps, et souvent le roi enlrait en fureur. possession of his body, and often the king entered into madness. Alors ses courtisans lui conseillerent de chercher quelqu'- Then his courtiers fo him advised of to look for so.ne un qui sut pincer de la harpe, pour calmer son esprit one who knew (how) to play upon the harp, for to soothe his mind afflige. On amena David, habile dans cet art, et qui, a afflicted. They brought David, skilful in this art, and who, oa cause de ce talent, avait ete recu parmi les officiers du account of this talent, had been received among the officers of the roi. Ainsi, des que I'esprit malin s'emparait de Saiil, king. Therefore, as soon as the spirit evil took possession of Saul, David pincait de la harpe, et la fureur du roi eessait. David played upon the harp, and the madness of the king ceased. 116._G0LIATH DEFIE LES HEBREUX. GOLIAH DEFIES THE HEBREWS. Ensuite les Philistins declarereut la guerre aux Hebreux. Afterwards the Philistines declared the war to the Hebrews. Lorsque les deux armees etaient en presence, un Philistin When the two armies were in sight, a Philistine nomme Goliath, homme d'une grandeur prodigieuse, s'- named Goliah, man of a size wonderful, * avanca devant les rangs, et provoqua souvent un des He- advanced before the ranks, and challenged often one of the He- breux a un combat singulier. II etait revetu d'une brews to a combat single. He was clothed in a cuirasse en forme d'ecailles ; il avait aux jambes des breast-plate in form of shells ; he had to the legs somt, bottes d'airain ; un casque d'airain couvrait sa tete, et un boots of brass ; . a helmet of brass covered his head, and a bouclier d'airain etait attache a ses epaules. Saiil promit shield of brass was tied to his shoulders. Saul promised une grande recompense, et meme sa fille en mariage, a a great reward, and even his daughter in marriage, to celui qui rapporterait les depouilles du Philistin qui him who could bring the spoils of the Philistine who provoquait les H'breux. Mais personne n'osait s'avancer challenged the Hebrews. But no one — dared * to advance centre lui ; et le geant reprochait aux Hebreux leur against him ; and the giant reproached to the Hebrews their lachete avec derision et mepris. cowardice with derision and contempt. 76 ZETRTIC METHOD. 117.— DAVID SE PRESENTE CONTRE GOLIATH. DAVID HIMSELF PRESENTS AGAINST GOLIAH. David, touche de I'affront fait a son peuple, se presenta David, moved by the disgrace done to liis people, himself offered pour combattre. II fut amene a Saiil, qui dit a David : for to fight. He was led to Saul, vfho said to David : " Vous etes trop jeune pour combattre contre cet homme "You are too young for to fight against this man tres-robuste." David repondit : " Ne craignez point, 6 very strong." David ansvrered : " — Do fear not, O roi ! Lorsque je gardais les brebis de mon pere, un lion king! When I vcas watching the sheep of my father, a lion attaqua mon troupeau et saisit une brebis ; je le poursuivis, attacked my flock and seized a sheep ; I him pursued, je le tuai, et j'arrachai la brebis de sa gueule. J'ai I him killed, and I snatched the sheep from his jaws. I have aussi tue un ours. Dieu, qui m'a defendu contre le lion also killed a bear. God, who me has defended against the lion et I'ours, me defendra aussi contre le geant." Alors Saiil and the bear, me will defend likewise against the giant." Then Saul lui dit: " Allez avec cette confiance, et Dieu vous to him said : " Go with this confidence, and God you protegera." will assist." 118.--DAVID PREND SEULEMENT UNE FRONDE. DAVID TAKES ONLY A SLING. Saiil lui-meme voulut ajuster ses propres armes au jeune Saul himself wished to fit his own arms to the young homme: il lui mit le casque sur la tete, il couvrit sa man: he to him put the helmet on the head, he covered his poitrine d'une cuirasse, et lui ceignit I'epee au cote. breast with a cuirass, and to him girt the sword to the side. Mais David etait em.barrasse par ces armes, auxquelles il But David was embarrassed by these arms, to which he n'etait pas accoutume, et il pouvait a peine marcher. — was not accustomed, and he could scarcely to walk. C'est pourquoi il quitta ce poids incommode ; mais il Wherefore he laid aside this burden inconvenient ; but he prit sa houlette de berger, il prit une fronde et mit cinq took his crook of shepherd^ he took. a sling and put five PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 77 pierres dans son petit sac. Ainsi arme, il s'avanca centre stones ia his little bag. Thus armed, he * advanced against le geant. the giant 119.— DAVID TUE GOLIATH. DAVID KILLS GOLIAH. Du cote oppose s'avancait Goliath, qui, ayant vu le From the side opposite "^ approached Goliah, wlio, having seen the jeune homme : " Me prenez-vous pour un chien," lui dit- young man : " Me do take you for a dog," to him said il, " vous qui m'attaquez avec un baton?" David lui he, ''you who me aitack with a stick 1" David to him. repondit : " Vous venez a moi avec une epse, una pique et answered: "You come to me with a sword, a spear and un bouclier, mais je viens au nom du Seigneur des ar- a shield, but I rome in the name ofihe Lord of the ar- m'es que vous avez ose insulter." Alors, ayant lanc6 mies whom you have dared toinsuh." Then, having sent une pierre avec sa fronde, il frappa le Philistin au front a stone with his siitig, he struck the Philistine in the forehead et le renversa ; et puis David, courant a ce g'ant, lui and him overthrew; and then David. running to this giant, to him Ota son ep'e, avec laquelle it lui coupa la tete. took of his sword, with which he to him cut off the head. Frapp'^s de cet evenement, les Philistins prirent la fuite Struck by this event. liie Pinlisiines took the flight et abandonnerent la victoire aux H'breux, and yielded the victory io rhe Hebrews. 120.— JALOUSIE DE SAUL CONTRE DAVID. JEALOUSY OF SAUL AGAINST DAVID. Lorsque David revint, les H'breux le conduisirent a la When Ddvid reiurned, the H« brew3 him led to the ville, en le f^licitant ; les femmes elles-memes, sortant city, in him congratiilatin?; the women themselv<'.'5, going out de leurs maisons, chantaient ses louanges. Une si grande from iheir houses. sang his praises A so great faveur du peuple alUima la jalousie de Saiil, qui, favor of the peoii!; inflamed flic envy of Saul. who, 7* 78 ZETETIC METHOD.. dans la suite, fut tres mal dispose envers David. Les afterwards, was very ill disposed towards David. The sentiments de son fils Jonathas furent bien differents. Ad- feelings of his son Jonathan were very different. Ad- mirant le courage de David, il concut pour lui une grande miring the courage of David, he conceived for him a great affection, et lui donna en present, son baudrier, son ai»c affection, and to him gave in present, his belt, hi& bow et son epee. and his sword. 121.— MAUVAISE FOT DE SAUL. BAD FAITH OF SAUL. Saiil avait promis au vainqueur sa fille en mariage ; Saul had promised to the conqueror his daughter in marriage ; mais il ne tint pas sa promesse, et proposa une nouvelle but he — did not keep his promise, and proposed a ne\V condition, qui etait que David tuat cent Philistins. condition, which was that David should kill (an) hundred Philistines. Le roi fesait cela dans une mauvaise intention, car il The king did that in a bad intention, for he esperait que ce jeune homme hardi perirait aisement ; hoped that this young man bold would perish easily; mais il fut trompe dans son attente, car David, ayant tue but he was deceived in his expectation, for David, having killed deux cents Philistins, revint, sans avoir et6 blesse, et two hundred Philistines, returned, without having been vpouhded, and recut alors la fille du roi en mariage. received then the daughter of the king in marriage. 122.— SAUL ESSAYE DE TUER DAVID. SAUL ATTEMPTS TO KILL DAVID. La haine de Saiil croissait de jour en jour ; c'est pourquoi The haired of Saul increased from day to day; wherefore il preparait non en secret, mais ouvertement, la perte de he prepared not in secret, but openly, the death of David. Deux fois il essaya de le percer avec sa lance, David. Two times he attempted of him to stab with his lance, mais David evita heureusement le coup mortel. Alors- but David a.voided happily the blow mortal. Thea PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 79' Saiil donna ordre a Jonathas de tuer David ; mais Jonathas Saul gave order to Jonathan of to kill David ; but Jonaihan refusa d'obeir a I'ordre cruel de son pere, et il conjura refused o/to obey lo the order cruel of his fatiier, and he entreated son pere d'abandonner un dessein si injuste. Enfin his father of to abandon a design so unjust. At last Saiil envoya des gardes pour tuer David dans sa Saul sent some guards to kill David in his maison, sous les yeux de son epouse ; mais celle-ci house, under the eyes of his wife; but //i/s(she) descendit son mari par une fenetre, et le sauva- ainsi let down her husband through a window, and him saved thus d'un grand danger. from a great danger. 123.— SAUL POURSUIT DAVID. SAUL PURSUES DAVID. David, voyant que I'animasite de Saiil contre lui etait im- Davic!, seeing that the animosity of Saul against him was im- placable, quilta la cour et se retira dans un desert, Saiil placable, left the court and * retired into a wilderness. Saul le poursuivit; mais par la protection de Dieu, David ^ him pursued ; but by the protection of God, David echappa aux mains de son ennerar, et lui-meme sauva escaped to the hands of his enemy, and himself saved plusieurs fois la vie de Saiil. 11 y avait dans ce several times the life of Saul. It there Jiadiwa.s) in that desert une grande caverne ; David y ^ etait cache avec desert a great cave ; David there was hidden with ses compagnons. Saiil, par hasard, entra seul dans cette his companions. Saul, by chance, entered alone inio that caverne, sans apercevoir ceux qui y etaient caches ; cave, without io see (seeing) those who there were concealed; et, accable de sommeil, il se reposa. Les compagnons and, overcome with sleep, he himself rested. The companions de David I'exhortaient a saisir Toccasion favorable de of David him exhorted to seize the occasion propitious of tuer Saiil ; mais David refusa de commettre un tel crime. to kill Saul ; but David refused of to commit a such crime. 80 ZETETIC METHOD. 124.-~MORT DE SAUL. DEA.TH OF SAUL.-B. c. 1056. La guerre eclata centre les Philistins, et Saiil s'avanca The war buisl forth against the Philistines, and Saul "^ advanced contra eux avec son armee. La bataille ayant ete livree, against them with his army. The battle having been given, les Hebreux furent tallies en pieces ; trois fils du roi the Hebrews were cut to pieces; three sons of the king perirent dans cette terrible defaite. Saiil lui-meme, perished in that terrible defeat. Saul himself, etant tombe de son cheval, ordonna a un de ses offi- being (having) fallen from his horse, ordered to one of his offi- ciers de lui percer le cote pour ne pas tomber vivant cers of to him pierce the side in order not to fall alive au pouvoir de ses ennemis. La fuite de tous les He- into the power of his enemies. The flight of all the He- breux suivit la mort du roi, et en ce jour les Philistins brews followed the death of the king, and on that day the Philistines gagnerent une victoire remarquable. gained a victory distinguished. 125.— DAVID PLEURE LA MORT DE SAUL. DAVID MOURNS THE DEATH OF SAUL. David, ayant appris la raort de Saiil, versa des larmes: il David, iiaviiig heard the death of Saut, shed some tears: he maudit les montagnes de Gelboe, ou ce crime avait ete ctirsed the mnuntains of Gilboa, where that crime had been Gommis. David condamna a mort celui qui se vantait d^ commitred. David sentenced to death him who * boasted of avoir tue Saiil, et qui lui avait apporte les ornements to have killed Saul, and who to him had brought the ornaments royaux, pour le punir d'avoir viole la majeste royale. royal, in order him to punish of having violated the majesty royal. II temoigna sa reconnaissance aux habitants de la ville de He, expressed his gralitude to the inhabitants of the city of Jabes, parce qu'ils avaient enseveli les corps de Saiil et de Jabez, because they had buried the bodies of Saul and of ses fils. Exemple vraiment admirable d'un amour veritable his sons-. Example truly admirable of a kjve tru©^ et sincere envers un ennemi! and sincere towards an enemy! PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 81 126.— DAVID COMMET DEUX GRANDS CRIMES. DAVID COMMITS TWO GREAT CRIMES. Lorsque David fut monte sur le trone, il commit deux When David was (had) ascended on the throne, he committed two grands crimes. II aima une femme nommee Betsabe, et great crimes. He loved a woman named Bethsheba, and la porta au crime. Le mari de cette femme, nomme her compelled to ?^6 crime. The husband of that woman, named Urie, homme tres-courageux, etait alors a I'armee, et Urias, (a) man very courageous, was then at the army, and rendait a sa patrie des services signales. David ordonna rendered to his country some services distinguished. David commanded a Urie de prendre une position desavantageuse au combat ; to Urias to take a position disadvantageous in the combat; Urie obeit et fut tue ; ainsi David causa volontairement la Urias obeyed and was killed ; thus David caused voluntarily the mort de cet homme. Mais Dieu envoya a David le death of that man. But God sent to David the prophete Nathan pour le reprimander et pour lui declarer prophet Nathan in order him to reprimand and in order to him to declare qu'il subirait la punition de son crime. that he should suffer the punishment of his crime. 127.— FARABOLE DU PROPHETE NATHAN. PARABLE OF THE PROPHET NATHAN. Le prophete parla ainsi a David : " II y avait dans la The prophet spoke thus to David : ' It there had (were) in the meme ville deux hommes ; I'un riche nourrissait plusieurs same city two men ; the one rich fed many troupeaux de boeufs, de chevres et de brebis ; mais I'autre herds of oxen, of goats and of sheep : but the other homme n'avait qu'une seule brebis qu'il avait achetee man — had but one single sheep which he had bought lui-meme, et qu'il nourrissait avec soin. Un bote vint himself. and which he nursed with care. A guest came chez I'homme riche, et comme il fallait lui preparer un to the man rich, and as it was necessary to him to prepare a repas, I'homme riche epargna ses brebis, enleva de force meal, the man rich spared his sheep, seized by force la brebis de I'homme pauvre, et la servit a manger a the sheep of the man poor, and it served up to eat (to be eaten) to 82 ZETETIC METHOD. son bote. C'est a vous, 6 roi, de juger si cette action his guest. It is to you, 0- king, of lo judge whether that action est digne d'un honnete homme ou non." is worthy of an honest man or not." 128._NATHAN EXPLIQUE LA PARABOLE. NATHAN EXPLAINS THE PARABLE. Le roi fut rempli d'indignation. Alors le prophete lui dit : The king was filled with indignation. Then the prophet to him said : " Vous etes cet homme riche : car, Dieu vous a comble de " You are this man rich : for, God you has loaded with toutes sortes de biens. Pourquoi done avez-vous enleve la all sorts of goods. Wliy then have you stolen the femme d'Urie ? Pourquoi avez-vous ordonne la mort d'un wife of Uriah 1 Why have you ordered the death of a homme innocent, surtout quand cet homme combattait man innocent, particularly when that man was fighting pour vous?" Touclie par ces paroles du prophete, David for you?" Moved by these words of the prophet, David reconnut sa faute et I'avoua. Alors le prophete ajouta : acknowledged his fault and it confessed. Then the prophet added: " Dieu vous pardonne votre peche ; mais cependant le fils "God to you pardons your sin ; but nevertheless the son qui vous est ne mourra bientot." who to you is (has been) born shall die soon." 129— DAVID JEUNE ET PRTE. DAVID FASTS AND PRAYS. Peu apres, I'enfant tomba dangereusement malade : pendant A Uttie after, the infant fell dangerously sick : during sept jours David fut dans une grande affliction, priant et seven days David was in a great grief, praying and s'abstenant de nourriture. Le septieme jour I'enfant mourut, abstaining from food. (On) the seventh day the infant died, et les serviteurs n'oserent point annoncer cette mauvaise and the servants — dared not io announce that bad nouvelle au roi. David les ayant vus parler tres-bas, news to the king. David them having seen to speak (speaking) very low, comprit que I'enfant etait mort. Alors le roi, cessant de understood that the infant was dead. Tlien the king, ceasing of PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 83 s'affliger. mangea la nourriture qu'on lui apporta. Les * to grieve, eat the food which they to him brought. The courtisans furent etonncs de la conduite du roi. Mais courtiers were astonished of the conduct of the king. But David leur dit : '•' L'enfant etant malade, je jeunais et je David to them said: "The infant being sick. I was fasling and I priais, esperant que Dieu s'apaiserait ; mais maintenant. was praying, hoping that God could be appeased ; but now l'enfant est mort, pourquoi done m'affligerais-je en vain? the infant is dead, wliy then 7n!/se^should grieve I in vainl Pourrais-je le rappeler a la vie V Could I him ?o recall to tne lifel" 130.— REVOLTE D'ABSALON CONTRE SON PERE. REVOLT OF ABSALOM AGAINST HIS FATHER. Un autre chagrin vint augmenter la detresse du roi. Ab- Aq other grief came to increase the distress of the king. Ab- salon, fils de David, aspira au trone de son pere : ayant salom, son of David, aspired to the throne of his father : having souleve une multitude ignorante, il se revolta centre lui. raised an multitude ignorant, he * rebelled against him. Des que David en fut informe, il sortit de Jerusalem, As soon as David of it was informed, he went out from Jerusalem, craignant que, s'il y restait, Absalon, qui venait avec son fearing that, if he there remained, Absalom, who was coming with his armee, n'assiegeat la ville royale, et ne la ravageat par army, — might besiege the city - royal, and — it might ravage with I'epee et par le feu. C'est pourquoi etant parti avec the sword and with the de. Wherefore being (having) departed with ceux de ses sujets qui restaient fideles a leur devoir, il alia those of his subjects who remained faithful to their duty, he went en pleurant sur la montagne des oliviers, les pieds nus et in weeping upon the mountain of the olive trees, the feet naked and la tete voilee. the head veiled. 131.— PATIENCE ADMIRABLE DE DAVID. PATIENCE ADMIRABLE OF DAVID. Lorsque le roi fuyait, il rencontra un homme de la race When the king was flying, he met a man of the race de Saul, nomme Semei. Get homme commenca a in- of Saul, named Semei. This man began to in- 84 ZETETIC METHOD. suiter David et ses compagnonsj et ensuite il leur jeta suit David and his companions, and afterwards he to them threw des pierres. Les compagnons de David, supportant cela some stones. The companions of David, bearing that avec indignation, voulaient se venger en coupant la with indignation, wrished themselves to revenge by cutting off the tete a cet insolent calomniateur. Mais David les arreta : head to that insolent slanderer. But David therm restrained : " Laissez-le m'outrager," leur dit-il, " Dieu, apaise par "Let him me outrage," to tliem said he, "God, appeased by les maux que je souffre, aura peut-etre pitie de moi et the misfortunes which I endure, will have perhaps pity of me and changera I'elat deplorable de mes affaires." Les com- V -will restore' the state deplorable of my affairs." The com- pagnons du roi, ad mirant sa patience incroyable, obeirent panions of the king, admiring his patience incredible, obeyed avec peine a cet ordre. sorrowfully to that command. 182.— DAVID RASSEMBLE UNE ARMEE. DAVID ASSEMBLES AN ARMY. Absalon, apres le depart de son pere,'entra a Jerusalem, Absalom, after the departure of his father, entered to Jerusalem, et y demeura pendant quelque temps : ce delai fut le and there remained for . some time : that delay was the salut de David; car pendant ce temps, David rassembla safety of David ; for during that time, David collected ses troupes et se prepara a la guerre. Deja Absalon his forces and "^ prepared to the war. Now Absalom paraissait avec son armee, une bataille etait imminente ; appeared with his army, a battle was impending; les compagnons du roi lui persuaderent de ne pas etre the companions of the king fo him persuaded of not to be present au combat. C'est pourquoi David mit Joab a la present at the contest. Wherefore David placed Joab at the tete de son armee, et se retira dans une ville voisine. head of his army, and * withdrew into a city neighboring. Mais le roi, en partant, recommanda a Joab et aux autres But the king, in departing, recommended to Joab and to the other generaux d'epargner Absalon. generals of to spare Absalom. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 85 133.— ABSALON EST VAINCU. ABSALOM IS VANQUISHED. Les deux armees combattirent avec courage ; mais, par la The two armies fought with courage ; but, by the protection de Dieu, la victoire fut du cote de David. Les protection of God, the victory was on the side of . David. The soldats d'Absalon prirent la fuite, et vingt-deux mille soldiers of Absalom took the flight, and twenty-two thousand d'entre eux furent tues. Absalon, dans sa fuite, etait among them were killed. Absalom, in his flight, was assis sur un mulet ; or 11 avait les cheveux longs et epais; seated upon a mule ; but he had the hair long and thick ; tandis que, dans sa course precipitee, Absalon est emporte while that, in his course hasty, Absalom is borne SOUS un cbene touffu, sa chevelure s'embarrassa dans les beneath an oak thick, his hair itself entangled in the branches, et Absalon resta suspendu, le mulet passant branches, and Absalom remained suspended, the mule going outre et continuant sa course. beyond and pursuing his course. 134.— MORT D'ABSALON. DEATH OF ABSALOM. Un soldat du roi vit Absalon suspendu, et il n'osa pas A soldier of the king saw Absalom suspended, and he— did dare not le tuer, mais il annonca cette nouvelle a Joab, qui le him to kill, but he told this news to Joab, who him reprimandant lui dit : " Vous deviez percer ce jeune reproving lo him said : " You ought to stab this young homme impie." Le soldat repondit : " Mais le roi vous a man wicked." The soldier answered: "But the king io you has commando en ma presence d'epargner son fils." *' Mais je commanded in my presence of lo spare his son." " But I ne Tepargnerai pas," reprit Joab ; ct aussitot il prit trois — him will spare not," replied Joab; and immediately he took three lances, qu'il enfonca dans la poitrine d'Absalon. Lorsqu' Jances, which he fastened in the breast of Absalom. When Absalon, suspendu au chene, palpitait encore, les Absalom, Euspeiidcd to the oak, was breathing yet, the ccuyers de Joab le tucrent, et alors Joab sonna de armour-bearers of Joab him slew, and then Joab blew of la trompette, et jeta le corps d'Absalon dans une fosse. the trumpet, and cast the corpse of Absalom into a pit. 8 86 ZETETIC METHOD. 135.— DAVID DEPLORE LA MORT DE SON FILS. DAVID BEWAILS THE DEATH OF HIS SON. Pendant la bataille, David se tenait a la porte de la vilb, During the battle, David * stood at the gate of the city, attendant I'evenement du combat, et tres-inquiet du salut awaiting the event of the contest, and very anxious for the safety de son fils. Lorsque ses generaux lui annoncerent que of his . son. When his generals to him announced that les ennemis avaient ete battus, et qu'Absalon avait ete the enemies had been routed, and that Absalom had been tu6, non-seulement il ne temoigna aucune joie de la slain, not only he not shovyed any joy concerning the victoire qu'il avait remportee, mais il ressentit meme une victory vfhich he had gained, but he experienced even a grande douleur de la mort de son fils. Le roi, etant fort great grief from the death of his son. The king, being much emu, monta a sa chambre. Quand il fut seul, il pleura en moved, went up to his chamber. When he was alone, he wept in A prononcant de temps en temps ces paroles : '' O mon fils pronouncing from time to time these words : " O my son Absalon ! O Absalon, mon fils !" Absalom ! O Absalom, my son !" 136.— MORT DE DAVID. DEATH OF DAVID. Dans la suite, David entreprit avec succes plusieurs guerres Afterwards, David undertook wilh success several wars contre les Philistins, et ayant regie paisiblement toutes ses against the Philistines, and having settled peacefully all his affaires, il passa le reste de sa vie dans une paix affairs, he passed the remainder of his life in a peace florissante. David, ayant atteint une extreme vieillesse, flourishing. David, having reached an extreme old age, et etant d'une faible sante, constitua Salomon heritier de and being of a weak health, appointed Solomon heir of son royaume. Salomon, ayant ete sacre par le grand his kingdom. Solomon, having been anointed by the great pretre, fut proclame roi, quoique David fut encore vivant. priest, was proclaimed king, although David was yet living. Apres avoir donne a son fils les preceptes les plus utiles After having given to his son the precepts the most useful PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 87 pour gouverner le royaump. David mourut en remerciant to govern the kingdom, David died in thanking le Seigneur. the Lord. 137.— SAGESSE DE SALOMON. WISDOM OF SOLOMON. Dieu cherissait Salomon : il lui apparut pendant son God cherished Solomon : he to him appeared during liis sommeil, et lui donna la permission de choisir tout ce sleep, and to him gave the permission of to choose all that qu'iK voudrait. Salomon ne demanda ni la puissance, ni which he would. Solomon — demanded neither /Ae power, nor la gloire, ni les richesses, mais il demanda la sagesse. car the. glory, nor the riches, but he demanded the wisdom, for il regardait les autres avantages comme de peu de valeur. he esteemed the other advantages as of little of value. Cette demande fut si agreable a Dieu, que le Seigneur This demand was so agreeable to God, that the Lord accorda a Salomon plus qu'il n'avait demande ; car il granted to Solomon more than he — had demanded ; for he lui donna une sagesse extraordinaire, et il y ajouta les to him gave a wisdom extraordinary, and he to it added tlie richesses et la gloire qu'il n'avait pas demandees. riches and the glory which he — had not asked. 138.— TRIBUNAL DE SALOMON. TRIBUNAL OF SOLOMON. Quelque temps apres, Salomon donna une preuve de la Some time after, Solomon gave a proof of the sagesse que Dieu lui avait accordeSe. Deux femmes wisdom which God to him had granted. Two women demeuraient dans la meme maison : I'une et I'autre dwelt in the same house : the one and the other enfanterent en meme temps un enfant male. L'un de bore at the same time a child male. llie one of ces enfants mourut pendant la nuit trois jours apres : la these children died during llie night three days after: the mere prit I'enfant de I'autre femme qui dormait, et mit mother took the child of the other woman who was sleeping, and put son fils mort a la place de cet enfant. Une violente dispute her son dead in the place of this child, A violent quarrel 88 ZETETIC METHOD. s'eleva entre ces deux femmes, et Taffaire fut portee * arose between these two- women, and the affair was referred au tribunal de Salomon. to the tribunal of Solomon. 139— LE JUGEMENT DE SALOMON. THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. La question etait difficile et tres-obscure, car personne The question was difficult and very obscure, for nobody n'ayait ete teraoin de cette action frauduleuse. Mais le — had been witness of this action fraudulent. But the rol, pour decouvrir la vcrite cachee, dit a ces femmes : king, in order to search out the truth hidden, said to these women : " Je partagerai I'enfant en deux parts et je donnerai une "I shall divide the child in two parts and I shall give one moitie a chacune de vous." La fausse mere acquiesca a half to each of you." The false mother agreed to ce jugement ; mais I'autre s'ecria : "O roi ! donnez this judgment; but the other * exclaimed : "O king! give I'enfant a cette femme !" Le roi dit alors : " La chose est the child to that woman!" The king said then: "The thing is cvidente : cette femme est veritablement la mere de evident : this woman is truly the mother of I'enfant;" et il le lui adjugea a I'instant. the child," and ho him to her adjudged immediately. 140.— TEMPLE DE JERUSALEM.— A. m. 3000. TEMPLE OF JERL'SALEM.— B. c. 1004. Salomon batit a Jerusalem un temple d'un grand travail : Solomon built at Jerusalem a temple of a great labor: les murs de ce beau monument etaient converts d'or, the walls of tliis fine monument were covered (with) o/" gold, d 'argent et de pierres precieuses. L'arche d'alliance fut of silver and of stones precious. The ark of covenant was placce dans ce temple. Les rois voisins lierent amitie placed in tliis temple. The kings neighboring had joined friendship avec Salomon, et la reine de Saba, desirant le voir, sortit with Solomun, . and the queen of Sheba, desiring him to see, set out de son royaume, et vint a Jerusalem avec un grand train. from her kingdom, and came to Jerusalem with a great train. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 89 Quand elle fut en presence de Salomon elle lui dit : When she was in presence of Solomon she to him said : " Ce que j'ai appris de votre sagesse et de votre puissance " That which" I have heard of your wisdom and of your power est veritable, et la realite surpasse meme les merveilles is true, and tlie reality surpasses even the wonders annoncces par les mille trompettes de votre renommee." announced by the thousand trumpets of your renown." 141.— DESORDRE ET IDOLATRIE DE SALOMON. DISORDER AND IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON. Dans la suite, Salomon s'abandonna au plaisir : or Afterwards, Solomon himself gave up to the pleisure : moreover rien n'est plus I'ennemi de la vertu que la volupte ; nothing — is more the enemy of the virtue than ZAe voluptuousness ; c'est pourquoi il perdit sa sagesse. Les femmes etrangeres wherefore he lost his wisdom. The women foreign qu'il aima Tentrainerent. deja vieux. aux ceremonies whom he loved him led away, now (an) old (man,) to the ceremonies des nations paiemies. Dieu, etant offense de cette conduite, of the nations pagan. God, being offended of that conduct, lui predit le chatiment de ses vices, savoir, que la plus to him foiretold the punishment of his vices, namely, that the most grande partie de son royaume serait otee a son fils et great part of his kingdom should be taken to (from) his son and serait donnee a un de ses serviteurs ; et cela arriva ainsi. should be given to one of his servants; and it happened thus. 142.— ROBOAM AIGRIT LE PEUPLE. REHOBOAM EXASPERATES THE PEOPLE. A Salomon succeda Roboam, son fils. II renversa, par sa To Solomon succeeded Rehoboam, his son. He overturned, by his folie, le trone deju chancelant par la faute de son pere. folly, the throne already wavering by the fault of his father. Salomon avait mis sur le peuple un impot tres-onereux : Solomon had imposed on the people a tax very heavy : le peuple, ne pouvant le payer, en demanda la diminu- Ihe people, not being able to pay, of it demanded the diminu- tion. Les vieillards conseillaient au roi de satisfaire le lion. The old men admonished ro the king of to satisfy the 8* 90 ZETETIC METHOD. peuple ; mais les jeunes gens Ten dissuadaient. Roboam, people ; but the young men him from it dissuaded. Rehoboam, suivant les avis des jeunes gens de son age, repondit following the advices of the young men of his age, replied durenaent au peuple et I'ejeta sa dennande. rudely to the people and rejected /«s (their) demand. 143.~DIX TRIBUS ABANDONNENT ROBOAM. TEN TRIBES FORSAKE REHOBOAM. line sedition s'eleva : dix tribus abandonnerent Roboam, A sedition '^ arose : ten tribes withdrew from Rehoboam, et elurent pour leur roi Jeroboam de la tribu d'Ephraim. and elected for (as) their king Jeroboam from the tribe of Ephraim. Deux tribus seulement resterent fideles, savoir, la tribu de Two tribes only remained faithful, namely, the tribe of Juda et celle de Benjamin. Roboam habita Jerusalem, et Judah and that of Benjamin. Rehoboam inhabited Jerusalem, and Jeroboam batit Sichen sur la montagne d'Ephraim et y Jeroboam built Shechem on the mountain of Ephraim and there habita; ensuite il sortit de la, et batit Penuel. Jero- inhabited ; afterwards he went out from thence, and built Penuel. Jero- boam, pour detourner ses sujets de la coutum6 d'aller a boam, in order to divert his subjects from the custom of to go to Jerusalem, etablit una nouvelle religion, et for^a ses su- Jerusalem, instituted a new religion, and compelled his sub. jets d'adorer des faux dieux. jects of to worship some false gods. 144.-_COURTE DUREE DU ROYAUME D'ISRAEL. SHORT DURATION OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. Le royaume d'Israel ne subsista pas longtemps, The kingdom of Israel — did endure not long time, parce que tous ses rois sans exception furent impies. because all its kings without exception were wicked. Souvent Dieu leur envoya des prophetes pour les Often God to them sent some prophets, in order them avertir et les ramener a la veritable religion; mais to admonish and them to recall to the true religion; but ils n'obeirent point aux avertissements des prophetes ; thej— did obey not to the admonitions of the prophets; PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 91 au contraire, ils les accablerent d'outrages et de on the contrary, they them overloaded with outrages and with tourments. C'est pourquoi Dieu etant irrite les livra torments. Wherefore God being angry them delivered au pouvoir de leurs ennemis : ils furent vaincus par le into the power of their enemies : they were conquered by the roi des Assyriens, qui fit prisonnieres les dix tribus, et king of the Assyrians, who made captive the ten tribes, and les emmena en Assyrie. Ihem carried into Assyria. 145.— ASA ET JOSAPHAT, ROIS DE JUDA. ASA AND JEHOSAPHAT, KINGS OF JUDAH. Abias succeda a son pere Roboam ; il regna trois ans Abia3 succeeded to his father Rehoboam ; he reigned thi'ee years seulement, et laissa le trone a son fils Asa. Ce roi fut only, and left the throne to his son Asa. This king was agreable a Dieu a cause de sa piete ; car il renversa les acceptable to God on account of his piety ; for he overturned the autels des faux dieux, et chassa les impies de son altars of the false gods, and drove the wicked from his royaume. Apres la mort d'Asa, Josaphat, son fils, kingdom. After the death of Asa, Jehosophat, his son, commenca a regner ; il fut un religieux adorateur du vrai began to reign ; he was a religious worshipper of the true Dieu ; c'est pourquoi Dieu le combla de gloire et de God; wherefore God him loaded with glory and with richesses. Cependant Josaphat lia amitie avec I'impie riches. Nevertheless Jehosophat joined friendship with the wicked Achab, roi des Israelites. Ces deux rois, ayant reuni Achab, king of the Israelites. These two kings, having joined leurs forces, combattirent contre le roi de Syrie : Achab fut their forces, fought against the king of Syria : Achab was tue dans le combat, et Josaphat echappa par le secours divin. slain in the battle, and Jehosaphat escaped by the aid divine. 146._JORAM ET OCHOSIAS, ROIS DE JUDA. JORAM AND OCHOZIAS, KINGS OF JUDAH. Joram succeda a son pere Josaphat ; il degenera de la Joram succeeded to his father Jehosaphat ; he degenerated from the 92 ZETETIC METHOD. piete de son pere, car il epousa Athalie, fille de I'impie piety of his father, for he espoused AthaUa, daughter of the wicked Achab, et il fat plus semblable a son beau-pere qu'a son Achab, and he was more like to his father-in-law than to his pere. II mourut d'une cruelle maladie, que Dieu lui avait father. He died of a cruel disease, which God to him had envoyee. Apres lui, Ochosias, son fils, posseda le trone ; sent. After him, Ochozias, his son, possessed the throne ; mais il ne le posseda pas long-temps, car, etant porte aux but he — it possessed not long time, for, being driven to the vices par I'exemple de sa mere, il mourut miserablement. vices by the example of his mother, he died wretchedly. 147.— MORT D'ATHALIE. REGNE DE JOAS. DEATH OF ATHALIA. REIGN OF JOASH.— B. c. 883. Apres la mort d'Ochosias, Athalie sa mere extermina tous After the death of Ochozias, Athalia his mother destroyed all les enfants du sang royal et prit possession du tr6ne. ,Un the children of the blood royal and took possession of the throne. One fils d'Ochosias, nomme Joas, fut sauve du carnage et fut son of Ochozias, named Joash, was snatched from the slaughter and was cache dans le temple avec sa nourrice. Le grand pretre hidden in the temple with his nurse. The great priest Joiada eleva secretement le jeune prince dans le temple. Jehoiada educated secretly the young prince in the temple. Environ sept ans apres, il amena I'enfant royal devant About seven years after, he brought out the child royal before les officiers et le peuple, et Athalie ayant ete tu6e dans une the officers and the people, and Athalia having been slain in a revolte, le grand pretre sacra roi le jeune prince. revolt, the great priest anointed king the young prince. 148.— CRIMES ET MORT DE JOAS. CRIMES AND DEATH OF JOaSH. Tant que Joas suivit les conseils du grand pretre, il observa As long as Joash followed the counsels of the great priest, he observed tres-exactement le culte divin ; il orna le temple a grands very exactly the worship divine ; he adorned the temple at great frais. Mais apres la mort du grand pretre, le roi, cor- expense. But after the death of the great priest, the king, cor- PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. rompu par les flatteries de ses courtisans, s'abandonna aux rupted by the flatteries of his courtiers, * yielded to the vices et quitta la vraie religion. Oubliant les services vices and abandoned the Irue religion. Forgetting the services de Joiada, il condamna a mort le fils de son bienfaiteur, of Jehoiada, he condemned to death the sen of his benefactor, qui lui donnait de sages conseils. Bientot apres, le jeune who to him was giving some wise counsels. Soon after, the young roi fut tue dans son lit par ses propres sujets, et fut prive king was slain in bis bed by his own subjects, and was deprived de la sepulture royale. of the burial royal. 149.— AMASIAS, ROI DE JUDA. AxMAZIAS, KING OF JUDAH. Par la mort de Joas, le royaume passa a son fils Amasias, By the death of Joash, the kingdom came to his son Aaiazias, qui attaqua I'ldumee avec deux grandes armees, qu'il avait who attacked the Idumca with two great armies, which he had levees a grands frais. Mais un prophete I'avertit de collected with great expense. But a prophet him admonished of mettre sa confiance plutot dans le secours divin que dans to put liis confidence rather in the aid divine than in la multitude de ses soldats. Ayant done congedie une the multitude of his soldiers. Having therefore dismissed a grande partie de ses soldats, il combattit contre I'ennemi great part of his soldiers, he fought against the enemy avec une petite armee, et remporta une victoire remarqua- with a small army, and obtained a victory distinguish- ble. Dans la suite, enfls de cette victoire, il abandonna ed. Afterwards, puffed up by his victory, be deserted Dieu ; et apres avoir perdu ses deux armees, il fut pris God; and after to have (having) lost his two armios, he was taken par le roi de Samarie, qu'il avait provoque temerairement. by the king of Samaria, whom he had provoked rashly. 150.-OSIAS ET JOATHAN, ROIS DE JUDA. OZIAS AND JOATHAN, KING.S OF JUDAII. Osias fut le successeur d'Amn.sias; Dieu le favorisant, il Ozias was the successor of Amazius ; God him favoring, he 94 ZETETIC METHOD. vainquit les Philistins et dompta les Arabes. Dans la suite conquered the Philistines and overcame the Arabs. Afterwards I'orgueil prit possession de son coeur ; il usurpa la fonction tJie pride took possession of his heart; he usurped the ofQce des pretresj et, n'ayant eu nul respect pour les remon- ofthe priests, and. — having had no respect for the adnion- , trances du grand pretre, il fut attaque d'une maladie ishments of the great priest, he was seized v?ith a disease honteuse qu'on appelle lepre. Cost pourquoi il fut force base which they call leprosy. Wherefore he was compelled d'abandonner le soin de son royaume a son fils Joathan, of to abandon the care of his kingdom to his son Joathan, qui le gouverna sagement. . who it administered wisely. 151.— ACHAS, ROI DE JUDA. ACHAS, KING OF JUDAH. Achas, fils de Joathan, fut impie envers Dieu ] il adora Achas, son of Joathan, was wicked towards God ; he worshipped les faux dieux. Ses sujets eux-memes suivirent bientot the false gods. His subjects themselves followed soon I'exemple de leur roi. La main de Dieu s'appesantit the example of their king. The hand of God * was heavy plusieurs fois sur les enfants de Juda ; Achas fut defait several limes on the children of Judah ; Achas was defeated par les rois de Samarie et de Syria, et ces desastres ne le by the kings of Samaria and of Syria, and these disasters — him rappelerent point a de meilleurs sentiments. II ne fut pas did recall not to some better feelings. He — was not honteux de demander du secours aux Assyriens. Le roi ashamed of to ask some aid to the Assyrians. The king des Assyriens arriva, et d'abord il defit les ennemis d' Achas; of the Assyrians came, and at first he routed the enemies of Achas; mais ensuite il ravagea le royaume d'Achas. but afterwards he ravaged the kingdom of Achas. 152.— REGNE D'EZECHIAS ; SA PIETE. REIGN OF EZECHIAS; HIS PIETY. Ezechias se distingua par sa grande piete ; des qu'il Ezechias himself distinguished by his great piety ; as soon as he PROGRESSITE FKENCH TKANSLATOR. 95 posseda le trone, il exhorta le peuple et les pretres a la possessed the throne, he exhorted the people and the priests to the repentance. Ensuite il purifia la ville des superstitions repentance. Afterwards he cleansed the city from the superstitions de son pere, il orna le temple, et retablit les cerenrionies, of his father, he ornamented the temple, and restored the ceremonies, qui depuis long-temps avaient ete negligees. II ne montra which since (a) long time had been neglected. He — did show pas moins de courage pour conduire la guerre, que de not less of courage for to conduct the war, than of piete pour proteger la religion : il tailla en pieces les piety for to protect the religion : he cut to pieces the Philistins dans plusieurs batailles, et delivra les Juifs des Philistines in many battles, and released the Jews from the tributs qu'ils payaient aux Assyriens. tributes which they paid to the Assyrians. 153.— SIEGE DE JERUSALEM. SIEGE OF JERUSALEM. Quelque temps apres, Ezechias tomba dans une maladie Some time after, Ezechias fell into a sickness dangereuse, et le prophete Isaie I'ayant averti que la fin de dangerous, and the prophet Isaiah him having warned that ihe end of sa vie approchait, le roi pria Dieu avec larmes d'epargner his life was at hand, the king prayed God with tears of to spare sa vie. Dieu touche de ses prieres et de ses larmes, lui his li.fe. God moved by his prayers and by his tears, to him accorda quinze ans. Trois jours apres, le roi etant gueri granted fifteen years. Three days after, the king being cured alia au temple pour remercier le Seigneur. Un an apres, went to the temple for to thank the Lord. One year after le roi d'Assyrie assicgea Jerusalem ; mais Isaie rassura the king of Assyria besiegeii Jerusalem; but Isaiah strengthened Ezechias en lui promettant le secours divin. Et en effet, Ezechias in to him promising the aid divine. And indeed, pendant la nuit suivante, un ange de Dieu extermina plus during the night following, an angel of God " exterminated more de cent mille Assyriens ; et le roi d'Assyrie tremblant than (a) hundred thousand Assyrians ; and the king of Assyria trembling s'enfuit dans sa patrie. * fled into his country. 96 ZETETIC METHOD. 154._MORT DU ROI EZECHIAS. DEATH OF THE KING EZECHIAS. EzechiaSj etant delivre d'un si grand danger, passa le Ezechias, being freed from a so great danger, passed the reste de sa vie dans una tres-grande tranquillite ; toutes remainder of liis life in a very great tranquillity ; all ses entreprises lui reussirent, parce que Dieu le fa- his undertakings- to him succeeded, because God him fa- vorisait. Etant lie par tant de bienfaits de Dieu, il per- vored. Being bound by so many of blessings of God, he per- scvera constamment dans la meme piete ; il mit toute son ;severed constantly in the same piety ; he placed all his esperance dans le secours divin, il s'efforca toujours a hope in the aid divine, he himself exerted always to faire ce qui plaisait a Dieu. II regna vingt-neuf ans, et do that which was pleasing to God. He reigned twenty-nine years, and ensuite il mourut d'une mort tranquille. Le peuple le afterwards he died of a death quiet. Tlie people him pleura, et son corps fut place parmi les tombeaux des mourned for, and his body was placed among the tombs of the rois ses ancetres, dans un endroit plus eleve. kings his ancestors, in a place more exalted. 155.— CRIMES DE MANASSES, SA REPENTANCE. CRIMES OF MANASSEH, HIS REPENTANCE. A Ezechias succeda Manasses, fils impie d'un pere pieux. To Ezechias succeeded • Manasseh, son wicked of a father pious. Le nouveau roi abandonna le culte du vrai Dieu, et il The new king abandoned the worship of the true God, and he adora les fausses divinites. II joignit la cruaute a son worshipped the false deities. He added Ihe cruelty to his impiete ; car, lorsque le prophete Isaie I'eut menace de impiety ; for, when the prophet Isaiah him liad threatened with la colere divine, ce roi, transporte de fareur, commanda the anger divine, this king, struck with rage, commanded aux bourreaux de scier le prophete en deux parts avec une fo the executioners of to saw the prophet in two parts with a scie de bois. Dieu vengea bientot la mort de son prophete: saw of wood. God avenged soon the death of his prophet: Manasses fut vaincu par les Assyriens ; il fut pris et jete Manasseh w'as conquered by the Assyrians; he was taken and cast PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 91 dans les fers. La, etant instruit par le malheur, il into the chains. There, being taught by the misfortune, he demanda humblement a Dieu le pardon de ses crimes asked humbly to (from) God the pardon of his crimes et I'obtint : etant alors retabli sur son trone, il servit Dieu and it obtained: being then reinstated on his throne, he honored God avec piete. with piety. 156.— AMON ET JOSIAS, ROIS DE JUDA. AMON AND JOSIAH, KINGS OF JUDAH. Amon, fils de Manasses, imita I'impiete de son pere, mais Amon. son of Manasseh, imitated the wickedness of his father, but non sa repentance. II regna deux ans seulement, et il not his repentance. He reigned two years only, and ha fut tue dans son palais par ses sujets. II eut pour sue- was slain in his palace by his subjects. He had for suc- cesseur Josias, homme saint et pieux, qui, adonne a la ver- cessor Josiah, man holy and pious, who, given to the vir- tu des son enfance, rappela le peuple au culte prescrit tue from his childhood, recalled the people to the worship prescribed par la loi. Mais ensuite une confiance temeraire le perdit ; by Ihe law. But afterwards a confidence rash him destroyed . car, ayant conduit une armee centre les Egyptiens, et, Dieu for, having led an army against the Egyptians, and, God I'ayant averti de ne pas engager une bataille, il combattit him having admonished — not to engage a battle, he fought ncanmoins. N'ayant done point reussi, il recut une nevertheless. — Having therefore not succeeded, he received a blessure et mourut peu de jours apres. wound and died (a) few of days after. 157.— DESTRUCTION DE JERUSALEM. DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.-B. c. 606. Josias, en mourant, laissa trois fils : Jaochas, I'un d'eux, Josiah, in dying, left three sons: Joachaz, /Ae one of them, regna trois mois seulement ; il fut pris par le roi d'As- reigned three months only; he was captured by the king ofAa- syrie. A Joachas succeda Jechonias. Sous son regn&, Syria. To Joachaz succeeded Jechonia. Under his reiga, 98 ZETETIC METHOD. Nabuchodonosor, roi de Babylone, prit d'assaut Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took by storm Jerusalem, emmena presque tous les habitants de cette ville dans son carried away nearly all the inhabitants of that city to his royaume et laissa seulement a Jerusalem una vile populace, kingdom and left only at Jerusalem a vile mob, a la tete de laquelle il mit Sedecias, dernier roi. Quelque at the head of which he put ZedekiaJi, last king. Some temps apres, Sedecias . se revolta, alors Nabuchodonosor time after, Zedekiah himself rebelled, then Nebuchadnezzar revint, rasa la ville, brula le temple, et mit en prison returned, overthrew the city, burnt the temple, and put in prison Sedecias et I'accabla de tourments. Zedekiah and him overloaded with torments. 158.— DANIEL ET SES COMPAGNONS. DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS. Parmi les captifs qui avaient ete emmenes a Babylone, le Among the captives who had been led to Babylon, the roi choisit quelques enfants d'une beante remarquable, king chose many children of a beauty extraordinary, Daniel, Ananias, Misael et Azarias furent parmi les enfants Daniel, Ananias, Miseel and Azarias were among the children choisis. Ces enfants etaient eleves avec plu«ieurs autres chosen. These boys were brought up with several others dans le palais, afin que dans la suite ils se tinssent devant in the palace, n ,,t afterwards they might stand before la table du roi pour le servir. Nabuchodonosor avait the table of the king in order him to wait upon, Nebuchadnezzar had ordonne de les nourrir des restes de ses propres repas; commanded of them to feed with the remains of his own meals; mais ces vertueux enfants ne voulurent point manger les but these virtuous boys — would not to eat the mets p ' fanes que les o:' ciers du roi leur presentaient, food (j.ofane which the officers of the king to them presented, parce que la loi le defendait ; ils mangeaient seulement des because the law it forbade ; they did eat only some legumes. Cependant ils devinrent plus robustes et plus pulse. Nevertheless they became more strong and more beaux que les autres enfants avec lesquels ils etaient eleves. handsome than the other boys with whom they were brought up. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 99 159.— LES TROIS HEBREUX DANS LA FOURN ATSE. THE THREE HEBREWS IN THE FURNACE. Nabuchodonosor erigea une statue d'or, et il ordonna a Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue of gold, and he ordered to tous ses sujets de I'adorer ; il menaca de mort ceux qui all his subjects q/ it to worship ; he threatened with death those who refuseraient d'obeir. Ananias, Misael et Azarias pre fere rent would refuse 0/ to obey. Ananias, Mish^l and Azarias preferred mourir plCitot que de rendre a une statue un hommage du a to die rather than of to pay to a statue an homage due to Dieu seul. Le roi ordonna a ses officiers de jeter ces God alone. The king ordered to his officers 0/ to cast these enfants dans une fournaise ardente ; mais le Seigneur pro- boys into a furnace burning; but the Lord pro- tegea ces enfants et la flamme ne toucha pas menae le.urs tecied these boys and the flame — touched not even t'leir vetements. Le roi, voyant cela, rendit hommage au Dieu clothes. The king, seeing it, paid homage to the God d'Israel. of Israel. 160.~FESTIN IMPIE DE BALTHAZAR. FEAST IMPIOUS OF BELSHAZZAR. Le roi Balthazar prepara un grand festin et invita lea The king Belshazzar prepared a great feast and invited the principaux seigneurs de sa cour. II ordonna a ses officiers principal lords of his court. He ordered to his officers d'apporter les vases d'or et d'argent que son pere avait of to bring the vessels of gold and of .silver which his father had tires du temple de Jerusalem. Les officiers apporterent taken out from the temple of Jerusalem. The officers brought les vases ; le roi et ses convives y burent. Aussitot the vessels; the king and his guests in them drank. Immediately la main d'un homme ecrivit sur le mur. Le roi etonne the hand of a man wrote on the wall. The king astonished voulut savoir ce que ces mots signifiaient ; mais personne wished to know what the words did signify ; but nobody ne put en donner I'interpretation. Alors la reine — could of them /ogive the interpretation. Then the queen conseilla a son mari d'appeler Daniel. Le prophete vint; advised to her husband of lo call Daniel. The prophet came ; 100 ZETETIC METHOD. il predit au roi que son royaume serait divise et donne he foretold to the king that his kingdom would be divided and given aux Medes et aux Perses ; et, en efFet, cette meme nuit, Eo the Medes and to the Persians; and, in fact, that very night, le roi des Medes s'empara de Babylone par force. the king of the Medes * took possession of Babylon by force. 161.— DANIEL ET LES LIONS. DANIEL AND THE LIONS. Daniel, a cause de sa sagesse extraordinaire, etait cheri Daniel, on account of his wisdom extraordinary, was cherished du nouveau roi ; c'est pourquoi il etait hai des cour- by the new king ; wherefore he was hated by the cour- tisans, qui lui dresserent plusieurs fois des embQches ; tiers, who (for) him laid several times some snares; . mais Daniel les evita. Enfin Daniel desobeit a un edit but Daniel them avoided. At last Daniel did disobey to an edict impie du roi ; les courtisans, qui I'epiaient, 1'- wicked of the king; the courtiers, who him were watching, him accuserent ; et le roi fut force d'exposer aux lions un did accuse; and the king was compelled o/" to expose to the lions a homme qui lui etait cher, car la loi I'ordonnait ainsi. man who to him was dear, for the law it ordained thus. Mais ces betes feroces epargnerent Daniel, et le roi, But these beasts ferocious spared Daniel, and the king, touche de ce miracle, livra aux lions les accusateurs moved by this miracle, delivered to the lions the accusers ji eux-memes. themselves. 162.— AMAN ET MARDOCHEE. HAMAN AND MORDECAL Mardochee, un des capiifs, delivra les Juifs d'un grand Mordecai, one of the captives, freed the Jews from a great danger. II avait eleve une jeune fille nommee Esther, danger. He had brought up a young girl named Esther, qui avait perdu son pere et sa mere. Le roi Assuerus who had lost her father and her mother. The king Ahasuerus I'avait prise pour epouse, et I'aimait beaucoup. II y her h^d taken for (a) wife, aud her loved much. It there PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 101 avait alors un courtisan en grande faveur aupres du AflK/(was) then a courtier in great favor with of the roi, ce courtisan, nomme Aman, fier de la faveur dont king, this courtier, named Haman, proud of the favor <^ which il jouissait, voulait que le peuple I'adorat ; Mardochee, he was enjoying, wished that the people him might worship ; Mordecai, refusant de le faire, avait excite centre lui la haine re- refusing of it to do, had enkindled against himself the hatred re- doutable d'Aman. Aman, pour se venger de son doubtable of Haman. Haman, in order himsplf to revenge on his ennemi, resolut de detruire toute la nation Juive, et ob- enemy, determined of to destroy whole the nation Jewish, and ob* tint pour ce dessein un edit d'Assuerus. tained for that design an edict of Ahasuerus. 163.— LAMENTATIONS DE MARDOCHEE. LAMENTATIONS OF MORDECAL Des que ce cruel edit parvint aux oreilles de Mardochee, When this cruel edict came to the ears of Mordecai, aussitot il dechira ses vetements, se revetit d'un sac, immediately he rent his clothes, * put on of a sackcloth, et convert de cendres, il alia au palais, et le remplit and sprinkled with ashes, he went to the palace, and it filled de ses plaintes. Esther, ayant entendu ces gemissements, with his complaints. Esther, having heard these lamentations, demandacequec'etait : des qu'elle apprit que Mardochee inquired what it was : as soon as she understood that Mordecai et tous les Juifs etaient destines a la mort, elle invoqua and all the Jews were appointed to the death, she invoked Dieu, et chercha le roi pour empecher par ses prieres la God, and looked for the king in order to avert by her prayers the destruction de sa nation. Cependant elle ne decouvrit destruction of her nation. Nevertheless she — did liiscover pas immediatement cette affaire au roi, mais elle I'invita not immediately that affair to the king, but she him invited a un fesiin. to a feast. 164.— DISGRACE D'AMAN. DISGRACE OF HAMAN. Assuerus vint au festin avec Aman. Esther, voyant le Ahasuerus came to the feast with Haman. Esther, seeing the 9* 102 ZETETIC METHOD. roi d'une humeur joyeuse, se jeta a ses pieds, et le king in a temper joyous, herself threw at his feet, and him supplia de lui accorder une faveur. Le roi lui promit besought of to her to grant a favor. The king to her i)romised qu'il lie lui refuserait rien, meme si elle demandait la that he — to her would refuse nothing, even if she should ask the moitie de son royaume. "O roi !" dit alors Esther, "je half of his kingdom. "O king!" said then Esther, "I vous prie de m'accorder ma conservation et celle de ma you pray of to me to grant my safety and that of my nation ; car le cruel Aman nous a devoues a la mort." nation; for the cruel Haman us has doomed to the death." Assuerus fut touche des chagrins de sa femme, et, Ahasuerus was moved by the sorrows of his wife, and, apprenant qu'Aman avait prepare une croix pour hearing that Haman had prepared a gallows for Mardochee, il ordonna a ses officiers d'attacher Aman a Mordecai, he ordered to his officers of to fasten Haman to cette croix. that gallows. 165— CYRUS ACCORDE AUX JUIFS LEUR LIBERTE. CYRUS GRANTS TO THE JEWS THEIR LIBERTY.) La captivite de Babylone dura soixante et dix ans, The captivity of Babylon continued (for) sixty and tea years, comme Dieu I'avait predit. Quand ce temps se fut as God it had foretold. When that time * was (had). ecoule, Cyrus, roi de Perse, ayant vaincu le roi de passed by, Cyrus, king of Persia, having conquered the king of Babylone, accorda aux Juifs la permission de retourner Babylon, gave to the Jews the permission of to return dans leur patrie, et de retablir le temple : il leur rendit to their country, and of to restore the temple : he to them restored aussi les vases sacres que Nabuehodonosor avait enleves. also the vessels sacred which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. Ainsi les Juifs, sous la conduite de Zorobabel, retournerent Therefore the Jews, under the command of Zorobabel, returned a Jerusalem, et jeterent les premiers fondements du to Jerusalem, and laid the first foundations of the nouveau temple ; mais la construction en fut long- new temple ; but the building of it was (for a) long PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 103 temps interrompue, parce que les nations voisines 1'- time interrupted, because the nations neighboring it empechaient. hindered. 166.— ETAT DES JUIFS APRES LEUR RETOUR. STATE OF THE JEWS AFTER THEIR RETURN. Les Jiiifs, apres leur retour dans leur patrie, arrangerent The Jews, after their return to their country, settled les affaires de leur ville ; ils n'eurent plus de rois, mais le the affairs of their city ; they no had more any kings, but the gouvernement fut au pouvoir des grands pretres. government was in the possession of the grand priests. Cependant les Juifs payerent des tributs, d'abord, aux Nevertheless the Jews paid some tributes, at first, to the Perses, ensuite aux Grecs, apres la defaite de Darius par Persians, afterwards to the Greeks, after the defeat of Darius by Alexandre le Grand. Dans la suite, ils ne s'ecarterent Alexander the Great. Afterwards, they — departed jamais de la religion de leurs ancetres, quoique, pour never from the religion of their ancestors, although, for cette raison, ils eussent ete persecutes par plusieurs rois, that cause, they might have been persecuted by many kings, et surtout par Antiochus, roi de Syrie. and especially by Antiochus, king of Syria. 167.— PERSECUTIONS D'ANTIOCHUS. PERSECUTIONS OF ANTIOCHUS.— e. c. 170. Antiochus eatreprit d'abolir la loi sacree des Juifs : il Antiochus attempted 0/ to abolish the law sacred of the Jews: he ordouna que tons, abandonnant les institutions de leurs an- ordained that all, abandoning the institutions of their an- cetres, vecussent a la maniere des paiens. Antiochus cestors, might live by the custom of the pagans. Antiochus eleva par toute la Judee des autels aux faux dieux : il built through all the Judea some altars to the false gods : he enleva tous les ornements du temple de Jerusalem ; il bore away all the ornaments of the temple of Jerusalem; he brula les livres sacres, et infligea des supplices inouis aux burnt the books sacred, and inflicted somt torments unheard to the 104 ZETEtiC METHOD. Juifs qui resistaient a ses ordres. Plusieurs Juifs pieux Jews who resisted to his orders. Many Jews pious quitterent leur patrie pour eviter le danger; plusieurs left their country in order to avoid the danger; many affronterent la mort plutot que de s'ecarter de la loi di- sought the death rather than of * to depart from the law di- vine ; de ce nombre fut le vieillard Eleazar. vine ; among that number was the old man Eleazer. 168.— MARTYRE D'UNE MERE ET DE SES FILS. MARTYRDOM OF A MOTHER AND OF HER SONS. Una femme avec ses sept enfants suivit le bel exemple A woman with her seven children followed the noble example d'Eleazar. lis furent tous saisis en raeme temps et battus of Eleazer. They were all seized at the same time and beaten de verges pour les forcer a pecher, mais nulle violence with rods in order them to force to sin, but no violence ne put les detourner de la loi divine. II y avait — could them withdraw from the law divine. It there had (was) alors a Jerusalem un pretre nomme Mathathias, qui avait then at Jerusalem a priest named Mattathias, who had cinq fils. Ceux-ci, ayant quitte la ville pour ne pas voir five sons. These one, having left the city in order not to see les maux dont elle etait affligee, se retirerent dans un the evils wtith which it was afHicted, * withdrew into a desert. La se rendit une multitude d'hommes attaches wilderness. Thilher * assembled a multitude of men attached aux lois divines, et bientot cette multitude s'accrut et to the laws divine, and soon that multitude * increased and forma une armee. Alors, ces Hebreux exiles choisirent formed an army. Then, these Hebrews exiled chose Mathathias pour chef ; ils resolurent de delivrer leur patrie Mattathias for chief; they resolved of to free their country et de proteger leur religion ; c'est pourquoi ils renverserent and of to protect their religion ; wherefore they overturned les autels eleves aux fausses divinites et retablirent le the altars raised to the false deities and re-established the culte du vrai Dieu. worship of the true God. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 105 169.— PREMIERE ACTION DE JUDAS MACHABEE. FIRST ACTION OF JUDAS MACCABEUS. Quelque temps apres, Mathathias mourut, et en mourant, il Some time after, Maftalhias died, and in dying, he mit a la tete de I'armee Judas, son fils, qui fut appele put at the head of the army Judas, his son, who was called Machabee. Celui-ci continua avec courage la guerre Maccabeus. This one pursued with courage the war entreprise par son pere. II remplit d'une maniere dis- undertakea by his father. He filled in a manner dis- tinguee tous les devoirs d'un bon general ; se confiant au tinguished all the duties of a good general ; * trusting in the secours divin qu'il avait invoque, il prit d'assaut des aid divine which he had invoked, he took by assault some places fortes, mit des garnisons dans les villes, vainquit places strong, put some garrisons in the cities, conquered Apollonius, un des generaux d'Antiochus, le tua de sa Apollonius, one of the generals of Antiochus, him killed with his propre main, et ensuite il se servit de son epee qu'il own hand, and afterwards he * used of his sword which he lui avait enlevee dans le combat. from him had taken away in the combat. 170.~-VICTOIRE DE JQDAS SUR NICANOR. VICTORY OF JUDAS OVER NICANOR. Lorsqu'Antiochus apprit qu'Apollonius avait ete vaincu, When Antiochus heard that Apollonius had been conquered, il fut enflammc de colere : il donna ordre a Lysias de he was inflamed witli anger: he gave order to Lysias of ravager la Judee, et d'exterminer toute la nation. Lysias to lay waste the Judea, and of to destroy whole the nation. Lysias envoya centre les Juifs Nicanor et Gorgias, auxquels il sent against the Jews Nicanor and Gorgias, to whom he donna quarante mille fantassins et sept mille cavaliers; gave forty thousand fool soldiers and seven thousand horsemen; ces deux generaux placerent leur camp non loin de la these two generals placed their camp not far from the ville de Jerusalem. Judas, qui mettait toute son esperance city of Jerusalem. Judas, who placed all his hope en Dieu, n'hesita point a livrer bataille, quoiqu'il n'eut in God, —did hesitate not to give battle, although he —had 106 ZETETIC METHOD. que trois mille hommes ; a la tete d'une si petite armee, but three thousand men ; at the head of a so small army, il tailla en pieces les troupes du roi, et s'empara d'un he cut to pieces the forces of the king, and * obtained of a grand butin. great spoil. 171.— LYSIAS VAINCU PAR JUDAS. LYSIAS VANQUISHED BY JUDaS. Cette defaite fut annoncee a Lysias, qui, pens.ant que cet This slaughter was announced to Lysias, who, thinking that this echec etait arrive par la faute des deux gensraux, loss was (had) happened by the fault of the two generals, resolut de conduire lui-meme I'armee. II vint done determined of to lead himself the army. He came therefore en Judee avec soixante-cinq mille hommes. Judas avait into Judea with sixty-five thousand men. Judas had seulement dix mille hommes ; cependant il marcha contre only ten thousand men: nevertheless he proceeded against Lysias, et, apres avoir invoque le secours divin, il se Lysias, and, alter having invoked the aid divine, he * battit avec I'ennemi. II tua cinq mille hommes de lought with the enemy. He slew five thousand men of I'armee de Lysias, et il epouvanta tellement lesautres the army of Lysias, and he frightened in such a manner the other soldats ennemis, qu'ils prirent la fuite. soldiers hostile, that they took the flight. 172._JUDAS PURIFIE LE TEMPLE. JUDAS PUfilFIES THE TEMPLE. Les ennemis etant chasses, Judas se hata de retablir le The enemies being beaten, Judas * hastened of to reestablish the culte divin ; il rentra victorieux dans Jerusalem, qui worship divine ; he re-entered victorious into Jerusalem, which presentait une apparence lugubre. Les portes du temple afforded an appearance mournful. The gates of the temple avaient ete brulees, I'autel etait souille ; des broussailles had been burnt, the aliar was polluted ; some brambles croissaient sous les portiques, comme dans une foret. Judas were growing under the portico, as if in a forest. Judas PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 107 purifia le temple, repara les portes et eleva un nouvel autel, purified the temple, repaired the gates and raised a new allar, dont la dedicace fut celebree par une grande affluence de of which the dedication was celebrated by a great concourse of tout le peuple ; il fut arrete qu'une fete serait celebree whole the people ; it was decreed that a feast should be celebrated chaque annee, pour eterniser la memoire de cet heureux every year, in order to perpetuate the memorial of that happy evenement. event- 173._GUERRE DES NATIONS VOTSINES. WAR OF THE NATIONS NEIGHBORING. Les nations voisines, s'etant soulevees a cause du re- The nations neighboring, "^ having (being) aroused on account of the re- tablissement du temple, declarerent la guerre aux Juifs. establishment of the temple, declared the war to the Jews. Judas Machabee se battit contre elles ; dans cette bataille Judas Maccabeus * fought against them; in that battle Dieu se montra evidemment le protecteur de Judas ; car God himself showed evidently the protector of Judas; for pendant le combat, cinq hommes, remarquables par leurs during the contest, five men, distinguished by their chevaux et leur valeur, parurent a la tete des soldats horses and their valor, appeared at the liead of the soldiers juifs. Deux de ces hommes, retenant Judas au milieu Jewish. Two of these men, keeping Judas in the midst d'eux, le preservaient de tout danger, et lancaient des of them, him preserved from all danger, and hurled somB traits enflammes sur les ennemis ; ceux-ci, ayant I'esprit darts fiery upon the enemies; these ones, having the mind trouble, prirent la fuite. Dans cette bataille vingt-cinq disturbed, took the flight In that battle twenty-five mille ennemis furent tues. Bientot apres cette celebre vic- thousand enemies were killed. Soon after tliis celebrated vic- toire, Dieu punit Antiochus, et ce roi impie mourut tory, God punished Antiochus, and this king impious died miserablement. Eupator, son fils, lui succeda. II attaqua wretchedly. Eupator, his son, to him succeeded. He attacked Judas Machabee, qui le vainquit. Apres plusieurs autres Judas Maccabeus, who him conquered. After several other 108 ZETETIC METHOD. victoires remportees sur les ennemis de sa nation, Judas victories gained over the enemies of his nation, Judas Machabee mourut. Jonathas, son frere, lui succeda, et Maccabeus died. Jonathan, his brother, to him succeeded, and SOUS son gouvernement les Juifs furent heureux et libres. under his government the Jews were happy and free. 174.— ROIS DE^ JUDEE. LE MESSIE.—a. m. 4000. KINGS OF JUDEA. THE MESSIAH. Apres la mort de Jonathas, le souverain pouvoir fut defere After the death of Jonathan, the sovereign power was transferred a Simon, et a la mort de celui-ci, Jean Hircan succeda a to Simon, and at the death of this one, John Hircanus succeeded to son pere. II mourut un an apres et laissa pour heritier son his father. He died one year after and left for (his) heir his fils Aristobule, qui, le premier de tons, depuis la captivite son Aristobulus, who, the first of all, since the captivity des Juifs, prit le nom de roi. Apres la mort d' Aristobule, of the Jews, took the name of king. After the death of Aristobulus, son fils Alexandre regna. II mourut sans avoir rien. his son Alexander reigned. He died without to have (having) anything fait de memorable : il laissa deux fils qui pretendirent avoir done of memorable : he left two sons who pretended ^ to have des droits egaux au trone. Pompee, general du peuple some rights equal to the throne. Pompey, general of the people remain, alia en Judee, sous le pretexte de retablir Roman, went into Judea, under the pretence of to restore (restoring) I'union entre les deux freres, mais en realite pour the harmony between the two brothers, but in reality in order conquerir ce pays, et, c'est ce qu'il fit. Quelque temps to conquer that country, and it is that which he did. Some time apres, Herode, qui etait etranger, usurpa la couronne de after, Herod, who was (a) foreigner, usurped the crown of Judee. Herode fut le premier roi etranger qui regna sur Judea. Herod was the first king foreign who reigned over les Juifs, et sous son regne naquit Jesus-Christ, comme the Jews, and under his reign was born Jesus Christ, as les prophetes I'avaient predit. the prophets it had foretold. END OF FIRST PART. HISTOIRE SAINTE, SECONDE PARTIE. 1— DIEU CREE LE MONDE EN SIX JOURS. B. c. 4004. Dieu crea le ciel et la terre en six jours. Le premier jour, il fit la lumiere. Le second jour, il fit le firma- ment, qu'il appela ciel. Le troisieme jour, il rassembla les eaux dans un seul lieu, et fit sortir de la terre les plantes et les arbres. Le quatrieme jour, il fit le soleil, la lune et les etoiles. Le cinquieme jour, il fit les oiseaux qui volent dans I'air, et les poissons qui nagent dans les eaux. Le sixieme jour, il fit tous les animaux, enfin il fit I'homme ; et il se reposa le septieme jour. 2.— DIEU FORME LE CORPS D'ADAM. Dieu forma le corps de I'homme du limon de la terre j il lui donna une ame vivante : il le fit a son image, d'apres sa ressemblance, et il le nomma Adam. Ensuite il envoya un sommeil a Adam, et tira une de ses cotes pendant son sommeil. De cette c6te il forma une femme qu'il donna pour compagne a Adam : et c'est ainsi qu'il institua le mariage. Le nom de la premiere femme fut Eve. 3— DIEU PLACE L'HOMME DANS LE PARADIS. Dieu placa Adam et Eve dans un jardin tres-agreable, appele Paradis terrestre. Un grand fleuve arrosait ce jardin : la etaient toutes sortes d'arbres agreables a la vue, et des fruits doux au gout. Parmi ces arbres etait I'arbre 10 110 ZETETIC METHOD. de la science du bien et du mal, Dieu dit a I'homme : Usez des fruits de tous les arbres du Paradis, excepte le fruit de I'arbre de la science du bien et du mal : car, si vous mangez ce fruit, vous mourrez. 4.— DESOBEISSANCE D'ADAM ET D'EVE. Le serpent, qui etait le plus ruse de tous les animaux, dit a la femme: Pourquoi ne mangez- vous point le fruit de cet arbre ? La femme repondit : Dieu I'a defendu ; si nous y touchons, nous mourrons. Non, dit le serpent, vous ne mourrez pas ; mais vous serez semblables a Dieu, con- naissant le bien et le mal. La femme, trompee par ces paroles, cueillit et mangea le fruit : ensuite elle en cueillit de nouveau et en offrit a son mari, qui en mangea aussi. 5.— ADAM ET EVE SE CACHENT. Adam, fuyant la presence de Dieu, se cacha. Dieu I'appela et lui dit : '•' Adam, pourquoi vous cachez-vous ?" II repondit: "J'ai craint votre presence." "Pourquoi craignez-vous, dit Dieu, si ce n'est parce que vous avez mange le fruit defendu ?" Adam repondit : " La femme que vous m'avez donnee pour compagne m'a presente ce fruit afin que je le mangeasse." Le Seigneur dit a la femme : " Pourquoi avez- vous fait cela ?" Elle repondit : *' Le serpent m'a trompee." 6.— DIEU PUNIT LE SERPENT. Le Seigneur dit au serpent : " Parce que tu as trompe la femme, tu seras deteste et maudit entre tous les animaux, tu ramperas sur ta poitrine, et tu mangeras de la terre. Des inimities existeront entre toi et la femme : mais un jour elle ecrasera ta tete." Dieu dit aussi a la femme : PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. Ill ^•'Je vous affligerai de plusieurs maux, et vous serez sous la puissance de rhomme." 7.— ADAM EST CHASSE DU PARADIS. Ensuite Dieu dit a Adam : " Parce que vous avez imite la conduite de votre femme, la terre vous produira des epines et des chardons. Vous tirerez d'elle votre nourriture avec beaucoup de peine, jusqu'a ce que vous retourniez dans la terre d'ou vous venez." Alors il chassa Adam et Eve du jardin, et il placa un ange, qui tenait une epee etincelante, pour garder I'entree du Paradis. 8.— CAIN ET ABEL. Adam eut plusieurs enfants, parmi lesquels furent Cain et Abel : celui-ci fut pasteur, celui-la fut cultivateur. Ces deux freres ofFrirent des presents au Seigneur ; Cain offrit des fruits de la terre, et Abel des brebis choisies. Les presents d'Abel plurent a Dieu ; mais non les presents de Cain : celui-ci supporta cela avec peine. Le Seigneur dit a Cain: " Pourquoi haissez-vous votre frere ? Si vous agissez bien vous recevrez votre recompense ; mais si vous agissez mal, vous subirez la punition de vos peches.'^ 9.— CAIN TUE ABEL. Cain n'obeit point aux avis de Dieu : dissimulant sa colore, il dit a son Mre : " Venez, aliens dans les champs." lis sortirent ensemble ; et lorsqu' ils arriverent dans un lieu retire, Cain se jeta sur Abel et le tua. Dieu dit a Cain : " Ou est votre frere ?" Cain repondit : " Je ne sais pas ; suis-je le gardien de mon frere ?" 112 ZETETIC METHOD. 10.— PUNITION DE CAIN. Dieu dit a Cain : " Cain, qu'avez-vous fait ? Le sang de votre frere, que vous avez repandu, crie vers moi. La terre, qui a bu le sang d'Abel, vous sera contraire ; quaud vous I'aurez cultivee par un travail long et penible, elle ne produira aucun fruit ; vous serez fugitif dans I'univers." Cain, n'esperant point de pardon, s'enfuit. ll.~LA CONSTRUCTION DE L'ARCHE. Apres que le nombre des hommes eut augmente, tous les vices prevalurent. Dieu offense resolut de detruire la race humaine par un deluge. Cependant il epargna Noe et ses enfants, parce qu'ils pratiquaient la vertu. Noe, selon I'avis de Dieu, construisit une grande arche ; il I'enduisit de bitume, et y placa une paire de tous les oiseaux et de tous les aniraaux. 12.— LE DELUGE.— A. m. 1656. Apres que Noe lui-meme fut entre dans I'arche avec sa femme, ses trois fils et autant de belle-filles, les eaux de la mer et de toules les fontaines deborderent. En meme temps une grande pluie tomba pendant quarante jours et autant de nuits. L'eau couvrit toute la terre, de sorte qu'elle surpassait de quinze coudees les plus hautes montagnes. Tout fut detruit par le deluge : mais I'arche, soulevee par les eaux, flottait sur leur surface. 13.— FIN DU DELUGE. Dieu envoya un vent violent, et les eaux diminuerent par degres. Enfin, le onzieme mois apres le commencement du deluge, Noe ouvrit la fenetre de I'arche et lacha un corbeau, qui ne revint point. Ensuite il lacha une colombe, PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 113 qui n'ayant point trouve de lieu ou elle put se reposer, revint a Noe, qui etendit sa main et remit I'oiseau dans Tarche. La colombe, etant lachee une seconde fois, apporta dans son bee un rameau d'olivier vert, qui etait le signe de la fin du deluge. 14.— NOE SORT DE L'ARCHE. Noe soi'tit de I'arche apres y avoir ete renferme pendant une annee entiere, lui et sa famille : il fit sortir avec lui les oiseaux et les animaux. Alors il erigea un autel, et ofFrit un sacrifice au Seigneur. Dieu lui dit : Je ne detruirai plus desormais la race humaine ; Je placerai mon arc dans les nues, et il sera le signe de I'alliance que je fais avec vous. Lorsque j'aurai convert le ciel de nuages, mon arc paraitra ; je me rappellerai mon alliance, et il n'y aura plus de deluge pour detruire I'univers. 15.— CORRUPTION DU GENRE HUMAIN. Toutes les nations sont descendues des fils de Noe. Sem habita I'Asie, Cham I'Afrique, Japhet I'Europe. Le chatiment du deluge ne detourna point les hommes des vices; car bientot ils devinrent plus mechants qu'auparavant. lis oublierent Dieu leur createur : ils adoraient le soleil et la lune ; ils ne respectaient point leurs parents ; ils disaient des mensonges; ils commettaient la fraude, le vol, I'homicide : en un mot, ils se souillaient de toutes sortes de crimes. 16.— VOCATION D'ABRAHAM.— A. m. 2083. Cependant quelques saints hommes cultiverent la veritable religion et la vertu ; parmi eux fut Abraham, de la race de Sem. Dieu fit alliance avec lui en ces tcrmes : Sortez de la maison de votre pere : quittez votre patrie, et allez dans 10* 114 ZETETIC METHOD. le pays que je donnerai a votre posterite. Je rendrai votre posterile tres nombreuse ; vous serez le pere de plusieurs nations, et par vous toutes les nations du monde seront comblees de biens. Regardez le ciel, comptez les etoiles^ si vous pouvez ; votre posterite les egalera en nombre. 17.— NAISSANCE D'ISAAC. Abraham etait devenu vieux, et Sara, son epouse, etait sterile. Cependant Dieu lui promit un fils : Vous aurez, lui dit Dieu, un fils de Sara votre epouse. Sara rit en entendant cela ; elle n'ajouta pas foi immediatement aux promesses de Dieu, et pour cela Dieu la reprimanda. Mais Abraham ajouta foi a la promesse de Dieu ; et en efFet, un an apres, Abraham eut un fils, qu'il nomma Isaac. 18.— ABRAHAM ET SON FILS. Lorsqu' Isaac eut grandi, Dieu, eprouvant la foi d'Abraham, lui dit : " Abraham, prenez votre fils unique que vous aimez, et sacrifiez-le-moi sur la montagne que je vous montrerai." Abraham n'hesita point a obeir a I'ordre de Dieu 'y il placa le bois sur Isaac, et il portait lui-meme le feu et le glaive. Tandis qu'ils marchaient ensemble, Isaac dit a son pere : " Mon pere, voici le bois et le feu ; mais ou est la victime ?" Abraham lui repondit : " Dieu y pourvoira, mon fils." 19.— LE SACRIFICE D' ABRAHAM. Des que le pere et le fils furent arrives au lieu indique, Abraham eleva un autel, arrangea le bois, lia Isaac sur le bucher, et ensuite il saisit son glaive. AJors un ange cria du ciel : " Abraham, retenez votre main ; ne touchez point cet enfant : deja je connais votre foi, puisque PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 115 vous n'avez pas epargne votre fils unique ; aussi je vous favoriserai : je recorapenserai magnifiquement votre foi." Abraham regarda derriere lui, et vit un belier embarrasse par les cornes dans un buisson : il I'immola a la place de son fils. 20.— ELIEZER, SERVITEUR D'ABRAHAM. Dans la suite, Abraham envoya son serviteur Eliezer chez ses parents qui etaient en Mesopotamie, pour amener de la une epouse a son fils Isaac. Eliezer prit dix chameaux de son maitre, et partit, emportant avec lui de magnifiques presents, pour les ofirir a la jeune fille destinee a Isaac. Quand il fut arrive en Mesopotamie, il s'arreta avec ses chameaux pres d'un puits, ou les femmes avaient coutume de se rassembler, pour puiser de Feau. 21. —ELIEZER CONSULTE DIEU. Eliezer pria Dieu en ces termes : " Seigneur, Dieu d'Abra- ham, faites que ]a jeune fille qui me donnera a boire soit celle que vous destinez a Isaac.'' Aussitot Rebecca,' jeune fille d'une rare beaute, s'avanca, portant une urne sur son epaule ; elle descendit vers le puits, et remplit I'urne. Alors Eliezer lui dit : " Donnez-moi de I'eau." " Buvez, mon seigneur," lui dit Rebecca, et en meme temps elle baissa son urne. Lorsqu'il eut bu, Rebecca ofFrit aussi de I'eau a ses chameaux. A cet indice, Eliezer connut ce qu'il desirait savoir. 22.— REBECCA ET SA FAMILLE. Eliezer tira des pendants et des bracelets d'or, et les donna a R.ebecca: alors il lui demanda de qui elle etait fille, et si dans la maison de son pere il y avait un lieu pour sejourner. Rebecca lui repondit : '' Je suis la 116 ZETETIC METHOD. fille de Bathuel ; mon grand-pere est le frere d' Abraham ; il y a un logement commode dans la maison de mon pere ; nous avons aussi beaucoup de foin et de paille pour I'usage des chameaux." Eliezer, entendant cela, rendit graces a Dieu, qui lui avait accorde un heureux voyage. 23.— LA MAISON DE BATHUEL. Rebecca se hata d'aller ala maison de son pere, et raconta a sa mere ce qui lui etait arrive. Laban, frere de Re- becca, apres le recit de sa scEur, alia vers Eliezer, et lui dit : " Venez, mon seigneur, pourquoi restez-vous dehors ? J'ai prepare un logement pour vous, et une place pour vos chameaux." Ensuite il le conduisit a la maison de Bathuelj et il lui presenta une nourriture preparee par Rebecca. 24.— LE CONSENTEMENT. Ensuite Eliezer exposa aux parents de Rebecca le motif du voyage qu'il avait entrepris ; il les pria de consentir a sademande. lis repondirent : "C'est la volonte de Dieu ; nous ne pouvons resistor a la volonte de Dieu. Voici Re- becca ; elle partira avec vous pour epouser Isaac." Alors Eliezer tira des vases d'or et d'argent, et des habits precieux, qu'il donna a Rebecca ; il ofFrit aussi des presents a sa mere et a son frere, et ils se mirent a table. 25.— DEPART DE REBECCA. Le jour suivant, Eliezer, se levant de bon matin, dit aux parents de Rebecca : " Mon maitre m'attend ; congediez- moi, afin que je retourne chez lui." lis repondirent : ^' Appelons la jeune fille, et demandons-lui son sentiment." Rebecca etant venue, ils lui demanderent si elle voulait partir avec Eliezer. "Je le veux," dit-elle. lis PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 117 congedierent done Rebecca et sa nourrice, en leur souliaitant touts sorte de prosperite. 26.— MARIAGE D'lSAAC— b. c. 1856. Isaac se promenait par hasard dans la campagne ; il vit venir EliSzer. En me me temps Rebecca, voyant un homme qui se promenait, descendit de son chameau et dit a Eliezer : " Qui est cet homme ?" Eliezer repondit : " C'est mon maitre." Aussitot elle se couvrit de son voile. Eliezer raconta a Isaac tout ce qu'il avait fait. Isaac introduisit Rebecca dans la tente de sa mere, et le chagrin qu'il ressentait de la mort de sa mere fut adouci. 27.— -ESAiJ VEND SON DROIT. Rebecca engendra en une couche deux fils : Esaii et Jacob. Esaii, qui naquit le premier, etait convert de poil ; Jacob, au contraire, avait la peau douce. Esaii etait un chasseur courageux. Jacob avait les mceurs douces et simples. Un certain jour, Jacob avait prepare un ragout de lentilles ; Esaii, fatigue du chemin, arriva, et dit a son frere : " Donnez-moi ce ragout, car je reviens des champs, et je suis epuise de fatigue." Jacob lui dit: " Je vous le donnerai, si vous voulez me ceder votre droit de premier-ne." " Je le ferai volontiers," dit Esaii. " Jurez-le-moi, done," reprit Jacob. Esaii jura, et vend it son droit. 28— ISAAC ET ESAU. Isaac, qui aimait la chasse, preferait Esaii a son autre fils; mais Jacob etait plus cher a Rebecca. Isaac, dans sa vieillesse, etait devenu aveugle. Un jour, il appela 118 ZETETIC METHOD. Esaii, et lui dit : " Prenez votre carquois, votre arc et vos fleches ; apportez et preparez un ragout de votre chasse, afin que j'en mange, et que je vous benisse, avant que je meure." Esaii partit done pour la chasse. 29.— CONSEIL DE REBECCA. Rebecca avait entendu Isaac ; elle appela Jacob, et lui dit: " Apportez-moi deux chevreaux : je preparerai le ragout que votre pere aime beaucoup ; vous lui servirez ce mets, et il vous benira." Jacob repondit : " Je n'ose pas faire cela, ma mere ; Esaii est couvert de poil, et j'ai moi-meme la peau douce ; mon pere me touchera, et sa haine tombera sur moi, au lieu de sa bienveillance." 30.— REBECCA PREPARE LA NOURRITURE. Rebecca persista : " Ne craignez pas, mon fils," dit-elle, " si quelque chose de mal arrive, je le prendrai entierement sur moi ; mais vous, vous, ne devez pas hesiter a faire ce que je vous commando." Jacob sortit et il apporta bientot a sa mere les deux chevreaux ; elle prepara le ragout qu'elle savait etre agreable au vieillard. Ensuite elle revetit Jacob des habits de son frere ; elle adapta la peau d'un chevreau a ses mains et a son cou. Puis elle lui dit : " Allez a votre pere, et presentez-lui ce mets qu'il aime beaucoup." 31.— ISAAC BENIT JACOB, Jacob apporta a son pere le mets que sa mere avait pre- pare. Isaac lui dit : " Qui etes-vous ?" Jacob re- pondit : "Jesuis Esaii, votre fils aine ; j'ai fait ce que vous m'avez ordonne, mon pere ; levez-vous et mangez de ma chasse." "Comment," dit Isaac, "avez-vous PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 119 pu trouver cela si tot ?" " Je I'ai trouve, mon pere, parce que Dieu I'a ainsi voulu." Isaac reprit : " Etes - vous Esaii, mon fils aine ? Approchez que je vous touche." II approcha de son pare, qui dit : " C'est, a la verite la voix de Jacob ; mais ces mains sont les mains d'Esaii." Isaac embrassa Jacob, et ensuile le prefera a son frere, et lui accorda tous les avantages dus a un premier-ne. 32.— RETOUR D'ESAU. Quelques heures apres, Esaii revint de la chasse ; il ofFrit a son pere le mets qu'il avait prepare. Isaac etonne lui dit : " Quel est done celui qui m'a apporte le premier mets, et que j'ai beni comme mon premier-ne?" Esaii, entendant ces paroles, poussa un grand cri, et remplit la maison de gemissements. 3.3.— DEPART DE JACOB. Esaii, enflamme de colere, menacait Jacob de la mort. C'est pourquoi Rebecca, craignant pour son fils cheri, dit a Jacob : " Fuyez, mon fils, allez chez Laban, votre oncle, et restez avec lui jusqu'a ce que la colere de votre frere soit appaisee." Jacob etant congedie par son pere et par sa mere, partit pour la Mesopotamie. En poursuivant son chemin, il arriva a un endroit ou fatigue du voyage, il passa la nuit. II mit une pierre sous sa tete et s'endormit. 34.— VISION DE JACOB. Jacob vit pendant son sommeil une echelle, qui appuyee sur la terre, touchait au ciel, et les anges qui montaient et descendaient. II entendit le Seigneur, qui lui disait : " Je suis le Dieu de votre pere, je vous donnerai, et je donnerai a votre posterite, la terre sur laquelle vous etes couche : ne 120 ZETETIC METHOD. craignez point ; je vous favoriserai ; je serai votre protec- teur ou vous irez : je vous ramenerai dans votre patrie, et par vous toutes les nations de la terre seront comblees de biens." Jacob s'eveilla et adora le Seigneur. 35.— ARRIVEE DE JACOB. Jacob, ayant continue son voyage, arriva en Mesopotamie : il vit trois troupeaux de betail couches pres d'un puits. L'ouverture de ce puits etait fermee par une pierre tres large. Jacob s'approcha de cet endroit et dit aux bergers: " Freres, d'ou etes-vous ?" lis repondirent : " De la ville d'Haran." II les questionna une seconde fois : "Connaissez-vous Laban ?" lis dirent : " Nous le connaissons." " Est-il en bonne sante ?" " Oui," re- pondirent les bergers: " et voici Rachel sa fiUe, qui vient avec le troupeau de son pere." 36.— RECEPTION DE JACOB. Tandis que Jacob s'entretenait avec les bergers, Rachel vint avec le troupeau de son pere. Jacob, voyant sa cousine, ota la pierre de I'ouverture du puits. " Je suis, lui dit-il, le fils de Rebecca :" et il embrassa la jeune fille. Rachel se hata de presenter Jacob a son pere, qui reconnut le fils de sa soeur, et lui donna Rachel en mariage. 37.— RETOUR DE JACOB. Jacob demeura longtemps chez Laban. Pendant ce temps la, il augmenta prodigieusement son bien et devint riche. Longtemps apres, Dieu I'ayant averti, il retourna dans sa patrie. II craignait la colere de son frere : pour ap- paiser son ressentiment, il lui envoya plusieurs messagers pour lui oifrir des presents. Esaii, etant appaise par ces PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 121 presents, courut pour rencontrer Jacob qui approchait, sauta a son cou, embrassa son frere en pleurant, et ne lui causa aucun mal. 38.— ENFANCE DE JOSEPH. Jacob eut douze fils, parmi lesquels etait Joseph : son pere, qui I'aimait plus que ses autres enfants, lui avait donne une robe tissue de fils de diverses couleurs. Pour cette raison, Joseph etait hai de ses freres, surtout apres qu'il leur eut raconte deux songes qui presageaient sa grandeur future. lis le haissaient si fort, qu'ils ne pouvaient lui parler amicalement. 39.— SONGES DE JOSEPH. Une nuit Joseph eut deux songes tres-etranges, et il ies raconta a son pere et a ses freres. " Nous etions occup6s, leur dit-il, a lier ensemble des gerbes dans un champ : ma gerbe se leva et se tint droite : mais vos gerbes, rangees autour de la mienne, la reveraient. Ensuite je vis, pendant men sommeil, le soleil, la lune, et onze etoiles, qui m'ado- raient." Ses freres lui repondirent : " Que signifient ces songes ? Serez-vous notre roi ? Serons-nous soumis a votre puissance ?" Depuis ce temps, la haine des freres de Joseph s'accrut chaque jour centre lui. 40.--RESOLUTION DES FRERES DE JOSEPH. Un jour, tandis que Ies freres de Joseph gardaient leurs troupeaux, Jacob envoya Joseph vers ses freres pour savoir ce qu'ils faisaient. Les freres de Joseph, le voyant, formerent le projet de le tuer. Le songeur vient, dirent - ils, tuons-le, et jetons-le dans un puits ; nous dirons a notre pere, "Une bete sauvage a devore Joseph." Quand Joseph vit ses freres il courrut pour pouvoir les embrasser 11 122 ZETETIC METHOD. plust6t ; mais ses freres le saisirent et se preparerent a le tuer. 41.— RUBEN ESSAIE DE SAUVER JOSEPH. Ruben, qui etait I'aine, detournait ses freres d'un si grand crime. "Ne tuez pas cet enfant, disait-il, car c'est notre fr^re ; jetez-le plutot dans cette fosse." Son intention 6tait de delivrer Joseph de leurs mains, de le tirer de la fosse, et de le ramener a son pere. En effet, ces paroles les determinerent a un parti plus modere. 42._JOSEPH VENDU PAR SES FRERES. D^s que Joseph fut arrive pres de ses freres, ils lui oterent la robe dont il etait revetu, et le precipiterent dans la fosse. Ensuite ils s'assirent pour prendre leiir repas ; mais bientot ils apercurent des marchands qui allaient en ^gypte avec leurs chameaux portant divers parfums. II leur vint dans I'esprit de vendre Joseph a ces marchands. Les marchands acheterent Joseph vingt pieces d'argent, et emmene rent le fills de Jacob en Egypte. 43.— LA ROBE DE JOSEPH. Alors les freres de Joseph tremperent sa robe dans le sang d'un chevreau qu'ils avaient tue, et ils I'envoyerent a leur pere avec ces mots : " Nons avons trouve cette robe : voyez si c'est la robe de votre fils bien-aime." Le pere I'ayant reconnue s'ecria : " C'est la robe de mon fils ! une bete sauvage a devore Joseph !" Ensuite il dechira ses v^tements et se revetit d'un habit de deuil. Tous ses enfants se reunirent pour apaiser la douleur de leur pere; mais Jacob ne voulut point recevoir de consolation, et dit : Je descendrai, accable de chagrin, avec mon fils dans le tombeau. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 123 44.— PUTIPHAR ACHATE JOSEPH. Putiphar, Egyptien, acheta Joseph a ces marchands. Or Dieu favorisa Putiphar a cause de Joseph : toute chose lui reussissait. Joseph fut traite avec bonte par son maitre, qui le mit a la tete de toute sa maison. Ainsi Joseph ad- ministrait les biens de Putiphar : toute chose etait faite selon sa volonte, et Putiphar ne prenait soin d'aucune affaire. 45.— JOSEPH EST JETE EN PRISON. Joseph etait d'une figure belle et distinguee : I'epouse de Putiphar le sollicitait au crime ; rnais il ne voulait pas consentir aux desirs de cette mechante femme. Un jour elle le saisit par le bord de son manteau ; mais Joseph laissa son manteau dans ses mains et s'enfuit. Cette femme irritee, appela ses serviteurs, et accusa Joseph devant son mari; qui, trop credule, jeta Joseph en prison. 46— SONGES DE DEUX OFFICIERS. Dans la prison ou etait Joseph, etaient aussi deux officiers du roi Pharaon ; I'un etait le chef des echansons, et I'autre etait le chef des panetiers. lis eurent, par la volonte de Dieu, un songe pendant la meme nuit. Joseph trouvant les deux officiers tres tristes, leur demanda la cause de leur tristesse. lis repondirent : "Nous avons reve la nuit derniere, et nous ne connaissons personne qui puisse nous interpreter notre songe." " Racontez-moi vos songes, dit Joseph, et je vous les interpreterai." 47.— INTERPRETATION DU PREMIER SONGE. Alors le premier exposa ainsi son songe a Joseph : J'ai vu pendant mon sommeil une vigne qui avait trois branches : elle produisit par degres des bourgeons; ensuite les fleurs parurent, et enfin les raisins murirent. Ensuite je pressai 124 ZETETIC METHOD. les raisins dans la coupe de Pharaon, et je la lui presentai." " Prenez courage, dit Joseph ; dans trois jours Pharaon vous retablira dans votre ancienne charge. Je vous serais oblige, si vous vouliez alors penser a moi." 48.— INTERPRETATION DU SECOND SONGE. L'autre raconta aussi son songe a Joseph : " Je portals sur ma tete trois corbeilles dans lesquelles etait lanourriture que les panetiers preparent d'ordinaire. Bientot je vis des oiseaux qui voltigeaient a I'entour, et mangeaient cette nourriture." Joseph lui repondit : " Voici I'explica- tion de ce songe : les trois corbeilles sont trois jours apres lesquels Pharaon vous frappera avec une hache et vous attachera a un gibet, ou les oiseaux se repaitront de votre chair." 49.~ACCOMPLISSEMENT DES DEUX SONGES. Le troisieme jour, qui etait I'anniversaire de lanaissance de Pharaon, vint enfin. Le roi ordonna un grand festin ; il se rappela alors ses officiers qui etaient en prison. II retablit le chef des echansons dans sa charge ; mais il decapita l'autre avec une hache et suspendit son corps a un gibet. Ainsi I'evenement verifia le songe. Cependant le chef des echansons oublia Joseph. 50.— SONGE DE PHARAON. Deux ans apres, le roi lui-meme eut un songe. II se croyait sur les bords du Nil, sept vaches grasses sortaient de ce fleuve, et paissaient dans un pre. Ensuite, sept vaches maigres sortirent du meme fleuve, et devorerent les autres vaches. Pharaon s'eveilla apres ce songe ; mais bientot il se rendormit. II eut alors un autre songe. II reva que sept epis pleins croissaient sur une PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 125 tige; sept autres epis greles croissaient dessous et ruinaient les epis plains. 51.— LE CHEF DES ECHANSONS ET JOSEPH. Quand il fut jour, Pharaon trouble convoqua tous les enterpretes de I'Egypte, et leur raconta son songe ; mais aucun d'eux ne put I'interpreter. Alors le chef des echansons dit au roi : " J'avoue ma faute ; lorsque j'etais en prison avec le chef des panetiers, nous eumes tous deux un songe dans la meme nuit. Un jeune Hebreu, qui etait en prison avec nous, nous expliqua nos songes avec sagesse, car Pevenement a verifie son explication." 52.— JOSEPH EXPLIQUE LE SONGE DU ROI. Pharaon ordonna au chef des echansons d'amener le jeune Hebreu. Joseph vint, et le roi lui raconta les deux songes. Alors Joseph dit a Pharaon: " Ces deux songes signifient une seule et meme chose. Les sept vaches grasses et les sept epis pleins sont sept annees d'abondance qui arriveront bientot ; mais les sept vaches maigres et les sept epis greles sont autant d'annees de famine, qui suivront les annees d'abondance. O, roi, mettez done a la tete de toute I'Egypte un homme sage, qui puisse detourner de I'Egypte la faming qui menace votre royaume." 53.— JOSEPH DEVIENT GOUVERNEUR DE L'EGYPTE. Le conseil plut a Pharaon, c'est pourquoi le roi dit a Joseph : " Personne n'est plus digne de cet emploi que vous, et, des ce moment, je vous confie le soin de 11* 126 ZETETIC METHOD. mon royaume." Alors il tira de sa main un anneau, et il le mit au doigt de Joseph ; il le revetit d'une robe de lin, et lui mit autour du cou une chaine d'or. Joseph etait dans sa trentieme annee lorsqu'il recut du roi le souverain pouvoir. 54.— PRUDENCE DE JOSEPH. Joseph parcourut toutes les contrees de TEgypte, et pendant les sept annees d'abondance il amassa une tres- grande provision de ble. La disette de sept ans vint ensuite, et la famine s'etendit sur toute la terre. Alors les Egyptiens, presses par la faim. se presenterent au roi, et lui demanderent des vivres. Pharaon les renvoya a Joseph. Le fils de Jacob ouvrit les greniers et distribua ou vendit du ble aux habitants de I'Egypte. 55.— LES FILS DE JACOB VONT EN EGYPTE. Les habitants des autres pays allerent en Egypte, pour y acheter des vivres. Jacob, presse par la meme necessite, y envoya ses fils. Les freres de Joseph partirent done ; mais le pere retint le plus jeune, nomme Benjamin. Car il craignait quelque malheur dans le voyage. Benjamin et Joseph etaient nes de la meme mere, et c'etait pour cette raison que Jacob aimait Benjamin plus que ses autres enfants. 56.— JOSEPH ET SES FRERES. Des que les dix freres se trouverent en presence de- Joseph, ils seprosternerent humblement. Joseph les reconnut sans etre lui-meme reconnu d'eux. II ne voulut pas declarer qui il etait ; mais il leur dit r PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 127 " Qui etes-vous, d'ou venez-vous, et dans quel dessein V lis repondirent : " Nous venons du pays de Chanaan, pour acheter du ble." " Cela n'est point ainsi," reprit Joseph ; " vous etes venus ici avec une hostile intention." " Non/' repondirent-ils, " nous ne medi- tons rien de mal ; nous voulons acheter du ble pour notre pere et notre jeune frere." 57.— JOSEPH RETIENT SIMEON. L 'absence de Benjamin chagrinait Joseph ; c'est pour- quoi il dit a ses freres : " J'eprouverai si vous avez dit la verite. L'un de vous restera comme otage ici, jusqu'a I'arrivee de votre jeune frere, et les autres partiront avec le ble." Alors les freres de Joseph commencerent a dire entre eux : " Nous avons ete cruels envers notre frere ; maintenant nous subissons la punition de notre crime." lis pensaient que Joseph ne comprenait point ces paroles, parce qu'il leur parlait par inter- prete ; mais Joseph se detourna un peu et pleura. 58.— DEPART DES FRERES DE JOSEPH. Par les ordres de Joseph, un officier remplit de ble les sacs des fils de Jacob, et mit a I'ouverture de ces sacs I'argent qu'ils avaient apporte. Ensuite Joseph congedia ses freres, excepte Simeon, qu'il retint pour otage. Les freres de Joseph partirent, et bientot ils arriverent chez leur pere, et ils lui raconterent leur entrevue avec le gouverneur de toute TEgypte. Lorsqu'ils eurent ouvert leurs sacs, ils furent 6t6nnes d'y trouver leur argent. 128 ZETETIC METHOD. 59.~DOULEUR DE JACOB. Jacob, ayant appris que le gouverneur de I'Egypte demandait Benjamin, se plaignit amerennent. "Vous voulez me priver de tons mes enfants : Joseph est mort, Simeon est retenu en Egypte, et vous voulez emmener Benja- min. Tons ces maux retombent sur ^moi ; je n'enverrai point Benjamin ; car si quelque malheur lui arrivait en chemin, je ne pourrais lui survivre, et je mourrais accable de douleur." 60.— REFUS DES FILS DE JACOB. Quand les vivres qu'ils avaient apportes eurent ete consommes, Jacob dit a ses fils : *' Retournez en Egypte, pour acheter des vivres." lis lui repondirent : " Nous ne pouvons pas aller en Egypte sans Benjamin, car le gouverneur de ce pays nous a ordonne d'amener notre jeune frere en Egypte." " Pourquoi," dit le pere, " avez-vous fait mention de votre jeune frere ?" " I>e gouverneur," dirent-ils, " nous demanda si notre pere vivait, si nous avions un autre frere. Nous repondimes a ses questions ; nous ne pouvions prevoir qu'il nous dirait : Amenez ici votre frere." 61.— JACOB CONSENT ENFIN. Alors Judas, I'un des fils de Jacob, dit a son pere: *' Confiez-moi cet enfant: je le prends sous ma pro- tection : j'en prendrai soin ; je vous le rendrai, et si je ne tiens pas ma promesse, la faute tombera sur moi. Si vous aviez consent! au depart de notre frere, nous serious deja de retour ici pour la seconde fois." Enfin Jacob consentit au depart de son fils cheri. " Puisque cela est necessaire," dit-il, "Benjamin partira avec PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 129 vous. Portez au gouverneur de I'Egypte des presents et une somme considerable, car ce fut peut-etre par erreur que votre premier argent vous fut rendu." 62.— JOSEPH ET SES FRERES. On annonca a Joseph que les memes hommes etaient ar- rives avec leur jeune frere. Joseph ordonna qu'ils fussent introduits, et donna ordre a ses officiers de preparer un festin splendide. Mais les jeunes Hebreux craignaient d'etre accuses a-cause-de I'argent qu'ils avaient trouve dans leurs sacs : c'est pourquoi ils se justifierent. lis dirent a I'intendant de Joseph : " A notre retour a la maison, nous trouvames le prix du ble dans nos sacs : nous ne savons par quel hasard cela arriva." L'intendant leur dit : " Ayez bon courage, et ne vous inquietez pas." Ensuite il leur amena Simeon, qui avait ete retenu. 63.— EMOTION DE JOSEPH. Ensuite Joseph entra dans la salle ou etaient ses freres ; ils lui rendirent hommage et lui offrirent des presents. Joseph les salua amicalement et leur demanda si leur pere etait encore vivant. lis repondirent: "Notre pere vit encore, et il est en bonne sante." Mais Joseph, ayant jete les yeux sur Benjamin, dit : " Get enfant est sans doute votre jeune frere qui etait reste a la maison avec votre pere ?" Alors Joseph dit a Benjamin : *' Que Dieu vous soit propice, mon fils." En pro- noncant ces mots, il sortit brusquement, parce que son coeur etait emu. 64.— LA COUPE D'ARGENT. Joseph, ayant lave son visage, revint, se retint, 130 ZETETIC METHOD. et ordonna a son intendant de servir le diner. Alors Joseph distribua la nourriture a chacun de ses freres ; mais la part de Benjamin etait cinq fois plus grande que celle des autres. Apres le festin, Joseph dit a son intendant de remplir leurs sacs de ble, d'y remettre I'argent et de cacher une coupe d'argent dans le sac de Benjamin. L'intendant fit avec soin ce que Joseph lui avait commande. 65.— JOSEPH ET SON INTENDANT. Les freres de Joseph etaient partis, mais ils n'etaient pas encore loin de la ville. Alors Joseph appela son intendant et lui dit : " Poursuivez ces hommes, et lorsque vous les aurez rejoints, dites-leur : ' Pourquoi avez-vous rendu le mal pour le bien ? Vous avez derobe la coupe d'argent de mon maitre : vous avez agi centre la probite.' " L'intendant executa les ordres de son maitre ; il vola im- mediatement vers les freres de Joseph ; il les accusa de vol. et leur exposa I'indignite de cette action. 66.— LE SAC DE BENJAMIN. Les freres de Joseph repondirent a l'intendant : " Nous sommes bien eloignes d'avoir commis un tel crime, car, vous le savez vous-meme, nous avons rapporte de bonne foi I'argent que nous avions trouve dans nos sacs. Chacun de nous est si certain de I'innocence de ses freres, que nous desirous que vous punissiez de mort quiconque a derobe la coupe." Aussitot ils deposent leurs sacs et les ouvrent ; l'intendant les ayant fouilles, trouva la coupe dans le sac de Benjamin. 67.— CHAGRINS DES FILS DE JACOB. Alors les fils de Jacob, accables de chagrin, retournerent PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 131 a la ville. Etant amenes devant Joseph, ils se jeterent a ses pieds. Joseph feignant d'etre dans une grande colere s'ecria : " Quelle action avez-vous faite !" Judas repondit : " Je I'avoue, la chose est manifesto ; nous ne pouvons donner d'excuse ; tous, nous serons vos esclaves." " Point-du-tout," dit Joseph, "celui sur qui la coupe a ete trouvee sera mon esclave, mais ses freres seront libres." 68.— JUDAS ET BENJAMIN. Alors Judas, s'approchant de Joseph, Ini dit : " Mon- seigneur, je vous prie d'ecouter avec bonte ce que j'ai a vous dire. Notre pere aime tendrement cet enfant ; il ne voulait pas d'abord I'envoyer avec nous ; je ne pus obtenir cela de lui, qu'apres que je lui eus promis qu'il serait a I'abri de tout danger. Si nous retournons a la maison saus cet enfant, notre pere, accable de douleur, succombera sous le poids de sa detresse. Je vous prie, je vous conjure de permettre a cet enfant de partir, je m'offre d'etre votre esclave a sa place, et de subir le chatiment qu'il merite." 69._JOSEPH SE FAIT CONNAITRE. Pendant que Judas parlait, Joseph pouvait a peine se retenir ; il ordonna done aux Egyptiens qui etaient pre- sents de se retirer. Alors il dit en pleurant : " Je suis Joseph : mon pere vit-il encore V Ses freres, qui etaient saisis de crainte, ne pouvaient lui repondre. Joseph leur dit amicalement : "Approchez, je suis Joseph votre frere que vous avez vendu a des marchands qui allaient en Egypt : ne craignez rien j cela arriva par la providence de Dieu, afin que je pourvusse a votre conservation. 132 ZETETIC METHOD. 70.— DESIR DE JOSEPH. Ayant dit ces mots, Joseph embrassa son frere Benjamin et I'arrosa de larmes. II embrassa aussi ses autres freres en pleurant avee eux. Alors enfin ils lui parlerent avec confiance. Joseph leur dit : " Retournez promptement chez mon pere ; annoncez-lui que son fils est vivant et qu'il a beaucoup de credit aupres de Pharaon : persuadez- lui de passer en Egypte avec toute sa famille." 71. -PHARAON ENVOIE DES PRESENTS A' JACOB. Le bruit de I'arrivee des freres de Joseph parvint aux oreilles du roi : il leur donna des presents pour leur pere, et leur exprima son desir de le voir. II leur dit aussi : ''Amenez ici votre pere et toute sa famille ; je vous fournirai toutes les clioses qui vous seront necessaires, et toutes les richesses de I'Egypte seront a votre disposition." II envoya aussi des chariots pour transporter le vieillard, les enfants et les femmes. 72.— ETONNEMENT ET JOIE DE JACOB. Les freres de Joseph se haterent de retourner chez leur pere, et lui annoncerent que Joseph etait vivant et qu'il etait gouverneur de toute I'Egypte. En apprenant ces nouvelles, Jacob, comme reveille d'un profond sommeil, fut saisi d'etonnement. D'abord il ne voulut pas croire ce que ses fils lui avaient dit, mais, quand il eut vu les chariots et les presents envoyes par le roi, il revint bientot a lui et dit : "C'est assez, Joseph mon fils vit encore, j'irai et je le verrai avant que je meure." 73.— DEPART DE JACOB. Jacob, etant parti avec toute sa famille, arriva en Egyyte, PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 133 et il envoya Judas a Joseph pour lui annoncer son arrivee. Aussitot Joseph partit pour recevoir son pere : des qu'il le vit, il se jeta a son cou et embrassa en pleurant le vieillard qui pleurait aussi. Alors Jacob dit : " J'ai assez vecu, puisque j'ai vu votre visage, et puisque les promesses du Dieu de nos peres sont accomplies.'' 74.— JOSEPH ET PHARAON. Joseph alia au palais de Pharaon et annonca au roi I'ar- rivee de son pere ; ensuite il lui presenta cinq de ses freres. Le roi leur demanda quelle ttait leur occupation, lis repondirent qu'ils etaient bergers. Alors le roi dit a Joseph : " L'Egypte est sous votre pouvoir : ayez soin que votre pere et vos freres habitent dans le meilleur pays. Si parmi vos freres quelques-uns sont tres actifs et tres indus- trieux, confiez-leur le soin de mes troupeaux." 75.— JOSEPH PRESENTE SON PERE A PHARAON. Joseph presenta aussi son pere a Pharaon : Jacob I'ayant salue, le roi lui demanda quel age il avait. Jacob repondit au roi : " J'ai vecu cent trente ans, mais je n'ai pas joui d'une vieillesse aussi heureuse que celle de mes ayeux." Ensuite, apres avoir prie pour le roi, il sortit. Joseph placa son pere et ses freres dans la meilleure partie de I'Egypte et leur fournit toutes choses en abon- dance. 76.— DESIR DE JACOB. Jacob vecut dix-sept ans apres son arrivee en Egypte. Quand il sentit que la mort le menacait il appela Joseph, et lui dit : " Si vous m'aimez, promettez-moi de faire ce que je vais vous demander." Joseph le promit. 12 134 ZETETIC METHOD. Jacob continua : " Je desire que mon corps ne soit pas enterre en Egypte, mais qu'il soit transporte hors de ce pays, car je desire qu'il soit place dans le tombeau de mes ancetres." Joseph repondit : '' O mon pere ! je ferai ce que vous m'ordonnez." 77.—JOSEPH PRESENTE SES FILS A SON PERE. Joseph amena a son pere ses deux fils, Manasse et Ephraim; il placa Manasse, qui etait I'aine, a la droite du vieillard, et il placa Ephraim, qui etait le plus jeune, a la gauche de Jacob. Mais Jacob, croisant ses mains, mit sa main droite sur Ephraim, et sa main gauche sur Manasse, et benit les deux enfants. Joseph, ayant remarque cela, tacha de cbanger les mains de son pere. Mais son pere refusa, et dit a Joseph : " Je sais, mon fils, je sais que celui-ci est I'atne, et celui-la le plus jeune : j'ai fait cela avec intention." Ainsi Jacob prefera Ephraim a Manasse. 78.~MORT DE JACOB. Des que Joseph vit son pere mort, il se jeta sur lui en pleurant et I'embrassa longtemps. Ensuite il commanda aux medecins d'embaumer le corps, et avec ses freres et plusieurs Egyptiens, il transporta le corps de son pere dans la terre deChanaan. La, ils ensevelirent le corps dans le tombeau ou reposaient Abraham et Isaac, et puis ils re- tournerent en Egypte. 79.__JOSEPH CONSOLE SES FRERES. Apres la mort de leur pere, les freres de Joseph craignaient qu'il voulut se venger de I'injure qu'il avait re- cue ; ils lui envoyerent done un messager, pour le supplier, au nom de leur pere, de leur pardonner cette PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 135 offense. Joseph leur repondit : " Vous n'avez rien a craindre ; il est vrai que vous avez agi contre moi avec une mauvaise intention ; mais Dieu a change cela en bien ; ainsi ne craignez rien, je vous nourrirai, vous et vos families." II leur parla long temps avec bonte, et les consola. 80.— LA MORT DE JOSEPH. Joseph vecut cent dix ans, et lorsqu'il sentit qu'il allait mourir, il assembla ses freres. " Je sens que je mourrai bientot," leur dit-il : " Dieu ne vous abandonnera pas, mais il sera votre protecteur, il vous conduira dans le pays qui a ete promis a nos peres ; je vous prie, je vous conjure d'y transporter mes ossements." Ensuite il expira tranquillement ; son corps fut embaume avec beaucoup de soin, et puis les freres de Joseph placerent le corps de leur bienfaiteur dans un cercueil. 81.— LES ISRAELITES SONT PERSECUTES. Apres la mort de Joseph, les Israelites (c'etait le nom que Dieu leur avait donne,) augmenterent en nombre d'une manicre etonnante, et leur nombre. croissant de jour en jour, inspirait beaucoup de crainte aux Egyptiens. Un nouveau roi posseda le trone ; il n'avait pas vu Joseph, et ne se souvenait point de ses services. Ce roi, done, pour opprimer les Hebreux ou Israelites, les accablait d'abord de travaux penibles ; ensuite il osa ordonner de jeter dans le fleuve les enfants nouvellement nes. 82.— NAISSANCE DE MOISE.— a. m. 2433. Une femme israelite engendra un fils, et, voyant qu'il etait tres joli, elle voulut le sauver. C'est pourquoi elle le 136 ZETETIC METHOD. cacha pendant trois mois ; mais quand elle ne put le cacher plus longtemps, elle prit une corbeille de jonc, qu'elle enduisit de bitume et de poix. Ensuite elle placa le petit enfant dans la corbeille, et I'exposa parmi les roseaux qui etaient sur les bords du fleuve. Elle avait avec elle pour compagne une des scEurs de I'enfant ; elle lui ordonna de se tenir a une certaine distance, pour voir ce que le petit enfant deviendrait. 83.— LA FILLE DE PHARAON SAUVE L'ENFANT. Bientot apres, la fille de Pharaon vint au fleuve pour prendre un bain. Elle apercut la corbeille qui etait dans les roseaux, et y envoya une de ses servantes. Ayant ouvert la corbeille, elle vit le petit enfant, qui criait, et en eut pitie : " C'est," dit-elle, " un des enfants des Hebreux." Alors la scEur de I'enfant s'ap-^ prochant, lui dit: " Voulez-vous une nourrice Israelite?" et elle appela sa mere. La fille de Pharaon lui donna I'enfant. Ainsi I'enfant fut nourri par sa propre mere ; et quand il eut grandi elle le rendit a la fille de Pharaon, qui I'adopta et le nomma Molse, c'est a dire, sauve des eaux. 84.— LES PLATES D'EGYPTE. Moise, deja vieux, alia, par I'ordre de Dieu, trouver Pha- raon, et lui commanda, au nom de Dieu, de laisser partir les Hebreux. Le roi refusa d'obeir aux ordres de Dieu. Moise, pour vaincre I'opiniatrete de Pharaon, fit plusieurs prod'iges. etonnants, qu^on appelle les plaies d'Egypte. Neanmoins Pharaon persista dans son aveuglement ; alors Dieu frappa le fils premier ne du roi, et tous les premiers nes des Egyptiens. Enfin, vaincu par la crainte, le roi abeit, et donna aux Hebreux la per mission de partir. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 137 85.--LES HEBREUX SORTENT D'EGYPTE. Les Hebreux partirent d'Egypte au nombre de six cent mille hommes, outre les enfants et les femmes. Moise prit avec lui les ossements de Joseph, car les freres de Jo- seph avaient promis a leur protecteur de transporter ses ossements dans la terre promise. Pendant le jour, une colonne de nuee, et pendant la nuit, une colonne de feu, allaient devant les Israelites, pour les guider. Quelques jours apres leur depart d'Egypte, les Hebreux arriverent aux bords de la mer rouge, et y camperent. 86.— MOISE SEPARE LES EAUX DE LA MER. Bientot le roi fut fache d'avoir permis le depart de tant de milliers d'hommes ; il assembla, done, une armee, et poursuivit les Hebreux. Les Hebreux, se voyant d'un cote arretes par la mer, et de I'autre cote presses par Pharaon avec toutes ses troupes, furent saisis d'une grande crainte. Alors Dieu dit a Moise : " Etendez votre main droite sur la mer, et divisez les eaux, afin qu'elles ouvrent un chemin sec aux He- breux." 87.— LES HEBREUX PASSENT LA MER. Moise fit ce que Dieu lui avait commande : lorsqu'il tenait sa main etendue sur la mer, les eaux se diviserent ; et un vent violent dessecha le lit de la mer. Alors les Hebreux entrerent dans la mer, qui etait a-sec ; car I'eau se tenait comme un mur a leur droite et a leur gauche. Le roi d'Egypte, poursuivant les Hebreux, n'hesita point a entrer dans la mer avec toute son armee. 12* 138 ZETETIC METHOD. 88.— DESTRUCTION DE L'ARMEE EGYPTIENNE. Lorsque les Egyptiens s'avancaient au milieu de la mer, le Seigneur renversa leurs chars et leurs cavaliers. Les Egyptiens, frappes de terreur, commencerent a fuir ; mais Dieu dit a Moise : " Etendez encore votre main droite sur la mer, afin que les eaux reviennent a leur place." Moise obeit ; et aussitot les eaux, reprenant leur cours, englou- tirent les Egyptiens avec leurs chars et leurs cavaliers ; toute I'armee de Pharaon fut detruite au milieu des flots. C'est ainsi que Dieu delivra les Hebreux de Finjuste servitude des Egyptiens. 89.~DIEU NOURRIT SON PEUPLE. Les Hebreux, apres avoir traverse la Mer Rouge, errerent longtemps dans un grand desert. Le pain leur manquait ; mais Dieu lui-meme les nourrit: pendant quarante ans, une nourriture qu'ils appelerent raanne tomba du ciel. Cette nourriture etait excellente ; elle avait le gout de farine melee avec du miel. Quelquefois aussi, I'eau leur manquait ; mais, par I'ordre de Dieu, Moise frappa un rocher avec sa baguette, et aussitot des sources d'eau douce jaillirent. 90.— DIEU PUBLIE SA LOI. Le troisieme mois apres que les Hebreux eurent quitte I'Egypte, ils arriverent au mont Sinai. La, Dieu leur donna sa loi avec une solemnite effrayante. II commenca a tonner, les eclairs brillerent ; une nuee epaisse couvrit la montagne, et le son de la trompette retentit avec un grand bruit. Le peuple, tremblant de frayeur et de respect, se tenait debout au pied du mont qui fiimait. Mais Dieu, sur la montagne, parla du milieu de la nue, entre les, eclairs et les tonnerres. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 139 91.— PRINCIPAUX ARTICLES DE LA LOL Voici les paroles que Dieu prononca : " Je suis le Seigneur, qui vous ai tires de la servitude des Egyptiens. Vous n'aurez point de dieux etrangers ; car je suis le seul vrai Dieu. Vous n'emploierez point le nom de votre Dieu temerairement et sans sujet. Vous ne ferez aucun ou- vrage le jour du Sabbat. Honorez votre pere et votre mere. Vous ne tuerez point. Vous ne commettrez point d'aduletre. Vous ne deroberez point. Vous ne porterez point de faux temoignage centre votre prochain. Vous ne convoiterez point le bien d^autrui." 92.— CONSTRUCTION DU TABERNACLE. Moise, par Tavis de Dieu, ordonna aux Hebreux de eons- truire le tabernacle avec des peaux et des etoffes tres- precieuses ; il ordonna aussi que I'arche d'alliance, dans laquelle il mit les tables de la loi divine, fut revetue d'or pur. Lorsqu'il etait deja pres de la terre que Dieu avait promise a son peuple, cet homme, vraiment admirable par sa sagesse et ses autres vertus, mourut. Le peuple le pleura pendant trente jours. A Moise succeda Josue, que Moise avait lui-meme designe avant sa mort. 93.— LES HEBREUX PASSENT LE JOURDAIN. Pour introduire les Hebreux dans la terre promise, il etait necessaire de passer le Jourdain, mais ils n'^avaient pas une quantite suffisante de vaisseaux, et le fleuve, coulant alors a plein lit, n'offrait pas un endroit gueable. Dieu vint a leur secours : Josuc ordonna de porter I'arche d'alliance devant le peuple, qui recut I'ordre de la suivre. A I'ap- procbe de I'arche, les eaux qui coulaient d'en haut se tinrent comme un mur, et celles qui etaient au-dessous s'ccoulerent et laisserent le lit sans eau. 140 ZETETIC METHOD. 94.— JOSUE ELfiVE UN MONUMENT. Les Hebreux marcherent a travers le lit desseche du fleuve, jusqu'a ce qu'ils eussent atteint la rive opposee ; alors les eaux retournerent dans leur ancienne place. Mais Josue prit douze pierres du milieu du fleuve, et les disposa sur la rive, afin qu'elles fussent un monument ^ternel de ce miracle. II dit aux Hebreux : " Si un jour vos enfants vous demandent ce que signifie cet amas de pierres, vous leur repondrez : Nous avons passe le fleuve du Jourdain a pied sec, et c'est pour cette raison que nous avons place ces pierres, afin que nos enfants apprennent combien est grande la puissance de Dieu." 95.— LES MURS DE JERICHO TOMBENT. II y avait dans ces lieux une ville nommee Jericho, defendue par des murs tres-forts et par des tours ; elle ne pouvait ni etre prise d'assaut, ni etre assiegee facilement. Josue, se confiant au secours de Dieu, at- taqua la ville, non par les armes ni par la force. II or- donna de porter I'arche auiour des murs, il ordonna aussi aux pretres de marcher devant elle en sonnant de la trompette. Lorsque I'arche eut ete portee sept fois autour de la ville, les murs et les tours tomberent immediatement, et la ville fut prise et pillee. 96.— JOSUE ARRETE LE SOLEIL. Les rois de Chanaan, ayant reuni leurs forces, s'avancerent contre les Hebreux ; mais Dieu dit a Josue : " Ne les craignez point ; la victoire sera a vous." C'est pourquoi Josue fondit avec impetuosite sur ces rois, qui, etant saisis d'une frayeur soudaine, prirent la fuite. Alors une grele de pierres tomba sur les ennemis des Hebreux et PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 141 entua un grand nombre. Mais comme le jour baissait sur le soir, et I'afFaire n'etant pas encore terminee, Josue ordonna au soleil de s'arreter : et, en efFet, le soleil s'arreta et prolongea le jour jusqu'a ce que I'armee des ennemis eut ete entierement detruite. 97._MORT DE JOSUE.~a. m. 2578. Josue, apres avoir vaincu tous les peuples de la Palestine, etablit les Hebreux dans la terre promise ; il divisa entre chaque tribu les terres et les villes conquises, et il mourut. Apres la mort de Josue, le supreme pouvoir fut defere a des juges, parmi lesquels furent Gedeon, Samson et Samuel. Dans la suite, la fortune des Hebreux fut diffe- rente selon leurs difFerentes moeurs; souvent ils pecherent centre Dieu ; alorsetant prives du secours divin, ils etaient vaincus par leurs ennemis : mais, aussi souvent, que, retournant a Dieu, ils implorerent son secours, Dieu, etant apaise, les deljvra. 98.— UN ANGE APPARAIT A GEDEON. Les Hebreux, etant tourmentes par les Madianites, implorerent le secours de Dieu, qui entendit leurs prieres. Un ange se presenta a Gedeon r " Homme' tres-coura- geux," lui dit-il, " le Seigneur est avec vous.'^ G^deoa repondit : " Si Dieu est avec nous, pourquoi sommes-nous accables par un oruel esclavage ?" L'ange lui repondit : " Avancez avec courage, et vous delivrerez votre peuple de la servitude des Madianites." Gedeon ne voulait pas d'abord entreprendre une si grande tache ; mais etant encourage par un double miracle, il ne refusa pas. 99.— GEDEON LEVE UNE ARMEE. Gedeon, ayant leve une armee, partit avec trente-deux 143 ZETETIC METHOD. mille hommes, et placa son camp pres de celui des enne- mis. Or, il y avait une multitude infinie de soldats dans I'armee des Madianites ; car le roi des Amalecites avait joint ses troupes aux leurs. Cependant Dieu dit a Gedeon : " Vous n'avez pas besoin de tant de milliers d'hommes : gardez seulement trois cents combattants, et congediez les autres, de peur qu'ils n'attribuent la victoire a leur courage, et non a la puissance divine." 100.— GEDEON REMPORTE LA VICTOIRE. Gedeon divisa les trois cents hommes en trois com- panies, et leur donna des trompettes et des cruches dans lesquelles etaient des lampes allumees. Au milieu de la nuit, ils entrerent dans le camp des ennemis, et commencerent a sonner de la trompette et a briser les cruches qui etaient en leurs mains. Les Madianites, entendant le bruit des trompettes et voyant les lampes, furent effrayes et prirent la fuite. Enfin ils tournerent leurs epees les uns contre les autres, et se massacrerent mutuellement. Gedeon poursuivit les rois des ennemis, et les ayant pris, il les condamna a mort. 101.— NAISSANCE DE SAMSON. Lorsque les Hebreux etaient sous le pouvoir des Philis- tins, qui les persecutaient, Samson naquit pour etre le vengeur des enfants d'Israel. Sa mere avait ete long- temps sterile ; mais un ange du Seigneur lui apparut, et lui predit qu'elle aurait un fils qui rendrait un jour ses concitoyens a la liberte. Ayant engendre cet enfant, elle lui donna le nom de Samson. L'enfant grandit ; sa mere ne lui coupa point les cheveux ; il ne but ni vin ni biere ; il fut d'une force incroyable : il tua de sa propre main un enorme lion. PROGKESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 143 102.— SAxMSON MOLESTE LES PHILISTINS. Un jour Samson prit trois cents renards, il attacha a leur queue des torches allumees, et les chassa dans les champs des Philistins. Alors par hasard la moisson etait mure, ainsi I'incendie se repandit facilement. Toutes les vio:nes et les oliviers furent brCiles: et il ne cessa de tourmenter cette nation ennemie par divers dommages. Samson, ayant ete livre aux Philistins, rompit les liens avec lesquels il avait ete garrote, et ayant saisi la machoire d'un ane, il terrassa un grand nombre de ses ennemis avec cette arme que le hasard lui avait presentee. 103-SAMSON ENLEVE LES PORTES D'UNE YILLE. Un jour Samson entra dans una ville des Philistins ou il desirait passer la nuit. Les Philistins, saisissant I'occasion, fermerent les portes de la ville, afin que personne ne put sortir. Pendant toute la nuit, ils attendirent, pour tuer Samson lorsqu'il sortirait de la ville. Mais Samson se leva au milieu de la nuit, et alia a la porte principale de la ville ; I'ayant trouvee fermee, il I'enleva sur ses epaules et la transporta sur le sommet de la montagne voisine. 104— SAMSON EST TRAHL Enfin les Philistins, qui ne pouvaient prendre Samson, corrompirent sa femme avec une grosse somme d'argent, afin qu'elle trahit son mari. Cette femme persuada a son mari de lui indiquer la cause d'une si grande force, et quand elle sut que la cause de sa force etait placce dans ses cheveux, elle lui rasa la tete pendant son sommeil, et le livra ainsi aux Philistins. Ses ennemis, lui ayant creve les yeux, le lierent et le mirent en pri- son, et pendant longtemps ils le montrerent comme un amusement public. Mais, au bout de quelque temps, 144 ZETETIC METHOD. ses cheveux coupes commencerent a croitre, et avec ses cheveux, son courage coinmenca a revenir. Deja Samson, sentant sa force revenue, attendait le temps d'une juste vengeance. 105.— MORT DE SAMSON. C'etait une nouvelle coutume des Philistins, quand ils celebraient leurs jours de fete, de montrer Samson. Un jour, les Philistins donnaient un festin public, et ils desirerent voir Samson. La raaison, ou les principaux dignitaires des Philistins etaient assembles, etait supportse par deux colonnes d'une grandeur prodigieuse. On amena Samson et on le placa entre ces colonnes. Alors, pro- fitant de cette opportunite, il ebranla les colonnes, et tons ces hommes, et Samson lui-meme, furent ecrases sous les mines de la maison. 106.— NAISSANCE DE SAMUEL. Lorsque Heli etait grand pretre, Samuel naquit : sa mere I'amena au grand pretre et I'offrit au Seigneur. L'enfant, doue d'un excellent naturel, croissait, et etait cher a Dieu et aux hommes : sa mere lui apportait a certains temps une petite tunique qu'elle-meme avait faite. Mais Heli avait des enfants de mceurs dissolues, et ils detournaient le peuple d'honorer Dieu, et jamais leur pere ne les reprimanda assez severement. C'est pourquoi Dieu etait irrite centre les enfants et centre le pere. 107.— DIEU PARLE A SAMUEL. Une nuit, lorsque Heli etait couche dans son lit, le Seigneur appela Samuel, qui s'imaginant que le grand pretre I'appelait, accourut et dit a Heli : " Je viens pres PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 145 de vous, car vous m'avez appele." Mais Heli lui dit : "Je ne vous ai point appele, mon fils; retournez dans votre lit." Et cela arriva une seconde et une troisieme fois. Enfin Samuel, etant averti par le grand pretre, repondit a Dieu, qui I'appelait : " Parlez, Seigneur, car votre serviteur ecoute." Alors Dieu dit a Samuel : *' J' accablerai la famille d'Heli de grands maux ; parce qu'il a ete trop indulgent envers ses enfants." 108.— RESIGNATION D'HELI. Ensuite un sommeil tres-profond s'empara de Samuel, qui dormit jusqu'au matin. Des que le jour eut paru, Samuel se leva de son lit, et ourrit la porte de la tente d'Heli ; or il craignait de faire connaitre au grand pretre les paroles de Dieu. Heli dit a Samuel : " Je vous prie, je vous conjure de me rapporter les paroles de Dieu; et surtout ne me cachez rien." Samuel obeit aux or- dres du grand pretre et lui rapporta toutes les paroles du Seigneur. Heli dit : " C'est le Seigneur ; qu'il fasse ce qui lui plaira." 109— MALHEURS D'HELI ET DE SES ENFANTS. Quelque temps apres, la guerre eolata entre les Philistins et les Hebreux. Les enfants d'Israel portent I'arche d'alliance au combat, et les fils du grand pretre s'avancent avec elle ; mais Dieu etant irrite centre eux, I'arche leur fut plus fatale qu'utile. Les Hebreux furent vaincus, les fils du grand pretre fiirent tues, et I'arche elle-meme fut prise. Heli, ayant recu la nouvelle d'une si grande defaite, tomba de son siege, eut la tete bris^e et mourut immediatement. 110.— SAUL EST ELU ROL— a. m. 2909. Samuel fut le dernier juge des Hebreux, et il administra 13 146 ZETETIC METHOD. leurs affaires dans une paix tres-grande et dans une tran- quillite continuelle. Mais lorsque Samuel fut devenu vieux, ses enfants s'ecarterent de I'exemple de leur pere, et le peuple, amateur de la nouveaute, demanda un roi a Samuel. D'abord Samuel tacha de detourner les Hebreux de ce dessein ; mais ils persisterent dans leur sentiment. C'est pourquoi Samuel, sur I'avis de Dieu, consentit a leur demande, et sacra Saiil roi. Saiil etait grand et sa figure etait tres-belle ; ainsi la prestance de sa personne repondait parfaitement a la majeste royale. 111.— PREMIERE DESOBEISSANCE DE SAUL. Les Philistins firent une irruption sur le territoire des Hebreux. C'est pourquoi Saiil s'avanca contre eux, et placa son camp pres de Galgala, ville remarquable de ce pays. Samuel avail ordonne de I'attendre pendant sept jours, et de ne point engager le combat avant qu'il eut ofFert lui-meme un sacrifice a Dieu. Le septieme jour, Samuel tarda a venir ; le peuple, ennuye de ce retard, commencait a se disperser, alors Saiil ofFrit lui-meme le sacrifice a la place du grand pretre. Le sacrifice etait a peine acheve, Samuel arriva, et reprimanda severement le roi ; il lui reprocha sa temerite pour avoir ose usurper une fonction qui n'appartenait qu'aux pretres. 112.--J0NATHAS, FILS DE SAUL. Les Hebreux etaient entoures par les Philistins, Jonathas, fils de Saiil, forma un dessein hardi, et I'executa. Etant accompagne de son ecuyer, il entra dans le camp des ennemis, et apres avoir tu6 environ vingt Philistins, il frappa de terreur toute I'armee ennemie. Alors les Phi- listins, etant troubles, commencerent a ne plus garder leurs rangs, a ne plus suivre les ordres de leurs chefs, PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 147 mais a prendre la fuite. Dcs que Saiil eut apercu cela, il se mit a la tete de ses soldats, poursuivit les enneaiis, et remporta une victoire remarquable. 113.— SAUL VEUT PUNIR SON FILS. Saiil, en poursuivant les Philisiins, avait ordonne que personne ne prit de nourrilure qu'apres la defaite com- plete des ennemis, et nnenaca de mort celui qui agirait centre sou ordre. Jonathas etait alors absent, et par consequent n'avait point entendu I'ordre du roi. II arriva que I'armee passa par une foret ou il y avait beaucoup de miel sauvage. Jonathas, ignorant I'ordre de son pere, etendit la baguette qu'il tenait a la main, et I'ayant trernpee dans le miel, il I'approcha de sa bouche. Quand le roi eut appris cela, il voulut que son fils fut puni de mort ; mais le peuple ne soufFrit point que le jeune prince fdt conduit au supplice. 114.— SAUL DESOBEIT UNE SECONDE FOIS. Apres cela, Saiil, par I'ordre de Dleu, declara la guerre aux Amalccites. D'abord il eut des succes. Les enne- mis furent tailles en pieces, et leur roi fut fait prisonnier. Mais ensuite Saiil offensa Dieu tres-grievement. Dieu avait defendu de rien reserver des dcpouilles des ennemis ; mais Saiil, apres la defaite des Amalecites, garda une partie du butin. C'est pourquoi Dieu le rejeta, et a sa place, David fut choisi et sacre par Samuel. 115.— DAVID CALME SAUL. Saiil ayant meprisu les ordres de Dieu, I'esprit malin prit possession de son corps, et souvent le roi entrait en fureur. Aiors ses courtisans lui conseillerent de chercher quelqu' 148 ZETETIC METHOD. un qui sut pincer de la harpe, pour calmer son esprit afilige. On amena David, habile dans cet art, et qui, a cause de ce talent, avait ete recu parmi les officiers du roi. Ainsi, des que I'esprit malin s'emparait de Saiil, David pincait de la harpe, et la fureur du roi cessait. ^ 116.— GOLIATH DEFIE LES HEBREUX. Ensuite les Philistins declarerent la guerre aux Hebreux. Lorsque les deux arraees etaient en presence, un Philistin nomme Goliath, homme d'une grandeur prodigieuse, s' avanca devant les rangs, ct provoqua souvent un des H^- breux a un combat singulier. II etait revetu d'une cuirasse en forme d'ecailles ; il avait aux jambes des bottes d'airain ; un casque d'airain couvrait sa tete, et un bouclier d'airain etait attache a ses epaules. Saiil promit une grande recompense, et meme sa fiUe en mariage, ^ celui qui rapporterait les depouilles du Philistin qui provoquait les Hebreux. Mais personne n'osait s'avancer centre lui ; et le geant reprochait aux Hebreux leur lachete avec derision et mepris. 117.— DAVID SE PRESENTE CONTRE GOLIATH. David, touche de I'afFront fait a son peuple, se presenta pour combattre. II fut amene a Saiil, qui dit a David : " Vous etes trop jeune pour combattre centre cet homme tres-robuste." David repondit: " Ne craignez point, 6 roi ! Lorsque je gardais les brebis de mon pere, un lion attaqua mon troupeau et saisit une brebis ; je le poursuivis, je le tuai, et j'arrachai la brebis de sa gueule. J'ai aussi tue un ours. Dieu, qui m'a defendu centre le lion et I'ours, me defendra aussi centre le geant." Alors Saiil lui dit : " Allez avec cette confiance, et Dieu vous protegera." PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 149 118.— DAVID PREND SEULEMENT UNE FRONDE. Saiil lui-meme voulut ajuster ses propres armes au jeune homme : il lui mit le casque sur la tete, il couvrit sa poitrine d'une cuirasse, et lui ceignit I'epee au cote. Mais David etait embarrasse par ces armes, auxquelles il n'etait pas accoutume, et il pouvait a peine marcher. C'est pourquoi il quitta ce poids incommode ; mais il prit sa houlette de berger, il prit une fronde et mit cinq pierres dans son petit sac. Ainsi arme, il s'avanca contra le geant. 119.— DAVID TQE GOLIATH. Du cote oppose s'avancait Goliath, qui, ayant vu le jeunehomme: "Me prenez-vous pour un chien," lui dit- il, " vous qui m'attaquez avec un baton ?" David lui repondit : " Vous venez a moi avec une epee, une pique et un bouclier, mais je viens au nom du Seigneur des ar- mees que vous avez ose insulter." Alors, ayant lanc6 une pierre avec sa fronde, il frappa le Philistin au front et le renversa ; et puis David, courant a ce geant, lui Ota son epee, avec laquelle il lui coupa la tete. Frappes de cet evenement, les Philistins prirent la fuite et abandonnerent la victoire aux Hebreux. 120.— JALOUSIE DE SAUL CONTRE DAVID. Lorsque David revint, les Hebreux le conduisirent a la ville, en le felicitant ; les femmes elles-memes, sortant de leurs maisons, chantaient ses louanges. Une si grande faveur du peuple alluma la jalousie de Saiil, qui, dans la suite, fut tres-mal dispose envers David. Les sentiments de son fils Jonathas furent bien difFerents. Ad- mirant le courage de David, il concut pour lui une grande 13* 150 ZETETIC METHOD. affection, et lui donna en present, son baudrier, son arc et son epee. 121.— MAUVAISE FOI DE SAUL. Saiil avait promis au vainqueur sa fille en mariage ; mais il ne tint pas sa promesse, et proposa une nouvelle condition, qui etait que David tuat cent Philistins. Le roi fesait cela dans une mauvaise intention, car il esperait que ce jeune homme hardi perirait aisement ; mais il fut trompe dans son attente, car David, ayant tue deux cents Philistins, revint, sans avoir ete blesse, et recut alors la fille du roi en mariage. 122.— SAUL ESSAYE DE TUER DAVID. La haine de Saiil croissait de jour en jour ; c'est pourquoi il preparait non en secret, mais ouvertement, la perte de David. Deux fois il essaya de le percer avec sa lance, mais David evita heureusement le coup raortel. Alors Saiil donna ordre a Jonathas de tuer David ; mais Jonathas refusa d'obeir a I'ordre cruel de son pere, et il conjura son pere d'abandonner un dessein si injuste. Enfin Saiil envoya des gardes pour tuer David dans sa maison, sous les yeux de son epouse ; mais celle-ci descendit son mari par une fenetre, et le sauva ainsi d'un grand danger. 123.— SAUL POURSUIT DAVID. David, voyant que I'animosite de Saiil centre lui etait im- placable, quitta la cour et se retira dans un desert. Saiil le poursuivit;. mais par la protection de Dieu, David echappa aux mains de son ennemi, et lui-meme sauva plusieurs fois la vie de Saiil. 11 y avait dans ce PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 151 desert une grande caverne ; David y etait cache avec ses compagnons. Saiil, par hasard, entra seul dans cette caverne, sans apercevoir ceux qui y etaient caches ; etj accable de sommeil, il se reposa. Les compagnons de David I'exhortaient a saisir Toccasion favorable de tuer Saiil -, mais David refusa de commettre un tel crime. 124.--MORT DE SAUL. La guerre eclata contre les Philistins, et Saiil s'avanca centre eux avec son armee. La bataille ayant ete livree, les Hebreux furent tallies en pieces ; trois fils du roi perirent dans cette terrible defaite. Saiil lui-meme, etant tombe de son cheval, ordonna a un de ses offi- ciers de lui percer le cote pour ne pas tomber vivant au pouvoir de ses ennemis. La fuite de tous les He- breux suivit la mort du roi, et en ce jour les Philistins gagnerent une victoire remarquable. 125.— DAVID PLEURE LA MORT DE SAUL. David, ayant appris la mort de Saiil, versa des larmes : il maudit les montagnes de Gelboe, ou ce crime avait ete Gommis. David condamna a mort celui qui se vantait d' avoir tue Saiil, et qui lui avait apporte les ornements royaux, pour le punir d'avoir viole la majeste royale. II temoigna sa reconnaissance aux habitants de la ville de Jabes, parce qu'ils avaient enseveli les corps de Saiil et de ses fils. Exemple vraiment admirable d'un amour veritable et sincere envers un ennemi! 126.— DAVID COMxMET DEUX GRANDS CRIMES. Lorsque David fut monte sur le trone, il commit deux grands crimes. II aima une femme noramce Betsabe, et 152 ZETETIC METHOD. la porta au crime. Le mari de cette femme, nomme Urie, homme tres-courageux, etait alors a I'armee, et rendait a sa patrie des services signales. David ordonna a Urie de prendre une position desavantageuse au cqmbat ; Urie obeit et fut tue ; ainsi David causa volontairement la mort de cet homme. Mais Dieu envoya a David le prophete Nathan pour le reprimander et pour lui declarer qu'il subirait la punition de son crime. 127.— PARABOLE DU PROPHETE NATHAN. Le prophete parla ainsi a David : " II y avait dans la meme ville deux hommes ; I'un riche nourrissait plusieurs troupeaux de boeufs, de chevres et de brebis ; mais Tautre homme n'avait qu'une seule brebis qu'il avait achetee lui-meme, et qu'il nourrissait avec soin. Un h6te vint chez I'homme riche, et comme il fallait lui preparer un repas, I'homme riche epargna ses brebis, enleva de force la brebis de I'homme pauvre, et la servit a manger a son bote. C'est a vous, 6 roi, de juger si cette action est digne d'un honnete homme ou non." 128.— NATHAN EXPLIQUE LA PARABOLE. Le roi fut rempli d'indignation. Alors le prophete lui dit : " Vous etes cet homme riche : car, Dieu vous a comble de toutes sortes de biens. Pourquoi done avez-vous enleve la femme d'Urie ? Pourquoi avez-vous ordonne la mort d'un homme innocent, surtout quand cet homme combattait pour vous?" Touche par ces paroles du prophete, David reconnut sa faute et I'avoua. Alors le prophete ajouta : " Dieu vous pardonne votre peche ; mais cependant le fils qui vous est ne mourra bientot." PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 153 129.— DAVID JEUNE ET PRIE. Peu apres, I'enfant tomba dangereusement malade : pendant sept jours David fut dans une grande affliction, priant et s'abstenant de nourriture. Le septieme jour I'enfant mourut, et les serviteurs n'oserent point annoncer cette mauvaise nouvelle au roi. David les ayant vu parler tres-bas, comprit que I'enfant etait mort. x\lors le roi, cessant de s'affliger, mangea la nourriture qu'on lui apporta. Les courtisans furent etonnes de la conduite du roi. Mais David leur dit : " L'enfant etant malade, je jeunais et je priais, esperant que Dieu s'apaiserait ; mais maintenant I'enfant est mort, pourquoi done m'affligerais-je en vain ? Pourrais-je le rappeler a la vie ?" 130.— REVOLTE D'ABSALON CONTRE SON PfiRE. Un autre chagrin vint augmenter la detresse du roi. Ab- salon, fils de David, aspira au trone de son pere : ayant souleve une multitude ignorante, il se revolta centre lui. Des que David en fut informe, il sortit de Jerusalem, craignant que, s'il y restait, Absalon, qui venait avec son armee, n'assiegeat la ville royale, et ne la ravageat par I'epee et par le feu. C'est pourquoi etant parti avec ceux de ses sujets qui restaient fideles a leur devoir, il alia en pleurant sur la montagne des oliviers, les pieds nus et la tete voilee. 131.— PATIENCE ADMIRABLE DE DAVID. Lorsque le roi fuyait, il rencontra un homme de la race de Saiil, nomme Semei. Get homme commenca a in- sulter David et ses compagnons, et ensuite il leur jeta des pierres. Les compagnons de David, supportant cela avec indignation, voulaient se venger en coupant la tete a cet insolent calomniateur. Mais David les arreta : 154 ZETETIC METHOD. " Laissez-le m'outrager," leur dit-il, " Dieu, apaise par les maux que je soaffre, aura peut-etre pitie de moi et changera I'elat deplorable de mes affaires." Les com- pagnons du roi, admirant sa patience incroyable, obeirent avec peine a cet ordre. 132.— DAVID RASSEMBLE UNE ARMEE. Absalon, apres le depart de son pere, entra a Jerusalem, et y demeura pendant quelque temps : ce delai fut le salut de David; car pendant ce temps, David rassembla ses troupes et se prepara a la guerre. Deja Absalon paraissait avec son armee, une batuille etait imminente ; le's compagnons du roi lui persuade rent de ne pas etre present au combat. C'est pourquoi David mit Joab a la tete de son armee, et se retira dans une ville voisine. Mais le roi, en partant, recommanda a Joab et aux autres generaux d'epargner Absalon. 133.— ABSALON EST VAINCU. Les deux armees combattirent avec courage ; mais, par la protection de Dieu, la victoire fut du cote de David. Les soldats d'Absalon prirent la fuite, et vingt-deux mille d'entre eux furent tues. Absalon, dans sa fuite, etait assis sur un mulct; or il avait les cheveux longs et epais; tandis que, dans sa course prccipitee, Absalon est emporte 'sous un chene touffu, sa chevelure s'embarrassa dans les branches, et Absalon resta suspendu, le mulct passant outre et continuant sa course. . 134.— MORT D'ABSALON. Un soldat du roi vit Absalon suspendu, et il n'osa pas le tuer, mais il annonca cette nouvelle a Joab, qui le reprimandant lui dit : " Vous deviez percer ce jeune PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 155 homme impie." Le soldal repondit : " Mais le roi vous a commande en ma presence d'epargner son fils." " Mais je ne I'epargnerai pas," reprit Joab ; et aussitot il prit trois lances, qu'il enfonca dans la poitrine d'Absalon. Lorsqu' Absalon, suspend u au chene, palpitait encore, les ecuyers de Joab le tuerent, et alors Joab sonna de la trompette, et jeta le corps d'Absalon dans une fosse. 135._DAVID DEPLORE LA MORT DE SON FILS. Pendant la bataille, David se tenait a la porte de la ville, attendant I'evenement du combat, et tres-inquiet du salut de son fils. Lorsque ses generaux lui annoncerent que les ennemis avaient ete battus, et qu'Absalon avait ete tue, non-seulement il ne temoigna aaicune joie de la victoire qu'il avait remportee, mais il tessentit meme une grande douleur de la mort de son fils. Le roi, etant fort emu, monta a sa chambre. Quand il fut seul, il pleura en prononcant de temps en temps ces paroles : " O mon fils Absalon ! O Absalon, mon fils !" 136.— MORT DE DAVID. Dans la suite, David entreprit avec succes plusieurs guerres contre les Philistins, et ayant regie paisiblement toutes ses affiires, il passa le reste de sa vie dans une paix flonssante. David, ayant atteint une extreme vieillesse, et etant d'une faible sante, constitua Salomon heritier de son royaume. Salomon, ayant ete sacre par le grand pretre, fut proclame roi, quoique David fut encore vivant. Apres avoir donne a son fils les preceptes les plus utiles pour gouverner le royaume, David mourut en remerciant le Seigneur. 156 ZETETIC METHOD. 137.— SAGESSE DE SALOMON. Dieu cherissait Salomon : il lui apparut pendant son sommeil, et lui donna la permission de choisir tout ce qu'il voudrait. Salomon ne deraanda ni la puissance, ni la gloire, ni les richesses, mais il demanda la sagesse, car il regardait les autres avantages comme de peu de valeur. Cette demande fut si agreable a Dieu, que le Seigneur accorda a Salomon plus qu'il n'avait demande ; car il lui donna une sagesse extraordinaire, et il y ajouta les richesses et la gloire qu'il n'avait pas demandees. 138.— TRIBUNAL DE SALOMON. Quelque temps apreSj Salomon donna une preuve de la sagesse que Dieu lui avait accordee. Deux femmes demeuraient dans la meme maison : Tune et I'autre enfanterent en meme temps un enfant male. L'un de ces enfants mourut pendant la nuit trois jours apres : la mere prit I'enfant de I'autre femme qui dormait, et mit son fils mort a la place de cet enfant. Une violente dispute s'eleva entre ces deux femmes, et I'afFaire fut portee au tribunal de Salomon. 139.— LE JUGEMENT DE SALOMON. La question etait difficile et tres-obscure, car personne n'avait ete temoin de cette action frauduleuse. Mais le roi, pour decouvrir la verite cacbee, dit a ces femmes : " Je partagerai I'enfant en deux parts et je donnerai une moitie a chacune de vous." La fausse mere acquiesca a ce jugement ; mais I'autre s'ecria : " O roi ! donnez I'enfant a cette femme !" Le roi dit alors : '' La chose est evidente : cette femme est veritablement la mere de I'enfant;" et il le lui adjugea a I'instant. PKOGKESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 157 140.— TEMPLE DE JERUSALEM.— a. m. 3000. Salomon batit a Jerusalem un temple d'un grand travail : les murs de ce beau monument etaient couverts d'or, d'argent et de pierres procieuses. L'arche d'alliance fut placee dans ce temple. Les rois voisins lierent amitie avec Salomon, et la reine de Saba, desirant le voir, sortit de son royaume, et vint a Jerusalem avec un grand train. Quand elle fut en presence de Salomon elle lui dit : " Ce que j'ai appris de votre sagesse et de votre puissance est veritable, et la realite surpasse meme les merveilles annoncees par les mille trompettes de votre renommee." 141.— DESORDRE ET IDOLATRIE DE SALOMON. Dans la suite, Salomon s'abandonna au plaisir : or lien n'est plus Tennemi de la vertu que la volupte ; c'est pourquoi il perdit sa sagesse. Les femmes etrangeres qu'il aima Fentrainerent, deja vieux. aux ceremonies des nations paiennes. Dieu, etant offense de cette conduite, lui predit le chatiment de ses vices, savoir, que la plus grande partie de son royaume serait otee a son fils et serait donnee a un de ses serviteurs ; et cela arriva ainsi. 142.— ROBOAM AIGRIT LE PEUPLE. A Salomon succeda Roboam, son fils. II renversa, par sa folie, le trone deja chancelant par la faute de son pere. Salomon avait mis sur le peuple un impot tres-onereux : le peuple, ne pouvant le payer, en demanda la diminu- tion. Les vieillards conseillaient au roi de satisfaire le peuple; mais les jeunes gens Fen dissuadaient. Roboam, suivant les avis des jeunes gens de son age, repondit durement au peuple et rejeta sa demande. 14 158 ZETETIC METHOD. 143.-- DIX TRIBUS ABANDONNENT ROBOAM. Une sedition s'eleva : dix tribus abandonnerent Roboam, et elurent pour leur roi Jeroboam de la tribu d'Ephraim. Deux tribus seulement resterent fideles, savoir, la tribu de Juda et celle de Benjamin. Roboam habita Jerusalem, et Jeroboam batit Sichen sur la montagne d'Ephraim et y habita; ensuite il sortit de la, et batit Penuel. Jero- boam, pour detourner ses sujets de la coutume d'aller a Jerusalem, etablit une nouvelle religion, et forqa ses su- jets d'adorer des faux dieux. 144.— COURTE DUREE DU ROYAUME D'ISRAEL. Le royaume d'Israel ne subsista pas longtemps, parce que tous ses rois sans exception furent impies. Souvent Dieu leur envoya des prophetes pour les avertir et les ramener a la veritable religion; mais lis n'obeirent point aux avertissements des prophetes ; au contraire, ils les accablerent d'outrages et de tourments. C'est pourquoi Dieu etant irrite les livra au"pouvoirde leurs ennemis : ils furent vaincus par le roi des Assyriens, qui fit prisonnieres les dix tribus, et les emmena en Assyrie. 145.— ASA ET JOSAPHAT, ROIS DE JUDA. Abias succeda a son pere Roboam ; il regna trois ans seulement, et laissa le trone a son fils Asa. Ce roi fut agreable a Dieu a cause de sa piete ; car il renversa les autels des faux dieux, et chassa les impies de son royaume. Apres la mort d'Asa, Josaphat, son -fils, commenca a regner ; il fut un religieux adorateur du vrai Dieu ; c'est pourquoi Dieu le combla de gloire et de richesses. Cependant Josaphat lia amitie avec I'impie Achab, roi des Israelites. Ces deux rois, ayant reuni PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 159 leurs forces, combattirent contre le roi de Syrie : Achab fut tue dans le combat, et Josaphat echappa par le secours divin. 146.— JORAM ET OCHOSIAS, ROIS DE JUDA. Joram succeda a son pere Josaphat ; il degenera de la piete de son pere, car il epousa Athalie, fille de I'impie Achab, et il fut plus semblable a son beau-pere qu'a son pere. II mourut d'une cruelle maladie, que Dieu lui avait envoyee. Apres lui, Ochosias, son fils, posseda le tr6ne ; mais il ne le posseda pas long-temps, car, etant porte aux vices par I'exemple de sa mere, il mourut miserablement. 147.— MORT D'ATHALIE. REGNE DE JOAS. Apres la mort d'Ochosias, Athalie sa mere extermina tous les enfants du sang royal et prit possession du tr6ne. Un fils d'Ochosias, nomme Joas, fut sauve du carnage et fut cache dans le temple avec sa nourrice. Le grand pretre Joiada eleva secretement le jeune prince dans le temple. Environ sept ans apres, il amena I'enfant royal devant les officiers et le peuple, et Athalie ayant ete tuee dans une revoke, le grand pretre sacra roi le jeune prince. 148— CRIMES ET MORT DE JOAS. Tant que Joas suivit les conseils du grand pretre, il observa tres-exaotement le culte divin ; il orna le temple a grands frais. Mais apres la mort du grand pretre, le roi, cor- rompu par les flatteries de ses courtisans, s'abandonna aux vices et quitta la vraie religion. Oubliant les services de Joiada, il condamna a mort le fils de son bienfaiteur, qui lui donnait de sages conseils. Bientdt apres, le jeune 160 ZETETIC METHOD. roi fut tue dans son lit par ses propres sujets, et fut prive de la sepulture royale. 149.— AMASIAS, ROI DE JUDA. Par la mort de Joas, le royaume passa a son fils Amasias, qui attaqua I'ldumee avec deux grandes armees, qu'il avait levees a grands frais. Mais un prophete I'avertit de mettre sa confiance plutot dans le secours divin que dans la multitude de ses soldats. Ayant done congedie une grande partie de ses soldats, il combattit contre I'ennemi avec une petite armee, et remporta une victoire remarqua- ble. Dans la suite, enfle de cette victoire, il abandonna Dieu ; et apr^s avoir perdu ses deux armees, il fut pris par le roi de Samarie, qu'il avait provoque temerairement. 150.-OSIAS ET JOATHAN, ROIS DE JUDA. Osias fut le successeur d'Amasias ; Dieu le favorisant, il vainquit les Philistins et dompta les Arabes. Dans la suite I'orgueil prit possession de son coeur ; il usurpa la fonction des pretres, et, n'ayant eu nul respect pour les remon- trances du grand pretre, il fut attaque d'une maladie honteuse qu'on appelle lepre. C'est pourquoi il fut force d'abandonner le soin de son royaume a son fils Joathan, qui le gouverna sagement. 151.— ACHAS, ROI DE JUDA. Achas, fils de Joathan, fut impie envers Dieu ; il adora les faux dieux. Ses sujets eux-memes suivirent bienlot I'exemple de leur roi. La main de Dieu s'appesantit plusieurs fois' sur les enfants de Juda ; Achas fut defait par les rois de Samarie et de Syrie, et ces desastres ne le PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 161 rappelerent point a de meilleurs sentiments. II ne fut pas lionteux de demander du secours aux Assyriens. Le roi des Assyriens arriva, et d'abord il defit les ennemis d'Achas ; raais ensuite il ravagea le royaume d'Achas. 152.— REGNE D'EZECHIAS ; SA PIETE. Ezechias se distingua par sa grande piete ; des qu'il posseda le trone, il exhorta le peuple et les pretres a la repentance. Ensuite il purifia la ville des superstitions de son pere, il orna le temple, et retablit les ceremonies, qui depuis long-temps avaient ete negligees. II ne montra pas moins de courage pour conduire la guerre, que de piete pour proteger la religion : il tailla en pieces les Philistins dans plusieurs batailles, et delivra les Juifs des tributs qu'ils payaient aux Assyriens. 153.— SIEGE DE JERUSALEM. Quelque temps apres, Ezechias tomba dans une maladie dangereuse, et le prophete Isaie I'ayant averti que la fin de sa vie approchait, le roi pria Dieu avec larmes d'epargner sa vie. Dieu touche de ses prieres et de ses larmes, lui accorda quinze ans. Trois jours apres, le roi etant gueri alia au temple pour remercier le Seigneur. Un an apres, le roi d'Assyrie assiegea Jerusalem ; mais Isaie rassura Ezechias en lui promettant le secours divin. Et en effet, pendant la nuit suivante, un ange de Dieu extermina plus de cent mille Assyriens ; et le roi d'Assyrie tremblant s'enfuit dans sa patrie. 154.^MORT DU ROI EZECHIAS. Ezechias, etant delivre d'un si grand danger, passa le 14* 162 ZETEtIC METHOD. reste de sa vie dans une tres-grande tranquillite ; toutes ses entreprises lui reussirent, parce que Dieu le fa- vorisait. Etant lie par tant de bienfaits de Dieu, il per- severa constamment dans la meme piete ; il mit toute son esperance dans le secours divin, il s'efForca toujours a faire ce qui plaisait a Dieu. II regna vingt-neuf ans, et ensuite il mourut d'une mort tranquille. Le peuple le pleura, et son corps fut place parmi les tombeaux des rois ses ancetres, dans un endroit plus eleve. 155.— CRIMES DE MANASSAS, SA REPENTANCE. A Ezechias succeda Manasses, fils impie d'un pere pieux. Le nouveau roi abandonna le culte du vrai Dieu, et il adora les fausses divinites. II joignit la cruaute a son impie te ; car, lorsque le prophete Isaie I'eut menace de la colere divine, ce roi, transporte de fureur, commanda aux bourreaux de scier le prophete en deux parts avec une scie de bois, Dieu vengea bientot la mort de son prophete : Manasses fut vaincu par les Assyriens ; il fut pris et jete dans les fers. La, etant instruit par le malheur, il demanda humblement a Dieu le pardon de ses crimes et I'obtint : etant alors retabli sur son tr6ne, il servit Dieu avec piete. 156.— AMON ET JOSIAS, ROIS DE JUDA. Amon, fils de Manasses, imita I'impiete de son pere, mais non sa repentance. II regna deux ans seulement, et il fut tue dans son palais par ses sujets. II eut pour suc- cesseur Josias, homme saint et pieux, qui, adonne a la ver- tu des son enfance, rappela le peuple au culte prescrit par la loi. Mais ensuite une confiance temeraire le perdit ; car, ayant conduit une armee centre les Egyptiens, et, Dieu PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 163 I'ayant averti de ne pas engager une bataille, il combattit neanmoins. N'ayant done point reussi, il recut une blessure et mourut peu de jours apres. 157.— DESTRUCTION DE JERUSALEM. Josias, en mourant, laissa trois fils : Joachas, Tun d'eux, regna trois mois seulement ; il fut pris par le roi d'As- syrie. A Joachas succeda Jechonias. Sous son regno, Nabuchodonosor, roi de Babylone, prit d'assaut Jerusalem, emmena presque tous les habitants de cette ville dans son royaume et laissa seulement a Jerusalem une vile populace, a la tete de laquelle il mit Sedecias, dernier roi. Quelque temps apres, Sedecias se revolta, alors Nabuchodonosor revint, rasa la ville, brula le temple, et mit en prison Sedecias et I'accabla de tourments. 158.— DANIEL ET SES COMPAGNONS. Parmi les captifs qui avaient ete emmenes a Babylone, le roi choisit quelques enfants d'une beaute remarquable, Daniel, Ananias, Misael et Azarias furent parmi les enfants choisis. Ces enfants etaient eleves avec plusieurs autres dans le palais, afin que dans la suite ils se tinssent devant la table du roi pour le servir. Nabuchodonosor avait ordonne de les nourrir des restes de ses propres repas; mais ces vertueux enfants ne voulurent point manger les mets profanes que les officiers du roi leur presentaient, parce que la loi le defendait ; ils mangeaient seulement des legumes. Cependant ils devinrent plus robustes et plus beaux que les autres enfants avec lesquels ils etaient eleves. 164 ZETETIC METHOD. 159.— LESTROIS HEBREUX DANS LA FOURNAISE. Nabuchodonosor erigea une statue d'or, et il ordonna a tous ses sujets de I'adorer; il menaca de mort ceux qui refuseraient d'obeir. Ananias, Misael et Azarias prefererent mourir plutot que de rendre a une statue un hommage du a Dieu seul. Le roi ordonna a ses officiers de jeter ces enfants dans une fournaise ardente ; mais le Seigneur pro- tegea ces enfants et la flamme ne toucha pas meme leurs vetements. Le roi, voyant cela, rendit hommage au Dieu d'Israel. 160.~-FESTIN IMPIE DE BALTHAZAR. Le roi Balthazar prepara un grand festin et invita les principaux seigneurs de sa cour. II ordonna a ses officiers d'apporter les vases d'or et d'argent que son pere avait tires du temple de Jerusalem. Les officiers apporterent les vases ; le roi et ses convives y burent. Aussitot la main d'un homme ecrivit sur le mur. Le roi etonne voulut savoir ce que ces mots signifiaient ; mais personne ne put en donner ^interpretation. Alors la reine conseilla a son mari d'appeler Daniel. Le prophete vint; il predit au roi que son royaume serait divise et donne aux Medes et aux Perses ; et, en effet, cette meme nuit, le roi des Medes s'empara de Babylone par force. 161.— DANIEL ET LES LIONS. Daniel, a cause de sa sagesse extraordinaire, etait cheri du nouveau roi; c'est pourquoi il etait hai des cour- tisans, qui lui dresserent plusieurs fois des embuches ; mais Daniel les evita. Enfin Daniel desobeit a un edit impie du roi ; les courtisans, qui I'epiaient, 1' accuserent ; et le roi fut force d'exposer aux lions un homme qui lui etait cher, car la loi I'ordonnait ainsi. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 165 Mais ces betes feroces epargnerent Daniel, et le roi, touche de ce miracle, livra aux lions les accusateurs eux-memes. 162.— AMAN ET MARDOCHEE. Mardochee, un des caplifs, delivra les Juifs d'un grand danger. II avait eleve une jeune fiUe nommee Esther, qui avait perdu son pere et sa mere. Le roi Assuerus I'avait prise pour epouse, et I'aimait beaucoup. II y avait alors un courtisan en grande faveur aupres du roi, ce courtisan, nomme Aman, fier de la faveur dont il jouissait, voulait que le peuple I'adorat ; Mardochee, refusant de le faire, avait excite contre lui la haine re- doutable d'Aman. Aman, pour se venger de son ennemi, resolut de detruire toute la nation Juive, et ob- tint pour ce dessein un edit d' Assuerus. 163.— LAMENTATIONS DE MARDOCHEE. Des que ce cruel edit parvint aux oreilles de Mardochee, aussitot il dechira ses vetements, se revetit d'un sac, et couvert de cendres, il alia au palais, et le remplit de ses plaintes. Esther, ayant entendu ces gemissements, demanda ce que c'etait : des qu'elle apprit que Mardochee et tous les Juifs etaient destines a la mort, elle invoqua Dieu, et chercha le roi pour empecher par ses prieres la destruction de sa nation. Cependant elle ne decouvrit pas immediatement cette affaire au roi, mais elle I'invita a un festin. 164.— DISGRACE D'AMAN. Assuerus vint au festin avec Aman. Esther, voyant le roi d'une humeur joyeuse, se jeta a ses pieds, et le supplia de lui accorder une faveur. Le roi lui promit 166 iETEtiC METItOI). qu'il ne lui refuserait rien, meme si elle demandait la moitie de son royaume. "O roi !" dit alors Esther, "je vous prie de m'accorder ma conservation et celle de ma nation ; car le cruel Aman nous a devoues a la mort." Assuerus fut touche des chagrins de sa femme, et, apprenant qu'Aman avait prepare une croix pour Mardochee, il ordonna a ses officiers d'attacher Aman a cette croix. 165— CYRUS ACCORDE AUX JUIFS LEUR LIBERTE. La captivite de Babylone dura soixante et dix ans, comme Dieu I'avait predit. Quand ce temps se fut ecoule, Cyrus, roi de Perse, ayant vaincu le roi de Babylone, accorda aux Juifs la permission de retourner dans leur patrie, et de retablir le temple : il leur rendit aussi les vases sacres que Nabuchodonosor avait enleves. Ainsi les Juifs, sous la conduite de Zorobabel, retournerent a Jerusalem, et jeterent les premiers fondements du nouveau temple ; mais la construction en fut long- temps interrompue, parce que les nations voisines 1' empechaient. 166.— ETAT DES JUIFS APRES LEUR RETOUR. Les Juifs, apres leur retour dans leur patrie, arrangerent les affaires de leur ville ; ils n'eurent plus de rois, mais le gouvernement fut au pouvoir des grands pretres. Cependant les Juifs payerent des tributs, d'abord, aux Perses, ensuite aux Grecs, apres la defaite de Darius par Alexandre le Grand. Dans la suite, ils ne s'ecarterent jamais de la religion de leurs ancetres, quoique, pour cette raison, ils eussent ete persecutes par plusieurs rois, et surtout par Antiochus, roi de Syrie. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 167 167.— PERSECUTIONS D'ANTIOCHUS. Antiochus entreprit d'abolir la loi sacree des Juifs : il ordonna que tous, abandonnant les institutions de leurs an- cetres, vecussent a la maniere des paiens. Antiochus eleva par toute la Judee des autels aux faux dieux : il enleva tous les ornements du temple de Jerusalem ; il brula les livres sacres, et infligea des supplices inouls aux Juifs qui resistaient a ses ordres. Plusieurs Juifs pieux quitterent leur patrie pour eviter le danger; plusieurs aftronterent la mort plutot que de s'ecarter de la loi di- vine ; de ce nombre fut le vieillard Eleazar. 168.— MARTYRE D'UNE MERE ET DE SES FILS. Une femme avec ses sept enfants suivit le bel exemple d'Eleazar. lis furent tous saisis en meme temps et battus de verges pour les forcer a pecher, mais nulle violence ne put les dctourner de la loi divine. II y avait alors a Jerusalem un pretre nomme Mathathias, qui avait cinq fils. Ceux-ci, ayant quitte la ville pour ne pas voir les maux dont elle etait affligee, se retirerent dans un desert. La se rendit une multitude d'hommes attaches aux lois divines, et bientot cette multitude s'accrCit et forma une armee. Alors, ces Hebreux exiles choisirent Mathathias pour chef; ils resolurent de delivrer leur patrie et de proteger leur religion ; c'est pourquoi ils renverserent les autels eleves aux fausses divinites et retablirent le culte du vrai Dieu. 169.— PREMIERE ACTION DE JUDAS MACHABEE. Quelque temps apres, Mathathias mourut, et en mourant, il mit a la tote de I'armce Judas, son fils, qui fut appele Machabee. Celui-ci continua avec courage la guerre 168 ZETETIC METHOD. entreprise par son pere. II remplit d'une maniere dis- tinguee tous les devoirs d'un bon general ; se confiant au secours divin qu'il avait invoque, il prit d'assaut des plaees fortes, mit des garnisons dans les villes, vainquit ApoUomiffs, un des generaux d'Antiochus, le tua de sa propre main, et ensuite il se servit de son epee qu'il lui avait:'enlevee dans le combat. 170.— VICTOIRE DE JUDAS SUR NICANOR. Lorsqu'Antiochus apprit qu'ApoUonius avait ete vaincu, il fat enflamme de colere : il donna ordre a Lysias de ravager la Judee, et d'exterminer toute la nation. Lysias envoya centre les Juifs Nicanor et Gorgias, auxquels il donna quarante mille fantassins et sept mille cavaliers; ces deux generaux placerent leur camp non loin de la ville de Jerusalem. Judas, qui mettait toute son esperance en Dieu, n'hesita point a livrer bataille, quoiqu'il n'eut que trois mille hommes ; a la tete d'une si petite armee, il tailla en pieces les troupes du roi, et s'empara d'un grand butin. 171.— LYSIAS VAINCU PAR JUDAS. Cette defaite fut annoncee a Lysias, qui, pensant que cet echec etait arrive par la faute des deux generaux, resolut de conduire lui-meme I'armee. II vint done en Judee avec soixante-cinq mille hommes. Judas avait seulement dix mille hommes ; cependant il marcha contre Lysias, et, apres avoir invoque le secours divin, il se battit avec I'ennemi. II tua cinq mille hommes de I'armee de Lysias, et il epouvanta tellement les autres soldats ennemis, qu'ils prirent la fuite. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 169 172._JUDAS PURIFIE LE TEMPLE. Les ennemis etant chasses, Judas se hata de retablir le culte divin ; il rentra victorieux dans Jerusalem, qui presentait une apparence lugubre. Les portes du temple avaient ete brulees, I'autel etait souille ; des broussailles croissaient sous les portiques, comme dans une foret. Judas purifia le temple, rcpara les portes et eleva un nouvel autel, dont la dedi'^ace fut celebree par une grande affluence de tout le peuple ; il fut arrete qu'une fete serait celebree chaque annee, pour fcterniser la memoire de cet heureux evenement. 173._GUERRE DES NATIONS VOISINES. Les nations voisines, s'etant soulevees a cause du re- tablissement du temple, declarerent la guerre aux Juifs. Judas Machabee se battit contre elles ; dans cette bataille Dieu se montra evidemment le protecteur de Judas ; car pendant le combat, cinq hommes, remarquables par leurs chevaux et leur valeur, parurent a la tete des soldats juifs. Deux de ces hommes, retenant Judas au milieu d'eux, le preservaient de tout danger, et lancaient des traits enflammes sur les ennemis ; ceux-ci, ayant I'esprit trouble, prirent la fuite. Dans cette bataille vingt-cinq mille ennemis furent tues. Bientot apres cette celebre vio- toire, Dieu punit Antiocbus, et ce roi impie mourut miserablement. Eupator, son fils, lui succeda. II attaqua Judas Machabee, qui le vainquit. Apres plusieurs autres victoires remportees sur les ennemis de sa nation, Judas Machabee mourut. Jonathas, son frere, lui succeda, et sous son gouvernement les Juifs furent heureux et libres. 15 170 ZETETIC METHOD. 174.— ROIS DE JUDEE. LE MESSIE.— a. m. 4000. Apres la mort de Jonathas, le souverain pouvoir fut defere k Simon, et a la mort de celui-ci, Jean Hircan succeda a son pere. II mourut un an apres et laissa pour heritier son fils Aristobule, qui, le premier de tous, depuis la captivice des Juifs, prit le nom de roi. Apres la mort d' Aristobule, son fils Alexandre regna. II mourut sans avoir rien fait de memorable : il laissa deux fils qui pretendirent avoir des droits egaux au trone. Pompee, general du peuple remain, alia en Judee, sous le pretexte de retablir I'union entre les deux freres, mais en realite pour conquerir ce pays, et o'est ce qu'il fit. Quelque temps apres, Herode, qui etait etranger, usurpa la couronne de Judee. Herode fut le premier roi etranger qui regna sur les Juifs, et sous son regno naquit Jesus-Christ, comme les prophetes I'avaient predit. END OF SECOND PART. ZETETIC METHOD. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. HISTOIRE 8AINTE. THIRD PART. REMARKS. The mark * under se, s\ is in the place of himself, her- self, itself, themselves, &c. &c. ; and where se or s^ is not to be translated into English. Tha mark — is in the place of ne when ne is separated from pas, as in the case ofje ne sais pas, I — know not : or when ne is not to be translated into English. The words in ( ) are either necessary for the correct rendering of the English, or are not to be translated into French. The words in italics are the literal translation of the cor- responding French words ; the pupil should pay particular attention to them, as they are either not expressed in cor- rect English, or are not the proper translation of the French. HISTOIRE SAINTE. TROISIEME P ARTIE. 1.— GOD CREATES THE WORLD IN SIX DAYS. God created the heaven and the earth within six days. The first day, he made the light. The second day, he made the firmament, which he called Heaven. The third day, he collected the waters into one place, and brought-out from the earth the plants and the trees. The fourth day, he made the sun, the moon and the stars. The fifth day, he made the birds which fly in the air, and the fish which swim in the waters. The sixth day, he made all the animals, at last he made the man ; and he '' rested the seventh day. 2.-G0D MAICES THE BODY OF ADAM. God formed the body of the man from the clay of the earth ; he to him gave a soul living : he him made in his image, after his likeness, and he him named Adam. Then he sent a sleep upon Adam, and drew out one of his ribs during his sleep. From this rib he formed a woman whom he gave for (a) companion to Adam : and it is thus that he instituted the marriage. The name of the first woman was Eve. 3.— GOD PLACES THE MAX IN THE PAR.IDISE. God placed Adam and Eve in a garden very delightful, called Paradise earthly. A great river watered this garden : there were all sorts of trees pleasant to the sight, and some fruits grateful to the taste. Among these trees was the tree of the knowledge o( the good and oi the evil. God said to the man : Use q/"the fruits of all the trees of the Paradise, except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of th£ good and of the evil : for, if you eat that fruit, you shall die. 4.-DIS0BEDIENCE OF ADAM AND OF EVE. The serpent, which was the most cunning of all the animals, said to the woman : Why — do eat you not the fruit of this tree 1 The woman replied : God it has forbidden ; if we it touch, we shall die. No, said the serpent, you — shall die not ; but you shall be like to God, knowing the good and the evil. The woman, de- ceived by these words, plucked and ate the fruit : then she o/it plucked again and of ii offered to her husband, who of it ate also. 5.--\D.\:kI AND EVE THEMSELVES HIDE. Adam, flying the sight of God, himself hid. God him called and to him said Adam, why you do hide yourself?" He answered : " I have feared your sight,'' 16 182 .ZETETIC METHOD. " Why do fear you, said God, if it not is because you liave eaten the fruit forbid- den?" Adam replied : "The woman whom you to me have given for (a) com- panion to me has offered this fruit in order that I it might eat." The Lord said to the woman : " Why have you done this 1" She replied : " The serpent me has deceived." 6.-G0D PUNISHES THE SERPENT. The Lord said to the serpent : " Because thou hast deceived the woman, thou Shalt be detested and cursed among all the animals, thou shalt creep upon thy breast, and thou shalt eat of the earth. Some hatred shall be between thee and the woman : but one day she shall bruise thy head." God said also to the woman : 'I you will afflict with several evils, and you shall be in the power of the man." l.~AT)AM IS DRIVEN FROM THE PARADISE. Then God said to Adam: " Because you have imitated the conduct of your wife, the earth to you shall produce of the thorns and of the thistles. You shall draw from it your food with much of labour, until that you shall return unto the earth from whence you come." Then he drove Adam and Eve from the garden, and he placed an angel, who held a sword fiery, to guard the entrance oithe Paradise. 8.— CAIN AND ABEL. Adam had several children, among whom were Cain and Abel : this one was (a) shepherd, that one was (a) husbandman. These two brothers offered some gifts to the Lord ; Cain offered some fruits of the earth, and Abel some sheep choice. The gifts of Abel pleased to God ; but not the gifts of Cain : This one bore that with sorrow. The Lord said to Cain : " Why do hate you your brother? If you do well you will receive your reward ; but if you act wickedly, you shall suffer the punishment of your sins." 9.— CAIN KILLS ABEL. Cain — did obey not to the advice of God : dissembling his anger, he said to his brother : " Come, let us go into the fields." They went out together ; and when they arrived in a place retired, Cain * rushed upon Abel and him killed. God said lo Cain: "Where is your brother?" Cain answered : "I — know not; am I the keeper of my brother ?" 10.— PUNISHMENT OF CAIN. God said to Cain : " Cain, what have you done ? The blood of your brother, which you have shed, cries to me. The earth, which has drunken the blood of Abel, to you shell be hostile ; when you it shall have cultivated with a labour long and hard, it not shall produce any fruit ; you shall be (a) vagrant in the universe." Cain, hoping not any pardon, '^ fled. IL— THE BUILDING OF THE ARK. After that the number of the men had increased, all the vices prevailed. God offended determined of to destroy the race human by a flood. Nevertheless he PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 183 spared Noah and his children, because they cultivated Ihe virtue. Noah, according to the advice of God, constructed a great ark ; he it smeared with pitch, and in it placed one pair of all the birds and of all the animals. 12.— THE DELUGE.— B. c. 2318. After that Noah himself was (had) entered into the ark vfith his wife, his three sons and as many o/ daughters-in-law, the waters of the sea and of all the fountains burst forth. At (the) same time a great rain fell during forty days and as many of nights. The water covered all the earth, so that it exceeded by fifteen cubits the most high mouoiains. All was destroyed by the flood : but the ark, raised by the " waters, floated on their surface. 13.— END OF THE DELUGE. God sent a wind strong, and the waters diminished by degrees. At last, the eleventh month after the beginning of the flood, Noah opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven, which — did return not. Then he sent out a dove, which — having not found any place where she could * to rest, returned to Noah, who reached forth his hand and put again the bird into the ark. The dove, being sent out a second time, brought in her beak a branch of olive tree green, which was the sign of the end of the flood. 14.— NO.iH GOES OUT OF THE ARK. Noah went out from the ark after there having been shut up during a year whole, he and his family : he brought out with him the birds and the animals. Then he raised an altar, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord. God to him said : I not will destroy any more hereafter the race human ; I will place my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of the covenant which I make with you. When I shall have covered the sky with clouds, my bow shall appear ; I myself will remember my covenant, and it there shall be no more o/(a) flood to destroy the universe. 15.— CORRUPTION OF THE MANKIND. All the nations are descended from the sons of Noah. Shem inhabited the Asia, Ham the Africa, Japhet the Europe. The punishment of the flood — did hinder not the men from the vices ; for soon they became more wicked than before. They forgot God their creator : they worshipped the sun and the moon ; they — did re- verence not their parents; they told o/ iA6 falsehoods; they committed /defraud, the theftj the murder : in one word, they themselves polluted witii all sorts of crimes. 16— CALL OF ABRAHAM.— B.C. 1921. Nevertheless several holy men cultivated the true religion and the virtue ; among them was Abraham, of the race of Shem. God made (a) covenant with him in these words : "Depart from the house of your father : leave your country, and go into the country which I will give to your posterily. I will render your pos- terity very numerous ; you shall be the father of several nations, and by you all the nations of the world shall be enriched with goods. Behold the heaven, count the stars, if you can ; your posterity them shall equal in number." 184 ZETETIC METHOD. 17.— BIRTH OF ISAAC. Abraham was (liad) become old, and Sarah, his wife, was childless. Neverthe- less God to him promised a son: "You shall have," to him said God, "a son from Sarah your wife." Sarah laughed on hearing that ; she did give not faith immediately to the promises of God, and for that God her rebuked. But Abraham added faith to the promise of God ; and indeed, one year after, Abraham had a son, whom he named Isaac. 18.— ABRAHAM AND HIS SON. After Isaac had grown up, God, trying the faith of Abraham, to him said : " Abra- ham, take your son only whom you love, and offer him to me upon the mountain which I to you shall point out." Abraham — did hesitate not to obey to the order of God ; he placed the wood on Isaac, and he carried, himself, the fire and the sword. While timt they were walking together, Isaac said to his father: "My father, behold the wood and the fire ; but where is the victim?" Abraham to him answered : " God to it will provide, my son." 19.— THE SACRIFICE OF ABRAHAM. As soon as the father and the son were (had) arrived at the place directed, Abra- ham built an altar, arranged the wood, bound Isaac upon the pile, and then he seized his sword. Then an angel cried out from the heaven : " Abraham, restrain your hand ; — do touch not this child : now I know your faith, since you have not spared your son only ; therefore I you will favor : I will reward splendidly your faith." Abraham looked behind him, and saw a ram entangled by the horns in a bush : he it sacrificed to (in) the place of his son. 20.— ELIEZER, SERVANT OF ABRAHAM. Afterwards, Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to his relations who were in Meso- potamia, in order to bring thence a wife to his son Isaac. Eliezer took ten camels of his master, and departed, bearing with him some magnificent presents, in order them to offer to the young maid destined to Isaac. When he was (had) arrived in Mesopotamia, he ^ stopped with his camels near of a well, where the women used of themselves to assemble, in order to draw some water. 21.— ELIEZER CONSULTS GOD. Eliezer prayed God in these words : " Lord, God of Abraham, grant that the young maid who to me shall give to drink may be the one whom you intend for Isaac." Immediately Rebecca, young maid of a rare beauty, came forth, bear- ing a pitcher on her shoulder; she went down to the well, and filled the pitcher. Then Eliezer to her said: " Give me some water." "Drink, my lord," to him said Rebecca, and at the same time she let down her pitcher. When he had drunk, Rebecca offered also some water to his camels. By this sign, Eliezer knew that which he desired to know. 22.-REBECCA AND HER FAMILY. Eliezer produced some ear-rings and some bracelets of gold, and them gave to Rebecca : |hen he to her asked of whom she was daughter, and whether in the PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 185 house of her father it there was a place to lodge. Rebecca to him answered : " I am the daughter of Bathael: my grandfather is the brother of Abraham ; it there is a lodging commodious in the house of my father; we have also much of hay and of straw for the use of the camels " Eliezer, hearing that, gave thanks to God, who to him had given a prosperous journey. \ 23.— THE HOUSE OF BATHUEL. Rebecca * hastened to go to the house of her fathei', and related to her mother what to her was (had) happened. Laban, brother of Rebecca, after the relation of his sister, went towards Eliezer, and to him said : " Come, my lord, why do stand you without 1 I have prepared a lodging for you, and a place for your camels." Then he him conducted to the house of Bathuol, and he to him presented a food prepared by Rebecca. 24.— THE CONSENT. Then Eliezer explained to the parents of Rebecca the motive of the journey which he had undertaken ; he them asked of to consent to his demand. They replied: "It is the will of God; we not can oppose to the will of God. Here ia Rebecca; she will set out with you in order to marry Isaac." Then Eliezer drew forth some vessels of gold and of silver, and some dresses rich, which he gave to Rebecca ; he offered also some presents to her mother and to her bro- ther, and they themselves placed at table. 25.-DEPARTURE OF REBECCA. The day next, Eliezer, * rising (of) very early, said to the parents of Rebecca: "My master me awaits; dismiss me, so that I may return to him." They re- plied : " Let us call the young maid, and let us ask to her her wissh." Rebecca being (having) come, they to her asked whether she would depart with Eliezer. "I it will," said she. They sent away, therefore, Rebecca and her nurse, in to them wishing every sort of prosperity. 26.— MARRIAGE OF ISAAC. Isaac * was walking by chance in the field ; he saw coming Eliezer. At the same time Rebecca, seeing a man who * was walking, leaped from her camel and said to Eliezer: "Who is that man 7" Eliezer answered: "He is my master." Immediately she herself covered with her veil. Eliezer related to Isaac all that which he had done. Isaac introduced Rebecca into the tent of his mother, and the sorrow which he experienced from the death of his mother was soothed. 27.— ESAU SELLS HIS RIGHT. Rebecca bore at one birth two sons : Esau and Jacob. Esau, who was born the first, was covered with hair ; Jacob, on the contrary, had the skin smooth. Esau was a hunter courageous. Jacob had the manners peaceful and simple. (On) a certain day, Jacob had prepared a dish of lentils; Esau, wearied from the way, came, and said to his brother: " Give me this dish, for I return from the fields, 16* 186 ZETETIC METHOD. and I am worn out with weariness." Jacob to him said : " I to you it will give, if you will tome yield your right of (the) first-born." "I it will do willingly," said. Esau. " Swear it to me, then," answered Jacob. Esau swore, and sold his right. 28— ISAAC AND ESAU. Isaac, who loved the chase, preferred Esau to his other son ; but Jacob was more dear to Rebecca. Isaac, in his old age, was (had) become blind. One day, he called Esau, and to him said : "Take your quiver, your bow and your arrows; bring and prepare a dish from your chase, in order that I of it may eat, and that I you may bless, before that I die." Esau departed, therefore, for the hunt. 29.— COUNSEL OF REBECCA. Rebecca had heard Isaac ; she called Jacob, and to him said : " Bring to me two kids : I will prepare the dish which your father likes much ; you to him will serve that dish, and he you will bless." Jacob replied : "I — dare not to do that, my mother ; Esau is covered with hair, and I have myself the skin smooth ; my father me will feel, and his hatred will fall upon me, instead of his good will." 30.— REBECCA PREPARES THE FOOD. Rebecca persisted : " — Do fear not, my son," said she, "if any thing o/ evil happens, I it will take entirely upon myself; but you, you — must not hesitate to do what I to yoH command." Jacob went out and he brought soon to his mother the two kids ; she prepared the dish which she knew to be grateful to the old man. Then she clothed Jacob in the dress of his brother; she adapted the skin of a kid to his hands and to his neck. Then she to him said : " Go to your father, and present to him this food which he loves much." 31.— ISAAC BLESSES JACOB. Jacob brought to his father the food which his mother had prepared. Isaac to him said : " Who are you 1" Jacob replied : " I am Esau, your son eldest ; I have done what you to me have ordered, my father ; arise yourself and eat some of my venison." " How," said Isaac, " have you been able to find it so soon 7" " I it have found, my father, because God it has so willed." Isaac replied : " Are you Esau, my son eldest 7 Approach, that I you may touch." He approached of his father, who said : " It is in the truth the voice of Jacob ; but these hands are the bands of Esau." Isaac embraced Jacob, and afterwards him preferred to his brother, and to him granted all the goods due to a first-born. 32.— RETURN OF ESAU. A few hours after, Esau returned from the hunt; he offered to his father the dish which he had prepared. Isaac astonished to him said : "Who is then he •who to me has brought the first dish, and whom I have blessed as my first-bom V Esau, hearing these words, uttered a great cry, and filled the house with com- llaints. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 187 33.— DEPARTURE OF JACOB. EsaUi inflamed with anger, threatened Jacob witli the death. Wherefore Re- becca, fearing for her son beloved, said to Jacob : " Fly, my son, go to Laban, your uncle, and remain with him until that the anger of your brother be cooled." Jacob being dismissed by his father and by his mother, departed into the Mesopo- tamia. In pursuing this journey, he arrived at a place where, wearied from the travel, he spent the night. He put a stone under his head and * slept. 34.— VISION OF JACOB. Jacob saw during his sleep a ladder, which leaning on the earth, reached to heaven, and the angels who ascended and descended. He heard the Lord, who to him said : " I am the God of your father, I to you will give, and I will give to your posterity, the land on which you are lying : — do fear not ; I you will fa- vour ; I will be your protector wherever you shall go : I you will restore to your country, and by you all the nations of the earth shall be enriched with goods." Jacob "^ awakened and worshipped the Lord. 35.— ARRIVAL OF JACOB. Jacob, having continued his journey, arrived in Mesopotamia : he saw three flocks of cattle lying near of a well. The mouth of this well was closed by a stone very large. Jacob * approached of this place and said to the shepherds : •' Brothers, from whence are you 7" They rephed : "From the city of Haran.'' He them questioned a second time : " Do know you Laban 7" They said : " We him know." " Is he in good health?" "Yes," answered the shepherds: "and here is Rachel his daughter, who comes with the flock of her father." 36.— RECEPTION OF JACOB. While that Jacob * was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came with the flock of her father. Jacob, seeing his cousin, removed the stone from the mouth of the well. "I am," to her said he, "the son of Rebecca:" and he kissed the young maid. Rachel * hastened of to introduce Jacob to her father, who recog. nized the son of his sister, and to him gave Rachel in marriage. 37.-RETURN OF JACOB. Jacob remained (a) long time with Laban. During that time he increased wonderfully his own wealth and became rich. (A) long time afterwards, God him having admonished, he returned into his country. He feared the anger of his brother: in order to appease his resentment, he to him sent several messengers in order to him to oflfer some presents. Esau, being soothed by these gifts, ran tomeet Jacob who was approaching, leaped upon his neck, kissed his brother in weeping, and not t^ him caused any evil. 38— INFANCY OF JOSEPH. Jacob had twelve sons, among whom was Joseph : his father, who him loved more than his other children, to him had given a coat woven with threads of varie- 188 ZETETIC METHOB. gated colors. For that reason Joseph was hated by his brothers, especially after that he to them had related two dreams which foretold his greatness future. They him hated so much, that they not could to him speak friendly. 39.— DREAMS OF JOSEPH. One night Joseph had two dreams very strange, and he them related to his father and to his brothers. " We were busy, to them said he, to bind together some sheaves in a field: my sheaf* arose and stood upright : but your sheaves, standing round of the mine, it worshipped. Afterwards I saw, during my sleep, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars, which me worshipped." His brother to him answered : " What signify these dreams % Will be you our king 1 Shall be we subject to your power 7" Since that time, the hatred of the brothers of Joseph * increased every day against him. 40.— RESOLUTION OF THE BROTHERS OF JOSEPH. One day, while that the brothers of Joseph were watching their flocks, Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers in order to know what they were doing. The brothers of Joseph, him seeing, formed the project of him to kill. The dreamer comes, said they, let us kill him, and let us cast him into a well; we will say to our father, "A beast wild has devoured Joseph." When Joseph saw his brothers he ran in order to be able them to kiss sooner ; but his brothers him seized and * prepared to him kill. 41.— REUBEN TRIES TO SAVE JOSEPH. Reuben, who was the eldest, hindered his brothers from a so great crime. " — Do kill not that child, said he, for he is our brother; cast him rather into Vais pit." His intention was of to free Joseph from their hands, and him draw from the pit, and of him to restore to his father. In reality, these words them led to a resolution more mild. 42,— JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BROTHERS. As soon as Joseph was (had) arrived near of his brothers, they from him took the coat in which he was clothed, and him cast into the pit. Then they * sat down in order to take their food ; but soon they saw some merchants who were going to Egypt with their camels bearing various spices. It of them came in the mind of to sell Joseph to these merchants. The merchants bought Joseph (for) twenty pieces of silver, and led the son of Jacob into Egypt. 43.— THE ROBE OF JOSEPH. Then the brothers of Joseph dipped his robe in the blood of a kid which they had killed, and they it sent to their father with these words : " We have found this coat : see if it is the robe of your son beloved." The father it having recog- nized exclaimed : " It is the coat of my son ! a beast wild has devoured Joseph !" Then he rent his garments and himself clothed with a dress of mourning. All his children themselves assembled in order to soothe the grief of their father ; but PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 189 Jacob — would not to receive any consolation, and said : I will descend, loaded with sorrow, with my son into the tomb. 44.-POTIPHAR PURCHASES JOSEPH. Potiphar, (an) Egyptian, bought Joseph from these merchants. But God favored Potiphar for the sake of Joseph : every thing to him succeeded. Joseph was treated with kindness by his master, who him put at the head of all his household. Therefore Joseph administered the estate of Potiphar : every thing was done ac- cording to his will, and Potiphar not did take care of any business. 45.— JOSEPH IS CAST INTO PRISON. Joseph was of a face beautiful and conspicuous :, the wife of Potiphar him en- ticed to crime ; but he —would not consent to the desires of that wicked woman. One day she him seized by the skirt of his cloak ; but Joseph left his cloak in her hands and * fled. That woman enraged, called her servants, and accused Joseph before her husband, who, too credulous, cast Joseph into prison. 46.-DREAMS OF TWO OFFICERS. In the prison where was Joseph, were also two ofl5cers of the king Pharaoh ; the one was the chief of the butlers, and the other was the chief of the bakers. They had, by the will of God, a dream on the same night. Joseph finding the"^ two officers very sad, to them asked the cause of their sacfness. They replied : •' We have dreamed the night last, and we — know nobody who can to us inter- pret our dream." " Relate to me your dreams," said Joseph, " and I to you them will interpret." 47.-INTERPRETATION OF THE FIRST DREAM. Then the first related thus his dream to Joseph : " I have seen during toy sleep a vine which had three branches: it produced by degrees some buds ; then the flowers appeared, and finally the grapes ripened. Tlien I pressed out the grapes in the cup of Pharaoh, and I it to him offered." " Take courage," said Joseph ; "in three days Pharaoh you shall restore to your former rank. I to you would be indebted, if you would then remember to me." 48.— INTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND DREAM. The other related likewise his dream to Joseph : " I was carrying on my head tliree baskets in which was the food which the bakers prepare usually. Soon I saw some birds which flew at the about, and were eating this food." Joseph to him answered : " This is the interpretation of that dream : the three baskets are three days, after which Pharaoh you shall strike with an axe and you shall fasten to a pole, where the birds "^ shall feed on your flesh." 49.— ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE TWO DREAMS. The third day, which was the anniversary of the birth of Pharaoh, came at last. The king ordered a great feast; he ^ remembered then his officers who were in 190 ZETETIC METHOD. prison. He restored the chief of the butlera in his office ; but he beheaded the other with an axe and hung his body on a pole. Thus the event verified the dream. Yet the chief of the butlers forgot Joseph. 50.— DREAM OF PHARAOH. Two years after, the king himself had a dream. He himself believed on the shores of the Nile, seven cows fat came out from this large river, 'and fed in a meadow. Then, seven cow* lean came out from 'the same large river, and de- voured the other cows. Pharaoh * awoke after this dream ; but soon he * again slept. He had then another dream. He dreamed that seven ears full grew upon one stem ; seven other ears thin grew under and consumed the ears full. 51.— THE CHIEF OF THE BUTLERS AND JOSEPH. When it was light, Pharaoh, (being) troubled, called together all the interpreters of the Egypt, and to them related his dream ; but no one of them — could it in- terpret. Then the chief of the butlers said to the king : "I confess my fault; when I was in prison with the chief of the bakers, we had all both a dream during the same night. A young Hebrew, who was in prison with us, to us in- terpreted our dreams with wisdom, for the event has proved his interpretation." 52.— JOSEPH EXPLAINS THE DREAM OF THE KING. Pliaraoh ordered to the chief of the butlers of to bring the young Hebrew. Jo- seph came, and the king to him related the two dreams. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh : " These two dreams signify one only and (the) same thing. The seven cows fat and the seven ears full are seven years of plenty which will. come snon ; but the seven cows lean and the seven ears thin are as many of years of famine, which will follow the years of plenty. O, king, place then at the head of all the Egypt a man wise, who can avert from the Egypt the famine which threatens your kingdom." 53.— JOSEPH BECOMES GOVERNOR OF EGYPT. The counsel pleased to Pharaoh, wherefore the king said to Joseph : " No one — is more worthy of this office than yourself, and, from this moment, I to you entrust the care of my kingdom." Then he drew from his hand a ring, and he it placed to the finger of Joseph ; he him clothed with a gown of Hnen, and to him put around of the neck a chain of gold. Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he received from the king the sovereign power. 54.-PRUDENCE OF JOSEPH. Joseph surveyed all the regions of the Egypt, and during the seven years of plenty he collected a very great supply of corn. The dearth of seven years came afterwards, and the famine spread over all the earth. Then the Egyp- tians, pressed by the hunger, themselves presented to the king, and to him asked for some provisions. Pharaoh them sent back to Joseph. The son of Ja- cob opened the store-houses and distributed or sold some corn to the inliabitanta of the Egypt. proghessiye French translator. 191 55.-THE SONS OF JACOB GO INTO EGYPT. The inhabitants of the other countries went into Egypt, in ortJer tliere to buy some provisions. Jacob, compelled by the same necessity, lliere sent his sons. The brothers of Joseph departed tlierefore ; but the father retained the young- est, call'd Benjamin. For he feared some mislbrtune in the journey. Benjamin ani Joseph were born from the same mother, and it was for that reason that Jacob loved Benjamin more than his other children. 56. -JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS. As soon as the ten brothers themselves found in presence of Joseph, Ihey them- selves prostrated humbly. Joseph them knew without being himself known by them. He — would not declare who he was ; but he to them said : " V\ ho are you, whence do come you, and with what design 1" They answered: "We come from the land of Canaan, in order to buy some corn." "It — is not so," replied Joseph; "you are (have) come hither with a hostile intention." "No," answered they, "we — meditate nothing of evil; we wish to buy some corn for our father and our young brother." 57. -JOSEPH DETAINS SIMEON. The absence of Benjamin grieved Joseph; wherefore he said to his brothers : "I will try whether you have told the truth. The one of you shall remain as (a) hostage here, until the arrival of your young brother, and the others shall depart with the corn." Then the brothers of Joseph began to say among themselves : "We have been cruel towards our brother; now we suffer the punishment of our crime." They thought that Joseph — understood not these words, because he to them spoke by (an) interpreter; but Joseph himself turned aside a little and wept. 5S. -DEPARTURE OF THE BROTHERS OF JOSEPH. By the orders of Joseph, an officer filled with corn the sacks of the sons of Ja- cob, and put in the mouth of these sacks the money which they had brought. Afterwards Joseph dismissed his brothers, except Simeon, whom he retained as (a) hostage. The brothers of Joseph departed, and soon they arrived at their father's, and they to him related their interview with the governor of all the Egypt. When they had opened their sacks, they were astonished of there to find their money. 59.— SORROW OF JACOB. Jacob, having heard that the governor of the Eygpt asked for Benjamin, "■ complained bitterly. "You wish me to deprive of all my children : Joseph is dead, Simeon is detained in Egypt, and you wish to take away Benjamin. All these evils fall upon me ; I — will send away not Benjamin ; for if any evil to him should happen in (the) way, I not could to him survive, and I should die overcome with grief." 192 ZETETIC METHOD. 60. -REFUSAL OF THE SONS OF JACOB. When the provisions which they had brought had been consumed, Jacob said to his sons : " Return into Egypt, in order to buy some provisions." They to him answered ; " We — can not go into Egypt without Benjamin, for the governor of that country to us has ordered of to bring our young brother into Egypt." " Why," said the father, " have you made mention of your young brother?" "The go- vernor," said they, " to us asked whether our father lived, whether we had an other brother. We replied to his questions; we not could foreknow that he to us would say; Bring hither your brother." 61. -JACOB CONSENTS AT LAST. Then Judah, the one of the sons of Jacob, said to his father : " Trust to me this child : I him take under my protection : I of him will take care ; I to you him will restore, and if I — keep not my word, the fault shall fall upon me. If you had consented to the departure of our brother, we would be already back here for the second time." At last Jacob consented to the departure of his son beloved, " Since it is necessary," said he, " Benjamin shall depart with you. Bear to the governor of the Egypt some presents and a sum considerable, for it was perhaps by mistake that your former money to you was restored." 62.— JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS. They announced to Joseph that the same men were (had) arrived with their young brother. Joseph oi'dered that they might be introduced, and gave order to his officers * to prepare a feast splendid. But the young Hebrews feared to be accused on account of the money which they had found in their sacks : wherefore they themselves excused. They said to the steward of Joseph : " At our return at the home, we found the price of the corn in our sacks : we not know by what chance that happened."^ The stewai'd to them said : "Have good courage, and — yourselves trouble not." Afterwards he to them led Simeon, who had been re- tained. 63.-AGITATION OF JOSEPH. Then Joseph entered into the room where were his brothers ; they to him rend- ered homage and to him offered some presents. Joseph them saluted amicably and to them asked if their father was yet living. They answered : " Our father lives still, and he is in good health." But Joseph, having cast the (his) eyes upon Benjamin, said : "This child is without doubt your young brother who was (had) remained at the home with your father?" Then Joseph said to Benjamin : " That God to you may be kind, my son." In pronouncing these words, he went out hastily, because his heart was moved. 64.— THE CUP OF SILVER. Joseph, having washed his face, returned, himself restrained, and ordered to his steward of to serve the dinner. Then Joseph distributed the food to each one of his brothers but the part of Benjamin was ftve times greater than that of the others. After the feast, Joseph said to his steward of to fill their sacks with corn, PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 193 0/ there to replace the money and o/to hide a cup of silver in the sack of Benja- min. The steward did with care what Joseph to him had commanded. 65.-JOSEPH AND HIS STEWARD. The brothers of Joseph were (had) departed, but they were not yet far from the city. Then Joseph called his steward and to him said : " Pursue these men, and when you them shall have overtaken, say to them : ' Why have you repaid the evil for the good 3 You have stolen the cup of silver of my master: you have acted contrary to the probity.' '' The steward executed the orders of his master; he flew immediately to the brothers of Joseph ; he them accused of robbery, and to them explained the disgrace of that action. 66.— THE SACK OF BENJAMIN. The brothers of Joseph replied to the steward : " We are very far to have (of having) committed a such crime, for, you it know yourself, we have brought back with good faith the money that we had found in our sacks. Each one of us is so certain of the innocence of his brothers, that we wish that you may punish with death whomsoever has stolen the cup." Immediately they take down their sacks and them open j the steward them having searched, found the cup in the sack of Benjamin. 67.— SORROWS OF THE SONS OF JACOB. Then the sons of Jacob, (being) oppressed by grief, returned into the city. Be- ing led before Joseph, they themselves cast at his feet. Joseph pretending of to be in a great passion exclaimed : " What deed have you done !" Judah replied : " I it confess, the thing is manifest ; we not can to give any excuse ; all, we will be your slaves." " Not at all," said Joseph, " he with whom the cup has been found shall be my slave, but his brothers shall be free." 68. -JUDAH AND BENJAMIN. Then Judah, * approaching of Joseph, to him said : " My lord, I you pray of io hear with kindness what I have to you say. Our father loves tenderly this child ; he — was willing not at first him to send with us ; I not could obtain that from him, until after that I to him had promised that he would be sheltered from all danger. If we return at the home without this child, our father, oppressed with grief, will sink under the weight of his distress. I you piay, 1 you entreat o/to permit to this child cf to go, I myself oflFer of to be your slave in his place, and of to suflTer the punishment which he deserves." 69.-JOSEPH HIMSELF MAKES KNOWN. While that Judah was speaking, Joseph was able scarcely himself to restrain ; he ordered wherefore lo the Egyptians who were present nf* to retire. Then he said in weeping: '-I am Joseph: my father does live he stilll" His brothers, who were seized with fear, not were able to him to answer. Joseph to them sal amicably: "Approach, lam Joseph your brother whom you have sold to 17 194 ZETETIC METHOD. merchants who were going into Egypt : — fear nothing ; it happened by the pro- vidence of God, to the end that I might provide for your safety." 70.— DESIRE OF JOSEPH. Having said these words, Joseph embraced his brother Benjamin and him sprin- kled with tears. He liissed also his other brothers in weeping with them. Then at last they to him spoke with confidence. Joseph to them said : " Return prompt- ly to my father ; announce to him that his son is living and thatiie has much of power near of Pharaoh : persuade him o/to pass into Egypt with all his family." 71.— PHARAOH SENDS SOME PRESENTS TO JACOB. The report of the arrival of the brothers of Joseph came to the ears of the king : • he to them gave some presents for their father, and to them expressed his desire o/him to see. He to them said also : " Bring here your father and all his family ; I to you will furnish all the things which to you shall be necessary, and all the riches of the Egypt shall be at your disposal." He sent also some chariots in order to bring down the old man, the children and the women. 72.— ASTONISHMENT AND JOY OF JACOB. The brothers of Joseph * hastened o/'to return to their father, and to him related that Joseph was living and that he was governor of all the Egypt. In hearing this news, Jacob, as if aroused from a profound sleep, was seized with astonishment. At first he — would not believe what his sons to him had said, but, when he had seen the chariots. and the presents sent by the king, he came again soon to himself and said : "It is enough, Joseph my son lives still, I will go and I him will see be- fore that I may die." 73.— DEPARTURE OF JACOB. .Jacob, being (having) departed with all his iamily, arrived in Egypf, and he sent Judah to Joseph in order to him announce his arrival. Immediately Joseph set out in order to meet his father : as soon as he him saw, he himself tlirew on his neck and embraced in weeping the old man who was weeping also. Then Jacob said : " I have enough lived, since I have seen your face, and since the promises of the God of our fathers are fulfilled." 74.— JOSEPH AND PHARAOH. Joseph went to the palace of Pharaoh and announced to the king the arrival of his father; afterwards he to him presented five of his brothers. The king to them asked what was their business. They answered that they were shepherds. Then the king said to Joseph : " The Egypt is under your power : have care that your father and your brothers dwell in the best land. If among your brothers some ones are very active and very industrious, confide to them the care of my flocks." 75.— JOSEPH PRESENTS HIS FATHER TO PHARAOH. Joseph presented also his father to Pharaoh : Jacob him having saluted, the king PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 195 to him asked what age he had. Jacob answered to the king : " I have lived (an) hundred (and) thirty years, but I — have nor enjoyed of an old age as happy as that of my ancestors." Then, after to have (having) prayed for the king, he went out. Joseph placed his father and his brothers in the best part of the Egypt and Zo them supplied all things in abundance. 76.— DESIRE OF JACOB. Jacob Hved seventeen years after his arrival in Egypt. When he perceived that the death him threatened he called Joseph, and to him said: "If you me lovei promise to me — to do what I am going you to ask." Joseph it promised. Jacob continued: "I desire that my body — may be not buried in Egypt, but that i^ may be carried out from this country, for I desire that it may be placed in the tomb of my ancestors." Joseph answered : '"O my father ! I will do what you to me order." 77.— JOSEPH PRESENTS HIS SONS TO HIS FATHER. Joseph led to his father his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim ; he placed Manas- seh, who was the elder, to the right (hand) of the old man, and he placed Ephraim, who was the youngest, to the left (hand) of Jacob. But Jacob, crossing his hands, put his hand right on Ephraim, and his hand left on Manasseh, and blessed the two children. Joseph, having ob.^erved that, attempted of lo change the hands of his father. But his father refused, and said to Joseph : " I know, my son, I know that tliis one is the elder, and that one tite youngest : I have done it with inten- tion." Tbus Jacob preferred Ephraim lo Manasseh. = 7S.-DEATH OF JACOB. As soon as Joseph saw his father dead, he himself threw upon him in weeping and him kissed long time. Then he commanded to the physicians of to embalm the body, and with his brothers and several Egyptians, he carried the body of his father into the land of Canaan. There, they buried the body in the tomb where were laying Abraham and Isaac, and then they returned into Egypt. 79.— JOSEPH COMFORTS HIS BROTHERS. After the death of their father, the brothers of Joseph feared that he would him- self revenge of the injury which he had received ; they to him sent therefore a messenger, in order him to supplicate, in the name of their father, of to them to pardon that offence. Joseph to them answered : "You — have nothing to fear; it is true that you have acted against me with a bad intention ; but God has changed that into good ; so — fear nothing, I you will feed, yourselves eind your families.' He to them spoke long time with kindness, and them comforted. SO.— THE DEATH OF JOSEPH. Joseph hved (an) hundred (and) ten years, and when he perceived that he was going to die, he assembled his brothers. " I perceive that I shall die soon," to Ihera said he : " God — you will desert not, but he will be your protector, he you 196 ZETETIC METHOD. will lead into the land which has been promised to our fathers ; I you pray, I you entreat there to carry my bones." Then he expired peacefully ; his body was em- balmed with (a) great deal of care, and afterwards the brothers of Joseph placed the body of their benefactor in a cofBn, 81 —THE ISRAELITES ARE PERSECUTED. After the death of Joseph, the Israelites (it was the name that God to them had given,) increased in number in a manner wonderful, and their number, increasing from day to day, inspired (a) great deal of fear to the Egyptians. A new king pos- sessed the throne ; he — had not seen Joseph, and — * did remember not 0/ his services. This king, therefore, in order to oppress the Hebrews or Israehtes, them wore out at first by labors hard ; then he dared to order of to throw into the river the children newly born. 82.-BIRTH OF MOSES.-b. c. 1571. A woman Israelite bore a son, and, seeing that he was very handsome, she wish- ed him to preserve. Wherefore she him concealed during three months; but when she not could him ?o hide any longer, she took a basket of rush, which she smeared with pitch and with tar. Then she placed the little infant in the basket, and him exposed among the reeds which were on the shores of the river. She had with her for (a) companion one of the sisters of th« infant; she to her ordered of herself to keep at a certain distance, in order to see what the little infant wouM become. 83— THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH PRESERVES THE INFANT. Soon after, the daughter of Pharaoh came to the river in order to take a bath. She perceived the basket which was among the reeds, and tliere sent one of her female servants. Having opened the basket, she saw the little infant, who was crying, and of him had pily : " This is," said she, " one of the infants of the He- brews." Then the sister of the boy * approaching, to her said : " Will (have) you a nurse Israelite?" and she called her mother. The daughter of Pharaoh to her gave the boy. Thus the boy was nursed by his own mother; and when he had (was) grown she him restored to the daughter of Pharaoh, who him adopted and him named Moses, that is to say, saved from the waters. 84.— THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. Moses, now old, went, by the order of God, to meet Pharaoh, and to him com- manded, to (ill) tlie name of God, of to let to depart the Hebrews The king re- fused q/" to obey ?o the orders of God. Moses, in order to conquer the obstinacy of Pharaoh, performed many prodigies wonderful, which they call the plagues of Egypt. Nevertheless, Pharaoh persisted in his blindness ; then God slew the son first-born of the king, and all the firstborn of the Egyptians. At last, conquered by the. fear, the king obeyed, and gave to the Hebrews the permission of to depart. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 197 85— THE HEBREWS GO OUT OF EGYPT. The Hebrews departed from Egypt to the number of six hundred thousand men, besides the children and the women. Moses took with him the bones of Jo- seph, for the brothers of Joseph had promised to tl^eir protector of to carry his bones into the land promised. During the day, a column of cloud, and during the night, a column of fire, went before the Israelites, in order them to guide. (A) few days after their departure from Egypt, the Hebrews arrived to the shores of the Sea Red, and there encamped. 85.— MOSES DIVIDES THE WATERS OF THE SEA. Soon the king was sorry of to have permitted the departure of so many of thou- sands of men ; he collected, therefore, an army, and pursued the Hebrews. The Hebrews, themselves seeing from one side enclosed by the sea, and from the other side pressed on by Pharaoh with all his troops, were seized with a great fear. Then God said to Moses : '• Stretch forth your hand right over the sea, and divide the waters, to the end that they may open a path dry to the Hebrews." 87.— THE HEBREWS PASS THE SEA. Moses did what God to him had commanded : when he held his hand extended over the sea, the waters * divided ; and a wind strong dried up the channel of the sea. Then the Hebrews entered into the sea, which was dried up ; for the water itself held as a wall at their right hand and at their left hand. The king of Egypt, pursuing the Hebrews, — did hesitate not to enter into the sea with all his army. 88.— DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMY EGYPTIAN. While the Egyptians * were proceeding into the midst of the sea, the Lord threw down their chai'iots and their horsemen. The Egyptians, struck with tei'ror, began to fly ; but God said to Moses : '• Stretch forth again your hand right over the sea, in order that the waters come back to their place." Moses obeyed ; and immediately the waterS; taking again their course, overwhelmed the Egyptians with their chariots and their horsemen ; all the army of Pharaoh was destroyed in the midst of the waves. It is thus that God freed the Hebrews from the unjust slavery of the Egyptians. 89.— GOD NOURISHES HIS PEOPLE. The Hebrews, after having crossed the Sea Red, wandered for a long time in a great desert. 'Flie bread to them was wanting ; but God himself them fed : during forty years, a food which they called manna fell from the heaven. This food was excellent; it had the taste of meal mingled with some honey. Sometimes also, the water to them was wanting ; but, by the order of God, Moses struck a rock with his rod, and immediately some springs of water sweet burst forth. 90.-GOD PUBLISHES HIS LAW.— B. c. 1491. The third month after that the Hebrews had left the Egypt, they arrived to the mount Sinai. There, God to them gave his law with a solemnity frightful. It be- 17* 198 ZETETIC METHOD. gan to thunder, the lightnings shone ; a cloud thick covered the mountain, and the sound of the trumpet resounded with a great noise. The people, trembling with fear and with respect, * stood up at the foot of the mount which was smoking. But God, on the mountain, spoke from the midst of the cloud,, amidst the lightning and the thunders. 91. -PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF THE LAW. Here are the words which God uttered : " I am the Lord, who you has led from the slavery of the Egyptians. You — shall have not any gods strange ; for I am the only true God. You — shall use not the name of your Gtod rashly and without cause. You — shall do no labour (on) the day of the Sabbath. Honour your father and your mother. You — shall kill not. You — shall commit not any adultery. You — shall steal not. You — shall bear not any false testimony against your neighbor. You — shall covet not the wealth of another.", ' 92.-CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE, Moses, by the advice of God, ordered to the Hebrews of to construct the taber- nacle with some skins and some stuffs very precious ; he ordered also that the ark .of the covenant, in which he put the tablets of the law divine, should be clothed with gold pure. When he was already near of the land which God had promised to his people, this man, truly admirable by his wisdom and his other virtues, died. The people him mourned during thirty days. To Moses succeed- ed Joshua, whom Moses had himself pointed out before his death..] 93.— THE HEBREWS PASS THE JORDAN.— B. c. 1451. In order to introduce the Hebrews into the land promised, it was necessary of lo cross the Jordan, but they — had not a quantity sufficient of ships, and the river, flowing then with fullj channel, — offered not a place fordable. God came to their help : Joshua ordered of to carry the ark of covenant before the people, who received the order of it to follow. At the approach of the ark, the waters which were running from above * stood as a wall, and those which were below * flowed Gff and left the channel without water^ 94.— JOSHUA ERECTS A MONUMENT. The Hebrews walked through the channel dry of the river, until that they had reached the bank opposite ; then the waters retunied to their former place. Then Joshua took twelve stones from the midst of the river, and them raised on the bank, that they might be a monument everlasting of that miracle. He said to the Hebrews : " If one day your children to you ask what signifies this mass of stones, you to them shall reply : We have passed the river of the Jordan with foot dry, and it is for thsit reason that we have placed these stones, in order that our children may learn how is great the power of God." 95.— THE WALLS OF JERICHO FALL. It there had (was) in these places a city named Jericho, defended by seme walla very strong and by some towers ; it — could neither to be taken by assault, nor ta- PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 199 be besieged easily. Joshua, * trusting to the aid of God, attacked the city, not by the arms nor by the strength. He ordered o/to carry the ark around of the walls, he ordered also to the priests of to walk before it in sounding of the trumpet. When the ark had been borne seven times around of the city, the walls and the towers fell dawn inunediately, and the city was taken and plundered. 96.— JOSHUA STOPS THE SUN. The kings of Canaan, having united their forces, * proceeded against the He- brews; but God said to Joshua: " — them do fear not; the victory shall be to you." Therefore Joshua rushed with impetuosity upon these kings, who, being seized with a fear sudden, took the flight. Then a hail of stones fell upon the enemies of the Hebrews and of them killed a great number. But as the day in- chned towards the evening, and the conflict — being not yet terminated, Joshua ordered to the sun of '^ to stand : and, in fact, the sun * stood and prolonged the day until that the army of the enemies had been entirely destroyed. 97.— DEATH OF JOSHUA.— b. c. 1426^, Joshua, after having conquered all the people of the Palestine, established the Hebrews in the land promised ; he divided among each tribe the lands and the cities conquered, and he died. After the death of Joshua, the supreme power was transferred to some judges, among whom were Gideon, Samson and Samuek Af- terwards, the fortune of the Hebrews was different according to their different manners ; often they sinned against God ; then being deprived of the help divine, they were conquered by their enemies : but, as often as, returning to God, they en- treated his aid, God, being appeased, them freed. 98.— AN ANGEL APPEARS TO GIDEON. The Hebrews, being troubled by the Midianites. sought the aid of God, who heard their prayers. An angel himself presented to Gideon : "Man very courageous," to him said he, " the Lord is with you." Gideon answered : " If God is with us, why are we oppressed with a cruel slavery 7" The angel to him answered : "Ad- vance with courage, and you shall free your people from, the slavery of the Midian- ites." Gideon — was willing not at first to undertake a so great task ^ but beiag strengtliened by a double miracle, he — refused not. 99.— GIDEON RAISES AN ARMY. Gideon, having raised an army, departed with thirty-two thousand men, and placed his camp near of that of the enemies. Moreover, it there had (was) a mul- titude infinite of soldiers in the army of the Midianites ; for the king of the Amale- kites had joined his troops to the theirs. Nevertheless God said to Gideon : " You — have not want of so many o/ thousands of men : keep only three hundred com- batants, and send away the others, for fear that they — may attribute the victory to their courage, and not to the power divine." 200 ZETETIC METHOD. 100.— GIDEON GAINS THE VICTORY. Gideon divided the tliree hundred men into three companies, ami to them gave some trumpets and some pitchers in which were some lamps lighted. In the mid- dle of the night, they entered into the camp of the enemies, and began to sound of the trumpet and to break the pitchers that were in their hands. The IMidianites, hearing the noise of the trumpets and seeing the lamps, were frightened and took the flight. Finally they turned their swords the ones against the others, and them- selves butchered mutually. Gideon pursued the kings of the enemies, and them having seized, he them sentenced to death. 101.— BIRTH OF SAMSON. When the Hebrews were in the power of the Philistines, who them persecuted, Samson was born for to be the avenger of the children of Israel. His mother had been (for a) long time childless; but an angel of the Lord to her appeared, and to her foretold that she should have a sou who should restore one day his country- men to the liberty. Having borne this child, she to him gave the name of Samson. The child grew ; his mother — to him did cut not the hair ; he — drank neither wine nor beer ; he was of an strength incredible : he slew with his own hand an enormous lion. , , 102— SAMSON MOLESTS THE PHILISTINES. One day Samson took three hundred foxes, he bound to their tails some torches burning, and them drove into the fields of the Philistines. Then by chance the harvest was ripe, so the conflagration itself spread easily. All the vines and the olive-trees were burnt ; and he not did cease of to trouble this nation hostile with various losses. Sam.son, having been delivered to the Philistines, broke the bonds with which he had been tied, and having seized the jaw-bone of an ass, he over- threw a great number of his enemies with this weapon which the chance to him had presented. 103.— SAMSON BEARS OFF THE GATES OF A CITY. One day Samson entered into a city of the Philistines where he wished to pass the night. The Philistines, seizing the occasion, locked the gates of the city, so that nobody — could go out. During whole the night, they waited, in order to kill Samson when he would go out from the city. But Samson * arose in the middle of the night, and went to the gate principal of the city ; it having found closed, he it bore off on his shoulders and it carried upon the top of the mountain neighboring. 104.— SAMSON IS BETRAYED. At length the Philistines, who not were able to seize Samson, bribed his wife with a great sum of money, so that she wotild betray her husband. This woman persuaded to her husband of to her to tell the cause of a so great strength, and when she knew that the cause of his strength was placed in his hair, she to him shaved the head during his sleep, and him delivered thus to the Philistines. His enemies, to him having put out the eyes, him bound and him put in prison, and for (a) long time they him showed as a amusement public. But, at the end of PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 201 some time, his hairs cut off began to grow, and with his hairs, his courage began to return. Now Samson, feeling his strength recovered, waited for the time of a just revenge. 105.— DEATH OF SAMSON. It was a new custom of the Philistines, when they were celebrating their days of feast, of to lead out Samson. One day, the Philistines were giving a feast public, and they wished to see Samson. The house, where the principal dignitaries of the Philistines were assembled, was supported by two columns of a size wonderful. They led out Samson and they him placed between these columns. Then, pro- fiting by this opportunity, he shook the columns', and all these men, and Samson liimself, were overwhelmed under the ruins of the house. 106.— BIRTH OF SAMUEL. \Vhen Eli was great priest, Samuel was born: his mother him led to the great priest and him offered to the Lord. The infant, endued with an excellent disposi" tion, grew, and was dear to God and to the men : his mother to him brought at cer- tain times a little coat which she herself had made. But Eli had some children af morals abandoned, and they led away the people from to honor God, and never their father — them did rebuke enough severely. Wherefore God was angry against the children aad against the father. 107.-GOD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL. One night, when Eli was lying In his bed, the Lord called Samuel, who ^ supposing that the great priest him was calling, ran and said to Eli : " I come near of you, for you me have called." But Eli to him said : " I — you have not called, my son ; return into your bed." And that happened a second and a third time. At length Samuel, being warned by the great priest, answered to God, who him was calling: " Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." Then God said to Samuel : "I will alflict the family of EU with great evils ; because he has been too indulgent to- wards his children." 108.- RESIGNATION OF ELI. Afterwards a sleep very sound took possession of Samuel, who slept until to the morning. As soon as the day had appeared, Samuel * arose from his bed, and opened the door of the tent of Eli ; but he feared ofio make to know to the great priest the words of God. Eli said to Samuel : " I you pray, I you entreat of to me to relate the words of God ; and above all — from m£ hide nothing." Samuel obeyed to the orders of the great priest and to him related all the words of the Lord. Eli said: "He is the Lord; let him do what to him will please." 109.— x\nSFORTUNES OF ELI AND OF HIS CHILDREN. Some time after, the war arose between the Philistines and the Hebrews. The children of Israel bear the ark of covenant to the combat, and the sons of the great priest * advance with, it ; but God being angry against tliem, the ark to them was 202 ZETETIC METHOD. more fatal than useful. The Hebrews were conquered, the sons of the great priest were slain, and the ark itself was taken. Eli, having received the news of a so great defeat, fell from his seat, had the (his) head broken and died immediately. 110.— SAUL IS ELECTED KING.— B. c. 1095. Samuel was the last judge of the Hebrews, and he administered their affairs in a peace very great and In a tranquility continual. But when Samuel was (had) be- come old, his children * departed from the example of their father, and the people, fond of f^e novelty, asked a king to (of) Samuel. At first Samuel attempted of to turn the Hebrews from this design ; but they persisted in their purpose. Where- fore Samuel, on the advice of God, consented to their demand, and consecrated Saul king. Saul was tall and his face was very fine ;■ so the dignity of his body corresponded perfectly to the dignity royal. 111.— FIRST DISOBEDIENCE OF SAUL. The Philistines had made an inroad upon the territory of the Hebrews. Where- fore Saul ^ advanced against them, and placed his camp near of Gelgal, (a) city distinguished of this country. Samuel had ordered of him to wait for seven days, and of not engage the combat before he had offered himself a sacrifice to God. The seventh day, Samuel delayed to come; the people, weary of this delay, began to steal away, then Saul offered himself the sacrifice in the place of the great priest. The sacrifice was scarcely performed, Samuel came, and rebuked severely the king; he to him reproached his temerity /or to have dared to usurp an office which — did belong only to the priests. 112.-JONATHAN, SON OF SAUL. The Hebrews were surrounded by the Philistines, Jonathan, son of Saul, framed a design bold, and it performed. Being attended by his armour-bearer, he entered into the camp of the enemies, and after having killed about twenty Phihstines, he struck with terror all the army hostile. Then the Philistines, being troubled, began to not any more keep their ranks, to not any more follow the orders of their chiefs, but to take the flight. As soon as Saul had perceived that, he himself put at the head of his soldiers, pursued the enemies, and obtained a victory distin- guished. 113.-SAUL WISHES TO PUNISH HIS SON. Saul, in pursuing the Philistines, had ordered that no one — should take some food only after the defeat complete of the enemies, and threatened with death him who should act against his order. Jonathan was then absent, and consequent- ly — had not heard the order of the king. It happened that the army passed through a wood where it there had (was) much o/ honey wild. Jonathan, ignorant of the order of his father, put out the rod which he held in the hand, and it having dipped in the honey, he it approached of (to) his mouth. When the king had learned it, he wished that his son was punished with death ; but the people — suffered not that the young prince might be led to the punishment. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 203 114— SAUL DISOBEYS A SECOND TIME. After Ihat, Saul, by the order of God, declared the war to the Amalekites. At first he had some success. The enemies were cut to pieces, and their king was made prisoner. But afterwards Saul offended God very grievously. God had forbidden of anything to keep from the spoils of the enemies ; but Saul, after the defeat of the Amalekites, preserved a part of the plunder. Wherefore God him rejected, and to his place, David was chosen and anointed by Samuel. 115.— DAVID CALMS SAUL. Sau having despised the orders of God, the spirit evil took possession of his body, and often the king entered into madness. Then his courtiers to him advised of to look for some one who knew (how) to play upon the harp, for to soothe his mind afflicted. They brought David, skilful in this art, and who, on account of this talent, had been received among the officers of the king. Therefore, as soon as the spirit evil took possession of Saul, David played upon the harp, and the madness of the king ceased. 116.-GOLIAH DEFIES THE HEBREWS. Afterwards the Philistines declared the war to the Hebrews. When the two ar- mies were in sight, a Philistine named Goliah, man of a size wonderful, ' ad- vanced before the ranks, and challenged often one of the Hebrews to a combat single. He was clothed in a breast-plate in form of shells ; he had to the legs some boots of brass; a helmet of brass covered his head, and a shield of brass was tied to his shoulders. Saul promised a great reward, and even his daughter in mar- riage, to him who could bring the spoils of the Philistine who challenged the He- brews. But no one — dared * to advance against him ; and the giant reproached to the Hebrews their cowardice with derision and contempt. 117.-DAVID HIMSELF PRESENTS AGAINST GOLIAH. David, moved by the disgrace done to his people, himself offered for to fight. He was led to Saul, who said to David : "You are too young for to fight against this man very strong." David answered : " — Do fear not, O king ! When I was watching the sheep of my father, a lion attacked my flock and seized a sheep ; I him pursued, I him killed, and I snatched the sheep from his jaws. I have also killed a bear. God, who me has defended against the lion and the bear, me will defend likewise against the giant." Then Saul to him said : " Go with this confidence, and God you will assist." 118— DAVID TAKES ONLY A SLING. Raul himself wished to fit his own arms to the young man : he to him put the helmet on the head, he covered his breast with a cuirass, and to him girt the sword to the side. But David was embarrassed by these arms, to which he — was not accustomed, and he could scarcely to walk. Wherefore he laid aside this burden inconvenient ; but he took his crook of shepherd, he took a sling and pui five stones in his little bag. Thus armed, he * advanced against the giant. 204 2ETETIC METHOD. 119.— DAVID KILLS GOLIAH. Prom the side opposite * approached Goliah, who, having seen the young man : " Me do take you for a dog," to him said he, "you who me attack with a stick "?'» David to him answered : " You come to me with a sword, a spear and a shield, but I come in the name of the Lord of the armies whom you have dared to insult." Then, having sent a stone with his sling, he struck the Philistine in the forehead and him overthrew; and then David, running to this giant, to him took of his sword, with which he to him cut off the head. Struck by this event, the Philistines took the flight and yielded the victory to the Hebrews. . 120.— JEALOUSY OF SAUL AGAINST DAVID. When David relumed, the Hebrews him led to the city, in him congratulating; the women themselves, going out from their houses, sang his praises, A so great favor of the people inflamed the envy of Saul, who afterwards, was very ill disposed towards David. The feelings of his son Jonathan were very different. Admiring the courage of David, he conceived for him a great affection, and to him gave in present, his belt, his bow and his sword. 121.— BAD FAITH OF SAUL. Saul had promised to the conqueror his daughter in marriage ; but he — did not keep his promise, and proposed a new condition,which was that David should kill (an) hundred Philistines. The king did that in a bad intention, for he hoped that this young man bold would perish easily ; but he was deceived in his expecta- tion, for David, having killed two hundred Philistines, returned, without having been wounded, and received then the daughter of the king in marriage. 122.— SAUL ATTEMPTS TO KILL DAVID. The hatred of Saul increased from day to day; wherefore he prepared not in secret, but openly, the death of David. Two times he attempted of him to stab with his lance, but David avoided happily the blow mortal. Then Saul gave order to Jonathan of to kill David ; but Jonathan refused of to obey to the order cruel of his father, and he entreated his father of to abandon a design so unjust. At last Saul sent some guards to kill David in his house, under the eyes of his wife; but this (she) let down her husband through a window, and him saved thus from a great danger. 123.— SAUL PURSUES DAVID. David, seeing that the animosity of Saul against him was implacable, left the court and * retired into a wilderness. Saul him pursued ; but by the protection of God, David escaped to the hands of his enemy, and himself saved several times the life of Saul. It there had (was) in that desert a great cave ; David there was hidden with his companions. Saul, by chance, entered alone into that cave, without to see (seeing) those who there were concealed ; and, overcome with sleep, he himself rested. The companions of David him exhorted to seize the occasion pi-opitioug ■of to kill Saul ; but David refused of to commit a such crime. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 205 124.-DEATn OF SAUL.-b. c 1056. The war burst forth against the Philistines, and Saul '^ advanced against them with his army. The battle having been given, the Hebrews were cut to pieces; three sons of the king perished in that terrible defeat. Saul himself, being (having) fallen from his hov.^c, ordered to one of his officers of to him pierce the side in or- der not to fall alive into the power of his enemies. The flight of all the Hebrews followed the death of the king, and on that day the Philistines gained a victory dis- tinguished. 125.— DAVID r\IOURNS THE DEATH OF SAUL. David, having heard the death of Saul, shed some tears : he cursed the mountains of Gilboa, where that crime had been committed. David sentenced to death him who * boasted of to have killed Saul, and who to him had brought the ornaments royal, in order him to punish of having violated the majesty royal. He expressed his gratitude to the inhabitants of the city of Jabez, because they had buried the bo- dies of Saul and of his sons. Example truly admirable of a luve true and sincere towards an enemy ! 126.-DAVID COMiMITS TWO GREAT CRIMES. When'David was (had) ascended on the throne, he committed two great crimes. He loved a woman named Bethsheba, and her compelled to the crime. The hus- band of that woman, named Urias, (a) man very courageous, was then at the army, and rendered to his country some services distinguished. David commanded to Uri- as to take a position disadvantageous in the combat ; Urias obeyed and was killed ; thus David caused voluntarily the death of that man. But God sent to David the prophet Nathan in order him to reprimand and in order to him to declare that he should suffer the punishment of his crime. 127.-P ARABLE OF THE PROPHET NATHAN. The prophet spoke thus to David : " It there had (were) in the same city two men ; the one rich fed many herds of oxen, of goats and of sheep : but the other man — had but one single sheep which he had bought himself, and which he nursed with care. A guest came to the man rich, and as it was necessary to him to pre- pare a meal, the man rich spared his sheep, seized by force the sheep of the man poor, and it served up to eat (to be eaten) to his guest. It is to you, O king, of to judge whether that action is worthy of an honest man or not." 123.— NATHAN EXPLAINS THE PARABLE. The king was filled with indignation. Then the prophet to him said : " You are this man rich: for, God you has loaded with all sorts of goods. Why then have you stolen the wife of Uriah 7 Why have you ordered the death of a man innocent, particularly when that man was fighting for you 7" Moved by these words of the prophet, David acknowledged his fault and it confessed. Then the prophet added : " God to you pardons your sin ; but nevertheless the son who to you is (has been) born shall die soon." 18 206 ZETETIC METHOD. 129.— DAVID FASTS AND PRAYS. A little after, the infant fell dangerously sick : during seven days David was in a great grief, praying and abstaining from food. (On) the seventh day the infant died, and the servants — dared not to announce that bad news to the liing. David them having seen lo speak (speaking) very low, understood that the infant was dead. Then the king, ceasing of* to grieve, eat the food which they to him brought. The courtiers were astonished of the conduct of the king. But David to them said : " The infant being sick, I was fasting and I was praying, hoping that God could be appeased ; but now the infant is dead, why then myself should grieve I in vain 1 Could I him to recall to the hfe 1" 130.-IIEVOLT OF ABSALOM AGAINST HIS FATHER. Another grief came to increase the distress of the king. Absalom, son of David, aspired to the throne of his father : having raised an multitude ignorant, he * re- belled against him. As soon as David of it was informed, he went out from Jerusa- lem, fearing that, if he there remained, Absalom, who was coming with his army, — might besiege the city royal, and— it might ravage with the sword and with the fire. Wherefore being (having) departed with those of his subjects who remained faithful to their duty, he went in weeping upon the mountain of the olive trees, the feet naked and the head veiled. 131.— PATIENCE ADMIRABLE OF DAVID. When the king was flying, he met a man of the race of Saul, named Semei. This man began to insult David and his companions, and afterwards he to them threw some stones. The companions of David, bearing that with indignation, wished themselves to revenge by cutting oSF the head to that insolent slanderer. But David them restrained : " Let him me outrage," to them said he, " God, appeased by the misfortunes which I endure, will have perhaps pity of me and will restore the state deplorable of my affairs." The companions of the king, admiring his patience in- credible, obeyed sorrowfully to that command. 132.-DAVID ASSEMBLES AN ARMY. Absalom, after the departure of bis father, entered to Jerusalem, and there re- mained for some time : that delay was the safety of David ; for during that time, David collected his forces and * prepared to the war. Now Absalom appeared with his army, a battle was impending; the companions of the king ?o him persuaded of not to be present at the contest. Wherefore David placed Joab at the head of his army, and * withdrew into a city neighboring. But the king, in departing, recom- mended to Joab and to the other generals of to spare Absalom. 133.— ABSALOM IS VANaUISHED. The two armies fought with courage ; but, by the protection of God, the victory was on the side of David. The soldiers of Absalom took the flight, and twenty-two PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 207 thousand among them were killed. Absalom, in his flight, was seated upon a mule ; but he had the hair long and thick ; while that^ in his course hasty, Absalom is borne beneath an oak thick, his hair itself entangled in the branches, and Absalom re- mained suspended, the mule going beyond and pursuing his course. 134.— DEATH OF ABSALOM. A soldier of the king saw Absalom suspended, and he — did dare not him to kill, but he told this news to Joab, who him reproving to him said : " You ought to stab this young man wicked." The soldier answered : " But the king to you has com- manded in my presence 0/ to spare his son." " But I — him will spare not," re- plied Joab; and immediately he took three lances, which he fastened in the breast of Absalom. When Absalom, suspended to the oak, was breathing yet, the armour- bearers of Joab him slew, and then Joab blew o/the trumpet, and cast the corpse of Absalom into a pit. 135.— DAVID BEWAILS THE DEATH OF HIS SON. Daring the battle, David * stood at the gate of the city, awaiting the event of the contest, and very anxious for the safety of his son. When his generals to him an- nounced that the enemies had been routed, and that Absalom had been slain, not only he not showed any joy concerning the victory which he had gained, but he ex- perienced even a great grief from the death of his son. The king, being much moved, went up to his chamber. When he was alone, he wept in pronouncing from time to time these words : " O my son Absalom ! O Absalom, my son !" 136.— DEATH OF DAVID. Afterwards, David undertook with success several wars against the Philistines, and having settled peacefully all his affairs, he passed the remainder of his life in a peace flourishing. David, having reached an extreme old age, and being of a weak health, appointed Solomon heir of his kingdom. Solomon, having been anointed by the great priest, was proclaimed king, although David was yet living. After having given to his son the precepts the most useful to govern the kingdom, David died in thanking the Lord. 137.— WISDOM OF SOLOMON. God cherished Solomon : he to him appeared during his sleep, and to him gave the permission oflo choose all that which he would. Solomon — demanded neith- er the power, nor the glory, nor the riches, but he demanded the wisdom, for he es- teemed the other advantages as of little &/ value. This demand was so agreeable to God, that the Lord granted to Solomon more than he — had demanded ; for he to him gave a wisdom extraordinary, and he added to it the riches and the glory which he — had not asked. 208 ZETETIC METHOD. 138— TRIBUNAL OF SOLOMON." Some time after, Solomon gave a proof of the wisdom which God to him hacj granted. Two women dwelt in the same house : the one and the other bore at the same time a child male. 7%e one of these children died during the night three days after : the mother took the child of the other woman who was sleeping, and put her son dead in the place of this child. A violent quarrel * arose between these two women, and the affair was referred to the tribunal of Solomon. 139.— THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. The question was difficult and very obscure, for nobody — had been witness of this action fraudulent. But the king, in order to search out the truth hidden, said to these women : " I shall divide the child in two parts and I shall give one half to each of you." The false mother agreed to this judgment ; but the other * exclaimed : " O king ! give the child to that woman !" The king said then : " The thing is evi- dent : this woman is truly the mother of the child ," and Jie him to her adjudged immediately. 140,-TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM.— B. c. 1004. Solomon built at Jerusalem a temple of a great labor : the walls of this fime mon- ument were covered (with) ©/"gold, q/ silver and of stones precious. The ark of covenant was placed in this temple. The kings neighboring had joined friendship with Solomon and the queen of Sheba, desiring him to see, set out from her king- dom, and came to Jerusalem with a great train. When she was in presence of Solomon she to him said : •' That which I have heard of your wisdom and of your power is true, and the reality surpasses even the wonders announced by the thou- sand trumpets of your renown." 141. -DISORDER AND IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON. Afterwards, Solomon himself gave up to the pleasure : moreover nothing — is more the enemy of i^e virtue than the voluptuousness; wherefore he lost his wisdom. The women foreign whom he loved him led away, now (an) old (man,) to the cer- emonies of the nations pagan. God, being ofifended of that conduct, to him foretold the punishment of his vices, namely, that the most great part of his kingdom should be taken to (from) his son and should be given to one of his servants ; and it hap- pened thus. 142.-REHOBOAM EXASPERATES THE PEOPLE. To Solomon succeeded Rehoboam, his son. He overturned, by his folly, the throne already wavering by the fault of his father. Solomon had imposed on the people a tax very heavy : the people, not being able to pay, of it demanded the di- minution. The old men admonished to the king of to satisfy the people ; but the young men him from it dissuaded. Rehoboam, following the advices of the young men of his age, replied rudely to the people and rejected Az? (their) demand. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 209 143— TEN TRIBES FORSAKE REHOBOAM. A sedition * arose : ten tribes withdrew from Rehoboam, and elected for (as) their king Jeroboam from the tribe of Ephraim. Two tribes only remained faithful, name- ly, the tribe of Judah and that of Benjamin. Rehoboam inhabited Jerusalem, and Jeroboam built Shechem on the mountain of Ephraim and there inhabited ; after- wards he went out from thence, and built Penuel. Jeroboam, in order to divert his subjects from the custom of to go to Jerusalem, instituted a new religion, and com- pelled his subjects of to worship some false gods. 144.— SHORT DURATION OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. The kingdom of Israel — did endure not long time, because all its kings without exception were wicked. Often God to them sent some prophets, in order them to admonish and them to recall to the true religion ; but they — did obey not to the admonitions of the prophets ; on the contrary, they them overloaded with outrages and with torments. Wherefore God being angry them delivered into the power of their enemies : they were conquered by the king of the Assyrians, who made cap- tive the ten tribes, and them carried into Assyria. 145.— ASA AND JEHOSAPHAT, KINGS OF JUDAH. Abias succeeded to his father Rehoboam ; he reigned three years only, and left the throne to his son Asa. This king was acceptable to God on account of his piety ; for he overturned the altars of the false gods, and drove the wicked from his king- dom. After the death of Asa, Jehosophat, his son, began to reign ; he was a reli- gious worshipper of the true God ; wherefore God him loaded with glory and with riches. Nevertheless Jehosophat joined friendship with the wicked Achab, king of the Israelites. These two kings, having joined their forces, fought against the king of Syria : Achab was slain in the battle, and Jehosaphat escaped by the aid divine. I46.-JORAM AND OCHOZIAS, KINGS OF JUDAH. Joram succeeded io his father Jehosaphat ; he degenerated from the piety of his father, for he espoused Athalia, daughter of the wicked Achab, and he was more like to his father-in-law than to his father. He died of a cruel disease, which God to him had sent. After him, Ochozias, his son, possessed the throne ; but he — it possessed not long time, for, being driven to the vices by the example of his moth- er, he died wretchedly. 147.— DEATH OF ATHALIA. REIGN OF JOASH.-B. c. 388. After the death of Ochozias, Athalia his mother destroyed all the children of the blood royal and took possession of the throne. One son of Ochozias, named Joash, was snatched from the slaughter and was hidden in the temple with his nurse. 18* 210 ZETETIC METHOD. The great priest Jehoiada educated secretly the young prince in the temple. About seven years after, he brought out the child royal before the officers and the people, and Atlialia having been slain in a revolt, the great priest anointed king the young prince. 148.— CRIMES AND DEATH OF JOASH. As long as Joash followed the counsels of the great priest, he observed very exact- ly the worship divine ; he adorned the temple at great expense. But after the death of the great priest, the king, corrupted by the flatteries of his courtiers, * yielded to the vices and abandoned the true religion. Forgetting the services of Jehoiada, he condemned to death the son of his benefactor, who to him was giving some wise counsels. Soon after, the young king was slain in his bed by his own subjects, and was deprived oithe burial royaJ. 149.— AMAZIAS, KING OF JUDAH. By the death of Joash, the kingdom came to his son Aaiazias, who attacked the Idumea with two great armies, which he had collected with great expense. But a prophet him admonished of to put his confidence rather in the aid divine than in the multitude of his soldiers. Having therefore dismissed a great part of his soldiers, he fought against the enemy with a small army, and obtained a victory distinguished. Afterwards, puffed up by his victory, he deserted God ; and after to have (having) lost his two armies, he was taken by the king of Samaria, whom he had provoked rashly. 150.— OZIAS AND JOATHAN, KINGS OF JUDAH. Ozias was the successor of Amazias ; God him favoring, he conquered the Philis- tines and overcame the Arabs. Afterwards the pride took possession of his heart ; he usurped the office of the priests, and, — having had no respect for the admonish- ments of the great priest, he was seized with a disease base which they call lepro- sy. Wherefore he was compelled of to abandon the care of his kingdom to his son Joathan, who it administered wisely. 151.— ACHAS, KING OF JUDAH. Achas, son of Joathan, was wicked towards God ; he worshipped the false gods. His subjects themselves followed soon the example of their king. The hand of God * was heavy several times on the children of Judah ; Achas was defeated by the kings of Samaria and of Syria, and these disasters— him did recall not to scmie better feelings. He — was not ashamed of to ask some aid to the Assyrians. The king of the Assyrians came, and at first he routed the enemies of Achas; but after- wards he ravaged the kingdom of Achas. PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 211 152.— REIGN OF EZECHIAS ; HIS PIETY. Ezechias himself distinguished by his great piety ; as soon as he possessed the throne, he exhorted the people and the priests to the repentance. Afterwards he cleansed tlie city from the superstitions of his father, he ornamented the temple, and restored the ceremonies, which since (a) long time had been neglected. He — did show not less o/' courage for to conduct the war, than ©/"piety for to protect the religion : he cut to pieces the Philistines in many battles, and released the Jews from the tributes which they paid to the Assyrians, 153.— SIEGE OF JERUSALEM. Some time after, Ezechias fell into a sickness dangerous, and the prophet Isaiah him having warned that the end of his life was at hand, the king prayed God with tears of to spare his life. God moved by his prayers and by his tears, to him grant- ed fifteen years. Three days after, the king being cured went to the temple/or to thank the Lord. One year after, the king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem ; but Isa- iah strengthened Ezechias in to him promising the aid divine. And indeed, during the night following, an angel of God exterminated more than (a) hundred thousand Assyrians ; and the king of Assyria trem6iing * fled into his country. 154.-DEATH OF THE KING EZECHIAS. Ezechias, being freed from a so great danger, passed the remainder of his life in a very great tranquillity ; all his undertakings to him succeeded, because God him favored. Being bound by so many o/ blessings of God, he persevered constantly in the same piety ; he placed all his hope in the aid divine, he himself exerted al- ways to do that which was pleasing to God. He reigned twenty-nine years, and af- terwards he died of a death quiet. Tlie people him mourned for, and his body was placed among the tombs of the kings his ancestors, in a place more exalted. 155.— CRIMES OF MANASSEH, HIS REPENTANCE. To Ezechias succeeded Manasseh, son wicked of a father pious. The new king abandoned the worship of the true God, and he worshipped the false deities. He added the cruelty to his impiety ; for, when the prophet Isaiah him had threatened with the anger divine, this king, struck with rage, commanded to the executioners of io saw the prophet in two parts with a saw of wood. God avenged soon the death of his prophet : Manasseh was conquered by the Assyrians ; he was taken and cast into Vie chains. There, being taught by the misfortune, he asked humbly to (from) God the pardon of his crimes and it obtained : being then reinstated on his throne, he honored God with piety. • 156— AMON AND JOSIAH, KINGS OF JUDAH. Amon, son of Manasseh, imitated the wickedness of his father, but not his repen- tance. He reigned two years only, and be was slain in his palace by his subjects. 212 ZETETIC METHOD. He had for successor Josiah, man holy and pious, who, given to r/ie virtue from his childhood, recalled the people to the worship prescribed by the law. But after- wards a confidence rash him destroyed ; for, having led an army against the Egyp- tians, and, God him having admonished — not to engage a battle, he fought never- theless. Having^therefore not succeeded, he received a wound and died (a) few of days after. 157— DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. -B. c. 606, Josiah, in dying, left three sons : Joachaz, the one of them, reigned three months only ; he was captured by the king of Assyria. To Joachaz succeeded Jechonia. Under his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took by storm Jerusalem, car- ried away nearly all the inhabitants of that city to his kingdom and left only at Je- rusalem a vile mob, at the head of which he put Zedekiah, last king. Some time after, Zedekiah himself rebelled, then Nebuchadnezzar returned, overthrew the ci- ty, burnt the temple, and put in prison Zedekiah and him overloaded with torments. 158.— DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS. Among the captives who had been led to Babylon, the king chose many children of a beauty extraordinary, Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Azarias were among the children chosen. These boys were brought up with several others in the palace, that afterwards they might stand before the table of the king in order him to wait upon Nebuchadnezzar had commanded of them to feed with the remains of his own meals ; but these virtuous boys — would not to eat the food profane which the officers of the king to them presented, because the law it forbade ; they did eat only. some pulse. Nevertheless they became more strong and more handsome than the other boys with whom they were brought up. 159. -THE THREE HEBREWS IN THE FURNACE. Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue of gold, and he ordered to all his subjects o/it to worship ; he threatened with death those who would refuse o/to obey. Anani- as, Mishsel and Azarias preferred to die rather than o/to pay to a statue an homage due to God alone. The king ordered to his officers of to cast these boys into a furnace burning; but the Lord protected these boys and the flame — touched not even their clothes. The king, seeing it, paid homage to the God of Israel. 160.— FEAST IMPIOUS OF BELSHAZZAR. The king Belshazzar prepared a great feast and invited the principal lords of his court. He ordered to his officers o/to bring the yessels of gold and of silver which his father had taken out from the temple of Jerusalem. The officers brought the vessels ; the king and his guests in them drank. Immediately the hand of a man wrote on the wall. The king astonished wished to know what the words did signi- PHOGKESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 213 fy ; but nobody — could of them to give the interpretation. Then the queen ad- vised to her husband of to call Daniel. The prophet came ; he foretold to the king that his kingdom would be divided and given to the Medes and to the Per- sians ; and, in fact, that very night, the king of llie Medes ''' took possession of Baby- lon by force. 161.— DANIEL AND THE LIONS. Daniel, on account of his wisdom extraordinary, was cherished by the new king ; wherefore he was hated by the courtiers, who (for) him laid several times some snares ; but Daniel them avoided. At last Daniel did disobey to an edict wicked of the king ; the courtiers, who him were watching, him did accuse ; and the king was compelled of to expose to the lions a man who to him was dear, for the law it ordained thus. But these beasts ferocious spared Daniel, and the king moved by this miracle, delivered to the lions the accusers themselves. 162.— HAMAN AND MORDECAL Mordecai, one of the captives, freed the Jews from a great danger. He had brought up a young girl named Esther, who had lost her father and her mother. The king Ahasuerus her had taken for (a) wife, and her loved much. It there had (was) then a courtier in great favor with of the king ; this courtier, named Ha- man, proud of the favor of which he was enjoying, wished that the people him might worship ; Mordecai, refusing of it to do, had enkindled against himself the hatred redoubtable of Haman. Haman, in order himself to revenge on his enemy, determined of to destroy whole the nation Jewish, and obtained for that design an edict of Ahasuerus. 163.— LAMENTATIONS OF MORDECAL When this cruel edict came to the ears of Mordecai, immediately he rent his clothes, * put on of a sackcloth, and sprinkled with ashes, he went to the palace, and it filled with his complaints. Esther, having heard these lamentations, in- quired what it was : as soon as she understood that Mordecai and all the Jews were appointed to tlie death, she invoked God, and looked for the king in order to avert by her prayers the destruction of her nation. Nevertheless she — did dis- cover not immediately that affair to the king, but she him invited to a feast. 164.— DISGRACE OF HAMAN. Ahasuerus came to the feast with Haman. Esther, seeing the king in a temper joyous, herself threw at his feet, and him besought of to her to grant a favor. The king to her promised that he — to her would refuse nothing, even \i she should ask the half of his kingdom. "O king !" said then Esther, "I you pray o/tome to grant my safety and that of my nation ; for the cruel Haman us has doomed to 214 2ETETIC METHOD. the dealli." Ahasuerus was moved by the sorrows of his wife, and hearing that Haman had prepared a gallows for Mordecai, he ordered to his officers of to fasten Haman to that gallows. 165.-CYRUS GRANTS TO THE JEWS THEIR LIBERTY. The captivity of Babylon continued (for) sixty and ten years, as God it had fore- told. When that time * was (had) passed by, Cyrus, king of Persia, having con- quered the king of Babylon, gave to the Jews the permission of to return to their country, and of to restore the temple : he to them restored also the vessels sacred which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. Therefore the Jews, under the com- mand of Zorobabel, returned to Jerusalem, and laid the first foundations of the new temple; but the building of it was (for a) long time interrupted, because the nations neighboring it hindered. 166.— STATE OF THE JEWS AFTER THEIR RETURN. The Jews, after their return to their country, settled the affairs of their city ; they no had more any kings, but the government was in the possession of the grand priests. Nevertheless the Jews paid some tributes, at first, to the Persians, afterwards to the Greeks, after the defeat of Darius by Alexander the Great. Af- terwards, they — departed never from the religion of their ancestors, although, for that cause, they might have been persecuted by many kings, and especially by An- tiochus, king of Syria. 167.— PERSECUTIONS OF ANTIOCHUS.— B. c. 170. Antiochus attempted of to abolish the law sacred of the Jews : he ordained that all, abandoning the institutions of their ancestors, might live by the custom of the pagans. Antiochus built through all the Judea some altars to the false gods ; he bqre away all the ornaments of the temple of Jerusalem ; he burnt the books sa- cred, and inflicted soi?ie torments unheard to the Jews who resisted to bis orders. Many Jews pious left their country in order to avoid the danger ; many sought the death rather than of * to depart from the law divine ; among that number was the old man Eleazer. 168. -MARTYRDOM OF A MOTHER AND OF HER SONS, A woman with her seven children followed the noble example of Eleazer. They were all seized at the same time and beaten with rods in order them to force to sin, but no violence — could them withdraw from the law divine. It there had (was) then at Jerusalem a priest named Mattathias, who had five sons. These one, having left the city in order not to see the evils with which it was afflicted, * with- drew into a wilderness. Thither * assembled a multitude of men attached to the laws divine, and soon that multitude * increased and formed an army. Then, PROGRESSIVE FRENCH TRANSLATOR. 215 these Hebrews exiled chose Mattathias for chief; they resolved of to free their country and of to protect their religion ; wherefore they overturned the altars raised to the false deities and re-established the worship of the true God. 169.— FIRST ACTION OF JUDAS MACCABEUS. Some time after, Mattathias died, and in dying, he put at the head of the army Judas, his son, who was called Maccabeus. This one pursued with courage the war undertaken by his father. He filled in a manner distinguished all the duties of a good general; * trusting in the aid divine which he had invoked, he took by assault some places strong, put some garrisons in the cities, conquered Apollo- nius, one of the generals of Antiochus, him killed with his own hand, and after- wards he * used o/'his sword which he from him had taken away in the combat. 170.— VICTORY OF JUDAS OVER NICANOR, When Antiochus heard that Apollonius had been conquered, he was inflamed with anger: he gave order to Lysias of to lay waste the Judea, and of to destroy whole the nation. Lysias sent against the Jews Nicanor and Gorgias, to whom he gave forty thousand foot soldiers and seven thousand horsemen ; these two generals placed their camp not far from the city of Jerusalem. Judas, who placed all his hope in God, — did hesitate not to give battle, although he — had but three thousand men ; at the head of a so small army, he cut to pieces the forces of the king, and '^ obtained of a. great spoil. 171.-LYSIAS VANQUISHED BY JUDAS. This slaughter was announced to Lysias, who, thinking that this loss wag (had) happened by the fault of the two generals, determined of to lead himself the army. He came therefore into Judea with sixty-five thousand men. Judas had only ten thousand men ; nevertheless he proceeded against Lysias, and, after having invoked the aid divine, he * fought with the enemy. He slew five thousand men of the army of Lysias, and he frightened in such a manner the other soldiers hostile, that they took the flight. 172.— JUDAS PURIFIES THE TEMPLE. The enemies being beaten, Judas * hastened of to re-establish the worship di- vine ; he re-entered victorious Into Jerusalem, which afforded an appearance mournful. The gates of the temple had been burnt, the altar was polluted ; some brambles were growing under the portico, as if in a forest. Judas purified the temple, repaired the gates and raised a new altar, of which the dedication was celebrated by a great concoarse of whole the people ; it was decreed that a feast 216 ZETETIC METHOD. should be celebrated every year, in order to perpetuate the memorial of that happy event. 173.-WAR OF THE NATIONS NEIGHBORING. The nations neighboring, * having (being) aroused on account of the re-establish- ment of the temple, declared the vrar to the Jews. Judas Maccabeus * fought against them ; in that battle God himself showed evidently the protector of Judas ; for during the contest, five men, distinguished by their horses and their valor, ap- peared at the head of the soldiers Jewish. Two of these men, keeping Judas in the midst of them, him preserved from all danger, and hurled some darts fiery upon the enemies; these ones, having the mind disturbed, took the flight. In that battle twenty-five thousand enemies were killed. Soon after this celebrated vic- tory, God punished Anliochus, and this king impious died wretchedly. Eupator, his son, to him succeeded. He attacked Judas Maccabeus, who him conquered. After several other victories gained over the enemies of his nation, Judas Macca- beus died. Jonathan, his brother, to him succeeded, and under his government the Jews were happy and free. 174. -KINGS OF JUDEA. THE MESSIAH. After the death of Jonathan, the sovereign power was transferred to Simon, and at the death of this one, John Hircanus succeeded to his father. He died one year after and left for (his) heir his son Aristobulus, who, the first of all, since the captivity of the Jews, took the name of king. After the death of Aristobulus, his son Alexander reigned. He died without to have (having) anything done o/memo- rable : he left two sons who pretended to have some rights equal to the throne. Pompey, general of the people Roman, went into Judea, under the pretence of to restore (restoring) the harmony between the two brothers, but in reality in order to conquer that country, and it is that which he did. Some time after, Herod, who was (a) foreigner, usurped the crown of Judea. Herod was the first king foreign who reigned over the Jews, and under his reign was born Jesus Christ, as the prophets it had foretold. FINIS.