1. And it came to pass that the army of the prince of the land encamped
in that place;
2. For he was a great prince, and had increased his army; and he had
captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over
tens.
3. And these were clothed in gorgeous apparel, in brocade of gold, and
in brocade of silver; and they were vain men, for they had the plumage
of birds upon their heads, and gems of silver, and of gold, and of
precious stones, on their breasts; and swords girded on their thighs.
4. And the damsel beheld them, and her heart danced with joy; yea, her
eyes followed them whithersoever they went.
5. And I was more grieved than ever; therefore I counselled her, and
said all manner of evil of the men.
6. But she would not hearken to my reproof, but cast all my counsel
behind her back; and she derided me.
7. And it came to pass, in the process of time, that one of the captains
of fifty came to her, and spoke kind words unto her, even great swelling
words of vanity.
8. And she hearkened unto him, and her ears drunk in his burning
speeches, even as the ox drinketh in water; and she delighted therein;
and he looked into her eye, and behold he saw his own image impressed in
it, as in a glass.
9. And he looked into it many times, and it grew brighter; and every
time that he looked into it he saw his own image the more deeply and
strongly reflected, until he knew that he lived in her heart.
10. But her image was not in his eye.
11. And I knew this, and was grieved. Therefore I withstood him to his
face, and rebuked him; yea, and I also cursed him.
12. But the captain of fifty mocked me; he also told the maid, and she
became wroth with me, so that, the two being combined against me, I
could do nothing but sit down and weep.
13. And she gave unto him all that she had; yea she gave him until she
had no more to give, for she gave unto him herself.
14. And her countenance was changed; her bright eyes retained not their
wonted brightness; her voice was broken, and her tongue faltered in her
mouth.
15. But the captain of fifty regarded it not; for he left her and went
his way, and he did eat and drink, and made himself merry with wine.
16. And he said, What is a maiden that I should regard her? or for what
were the daughters of women formed but for my pleasure?
17. And the prince of the kingdoms of the land sent unto his army, that
they should go into a far country to fight against the enemies of their
lord the king. And the men purposed to go; and the captain of fifty
purposed to go also.
18. And when the maiden heard of it her heart failed within her, and she
fell sick, and I feared it would be to death.
19. And I tried to comfort her; and I watched with her day and night,
and prayed many prayers for her; but she became worse, for her spirit
was wounded and cast down.
20. And Galli the scribe was also sorely afflicted, and he mourned
exceedingly, saying, Alas! what shall I do for my daughter! she who was
the hope of my age, and my only comfort here below. Wo is me, for she is
dying of a lingering disease, and I shall be left childless! Now Galli
the scribe knew not what the captain of fifty had done unto her, nor of
all that she had given unto him.
21. So I went forth unto the host to seek this betrayer of women, and to
speak peaceably with him, and to reason with him.
22. But he knew me afar off, and said to his brethren, Lo, here cometh
that man of a strange country, let us make him our sport.
23. And they combined against me, and treated me with great indignity;
for they bound my hands and put me into the river, and the flood carried
me away, so that I said in mine heart, lo, I shall be drowned, for there
is not one to pity or save me.
24. But they took me forth before my breath departed clean away; and
they stripped me naked, and tied me to a stake, and scourged me.
25. And afterwards they stoned me out of the camp.
26. And I was very wroth, and went unto the captain of the host, and
made my complaint known unto him.
27. And I said, O my lord, hearken unto the voice of thy servant. Behold
one of your captains of fifty came unto the house of Galli the scribe.
28. And the man intreated him kindly, yet hath he betrayed his daughter,
and refuseth to do her justice; and the maid will die, and her father,
who is a good man, will go down to the grave with her.
29. And he answered and said unto me, What have I to do with this
matter, or with thee? As a maid treadeth the wine press, so let her
drink. It is not meet that I should be troubled with these things.
30. And I went away and wept bitterly, for I could find neither
consolation nor redress; and I saw that the wickedness of the men was
very great.
31. Then I went and trimmed my beard, and borrowed me a suit of armour;
and I put an helmet of steel upon mine head, and a breast-plate upon my
breast, and I girded on a sword.
32. And I went forth and challenged the captain of fifty to fight with
me.
33. And I said in mine heart, Lo, I will fight this wicked man, and
overcome him. And I will take his sword from him, and rend his armour
from off his loins.
34. And then will I compel him to do justice to those whom he hath
wronged, else will I smite off his head.
35. And we met by the side of the river; and he discerned me not through
my disguise, for he said unto me, Who art thou, or what have I to say to
thee?
36. And I said, For the wrong that thou hast done to the house of Galli
the scribe have I called thee out to battle.
37. And he said, Thou hast done well. I will chastise thee as thou
deservest, that thou mayest learn how to lift up thy hand against the
servants of our lord the king.
38. So we fought; and his hand was sore against me.
39. For he drove me out of my place, and wounded me, and my hope had
nearly perished.
40. But I prayed to the Lord for strength. And we fought again; and the
combat was very sore that day, and he prevailed not against me.
41. And after the combat had lasted until my breath was spent, and my
arm weary, by the help of the Lord I wounded him in the loins, so that
my sword found a passage through his body, and he fell.
42. And I was sore afraid; and fled away, and hid myself; for I trembled
at the thing I had done, because I perceived that the last case was
worse than the first.
43. And when the soldiers came to him, he said that Galli the scribe had
sent out ruffians to slay him.
44. And when these things were told to the captain of the host, he was
exceedingly wroth, and he sent forth men to destroy the house of Galli
the scribe, and to slay him, and take his substance for a prey.
45. And the captain of fifty died that night; and they buried him with
great lamentation, for they wept over him, saying, Alas! our brother!
for he hath been cut off before his time.