CAP. XXXI.

[verse 1] Forsothe Philisteis fouȝten aȝens Irael, and the men of Yrael flowen before the face of Philisteis, and thei slayn fellen in the hyl of Gelboe. [verse 2] And Philisteis fallen into Saul, and into*. [Om. E pr. m.] the sonys of hym, and thei smyten Jonathan, and Amy|nadab, and Melchisue, the sonys of Saul. [verse 3] And al the charge of the batayl is turned into Saul; and there folweden hym men sheters, and he is woundid hydowsly of the archers. [verse 4] And Saul seide to his squyer, Drawe out thi swerd, and smyit me, lest perauenture thes vncircumcidid men*. [Om. CEFH.] comen, and sleen me, scornynge to me. And his squier wolde not; forsothe he was agaist with to mych gaistnes; and so Saul cauȝte his swerd, and felle vpon it. [verse 5] The which thing whanne his squyer hadde seen, that is, that Saul was deed, also he felle on his swerd, and is deed with hym. [verse 6] Thanne Saul is deed, and his three sonys, and his squyer, and Page  89 alle his men in that dai togidir. [verse 7] For|sothe seynge the sonys of Yrael, that weren biȝonde the valey, and beȝonde Jordan, that the men of Yrael hadden flowen, and that Saul was deed, and his sones*. [sone ABCEF.], thei laften her citees, and flowen; and Philisteis camen, and dwelliden there. [verse 8] Forsothe the tother dai doon, Philisteis camen for to spoyl out the slayn men, and thei fonden Saul, and his thre sones, liggynge*. [liynge EFH. liende C.] in the hil of Gelboe; and thei girden of the heed of Saul, and thei spoileden hym out of the aarmys. And thei senten into the loond of Philisteis bi enuyroun, that it were toold in the temple of mawmettis, and in puplis. [verse 10] And thei setten his aarmys in the temple of As|charoth; forsothe the bodi of hym thei hengen in the wal of Bethsan. [verse 11] The which thing whanne the dwellers of Jabes Galaad hadden herd, alle thingis [verse 12] that Philisteis hadden doo to Saul, alle the moost stronge men rysen, and wenten al nyȝt, and token the careyns of Saul, and the careyns of his sonis fro the wal of Bethsan; and the men of Jabes Ga|laad camen, and brenten hem with fier. [verse 13] And thei token the boonys of hem, and biryeden in the wode of Jabes, and fast|iden seuen days.