The old man Barzillai is now upon his answer in the words read, who doth,
1. First, very modestly and mannerly put off the king's motion to him.
2. And then next he tenders and pirefers a suit of his own. For the king's motion, that he should turn courtier, Barzillai puts off very finely, as you may see in the text. He gives sundry reasons for his so doing.
1. The first is, because that he was no fit man for the court.
First, He was smitten in age, and therefore, in case he should go up, he could but only salute it ; for, saith he, ' how many are the days of my years ?' My years are brought to days ; my days may quickly be numbered. I should die by that time I were warm there, and therefore what should I do at the court ? Secondly, put the case he did draw breath there a while, that was all ; for, saith he, ' Am I able now to discern between good and evil?' There is nothing that oflers itself to my eye, to my ear, to my taste, to any of my senses, that will give me any great content, and there- fore there is no great reason why I should be drawn thither. This is his first reason, from the unfitness of the thing.
* That is, ' invitation.' — G.
t That is, ' goes before,' = precedes, used as also ' fore-think,' and the like, by contemporaries. — G.
36 THE VANITY OF THE CREATURE.
Second, Afterward be proceeds to other reasons in the text, that is first thus much : if he should live there, it 7mist be to do the king some service, at the least to yield him some contentment. But so it was that he was under age's command, and was able for neither. He was neither fit for work nor fit for play. Ho found no great contentment in himself, and he could yield little to others, and therefore why should he be a burden to the king's court?
Third, The third reason is this, that he had done what he had done for the king, hut in duty. It was his duty to do what he did, and it was but a Httle. All that he could do for the king was only to bring him a mile or two on his way ; and why should the king trouble his thoughts about a recompence for this, saith he ? Thus he puts off the king's motion ; he craves leave that he may forbear the court, and be excused thence.
Fourth, This done, he comes in the next place, because he would give no oflence, to tender a suit of his own, and that is double.
1. In regard of himself.
2. And then in regard of his son Chimham.
For himself he craves leave to go back again to his own dwelling ; and here he doth finely set his petition by the king's motion.
1. He desires the king's leave, that he would give him leave to go home and die.
2. And next, that the king would be pleased so far to gratify him, that he may die in his own dwelling, where his habitation was.
Fain he would die as the hare doth in her own form, and as other creatures willingly do in their own nests. Then, in the next place, he adds another reason why he would be dismissed ; because he would die where his father and his mother were buried. There he was bred, there he was born, there he drew his first breath, and there he would gladly resign him- self again, and his breath, and be laid and gathered in mercy to his fathers. This is his suit for himself.
In the behalf of his son, he tenders him to the king's grace, as if he should say, Your motion is very gracious, far beyond my desert, and such as I should be very happy in the enjoying of, in case age did not hinder me. For proof whereof, I leave my son as a pledge and pawn.* This stafi" of my age, this stay of my comfort, I commend him to your gi-ace ; deal with him as shall seem best in your eyes. And thus Barzillai he hath com- mended his suit to the king.
Now this being thus delivered, it is further amplified and set forth from the efiect that this wrought in the king.
1. First, King David he accepts of his excuse. He gives him to under- stand, if he will go, he shall be kindly welcome ; if he stay behind, there is no ofience shall be taken, but further, the king, will be ready in any other kind to gratify him as occasion shall serve.
2. And next for his son, the king accepts of him, and promiseth to do for him that which should seem good in the eyes of his father.
These be the parts of this conference, and the effects of it ; so that in sum you see here is a dialogue,
A conference between David and Barzillai.
We are now upon Barzillai's answer, which is set forth,.
1. From the parts.
2. From the effects of it, as before we inferred.