VI How it came into the mind of King David to learn the number of his subjects
Edward Storer translation
David answered: I put myself in the hands of my Lord. Let Him do with me what He will. Now what did God do? He punished him according to his sin, taking away by death the greater part of his people in whose great number he had vain-gloried. And thus he reduced and belittled their number.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Biagi reads: Infermo—ill. ↑Note 2 · This reading follows Biagi. Others give “striking as he willed”. ↑Note 3 · The origin of this novella is, of course, Kings ii, chap. 24. It is curious to notice the variations. ↑Note 4 · One day it came to pass that while David was riding he saw the angel of the Lord going about slaying with the naked sword, and just as the a