Now there
was one Jenadab, a kinsman and friend of his, who discovered this his
passion, for he was an extraordinary wise man, and of great sagacity of
mind. When, therefore, he saw that every morning Amnon was not in body
as he ought to be, he came to him, and desired him to tell him what was
the cause of it: however, he said that he guessed that it arose from the
passion of love. Amnon confessed his passion, that he was in love with
a sister of his, who had the same father with himself. So Jenadab
suggested to him by what method and contrivance he might obtain his
desires; for he persuaded him to pretend sickness, and bade him, when
his father should come to him, to beg of him that his sister might come
and minister to him; for if that were done, he should be better, and
should quickly recover from his distemper. So Amnon lay down on his
bed, and pretended to be sick, as Jonadab had suggested. When his father
came, and inquired how he did, he begged of him to send his sister to
him. Accordingly, he presently ordered her to be brought to him; and
when she was come, Amnon bade her make cakes for him, and fry them in
a pan, and do it all with her own hands, because he should take them
better from her hand [than from any one's else]. So she kneaded the
flour in the sight of her brother, and made him cakes, and baked them
in a pan, and brought them to him; but at that time he would not taste
them, but gave order to his servants to send all that were there out of
his chamber, because he had a mind to repose himself, free from tumult
and disturbance. As soon as what he had commanded was done, he desired
his sister to bring his supper to him into the inner parlor; which, when
the damsel had done, he took hold of her, and endeavored to persuade
her to lie with him. Whereupon the damsel cried out, and said, "Nay,
brother, do not force me, nor be so wicked as to transgress the laws,
and bring upon thyself the utmost confusion. Curb this thy unrighteous
and impure lust, from which our house will get nothing but reproach
and disgrace." She also advised him to speak to his father about this
affair; for he would permit him [to marry her]. This she said, as
desirous to avoid her brother's violent passion at present. But he would
not yield to her; but, inflamed with love and blinded with the vehemency
of his passion, he forced his sister: but as soon as Amnon had satisfied
his lust, he hated her immediately, and giving her reproachful w