brethren were in the host with Saul. To whom Jesse said: David, take
this pottage, ten loaves of bread, and ten cheeses, and go run unto the
host to thy brethren, and see how they do, and learn how they be
arrayed. David delivered his sheep to one to keep them, and bare these
things unto the host. And when he came thither he heard a great cry, and
he demanded after his brethren. And that same time came forth that giant
Goliath and said, as he had done tofore, and David heard him speak. All
they of Israel fled for fear of him, and David demanded what he was, and
it was told him that he was come to destroy Israel, and also that what
man that might slay him, the king should enrich him with great riches,
and should give to him his daughter, and shall make the house of his
father without tribute. And David said: What is this uncircumcised that
hath despised the host of the God of Israel? And what reward shall he
have that shall slay him? And the people said as afore is said. And when
his oldest brother heard him speak to the people he was wroth with him,
and said: Wherefore art thou come hither and hast left the few sheep in
desert. I know well thy pride, thou art come for to see the battle. And
David said: What have I done? Is it not as the people said? I dare fight
well with this giant; and declined from his brother to other of the
people. And all this was showed to Saul, and David was brought to him,
and said to Saul: I, thy servant, shall fight against this giant if thou
wilt. And Saul said to him: Thou mayst not withstand this Philistine nor
fight against him, for thou art but a child; this giant hath been a
fighter from his childhood. David said to Saul: I thy servant kept my
father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear and took away a wether
from the middle of my flock, and I pursued after, and took it again from
their mouths, and they arose and would have devoured me, and I caught
them by the jaws and slew them. I thy servant slew the lion and the
bear, therefore this Philistine uncircumcised shall be as one of them. I
shall now go and deliver Israel from this opprobrium and shame. How is
this Philistine uncircumcised so hardy as to curse the host of the
living God? And yet said David: The Lord that kept me from the might of
the lion and from the strength of the bear, he will deliver me from the
power of the Philistine. Saul said then to David: Go, and our Lord be
with thee.

Saul did do arm him with his armor,