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But David had God going along with him whithersoever he went, and
accordingly he greatly prospered in his undertakings, and it was visible
that he had mighty success, insomuch that Saul's daughter, who was still
a virgin, fell in love with him; and her affection so far prevailed over
her, that it could not be concealed, and her father became acquainted with
it. Now Saul heard this gladly, as intending to make use of it for a snare
against David, and he hoped that it would prove the cause of destruction
and of hazard to him; so he told those that informed him of his daughter's
affection, that he would willingly give David the virgin in marriage, and
said, "I engage myself to marry my daughter to him if he will bring
me six hundred heads of my enemies
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supposing that when a reward so ample was proposed to him, and when he
should aim to get him great glory, by undertaking a thing so dangerous
and incredible, he would immediately set about it, and so perish by the
Philistines; and my designs about him will succeed finely to my mind, for
I shall be freed from him, and get him slain, not by myself, but by another
man." So he gave order to his servants to try how David would relish
this proposal of marrying the damsel. Accordingly, they began to speak
thus to him: That king Saul loved him, as well as did all the people, and
that he was desirous of his affinity by the marriage of this damsel. To
which he gave this answer: - "Seemeth it to you a light thing to be
made the king's son-in-law? It does not seem so to me, especially when
I am one of a family that is low, and without any glory or honor."
Now when Saul was informed by his servants what answer David had made,
he said, - "Tell him that I do not want any money nor dowry from him,
which would be rather to set my daughter to sale than to give her in marriage;
but I desire only such a son-in-law as hath in him fortitude, and all other
kinds of virtue," of which he saw David was possessed, and that his
desire was to receive of him, on account of his marrying his daughter,
neither gold nor silver, nor that he should bring such wealth out of his
father's house, but only some revenge on the Philistines, and indeed six
hundred of their heads, than which a more desirable or a more glorious
present could not be brought him, and that he had much rather obtain this,
than any of the accustomed dowries for his daughter, viz. that she should
be married to a man of that character, and to one who had a testimony as
having conquered his enemies.