2. TAMAR, Daughter of David and Maachah, and Sister of Absalom. Her extraordinary Beauty was the occasion of her Brother Amnon’s falling desperately in love with her.1 He pretended himself sick, and desired the King his Father to send Tamar to him, to prepare him something to eat. Tamar came, and served up to him what she had prepared for him. Amnon caused every one to withdraw, and then ravished Tamar, notwithstanding all the Prayers and Intreaties she made him, not to load her with perpetual Disgrace, and draw upon himself the Scandal of so shameful an Action. Amnon having thus dishonoured her, his Love presently was changed into the most violent Hatred, so that he drove her out by Force from his Presence. Tamar poured Ashes upon her Head, tore her Cloaths, and covering her Face with her Hands, went away weeping. Absalom, her Brother both by Father and Mother, met her in this Distress, and easily guessing at the reason of her Complaints, took her to his own House, and bid her say nothing of it, but leave it to him. As to himself, he kept up so much Resentment of this Injury in his Heart, and took such a signal piece of Revenge for it, that he killed Amnon some time after.2 See the Articles of Absalom and Amnon.
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