Scriptural poems being several portions of Scripture digested into English verse /

CHAP. XIV.

Now down to Timnah Sampson's Steps incline, Where seeing the Daughter of a Philistine, He came up and did of his Parents crave, That he in Marriage might the Woman have. Then thus his Father and his Mother said 'Mongst all thy Kin canst thou find never a Maid; Nor yet among my People, fit to make A Wife, but thou wilt this Philistine take, Of Race uncircumcised? He replied, Get her for me, for I'm well satisfied. But neither of his Parents then did know, It was the Lord that moved him thereto, To seek a way to accomplish his Designs, Upon the then over-ruling Philistines. Then Sampson and his Parents both went down To Timnah, and as they came near the Town, Among the Vineyards a young Lion roared: Then on him came the Spirit of the Lord, And though unarmed, he rent him like a Kid, But he discovered not to them the Deed: And he went down, and with the Woman treated, And was well pleased to have the Match completed. And in a while as he returned again To take his Wife, behold, where he had slain The Beast, he there a Swarm of Bees set Eye on, And Honey in the Carcass of the Lion: He took thereof, and eating, on he wen•, And to his Parents did a part present, ⟨p. 22⟩And they did also eat, but did not know That from the Lion's Carcass it did flow. So down his Father went unto the Woman, And Sampson made a Feast, as it was common Among young Men. The Philistines provide Thirty Companions with him to abide; And Sampson said unto them, now behold, I have a Riddle for you to unfold, Which if you do before the Seven Days Feast Be ended, I will give to every Guest A Sheet and change of Garments, but if ye Cannot declare it, you shall give to me Full Thirty Sheets, and Thirty Changes too: Then said they, What's thy Riddle, let us know? And Sampson said, The Eater sent forth Meat, And from the Strong there came a thing most sweet. And they could not in Three Days find it out, Wherefore before the seventh came about, They said unto his Wife, Thou must entice Thy Husband to discover this Device, Least we burn thee, and all thy Father's House: Is it not so, that ye have called us To make a Spoil? And Sampson's Wife wept sore, And said, Thou dost but hate me, and no more; To put a Riddle to my Countrymen, And not tell it me: And he replied again, I have not told my Father or my Mother, And shall I now to thee this thing discover.