Then down to Gaza Sampson went, and there
Seeing an Harlot, went in unto her
And when the Gazites heard he was come thither:
Straightway they gathered themselves together
To compass him about, and lay in wait
All Night, to take him in the City Gate,
And they were still all Night for why? say they,
To morrow we shall kill him when 'tis Day.
And he till Midnight lay, and then arose,
And with the City Gates away he goes,
Bearing the Posts, and bar and all away,
And on an Hill near Hebron did them lay.
And afterward it came to pass he saw,
And loved a Woman named Delilah,
Who in the Vale of Sorek dwelt to whom
There did the Lords of the Philistines come,
And said, if thou wilt but entice him to reveal
Where lies his Strength, and which way we may deal
⟨p. 27⟩With him, to bind him, to afflict him, we
Each one will give a great reward to thee.
And she to Sampson said, I pray thee, tell
Wherein thy Strength doth other Men excel,
And how thou mayst be bound: And he replied,
If they with Seven green Withs that never were dried
Shall bind me Hand and Foot, I shall be then
As weak and impotent as other Men.
Then the Philistine Lords for her provide
The Seven green Withs which never had been dried,
And she therewith did bind him, (now there were
Men lying in wait whom she had placed there)
Then she cried out, and said, Now Sampson stand
Thy ground, for the Philistines are at hand.
And straight he brake the Withs, and they became
Like to a thread of Tow when touched with flame:
So was his Strength not found out. Then said she,
Sampson, behold, thou hast deceived me,
And told me lies: Therefore no longer blind me,
But tell, I pray thee, wherewith I may bind thee:
Bind me with Ropes that never were used, said he;
Then weak as other Men are, shall I be:
She therefore took New Ropes, and bound him, and
Cried, Sampson, the Philistines are at Hand:
(And in the Chamber there were Men lay hid)
And from his Arms he brake them like a Thread.
Then said she, Thou hast mocked me hitherto,
And told me Lies: Now tell we what to do
To bind thee. He replied, Thou with the Web
Must interweave the Seven Locks of my Head.
Then she his Locks did fasten with the Pin,
And said, the Philistines are coming in,
⟨p. 28⟩Shift, Sampson, for thy self; then he awoke,
And Pin and Web, and all away he took.
Then said she, How canst thou pretend to love me,
When thus thy Doing towards me disprove thee?
THen down to Gaza Sampson went, and there
Seeing an Harlot, went in unto her
And when the Gazites heard he was come thither:
Straightway they gathered themselves together
To compass him about, and lay in wait
All Night, to take him in the City Gate,
And they were still all Night for why? say they,
To morrow we shall kill him when 'tis Day.
And he till Midnight lay, and then arose,
And with the City Gates away he goes,
Bearing the Posts, and bar and all away,
And on an Hill near Hebron did them lay.
And afterward it came to pass he saw,
And lov'd a Woman named Delilah,
Who in the Vale of Sorek dwelt to whom
There did the Lords of the Philistines come,
And said, if thou wilt but entice him to reveal
Where lies his Strength, and which way we may deal
⟨p. 27⟩With him, to bind him, to afflict him, we
Each one will give a great reward to thee.
And she to Sampson said, I pray thee, tell
Wherein thy Strength doth other Men excel,
And how thou may'st be bound: And he reply'd,
If they with Seven green Withs that ne'er were dried
Shall bind me Hand and Foot, I shall be then
As weak and impotent as other Men.
Then the Philistine Lords for her provide
The Seven green Withs which never had been dried,
And she therewith did bind him, (now there were
Men lying in wait whom she had placed there)
Then she cry'd out, and said, Now Sampson stand
Thy ground, for the Philistines are at hand.
And streight he brake the Withs, and they became
Like to a thred of Tow when toucht with flame:
So was his Strength not found out. Then said she,
Sampson, behold, thou hast deceived me,
And told me lyes: Therefore no longer blind me,
But tell, I pray thee, wherewith I may bind thee:
Bind me with Ropes that ne'er were us'd, said he;
Then weak as other Men are, shall I be:
She therefore took New Ropes, and bound him, and
Cry'd, Sampson, the Philistines are at Hand:
(And in the Chamber there were Men lay hid)
And from his Arms he brake them like a Thread.
Then said she, Thou hast mock'd me hitherto,
And told me Lyes: Now tell we what to do
To bind thee. He reply'd, Thou with the Web
Must interweave the Seven Locks of my Head.
Then she his Locks did fasten with the Pin,
And said, the Philistines are coming in,
⟨p. 28⟩Shift, Sampson, for thy self; then he awoke,
And Pin and Web, and all away he took.
Then said she, How canst thou pretend to love me,
When thus thy Doing towards me disprove thee?
