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

CHAP. XV.

But in a while, as Sampson visited His Wife, in the Wheat Harvest with a Kid, To her into her Chamber he would go, The which her Father would not let him do; But said, I thought that thou hadst quite forsook her, Wherefore I gave consent, and thy Friend took her. Doth not her Sister's Beauty hers exceed, Though young? I pray then take her in her stead. ⟨p. 24⟩And Sampson said, I shall more blameless be Than they, though I shall do them injury: And then he caught Three hundred Foxes, and Turned Tail to Tail, and put a fiery Brand Between Two Tails, and setting fire thereto, Into the standing Corn he let them go, And burnt both Shocks, and standing Corn and Vines, And all the Olives of the Philistines. Then they enquired who this thing had done, And were informed, it was the Timnite's Son: Because his Father took his Wife away, And gave her his Companion to enjoy. And the Philistines came up, full of Wrath, And burnt with Fire, her and her Father both. And Sampson said though you have done this thing, A farther Evil I will on you bring, And my avenging Hand shall cease hereafter: And hip and thigh he smote them with great slaughter: And he returned, and came up to the top Of Etam, and dwelt there upon the Rock. Then the Philistines up to Judah went, And in the Vale of Lehi pitched their Tent. Then said the Men of Judah for what reason Are you come up against us at this season? And they made answer, we are come to bind Sampson, to do to him in the same kind As he hath done to us: Then there went up Three thousand Men of Judah to the top Of the Rock Etam, and to Sampson said, Dost thou not know that we have long obeyed The Philistines? Wherefore is it that thou Hast done this thing, to bring this Evil now, ⟨p. 25⟩Upon us, let us know it? Then said he I did to them, as they have done to me: Then said they we are come, and have brought bands, To bind, and give thee up into their hands: And he made answer, you shall swear unto me, That you your selves no Injury will do me: And they replied, No, no, we will but bind thee, We will not kill thee, but to them resign thee. And they took two new Cords, and therewith tied him, And from the Rock where he abode convey him: Whom when they to the Camp at Lehi brought The Philistines against him gave a shout: