Part 14 (1/2)

DELILAH

Because thou wast most delicate, A woman fair for men to see, The earth did compa.s.s thy estate, Thou didst hold life and death in fee, And every soul did bend the knee.

[Sidenote: (Wherein the corrupt spirit of privilege is symbolized by Delilah and the People by Samson.)]

Much pleasure also made thee grieve For that the goblet had been drained.

The well spiced viand thou didst leave To frown on want whose throat was strained, And violence whose hands were stained.

The purple of thy royal cloak, Made the sea paler for its hue.

Much people bent beneath the yoke To fetch thee jewels white and blue, And rings to pa.s.s thy gold hair through.

Therefore, Delilah wast thou called, Because the choice wines nourished thee In Sorek, by the mountains walled Against the north wind's misery, Where flourished every pleasant tree.

[Sidenote: (Delilah hath a taste for ease and luxury and wantoneth with divers lovers.)]

Thy lovers also were as great In numbers as the sea sands were; Thou didst requite their love with hate; And give them up to ma.s.sacre, Who brought thee gifts of gold and myrrh.

[Sidenote: (Delilah conceiveth the design of ensnaring Samson.)]

At Gaza and at Ashkelon, The obscene Dagon wors.h.i.+pping, Thy face was fair to look upon.

Yet thy tongue, sweet to talk or sing, Was deadlier than the adder's sting.

Wherefore, thou saidst: ”I will procure The strong man Samson for my spouse, His death will make my ease secure.

The G.o.d has heard this people's vows To recompense their injured house.”

Thereafter, when the giant lay Supinely rolled against thy feet, Him thou didst craftily betray, With amorous vexings, low and sweet, To tell thee that which was not meet.

[Sidenote: (Delilah attempteth to discover the source of Samson's strength. Samson very neatly deceiveth her.)]

And Samson spake to thee again; ”With seven green withes I may be bound, So shall I be as other men.”

Whereat the lords the green withes found-- The same about his limbs were bound.

Then did the fish-G.o.d in thee cry: ”The Philistines be upon thee now.”

But Samson broke the withes awry, As when a keen fire toucheth tow; So thou didst not the secret know.

But thou, being full of guile, didst plead: ”My lord, thou hast but mocked my love With lies who gave thy saying heed; Hast thou not vexed my heart enough, To ease me all the pain thereof?”

Now, in the chamber with fresh hopes, The liers in wait did list, and then He said: ”Go to, and get new ropes, Wherewith thou shalt bind me again, So shall I be as other men.”

[Sidenote: (Samson retaineth his intellect and the l.u.s.tihood of his body and again misleadeth the subtle craft of Delilah.)]

Then didst thou do as he had said, Whereat the fish-G.o.d in thee cried, ”The Philistines be upon thy head,”

He shook his shoulders deep and wide, And cast the ropes like thread aside.

Yet thou still fast to thy conceit, Didst chide him softly then and say: ”Beforetime thou hast shown deceit, And mocked my quest with idle play, Thou canst not now my wish gainsay.”