A most excellent and famous Ditty of Sampson Judge of Israell, how he wedded [a]
Philistines Daughter, who at length forsooke him: also how he slew a Lyon, and
propounded a Riddle, and after how he was falsely betrayed by Dalila, and of his death.
To the tune of the Spanish Pavin.
|
WHen Sampson was a fell young man
|
His power and strength increased than,
|
And in the host and Tribe of Dan,
|
the Lord did blesse him still.
|
It chancrd so upon a day,
|
As he was walking on his way,
|
He saw a Mayden fresh and gay,
|
in Timnah.
|
With whom he fell so sore in love,
|
That he his fancy could not move:
|
His Parents therefore he did prove,
|
and craved their good wills.
|
I have found out a wife quoth he,
|
I pray you Father give her me,
|
Though she a strangers daughter be,
|
I passe not.
|
Then did bespeake his Parents deere,
|
Have we not many Maydens here,
|
Of Country, and acquaintance neere,
|
for thee to love and like?
|
O no, (quoth Sampson presently)
|
Not one so pleasant in mine eye,
|
Whom I could find so faithfully
|
to fancy.
|
At length they graunted their consent:
|
And so with Sampson foorth they went,
|
To see the Mayd was their intent.
|
which was so fayre and bright:
|
But as they were a going there,
|
A Lyon put them in great feare,
|
Whom Sampson presently did teare,
|
in peeces.
|
When they were come unto the place,
|
They were agreed in the case:
|
The wedding day appoynted was:
|
and when the time was come.
|
As Sampson went for beauties fees,
|
The Lyons carkasse there he sees,
|
Wherein a sort of hunny Bees
|
had swearmed.
|
Then closely Sampson went his way,
|
And not a word thereof did say,
|
Untill the merry feasting day,
|
unto the company.
|
A Riddle I will shew, quoth he,
|
The meaning if you tell to me
|
Within seven dayes, I will give yee
|
great riches.
|
But if the meaning you doe misse,
|
And cannot shew me what it is,
|
Then shall you give to me (I wisse)
|
so much as I have said.
|
Put forth thy Riddle (then quoth they)
|
And we will tell it by our day,
|
Or we will lose (as thou dost say)
|
the wager.
|
Then marke (quoth hee) the totall summe,
|
Out of the eater meate did come,
|
And from the strong did sweetnes runne,
|
declare it if you can.
|
And when they heard the Riddle told,
|
Their hearts within them waxed cold:
|
For none of them could then unfold
|
the meaning.
|
Then unto Sampsons wife went they
|
And threatned her without delay,
|
If she would not the thing bewray,
|
to burne her Fathers house.
|
Then Sampsons wife with greefe and woe,
|
Desired him the same to shew:
|
And when she knew she straight did goe
|
to tell them.
|
Then were they all full glad of this,
|
To tell the thing they did not misse,
|
What stronger beast then Lyon is?
|
What sweeter meate then Hunny:
|
Then Sampson answered them full round:
|
If my Hayfar had not ploughed the ground,
|
So easily you had not found
|
my Riddle.
|
Then Sampson did his losses pay,
|
And to his father went his way,
|
But whilst with them he there did stay,
|
his wife forsooke him quite.
|
And tooke another to her Love,
|
Which Samsons anger much did move,
|
To plague them therefore he did prove
|
his cunning.
|
A subtill sight he then had found,
|
To burne their corne upon the ground,
|
Their Vineyardes he destroyed round
|
which made them fret and fume.
|
But when they knew that Sampson he
|
Had done them all this injury,
|
Because his wife did him denie,
|
they killed her:
|
And afterward they had decreed,
|
To murther Sampson for that deed,
|
Three thousand men they sent with speede,
|
to bring him bound to them:
|
But he did breake his cords apace,
|
And with the Jaw-bone of an Asse,
|
A thousand men ere he did passe,
|
he killed.
|
When all his foes were laid in dust,
|
Then Sampson was full sore athirst,
|
In God therefore was all his trust,
|
to helpe his fanting heart:
|
For liquor thereabout was none:
|
The Lord therefore from the Jaw-bone,
|
Did make fresh water spring alone,
|
to helpe him.
|
Then Sampson had a joyfull spright,
|
And in a Citty lay that night,
|
Whereas his foes with deadly spight,
|
did seeke his life to spill:
|
But he at midnight then awakes,
|
And tearing downe the Citty gates,
|
With him away the same he takes,
|
most stoutly.
|
Then on Dalila faire and bright,
|
Did Sampson set his whole delight,
|
Whom he did love both day and night,
|
which wrought his overthrow:
|
For she with sweete words did intreat,
|
That for her sake he would repeat,
|
Wherein his strength, that was so great,
|
consisted.
|
At length unto his utter fall,
|
And through her sute, which was not smal
|
He did not let to shew her all,
|
the secrets of his heart:
|
If that my hayre be cut (quoth he)
|
Which now so fayre and long you see,
|
Liks other men then shall I be,
|
in weaknesse.
|
Then through deceit which was so deepe,
|
She lulled Sampson fast asleepe,
|
A man she cald which she did keepe,
|
to cut off all his hayre.
|
Then did she call his hatefull foes,
|
Ere Sampson from her lap arose,
|
Who could not then withstand their blows
|
for weakenesse,
|
To bind him fast they did devise,
|
Then did they put out both his eyes,
|
In Prison wofully he lyes,
|
and there he grinds the Mill.
|
But God remembred all his payne,
|
And did restore his strenght agayne,
|
Although that bound he did remaine,
|
in Prison
|
The Philistines now were glad of this,
|
For joy they made a feast (I wisse)
|
And al their Princes did not misse
|
to come unto the same:
|
And being merry bent that day,
|
For Sampson they did send straightway
|
That they might laugh to see him play
|
among them
|
Then to the house was Sampson led
|
And when he had theire fancies fed,
|
He pluckt the house upon their head,
|
and downe they tumbled all:
|
So that with greefe and deadly paine,
|
Three thousand persons there were slain[e]
|
Thus Sampson then with all his traine,
|
was brained.
|
|
|
|
|
|