66 66 thee; how didst thou rend the feeble ties! Thou "fearest nought, what shouldst thou fear? Thy power is more than mortal, none can hurt thee; "thy bones are brass, thy sinews are iron! Ten "thousand spears are like the summer grass; an "army of mighty men are as flocks in the valleys: "what canst thou fear? I drink my tears like 66 water; I live upon sorrow! O worse than wolves "and tigers, what canst thou give when such a "trifle is denied me? But, oh! at last thou mockest "me, to shame my over-fond inquiry! Thou toldest "me to weave thee to the beam by thy strong "hair; I did even that to try thy truth: but when "I cried, The Philistines be upon thee! then didst "thou leave me to bewail that Samson loved me "not." He sat, and inward grieved, he saw and loved the beauteous suppliant, nor could conceal aught that might appease her; then, leaning on her bosom, thus he spoke: "Hear, O Dalila ! "doubt no more of Samson's love; for that fair "breast was made the ivory palace of my inmost "heart, where it shall lie at rest; for sorrow is the "lot of all of woman born: for care was I brought "forth, and labour is my lot: nor matchless might, nor wisdom, nor every gift enjoyed, can from "the heart of man hide sorrow. Twice was my "birth foretold from heaven, and twice a sacred vow enjoined me that I should drink no wine, nor eat of any unclean thing, for holy unto 66 G "Israel's God I am, a Nazarite even from my "mother's womb. Twice was it told, that it might "not be broken: Grant me a son, kind Heaven, "Manoa cried; but Heaven refused! Childless "he mourned, but thought his God knew best. "In solitude, though not obscure, in Israel he "lived, till venerable age came on his flocks "increased, and plenty crowned his board: be"loved, revered of man! But God hath other "joys in store. Is burdened Israel his grief? "The son of his old age shall set it free! The "venerable sweetener of his life receives the pro"mise first from Heaven. She saw the maidens "play, and blessed their innocent mirth; she "blessed each new-joined pair; but from her the "long-wished deliverer shall spring. Pensive, alone "she sat within the house, when busy day was "fading, and calm evening, time for contemplation, 66 rose from the forsaken east, and drew the curtains "of heaven: pensive she sat, and thought on Israel's 'grief, and silent prayed to Israel's God; when "lo! an angel from the fields of light entered the "house! His form was manhood in the prime, "and from his spacious brow shot terrors through "the evening shade! But mild he hailed her— 66 66 Hail, highly favoured! said he; for lo! thou "shalt conceive, and bear a son, and Israel's "strength shall be upon his shoulders, and he "shall be called Israel's Deliverer. Now, therefore, "drink no wine, and eat not any unclean thing; "for he shall be a Nazarite to God.-Then, as a "neighbour, when his evening tale is told, departs, "his blessing leaving; so seemed he to depart: she "wondered with exceeding joy, nor knew he was "an angel. Manoa left his fields to sit in the "house, and take his evening's rest from labour"the sweetest time that God has allotted mortal man. He sat, and heard with joy, and praised "God, who Israel still doth keep. The time rolled 'on, and Israel groaned oppressed. The sword "was bright, while the ploughshare rusted, till "hope grew feeble, and was ready to give place 66 to doubting; then prayed Manoa: O Lord, thy "flock is scattered on the hills! The wolf teareth "them, Oppression stretches his rod over our "land, our country is ploughed with swords, and "reaped in blood! The echoes of slaughter reach "from hill to hill! Instead of peaceful pipe the "shepherd bears a sword; the ox-goad is turned "into a spear! O when shall our Deliverer come? "The Philistine riots on our flocks, our vintage is "gathered by bands of enemies! Stretch forth thy "hand, and save. Thus prayed Manoa. The aged 66 woman walked into the field, and lo! again the "angel came, clad as a traveller fresh risen on "his journey. She ran and called her husband, "who came and talked with him. "said he, thou comest from far! O man of God, Let us detain "thee while I make ready a kid, that thou mayest "sit and eat, and tell us of thy name and warfare; "that when thy sayings come to pass, we may "honour thee. The angel answered, My name is "Wonderful; inquire not after it, seeing it is a "secret; but, if thou wilt, offer an offering unto "the Lord." |