Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Now when as strong limb'd Samson had dispos'd
His trifling thoughts to children, and disclos'd
His bud of child-hood, which being overgrowne,
And blossome of his youth so fully blowne,
That strength of nature now thought good to seeke
Her entertainment on his downy cheeke,
And with her manly bounty did begin
To uneffeminate his smoother chin,
He went to Timnah; whither, did resort
A great concourse of people, to disport
Themselves with pastime; or, perchance, to show
Some martiall Feats (as they were wont to doe)
Scaffolds were builded round about, whereon
The Crowne of eye-delighted lookers on
Were closely pil'd: As Samsons wandring eye
Was ranging up and downe, he did espye
A comely Virgin, beautifull and young,
Where she was seated midst the gazing throng:
The more he view'd, the more his eye desir'd
To view her face; and as it view'd, admir'd;
His heart, inflam'd; his thoughts were all on fire;

295

His passions all were turn'd into desire;
Such were his lookes, that she might well discry
A speaking lover in his sparkling eye:
Sometimes his reason bids his thoughts beware,
Lest he be catcht in a Philistian snare;
And then, his thwarting passion would reply
Feare not to be a prisoner to that eye:
Reason suggests; 'Tis vaine, to make a choyce,
Where parents have an over-ruling voyce:
Passion replies, That feare and filiall duty
Must serve affection, and subscribe to beauty:
Whilst Reason faintly mov'd him to neglect,
Prevailing passion urg'd his soule t'affect:
Passion concludes; Let her enjoy thy heart:
Reason concludes; But let thy tongue impart
Thy affection to thy parents, and discover
To them, thy thoughts: With that the wounded lover
(Whose quicke-divided paces had out runne
His lingring heart) like an observant sonne,
Repaires unto his parents; fully made
Relation of his troubled thoughts, and said,
Sir.
This day, at Timnah, to these wretched eyes,
Being taken captive with the novelties
Which entertain'd my pleased thoughts, appear'd
A fairer object; which, hath so endear'd
My very soule, (with sadnesse so distrest)
That this poore heart can finde no ease, no rest;
It was a Virgin; in whose Heavenly face,
Vnpattern'd Beauty, and diviner Grace
Were so conjoyn'd, as if they both conspir'd
Te make one Angell; when these eyes enquir'd
Into the excellence of her rare perfection,
They could not choose but like, and my affection

296

Is so inflamed with desire, that I
Am now become close prisoner to her eye;
Now if my sad Petition may but finde
A faire successe to ease my tortur'd minde;
And if your tender hearts be pleas'd to prove
As prone to pitty mine, as mine to love;
Let me, with joy, exchange my single life,
And be the husband of so faire a wise.
Whereto, th'amazed parents, (in whose eye
Distast and wonder percht) made this reply;

What strange desire, what vnadvis'd request
Hath broken loose from thy distracted brest?
What! are the Daughters of thy brethren growne
So poore in Worth, and Beauty? Is there none
To please that over-curious eye of thine,
But th'issue of a cursed Philistine?
Can thy miswandring eyes choose none, but her,
That is the child of an Idolater?
Correct thy thoughts, and let thy soule rejoyce
In lawfull beauty: Make a wiser choyce:

How well this counsell pleas'd the tyred eares
Of love-sicke Samson: O, let him that beares
A crost affection, judge: Let him discover
The wofull case of this afflicted lover:
What easie pencill cannot represent
His very lookes? How his sterne browes were bent?
His drooping head? his very port and guise?
His bloodlesse cheekes, and deadnesse of his eyes?
Till, at the length, his moving tongue betrai'd
His sullen lips to language, thus; and said: Sir,

Th'extreame affection of my heart does leade
My tongue, (that's quickned with my love) to plead
What, if her parents be not circumcis'd?
Her issue shall; and she, perchance, advis'd

297

To worship Israels God, and, to forget
Her fathers house; Alas, she is as yet,
Let young; her downy yeares are greene, and tender;
Shee's but a twigge, and time may easly bend her
T'embrace the truth: Our counsells {may} controule
Her sinfull breeding, and so save a soule:
“ Nay; who can tell, but Heaven did recommend
Her beauty to these eyes, for such an end?
O lose not that which Heaven is pleas'd to save,
Let Samson then obtaine, as well as crave:
You gave me being, then prolong my life
And make me husband to so faire a wife.
With that the parēts joyn'd their whispering heads;
Samson observes; and, in their parly, reads
Some Characters of hope; The mother smiles;
The father frownes; which, Samson reconciles
With hopefull fears; She smiles, & smiling crownes
His hopes; which, He deposes with his frownes:
The whispring ended; joyntly they displaid,
A halfe resolved countenance, and said,

Samson, suspend thy troubled minde a while,
Let not thy over-charged thoughts recoile:
Take heed of Shipwracke; Rocks are neare the Shore;
“ Wee'l see the Virgin, and resolve thee more.