Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

When the next day had, with his morning light,
Redeem'd the East from the dark shades of night;
And, with his golden raies, had overspred
The neighb'ring Mountaines; from his loathed Bed,
Sick-thoughted Samson rose, whose watchfull eyes,
Morpheus that night had, with his leaden keyes;
Not power to close: his thoughts did so incumber
His restlesse soule, his eyes could never slumber;
Whose softer language, by degrees did wake
His fathers sleepe-bedeafned eares, and spake;

Sir; Let your early blessings light upon
The tender bosome of your prosprous Sonne,
And let the God of Israel repay
Those blessings, double, on your head, this day:
The long-since banisht shadowes make me bold
To let you know, the morning waxes old;
The Sunbeames are growne strong; their brighter hiew
Have broke the Mists, and dride the morning dewe;
The sweetnesse of the season does invite
Your steps to visit Timnah, and acquite
Your last nights promise:
With that the Danite and his wife arose,

301

Scarce yet resolv'd, at last they did dispose
Their doubtfull paces, to behold the prize
Of Samsons heart, and pleasure of his eyes;
They went, and when their travell had attain'd
Those fruitfull hills, whose clusters entertain'd
Their thirsty palats, with their swelling pride,
The musing lover being stept aside
To gaine the pleasure of a lonely thought,
Appear'd a full ag'd Lyon, who had sought
(But could not finde) his long desired prey;
Soone as his eye had given him hopes to pay
His debt to nature, and to mend that fault
His empty stomacke found, he made assault
Vpon th'unarmed Lovers brest, whose hand
Had neither staffe, nor weapon, to withstand
His greedy rage; but he whose mighty strength
Or sudden death must now appeare, at length,
Stretcht forth his brawny arme, (his arme supplide
With power from heaven) and did, with ease, divide
His body limme from limme, and did betray
His flesh to foules, that lately sought his prey:
This done; his quicke redoubled paces make
His stay amends; his nimble steps oretake
His leading parents; who by this, discover
The smoake of Timnah: Now the greedy Lover
Thinkes every step, a mile; and every pace
A measur'd League, untill he see that face,
And finde the treasure of his heart, that lies
In the faire Casket of his Mistresse Eyes;
But, all this while, close Samson made not knowne
Vnto his Parents, what his hands had done:
By this, the gate of Timnah entertaines
The welcome travellers: The parents paines
Are now rewarded with their sonnes best pleasure:

302

The Virgin comes; His eyes can finde no leisure,
To owne another object: O, the greeting
Th'impatient lovers had at their first meeting!
The Lover speakes; She answers; He replies;
She blushes; He demandeth; Shee denies;
He pleads affection; She doubts; He sues
For nuptiall love; She questions; He renewes
His earnest suite: Importunes; She relents;
He must have no deniall; She consents:
They passe their mutual loves: Their joyned hands
Are equall earnests of the nuptiall bands:
The parents are agreed; All parties pleas'd;
The day's set downe; the lovers hearts are eas'd,
Nothing displeases now, but the long stay
Betwixt th'appointment, and the mariage day.