Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thus when victorious Samson had unliv'd
This hoast of armed men; and had reviv'd
His fainting spirits, and refresht his tongue
With those sweet christal streames, that lately sprūg
From his neglected weapon, he arose
(Secured from the tyrannie of his Foes

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By his Heaven-borrowed strength) & boldly came
To a Philistian City, knowne by th'name
Of Azza; where, as he was passing by,
The carelesse Champion cast his wandring eye
Vpon a face, whose beauty did invite
His wanton heart to wonder and delight:
Her curious haire was crisp'd: Her naked brest
Was white as Ivory, and fairely drest
With costly Iewells: In her glorious face,
Nature was hidden, and dissembled grace
Damaskt her rosie cheekes: Her eyes did sparke,
At every glance, like Diamonds in the darke;
Bold was her brow; whose frowne was but a foile
To glorifie her better-pleasing smile;
Her pace was carelesse, seeming to discover
The passions of a discontented Lover:
Sometime, her opned Casement gives her eye
A twinckling passage to the passer by;
And, when her fickle fancy had given ore
That place, she comes, and wantons at the doore;
There Samson view'd her, and his steps could finde
No further ground; but (guided by his minde)
Cast Anchor there: Have thy observing eyes
Ere mark'd the Spiders garbe, How close she lies
Within her curious webbe; And by and by,
How quicke she hastes to her intangled Flie;
And whispring poyson in her murmuring eares,
At last, she tugges her silent guest, and beares
His Hampred body to the inner roome
Of her obscure and solitary Home;
Even so this snaring beauty entertaines
Our eye-led Samson, tampred with the chaines
Of her imperious eyes; and he, that no man
Could conquer; now lies conquered by a woman:

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Faire was his welcome, and as fairely exprest
By her delicious language, which profest
No lesse affection than so sweet a friend,
Could, with her best expressions, recommend:
Into her glorious chamber she directs
Her welcome guest, and with her faire respects
She entertaines him; with a bountious kisse,
She gives him earnest of a greater blisse;
And with a brazen countenance, she brake
The way to her unchaste desires, and spake;

Mirrour of mankinde, thou selected flowre
Of loves faire knot, welcome to Flora's bowre;
Cheare up my Love; and looke vpon these eyes,
Wherein my beauty, and thy picture lyes;
Come take me prisner, in thy folded armes;
And boldly strike up sprightly loves alarmes
Vpon these rubey lips, and let us trie
The sweets of love; Here's none but thee and I:
My beds are softest downe, and purest lawne
My sheets; my Vallents and my curtaines drawne
In gold and silkes of curious die: Behold,
My covrinsg are of Tap'stry, 'inricht with gold;
Come, come, and let us take our fill of pleasure;
My husbands absence lends me dainty leasure
To give thee welcome: Come, let's spend the night
In sweet enjoyment of unknowne delight.
Her words prevail'd: And being both undrest,
Together went to their defiled rest:
By this the newes of Samsons being there
Possest the City, and fill'd every eare:
His death is plotted; And advantage lends
New hopes of speed: An armed guard attends
At every gate, that when the breaking day
Shall send him forth, th'expecting forces may

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Betray him to his sudden death; and so
Revenge their kingdomes ruines at a blow:
But lustfull Samson (whose distrustfull eares
Kept open house) was now possest with feares:
He heares a whisp'ring; and the trampling feet
Of people passing in the silent street;
He whom undaunted courage lately made
A glorious Conquerour, is now afraid;
His conscious heart is smitten with his sinne;
He cannot chuse but feare, and feare agin:
He feares; and now the terrible alarmes
Of sinne doe call him from th'unlawfull armes
And lips of his luxurious Concubine;
Bids him, arise from dalliance, and resigne
The usurpation of his luke-warme place
To some new sinner, whose lesse dangerous case
May lend more leisure to so soule a deed:
Samson, with greater and vnwonted speed
Leapes from his wanton bed; his feares doe presse
More haste to cloath; than lust did, to undresse:
He makes no tarryance; but with winged hast,
Bestrides the streets; and to the gates he past,
And through the armed troupes, he makes his way;
Beares gates, and barres, and pillers all away;
So scap'd the rage of the Philistian band,
That still must owe his ruine, to their land.