University of Virginia Library

Nuncius.
After the victory that Iephte gott agaynst the Ammonites
a great sedition raysed was agaynst hym by the Ephraits
who threatned for to burne his house though no iust cause they had
there of, but pickt a quarell agaynst hym & the men of Galaad.
But Iephte when that no myld answeare would Ephraim appease
but rather did agaynst all reason them more & more displease,
The Galaadits he wt h hym tooke & mett them in the field
where of them two & twenty thousand deseruedly hee kild
Amongst whom that flede, requested them to lett hym passe
protestinge earnestly to them that he no Ephrait was.
They bade hym then schibboleth pronounce (wc h ys an eare of corne)
Sibboleth quoth he (for none of them that were in Ephraim borne
were able to expresse an eare of corne by the same letter)
wherefore immediatly they kild hym as they had the other.
And when for the space of Six yeares Iephte had Israel iudged
he dyed, & in his place Abesan of Ephraim hym succeeded,
who thirty sonnes & thirty Daughters had, wc h he bestowed
in mariage, & dyed when he seuen yeares had Israel iudged.
And after hym Ahialon iudg'd Israel for ten yeares space,
& dyed then: And Abdon was elected in his place,
whom god did blesse wt h fourty sonnes & thirty Nephews also
mounted vpon seuenty Asse colts, for vsually they rydd so:
& eight yeares he did Israel iudge, & this lyfe departed
& since his death Israel agayne agaynst our Lor[d] hath synned
for wc h god hath deliuered them vp into the philisthijmes hands
who now full fourty yeares haue prayd vpon them & their lands
And what redresse here after they shall fynd as yet's not knowne
but listen & yt will appeare in tyme: so I'l be gone.

Vxor Manue.
Who's this wt h such a terrible face & countenance Angelicall?
Whence do you come, & by what name (good sir) may I you call?

Angell
Good woman Manues wyfe of saraa, & the stocke of Dan
thou barren art, & children wants, but thou by thy goodman
conceiue shall & bringe forth a sonne. wherefore see thou refrayne
drynke of sicer & wyne, & all such meates as are vncleane
because thou shalt conceiue & beare a sonne, whose head the raser
shall not touch, for from's infancy & the wombe of his mother
he shall a Nazarite be of god, & begin to deliuer
the Israelits out of the cruell phylisthijms hands & power

Vxor Manue
What are you gone? Husband I wish you had come somewhat sooner
then might you haue a man of god seene that came to me hither,
whose countenance lyke to an Angels was exceedinge terrible
but when I askt his name, & whence he came, he would not tell.
Only he sayd: Behold thou shall conceiue, & a sonne beare.
see thou eate no meate that's vncleane, nor drinke any wyne or sicer
for the child shall a Nazarite be of good euen from his infancy
& from his mothers wombe vntill the day that he shall dy

Manue
Lord let the man of god whom thou did send agayne returne
to teach vs what to do vnto the child that shall be borne.
Now wyfe occasions draw me hence, I'l leaue thee here alone.

Vxor manue.
Husband god speede you well: & after you I'l come anone.
Good lord I see thou hast graunted the prayer of my husband
for here's the man of god agayne. I'l lett hym vnderstand.
Lo husband where he ys.

Man[ue].
Art thou be that spake to the woman?

Angell
I am.

Man[ue].
when thy worde shall fulfilled be acquaint me than
what will thou that the child shall do? or from what things shall hee
hym self refrayne?

Ang[ell].
from all things that I to thy wyfe did specify.
Nothinge that of the vinyard groeth lett hym haue for his meate,
nor wyne nor sicer drynke, nor any thinge that's vncleane eate

Manue
I pray the graunt me this: a kidd of goats let's make vnto thee

Angell
Assure thy self I will not eate thy breade yf thou constrayne mee.
but yf thou wil't a holocaust make offer yt vnto our lord

Manue
What's thy name that I may the honour, yf fulfild be thy word.

Angell
Wherefore dost thou demaund what my name ys, the wc h ys merueilous?

Manue
Then will I sacrifice vnto our lord which doth things wonderous.

Vxor manue.
Looke husband looke he vp to heauen ascendeth wt h the flame.

Manue.
yt was no man, but th'Angell of our lord that to vs came:
& dyinge we shall dye because we haue our lord god seene.

Vxor manue.
yf that our lord would vs haue kild our holocaust had not bene
by hym receiued at our hands: neyther would he haue shewed
vs all these things, nor to vs haue the things to come declared.

Manue
Thou sayst well wyfe: but syth hee's gone, we'l also hence depart

Vxor manue.
Go when, & whither you will, I'l waite on you wt h all my hearte.

Nuncius
You must imagin now that many yeares are past & gone
& that to Manue s borne (as th'Angell did fore tell) a sonne,
who Samson's cald & ys at mans estate, & of god blessed
& strengthned wt h his spirit, & vnto Thamnatha's descended
where wt h one of the philisthijms daughters he fallen ys in loue:
but yt rests doubtfull yet whether yt a match or none will bee
for his parents vnwillinge are to geue there to consent
syth wt h the gentils Israel may not marrie by gods commandment.
But what th'euent there of will be, yf you will geue attention
shall streight appeare: & so adew, for hence I must be gone.

Samson
Father manue in Thamnatha I saw a philisthijms daughter
your fauours both I craue that I vnto my wyfe may haue her

Manue
of all thy brethrens daughters & my people can thou not make
a wyfe, but of th'vncircumced philisthijms one will take?

Samson.
Take this for me: for only shee to myne eyes geues content

Vxor manue.
We would but that yt ys for bydden playnly by gods commandment

Samson
yt's true shee sayth that marriage wt h the gentils ys prohibited
yet god wt h me (vnknowne to them) at this tyme hath dispensed:
for by this match agaynst the philisthijms I do seeke occasion
to be reueng'd, because they ouer Israell haue dominion
yet here wt h I'l acquaint neyther my father nor my mother
but humbly them intreate agayne for to let me inioy her:
Once more I do beseech you both wt h me downe for to go
to Thamnatha, & on this woman in marriage me bestow

Manue
yt's lyke wyfe this his suite proceedes from god, wherefore we will
go downe wt h hym: Sonne Samson come, thy mynd we will fulfill.

Nuncius
Now Samson vnto Thamnatha ys wt h his parents gone
& when that they were come vnto the vinyards of the Towne
a cruell Lions whelpe did roaringe meete hym as he went.
whom (gods spirit vpon Samson cominge) he al to peeces rent
as though yt had bene but a kydd, in his hand haueinge nothinge
& neyther made father nor mother there of priuy at their meetinge.
And after fewe days goinge agayne to her whom his eyes lyked
he went a syde to see the Lions carcasse wc h he had killed:
In whose mouth was a swarme of bees, & hony combe wc h he sucked
& to his parents comminge parte there of to them imparted,
who also eate there of: but to them would not make yt knowne
that he had taken that same hony from the mouth of the Lion.
Then went his father to the woman & a great feast prepared
for his sonne as the custome was, & the citizens appoynted
thirty yonge men t'accompany hym: & what more will be done
shall by them selues declared bee, & there fore I'l be gone.

Samson
frendes & companions I will now propose to you a ridle
the wc h yf you wt hin the seuen days of the feast be able
to solue, Thirty syndons, & as many coats I'l geue to you
But yf you reede yt not, as many on mee you shall bestow

Strutho
content we are: propound the ridle, that we may heare the same

Samson
Out of the eater meate, & sweetenes forth of the stronge came.

phorbus
Samson this Ridle's hard, & sodaynly can not be solued
Yet we hope we shall reede the same wt h in the tyme prefixed
& to consult there on in the meane space we'l hence begone

Samson
So do, & when you are resolu'd tell me your resolution
the while I'l to my parents go, who do expect my presence
as I appoyntment made wt h them before that I came thence.

Strutho.
Since Samson did propose his ridle six days are fully complete
& the seuenth day ys come, & yet we can not yt interprete
wherefore we must be forct to go vnto the wyfe of Samson
& will her to persuade her husband to tell her the solution
& vs then to acquaint there wt h. & here shee comes as fittly
as wee could wishe. Birsa the wyfe of samson let's intreate thee
to go vnto thy husband & persuade hym for to tell
to thee wt h out delay th'interpretation of his ridle
that thou may yt declare to vs: wc h yf thou wilt not do
we'l burne thee & thy fathers house. Haue you cald vs vnto
the Bridall that you might vs spoyle, & bringe vs to destruction

Birsa
yonge men contented be, & I'l directly go to Samson
& that of hym intreate, & yt impart to you agayne

phorbus
So do, & we will be neither thyne nor thy fathers bane

Birsa.
Husband yt seemes you loue me not, wc h to my griefe ys spoken
& therefore all this while to my request you did not herken
but haue refus'd from tyme to tyme the ridle to expounde
to me, wc h you to the sonnes of my people did profound

Samson
ffrom myne owne father & my mother I did conceale the same:
& then in keepinge yt from thee how should I be to blame?

Birsa
yt's nothinge to me what you did to them: but yf you loue mee
expound this probleme vnto me, else for griefe I shall dye.

Samson
I will yt to the tell for to avoyde this molestation.
What sweeter ys then hony, & what is stronger then a lion

Birsa
Thankes hushand: now I know assur'd that you do loue me well
in that you haue voutsafte this secret vnto me to tell

Samson
And as thou loues me vnto none see that thou yt discouer

Birsa
Not to the dearest frende I haue though yt were myne owne father

Samson
yf thou do as thou sayst yt's well, & so let vs begone

Birsa
Husband go you before, & I'l come after you a none.
So now he hath to me declard the secrets of his ridle
I'l yt reveale wt h out delay to the sonnes of my people.
who now are cominge here, as yt should seeme very sore perplexed
lest the sunne should be sett before they haue this ridle solued.
by reason of the forfeyture dependinge there vpon

Strutho.
Birsa well mett: can thou solue yet this doubtfull proposition?

Birsa
What sweeter ys then hony? & then a Lion what ys stronger?
This I of samson learn'd, who bade me tell ytt to no other.
So fare you well for here he'l bee hym self wt h you a none
to see yf that ere the sunne sett you can resolue his question.

Samson
My frendes well mett, can you solue yet the probleme I proposed?
or will you yield ingeniously your selues to be euicted?

phorbus.
What sweeter ys then hony? & then the lion what ys stronger

Samson.
You had not redd my ridle yf you had not plough'd wt h my heyfer
But syth I haue the wager lost, yt shall discharged bee
wherefore let's in returne, & I will satisfy you presently

Nuncius
The spirit of god on samson came when he from them departed
& streight to Ascalon he went, where thirty men he killed:
whose garments he did take away & gaue them vnto them
(accordinge to the bargayne made) who solued had his question
& vp vnto his fathers house he went in raginge passions
but his wyfe tooke to husband one of his bridall companions.
Yet afterward when the days of wheate haruest were at hand
Samson went for to visit his wyfe as became a kynd husband
wc h when her father vnderstoode in no wyse he would suffer
Samson for to go into her after his vsuall maner
sayinge he was persuaded that he had his daughter hated
& therefore he vnto a frend of his had her deliuered.
But I quoth he an other daughter haue yonger & fayrer
whom take thou for thy wyfe if yt please thee in steede of th'other.
Not so sayd samson but from this day forward I am free
to do the Philisthijms all the hurt I can by might or policy
& then he went & caus'd three hundred foxes to be catched
& coupled them tayle to tayle, & burninge fire brands to them tyed
& so did let them go, as fury dryue them for to runne
hopeinge thereby (as yt fell out) Philisthijmes would be vndone.
for they into the philisthijms corne wt h out stay went directly.
& sett yt on a fyre, & all the corne was burn'd vp presently
& the vinyards & oliuets also were wt h the flame spoyled
as yt by Samson was, when he ye foxes caught, intended
And when the Philisthijms knew yt Samson was thereof causer
for yt his wyfe was from hym taken, & geuen to an other
both the woman & her fathers house they went & forth wt h burned.
yet not wt h standinge samson threatned on them to be reuenged
for fully he persuaded was that all this they had done
was not for iustice sake, but did proceede only of passion.
And by hym synce that tyme wt h a great plague they stryken bee
so yt astonied they calfe of their legge layd on the thigh.
And Samson now in the caue of the rocke of Elam dwelleth
& in Iuda all the whole multitude of the philisthiims campeth
but to what issue these things will come here after shall be knowne
yf that you will attentyue be a while, so I'l begone.

Morio
Why are you philisthijms come agaynst vs of the Tribe of Iuda?

Bezac.
That we may samson bynde, & th'ill he did vs hym repay

Ochas
Yf that the cause be we'l hym bound in to your hands deliuer
& now we'l downe to the rocke Elam go, & fetch hym hither,
where you may ready be in for to rush vpon hym sodaynly

Subeg
We will, So fare you well, but carefull be to bynde hym surely
for yf he once get loose he'l not care for vs all a straw
so very stronge he ys, but some great mischiefe will vs do

Morio
Here is the caue where Samson dwells: let's call hym to vs: samson?

Samson
Who's there? my countrymen? what wynd hath you downe hither blowne?

Ochas
Knows not thou that the philisthijms now are rulers of our land?
why hast thou done this thinge? The cause there of let's vnderstand.

Samson
As they haue done to me, so I agayne to them haue done

Morio
To bynd thee we are come, & bound must bringe thee to them samson

Samson
Let me your promise haue vpon your oath you will not kill mee

Ochas
In fayth we will not kill thee, but only bound vnto them bringe thee.

Samson
Then will I willinge be to let you tye me at your pleasure

Morio
& two new cordes here ready are wc h be both stronge & sure.
here wt h lett's bynde thy hands together. So now thou art fast tyed
vnto the philisthijms go wt h vs, & we will be thy guyde

Bezac.
Come princes come: samson's at hand, & bound he seemes to be
Now may we be reueng'd on hym I hope for all his villany

Samson
What Noyse ys this I heare as though yt were of men of warre
& now in sight they do appeare, doubtlesse they philisthijms are

Ochas
Looke looke the spirit on samson's come, & he hath broken
the two new cords lyke flaxe burnt in the fyre, or that's quite rotten
& wt h the Iaw bone of an Asse wc h he by chaunce hath founde
he rounde about hym lays, & dings the philisthijms to the grounde.
& a great slaughter makes, wherefore yt's our best to be gone
lest that we also chaunce to feele the waight of his Iaw bone.

Samson
I in the Iaw bone of an asse haue kild a thousand me
& in the iawe bone of the shee asse colt a thousand I haue stryken
for wc h the name of god be prays'd who my assistant was
And hence forth shall Ramathclechi the name be of this place
that is, the liftinge vp of the iaw bone, wc h now away
I'l hurle. Lord I the thanke for my great victory this day.
But I exceedinge thirsty am: Lord wilt thou lett me dye
for want of drynke? do not so lord most humbly I beseech thee
lest I should fall into the hands of the vncircumcised
But send me drynke to quench my thirst, that my lyfe may be saued.
I see thou neuer fayles them lord whose trust in the is fixed
for a great tooth of th'Asses Iaw thou gratiously hast opened
& out of yt made water runne that I may drynke my fill
for wc h extoll thy holy name for euer more I will
So now my thirst ys quench't, & my strength's come to me agayne
to the rocke Elam I'l returne, & there a while remayne.

Nuncius
Since the tyme Samson gott agaynst the philisthijms his great victory
he vp to Gaza went vnto a Harlot in that citty
wc h when the philisthijms vnderstood, they forth wt h hym invironed
& keepers at the citty gate in the night season placed
wt h silence for to watch, that when he went forth in ye morninge
they might hym kill. But till midnight he slept, & then arysinge
the citty gate, leaues, posts, & locke he on his shoulders caryed
to the top of a mountayne where he lefte them, & escaped.
And since that tyme in loue he's fallen wt h Dalila a woman
who in the valley Sorec dwells, to whom the Philisthijms ran
so soone as they did heare there of, & seriously intreated
her for to learne of Samson in what thinge his strength consisted
& how they might hym bynde wt h faythfull promise for to geue her
yf shee bringe yt to passe a mighty masse & summe of syluer
But whether she can yt effect or no as yet's not knowne
but shortly will; for see Dalila here comes woeinge of Samson

Dalila
Samson myne owne sweete heart tell me accordinge to your promise
what kynd of band thou canst not breake, & where in thy strength ys

Samson
yf wt h seuen cords of vndryed sinews I should be tyed then
myne owne deare Dalila I should be in strength lyke other men

Dalila
That will I try for seuen such cordes I will fetch hither presently.
Lo here they are, Samson lett mee now thy hands there wt h tye
So I haue made them sure. The philisthijms come vpon thee samson

Samson
Then yt's high tyme to looke about me on an other fashion.

Dalila
Lo he the cordes hath broken as a man would breake a threede
of tow, wc h when the philisthijms saw they ran away wt h speede.
Samson why hast thou me deceiu'd, & told me an vntroth
Thee to haue serued so I would haue bene exceedinge loth.
But as thou loues me let me know where wt h thou may be tyed
& not get loose agayne.

Sams[on].
Wt h new cordes that were neuer occupied
for then I shall be weake, & lyke vnto an other man.

Dalila
Such cordes I'l fetch forth wt h, & once more triall make agayne
Lo samson they are here: Let me thy hands together tye

Samson
As surely as thou wilt my wench, for I'l geue thee free liberty.

Dalila.
So I haue tyed them fast I hope. The philisthijms on thee samson

Samson
To looke then to my self forth wt h yt standeth me vpon

Dalila.
Lo he the bands agayne hath broken lyke threeds of lynnen cloth
& the philisthijms are fledd. Samson in thee there ys no troth
why wilt thou still deceiue me thus who loueth thee so well
What band ys that thou canst not breake? The truth vnto mee tell

Samson
Yf seuen heires dalila of my head wt h a heire lace be platted
& wrapt about a nayle vnto the ground be surely fastned
I shall be weake.

Dalil[a].
There of sweete heart I'l forth wt h make conclusion
Now ys the Nayle fast in the ground. The philisthijms on thee Samson

Samson
Yt's tyme then to awake lest that by them I should be murdered

Dalila
The Nayle he hath pluct our agayne, where wt h the Philisthijms frighted
are fledd away for feare. How dost thou say samson thou loues mee
Where as thou loues me not: as by thy deedes appeareth playnly:
for thou hast lyed vnto mee thrise, & truly will not tell
me where in's thy greatst strength: wc h yf so be thou lou'd me well
thou would not haue conceald. But wt h all that ys past I'l beare
So that thou wilt no more do so, but truly tell me where
thy strength chiefly doth lye: & vntill then I will not lett
thee neyther night nor day take thy repose nor be at quiett

Samson
Alas my soule doth faynt, & wearyed vnto death I am
To purchase rest I'l tell thee truth: on my head neuer came
yron yet, for I a Nazarite am from the wombe of my mother
& yf that my head shauen were, then should I be no stronger
then other men bee, but lyke to them. for then my strength would fayle me

Dalila.
May I the trust?

Sam[son].
Boldly thou may.

Dal[ila].
Samson for that I loue thee
much better then I did before, where fore vpon my lapp
lay downe thy head yt to refresh by takeinge of a Napp.

Samson
Thankes Dalila, I will so do, for I am very heauy

Dalila
Already he begins to snore: yt seemes he sleepeth soundly:
Now I'l go & a Barber fetch streight way his head to shaue
good mr Barber softly come hither, & let me your help haue.
for shaueinge offe these seuen heirs on samsons head that grow

Barber
Now I haue done.

Dal[ila].
Here's for thy paynes, & now hence yu may go
but make no noyse for wakeninge hym.

Bar[ber].
for yt take you no care

Dalila
That's well: but hearst thou bid the philisthijms streight them selues prepare
to come once more vnto me hither: & tell them I haue learned
where samsons strength consists: & there of I haue hym depriued

Barber.
This ioyfull newes for to impart to them I will be gone

Dalila
Lo now they cominge are. The philisthijms vpon the Samson

Samson
Then I'l ryse vp & shake my self as I haue bene accustomed
Alas my strength's decaid: I feare our lord's from me departed

Binzo
Come princes let's lay hold of hym, for now his strength ys gone

Larmus
Then neede we not to feare hym as we formerly haue done

Topas
Yet not wt h standinge let's pull out his eyes for more security
& bynd hym fast in cheynes, & then to Gaza hym streight cary
& there lay hym in prison, & make hym in the myll to grinde

Binzo
Your counsel's good; we will so do: Lo now he ys starke blynde
& both his hands fast tyed wt h cheynes. Now haue we at the length
hym ouercome, & subiect made to vs for all his strength

Larmus
for that to Dalila we beholdinge are & much indebted
& forth wt h will ech farthinge pay to her that we haue promised
Dalila here's my reward, wc h wt h a thankefull heart I offer

Topas
And here ys myne, wc h wt h lyke thankes to thee I also render

Binzo.
And I as gratefully Dalila on thee will this bestow

Dalila
How to requite your curtesies (princes) I do not know.

Larmus
yt's not to do, & still we will vnto the rest beholdinge
So let's be gone, for I do longe till I see samson grindinge.

Binzo.
Princes now all our feare ys past syth samson ys in prison
where lyke a mill horse he grinds corne wt hout all intermission:
Let vs therefore together meete & that in solemne maner
that vnto our god Dagon we magnificall hosts may offer
who hath into our hands Samson our mortall foe deliuered
that dyd our country spoyle, & many of our men destroyed

Larmus
Your counsell's good: & after that we offered haue to Dagon
our sacrifice let's make a sumptuous feast, & out of prison
for Samson send, that he may then the foole before vs play
to his disgrace, & for to passe the tyme merely away.

Topas
wt h all my heart I geue consent vnto this your good motion

Binzo
And I, & so will all the rest: wherefore let's streight be gone

Nuncius
Since by the philisthijms Samson was committed vnto prison
Though they hym hardly vs'd his heirs agayne were somewhat growne
as his strength also was, so that when all the princes were
in one house at a banquet sett, & had exceedinge cheare.
Samson was out of prison fetcht before them for to play,
& beinge sett betwene two pillers where on the house did stay
he did request the seruant that was for his guide appoynted
to let hym to the pillers leane, till he hym self had rested
a litle while, wc h he did graunt, & when he had conducted
hym there vnto, thinkinge that samson had simplely requested
that at his hands, The house beinge full of men, women & children
about three Thousand of both sexe, he lookinge toward heauen
as well as a blynd man could do, vpon our lord god called
sayinge: remember me o lord, & let me be restored
to my old strength, that I may be reuenged on myne enemyes
at once to recompence them for the losse of my two eyes.
And then layinge his hands vpon the pillers, the right on th'one
& the lefte on the other sayd of zeale & not of passion:
Lord let me wt h the Philisthijms dye, & there wt h shookeye pillers
so vehemently that all the house fell downe, & broke in shyuers
& all the princes of the Philisthijms kild, wt h the whole company
that were wt h in the house litle thinkinge to haue dyed so sodaynly.
And dyinge many mo he slew then lyuinge he had slayne
(though he of many a man in his lyfe tyme had bene the bane.
Yet let no man samson condemne for that he hym self killed
in killinge of the Philisthijms for our lord there to concurred
as may appeare in that he gaue hym such strength in yt moment,
& his owne self to kill directly not [being] his intent,
but the philisthijms, though he did know yt wt h them he should dye
where in a figure he was of christ, who dyed to kill his enemy.
So that we truly may conclude that god his mynd inspyred
for to attempt that fact, & hee no way's to be condemned.
& twenty yeares he had bene iudge of Israel when he dyed
& by his brethren buried was, & so this story's ended.