Herman Milton Bien

“ The first name he shall learn to speak be thine Delilah!
Thus I implore thee, thou will grant
Such doleful boon to his unfortunate father.
DELILAH: I all alone—a young unheeded woman,
Resolved to reinstate my nation's honor;
I ne'er shall these thy mocking words forget:
"I'll slay the man who is my enemy.
But with a female—love is my revenge."
I will revenge myself, too, in this manner:
The offspring of thy love to woman, dies!
His father's spirit shall not be inherited.
SAMSON: Thou thirst for blood! ”

“ SAMSON: We must not battle. Come, let me pledge thee here.
DELILAH: My sentiment then have—Good luck to hatred!
[They drink, and the goblets are re-filled.]
PLIAS: And mine—May ever grand thy people be!
SAMSON: My Israel the world may persecute;
But e'en in fetters, free and grand remains
God's chosen people,
For hearts and souls and faith cannot be conquered.
PLIAS: Another toast! May true religion prosper!
Hail, Dagon! [He drinks.]
SAMSON: Nay, hail, Sabaoth! ”

“ The Dagon's high priest, that I surely hope
My mission's end will be attained in peace,
By the conversion of a Gentile nation.
To gain this victory I have selected
Love for my counsel and interpreter.
No longer therefore interfere; I pray
To have Namilah for my legal spouse.
MANOAH: Though hard it be disturbing these sweet dreams,
To which a noble, youthful heart inspires,
Ah, Samson! ”

“ SCENE THE THIRD
[Decorations of Scene the First, yet more festively garlanded. Set the tables with the antique wine urns and the goblets. PLIAS, the Warriors and the Attendants, DELILAH and Attendants, seated around the tables. Enter BOLON, SAMSON and NAMILAH.]
BOLON: With hospitable greeting all are welcomed,
To close this wedding festival of Samson.
Should incense wanting be, or spice, or myrtle,
Let conversation be its substitute.
Here, Samson, ere thou tak'st thy place, I pledge thee
By sparkling wine: Hail to our covenant!
SAMSON: Wine! ”

“ That I direct both pillars to embrace.
[She kisses his hands before guiding them to the pillars.]
SAMSON: My fate deserves those tears of pity, son:
For nothing has my heart yet owned in love,
That would not turn unto deceit and treason.
Revenge alone proved faithful true to me.
But, nay—I must except thee from this rule;
Thou hast consoled me with unparalleled
Devotion of a friend and soothed my sufferings.
Heaven must reward such deeds of charity.
That to repay, is not in human power. ”

“ Dagon, I pray
Thy raving wrath confuse her daring mind.
[DELILAH ascends the altar, and places the child in Dagon's arms; then she remains kneeling.]
SAMSON: [From within.] Lord Sabaoth! Be blessed for evermore,
That Thou no heathen hast created me
CHORUS: Devoted to Dagon's holy bliss
The flesh and blood of mankind is,
If it ascends a sacrifice
'Gainst thund'ring wrath 'tis calming spice. ”

“ But hast thou not forgotten the festive garments
Which are our dues if we can solve thy riddle?
NAMILAH: [Aside.] Didst thou betray me, Father?
I entrusted Thee with the secret, yet our guests, too, know it.
I have committed treachery on Samson
And will—
BOLON: Hush, senseless girl, and instantly
SAMSON: Be not so hasty, prince—first guess correctly
And then demand the winner's due reward.
PLIAS: Thy riddle?
SAMSON: Nourishment came from the strong!
PLIAS: What is stronger than a lion?
SAMSON: [Aside.] Deceit! They know it. ”

“ All gaze into thine eye,
To catch its loving gleams.
For since thy looks have gazed on me,
I, all and e'er belong to thee!
[During the song, SAMSON has fallen asleep. DELILAH lays his head on the ottoman, and satisfies herself of his unconsciousness.]
DELILAH: Samson! Samson! Samson!
[Rushes excited to the front of the stage.]
At last, success! He has revealed the truth.
Free is my country! I will be revenged,
And win ambition's highest, glorious prize.
[She gives a signal. Enter PLIAS, hastily.]
PLIAS: Delilah, did'st thou succeed? Oh! Speak, my sister! ”

“ He straight from off his wrists tore them asunder,
A jawbone of an ass he found, and grasped it
Most horrid weapon in such hands! He smooth'd
Our ranks! While each blow kills a man, he shouts—
"Revenge of Samson for a priest's deceit!" ”

“ Remember that I bear love's sweetest pledge
Beneath this true and constant heart, my Samson.
SAMSON: I'll slay the man who is my enemy—
But with a female, love is my revenge.
DELILAH: Be kind, before sweet sleep doth close thine eyes. ”

“ Thou knowest not what a father's love can do
For the relief of an unfortunate son.
PLIAS: In vain will ye implore—come, we'll hence,
To open market. Thou must follow me;
Do not resist. Come, or I'll force thee hence!
SAMSON: Hal say' st thou, '-force me hence?
Come—dare approach;
My eyes are dead, but all my strength revives.
I hear thee say that thou wilt force me hence,
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! My hair has grown anew.
[He breaks the chains from off his arms and dishevels his hair.]
Come! Dare draw near, and say, thou'lt force me hence! ”

“ He whispered in my ear the last, last words:
"Namilah—Dagon whom I served and worshipped
My life-long days, alas I avails us naught.
He is not the true Almighty God."
Then did I faint away. Behind the altar
Of Dagon, I at length regained my senses;
And by my side I found these garments lying.
I thus disguised, fled through the country safe,
A type of misery, detested, famished.
My feet are sore, my body is exhausted.
I heard but yesterday that Samson dwells here.
Oh, that I met him. For his former love
May still return, and we be happy yet.
Lo there! Poor man—oh how he bleeds ”

“ To the abhorred mammoth fish-god, Dagon.
Down with both idol and idolaters!
That my mission be henceforth, my vengeance,
Samson shall Israel yet deliver!
[The Philistines all crowd into the background.]
Hence from my sight! Hence, accursed traitors!
Away! I say—If ye would not behold
The sight—that presently these arms alone
Shall level all your bodies to the ground
I I'll slay whatever bears a human face!
BOLON: Fly! Fly before the mad destroyer's wrath!
[Tableau: The Philistines all in a flying position. SAMSON retaining his threatening stand. Music.] ”

“ Hence, hence to Timnath, to the Dagon's temple.
I feel myself anew the giant Samson.
The history of my life shall mark this day
As having been my mission's final sway.
[MANOAH steps forth and kneels; ABIGAIL, SAMSON and NAMILAH follow. DELILAH, PLIAS and the Philistines stand in the background.]
MANOAH: Hear me, Heaven—my prayer grant!
Oh! Govern his mind, and strengthen his hand—
That idol may totter, the Gentiles exclaim. ”

“ Live on—but eyeless live!
Dagon has conquered! We are revenged! Revenged!
[SAMSON'S groans are heard from within. The shifting of scenery must be very precise and quick.]
SCENE THE FOURTH
[The Hall for the private worship of the Idolaters. Dagon's statue stands in the background; before him stands a small altar. DELILAH, PLIAS and the Warriors form a group around SAMSON, who is blindfolded. He staggers forward and utters, despairingly.] :
SAMSON: All-just Heaven—I acknowledge my affliction! ”

“ Break'st forth from thy auroral gates diminished,
This landscape bathing with thy golden gleams,
While thousandfold thy radiant brilliancy
Is mirrored in each drop of morning dew.
It must be beautiful, this world of mortals.
Our human equals, who compare with us
In all, except their garments, grave-destined.
And felt I not embarrassed and constrained
To wear this body, as the decoration
For messengers of Heaven, dispatched to man,
I would not care, were I allowed to dwell
Forever with the children of hope and love.
But hark! I hear them slowly now approach. ”

“ Thus it is we'll break this giant's strength;
If eyeless, he will be alive, yet dead.
[They approach noiselessly. PLIAS cuts the locks. Both then rush forward. PLIAS throws the hair to DELILAH.]
PLIAS: 'Tis done I
Receive all seven of his braids;
In yonder ambush have I placed our allies.
DELILAH: Call them immediately to our succor,
PLIAS: [Shouts.] Philistines and Dagon!
This way, to overcome Samson!
[Enter the Warriors.]
Take fearless hold of him with solid grasp. ”

“ ALL: Oh! Oh! Oh!
THE CHIEF OF THE PHILSTINES: I would that Samson
Were reconciled. We all are lost and gone!
Let's kill the priest at once.
ALL: Aye, kill the priest!
THE CHIEF OF THE PHILISTINES: And burn his house!
ALL: [Rushing off.] Fire! Fire! Fire!
[A strong blaze from without.]
SCENE THE SECOND
[The garden with the exotic vegetation. At the right side is a retreat. Enter DELILAH and PLIAS conversing.]
PLIAS: This moment I received that mournful message
A furious riot was at Timnath raised.
Against the priest and us revolts the mass. ”

“ Will full return the seventh time again—
Then, let us meet in Timnath to our feast.
It is the term for Dagon's annual
Blood sacrifice, when we a priest elect.
[Enter NAMILAH disguised as a boy.]
DELILAH: My son, who wanted work, here find employ.
When this blind man returns to consciousness,
Then lead him safely up to Gazah. Here,
Let this my purse be his support and thine.
NAMILAH: I'll faithfully obey thy wishes, Mistress.
[Exit DELILAH, PLIAS and the Warriors.] ”

“ On the Philistines for the sake of my lost eyes.
[He rises, tears the pillars and shouts:—]
With the Philistines will I die this day— The idol fall!
SAMSON AND NAMILAH: Triumph for Sabaoth!
[TABLEAU FINALE: Music tremulando. The pillars break and bury SAMSON and NAMILAH. Numbers of Philistines are discovered slain. The whole of the stage is covered with the ruins. Strong (red fire) flames burst forth. Upon the crushed altar appears the ANGEL, who shouts:]
THE ANGEL: Triumph for Sabaoth! ”

“ While we kneel down devoutly here and pray.
[MANOAH, ABIGAIL, and the shepherds kneel; (the white fire;) the ANGEL throws off his disguise, blesses them, and ascends the rock; he touches the sacrifice with a palm-branch that he holds in his hands; the flames (the red fire) break forth and illumine the tableau, during which the curtain falls.]
ACT FIRST:
A BETROTHAL. JUDGES XIV. 1—14.
SCENE THE FIRST
[MANOAH and ABIGAIL pensive before the pillars of DAGON'S Temple. Enter SAMSON, with some antique urn.]
SAMSON: Shalam Alichum, venerable parents! ”

“ His vengeance ripeneth; death will reap a rich harvest
[A moment's pause; SAMSON lost in reflection.]
SAMSON: It is an awful moment when a man,
Whose heart and brains throb passionately,
Is forced to solve the question whether
Life or death deserve, and shall receive a preference.
Existence ignominious and hateful,
A life that hath nor hope, nor love nor future,
But lingers on its hours in deep remorse
For former degradation! No ”

“ That he receive our Samson for his own?
ABIGAIL: The lips of man must find it oft convenient
To smile at times when the heart revolts and grieves.
BOLON: Hark ye! in long procession now approacheth—Namilah followed by her troop of playmates.
[Music. Enter the procession in this order. The Warriors with banners. PLIAS under a throne-palanquin. Attendants. NAMILAH and DELILAH. Attendants of the women.]
PLIAS: Hail, all hail to Dagon! ”

“ PLIAS, The Prince of the Philistines BOLON, DAGON'S High Priest SAMSON, Israel's Giant Judge MANOAH, Samson's father The three Philistine Messengers The Chief of the Philistine Warriors The Two Hebrew Shepherds Chorus of Philistine Priests and Warriors. People. ”

“ On the head, like a crown, he wears an opened shark's jaw—the fins instead of the hands, which look as if stretched forth. Steps are leading to the Idol. On the right side and the left side of the steps stand the pillars, the parts of which are slightly fastened—connected by the cornices with the door pillars. The whole area must be so arranged that it easily falls. ”

“ Delilah beguiles and Dagon prevails.
JUDGES XV. 4—20; XVI, 1—5, and 15—21.
SCENE THE FIRST
[The Court before the Temple. People assemble.]
THE CHIEF OF THE PHILISTINES: Our priest heaped this calamity upon us;
So this shunned Hebrew rages freely 'gainst
Whatever bears the name of Philistine.
THE FIRST MESSENGER: [Enters running.] Hark! Hark! Two hundred foxes Samson caught,
He twisted strongly their long cues together,
Between each fastening a torch; he turned
Them loose on our ripe harvests—that a blaze
Around the country stands. Starvation stares
The poor people in the face. ”

“ SCENE THE THIRD
[The gorgeous sleeping apartment in the Oriental style. An ottoman and an escutcheon at the right side. DELILAH, fascinatingly attired, leads in SAMSON, who is highly intoxicated. She sits on the ottoman, SAMSON on the escutcheon, his head reposing in her lap.] ”

“ By Heavenly decrees. Oh! Oh! Oh!
Thus have I tortured Samson—Samson! Samson!
[DELILAH falls and dies in great agony. All stand mute around her. After some pause—]
PLIAS: A female priest Dagon would accept not ”