Samson

“ 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!" ”

“ And when they heard the riddle told,
Their hearts within them waxed cold,
For none of them could then unfold
The meaning.
Then unto Samson's wife went they, 65
And threatened her, without delay,
If she would not the thing bewray,
To burn her father's house.
Then Samson's wife, with grief and woe,
Desired him the same to shew,
And when she knew, she straight did go, 70
To tell them.
Then were they all full glad of this;
To tell the thing they did not miss;
"What stronger beast than a lion is? 75
What sweeter meat than honey?" ”

“ Samson Mountain went home in an ill-temper, and, as was usual with him when in that condition, did everything he had to do with a sulky and noisy emphasis, bursting open doors with unnecessary violence, slamming them with needless force behind him, and clamping heavily from room to room. His wife, who was submissive at the surface, but unconquerable at bottom, knew these signs, and accepted them with outer show of meekness. Samson tramped into the sitting-room, and there found his wife alone. ”

“ In Samson, born to be the fighting man, reared to be the fighting man, equipped by nature with deep hatreds and tigerish courage, there had cropped out from time to time the restless spirit of the philosopher and a hunger for knowledge. That was a matter in which the old man found his bitterest and most secret apprehension.
It was at this house that George Lescott, distinguished landscape painter of New York and the world-at-large, arrived in the twilight. ”

“ It is Samson, with a bone in his hand, rushing on his enemies and felling them: one admires not the cause so much as the strength, the anger, the fury of the champion. As is the case with madmen, certain subjects provoke him, and awaken his fits of wrath. ”

“ Why should he be so constantly driven to use his strength? Why could he never use it without harming some one? Why was he born into a world where men played on his simplicity and women charmed him to destruction? These were the riddles that confused Samson. It seemed to him that he was no better than the Arabian giant who held the Princess of Bizerta in thrall—that cruel bully who cared not how many he killed, nor who they were, and believed every man to be as wicked as himself. ”

“ Samson called me at last one evening and said,—
"'Miska, I am satisfied with you; you will go with me to-night, at midnight. There will be only the two of us; have you the courage?'
"'I have,' I answered.
"'See,' Mr. Samson went on, taking a couple of daggers out of a table-drawer, 'I will make you a present of these; they are the only arms you will have. Be ready, and when I ring at midnight make haste and come to me.'
"I haven't much more to tell you, Mr. King. ”

“ Samson, I'm thine; do with me what thou wilt; my friends are enemies; my life is death; I am a traitor to my nation, and despised; my joy is given into the hands of him who hates me, using deceit to the wife of his bosom. ”

“ And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. ”

“ So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
And Samson said unto them, "I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments." And they said unto him, "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it." ”

“ Oh!” she cried, striking her hands violently together, “there is madness and more than madness in the thought! I will not die alone; no, no, no, no, so help me, just Heaven! I will not die alone. Oh, Samson was a brave man as well as a strong one when he lifted the pillars of the temple, and willingly fell beneath its crumbling ruins, crushing all his foes. ”

“ To-day held the need of such work as that of the first Samson—to slay.
He must reappear before his kinsmen as much as possible the boy who had left them—not the fop with newfangled affectations. His eyes fell upon the saddlebags on the floor of the Pullman, and he smiled satirically. He would like to step from the train at Hixon and walk brazenly through the town in those old clothes, challenging every hostile glance. If they shot him down on the streets, as they certainly would do, it would end his questioning and his anguish of dilemma. ”

“ KING SAMSON (SAMSING) . In the good old times a mighty yarl (earl) ruled over the rich town and district of Salern, which was one of the largest fiefs of a great kingdom. The yarl governed so strictly and justly that peace and plenty cheered the hearts of all that dwelt in the district. He kept up a large army to defend his coasts from the onslaught of the Vikings, who often descended on them in great numbers in hopes of plunder.
Amongst the followers of the yarl was the warrior Samson, nicknamed “The Black,” because of his coal-black hair and beard. ”

“ On Samson’s face there was that goodly light that streams up from a generous heart, brave and bounteous, man’s love for man. In the Heretic there were no ignoble moods, and, like Paul of old, he esteemed himself little.
“Brother,” he said, “the fight for the truth gives its own guerdon. That you are with us, I know full well; moreover, I mind me that a man’s heart reaches through human love into heaven. A fair face, two trustful eyes, the waving of a woman’s hair. How many a pure spell is wrought with these!”
Tristan stood leaning on his sword, looking not at Samson, but towards the south. ”

“ 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! ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The grip of the boy's arms only grew tighter and tighter with snake-like force, while a dreadful smile came into the young face and became stamped there, engraved in rigid lines. His lower lip was caught between his teeth, and a thin stream of blood ran from it over the smooth, clean-cut chin. It was the only sign he gave that he was putting forth the whole of his strength.
A murmur of surprise that had in it a note of uneasiness began to run through the ring of onlookers. They had seen many a fight before, but never a fight like this. Samson's face had gone from red to purple. ”

“ Even Tristan forgot Dame Rosamunde’s face.
Samson’s theme was simple and strong, yet grand in its bold simplicity. He expounded the pure spirit of the Christian creed, brushed aside dogmas, denounced outward forms. His convictions were great, his scorn as powerful. Greed in high places, luxury and lust, pride and simony, these were his victims. Casting Christ’s ideals against the pomp of the Church, he mined the rotten fabric with his tongue.
“People of La Vallée Joyeuse,” he said, “clean hearts avail with Heaven, clean souls, clean lives. Labour in the fields is a prayer to God. ”

“ Samson is as strong as——”
“His Israelitish namesake, perhaps,” suggested Ernest, placing his carpet-bag on the top of the trunk, and springing lightly into the pony-chaise.
“Well, I was going to say, as strong as the Elephant and Castle,” remarked the younger boy, with a look of profound sagacity; “but, perhaps, the original Samson will do as well. What do you say, Percy?” ”

“ One ruddy, and of a full habit of body, with copious black hair and beard, the intrepid hunter of France, who thought nothing so small, not even a lark or a minnow, but he might vindicate his prowess by its capture. For such a great, healthy man, his hair flourishing like Samson’s, his arteries running buckets of red blood, to boast of these infinitesimal exploits, produced a feeling of disproportion in the world, as when a steam-hammer is set to cracking nuts. ”

“ 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! ”

“ Shouting and cursing, the pack drew him into the wood, while the monks, gathered in a company, raised a deep chant of thanksgiving over the slaying of such a sinner. Thus they crucified Samson on the hills above the Lorient, nailing him to a tree, naked and covered with wounds. ”

“ Samson (The British) , Thomas Topham (1710-1749) .
Samson Agonistes (4 syl.) , “Samson, the Combatant,” a sacred drama by Milton, showing Samson blinded and bound, but triumphant over his enemies, who sent for him to make sport by feats of strength on the feast of Dagon. Having amused the multitude for a time, he was allowed to rest awhile against the “grand stand,” and, twining his arms round two of the supporting pillars, he pulled the whole edifice down, and died himself in the general devastation (1632) . ”

“ If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me - The miraculous strength of Samson must not be supposed to reside either in his hair or in his muscles, but in that relation in which he stood to God as a Nazarite, such a person being bound by a solemn vow to walk in a strict conformity to the laws of his Maker. ”

“ Thus were a great number of men and women slain together, and by an end not unworthy or disgraceful, but excelling all his former victories, the dying Samson obtained a triumph. For although to that point and thenceforward he was invincible, and incomparable during life among men versed in war, yet in death he conquered himself, and shewed an unconquerable soul, so as to despise and count for nothing that end of life which all men fear. ”

“ Mountain, approaching her theme with circuitous caution.
‘Ay!’ Samson assented ‘It’s enough to turn your stomach to listen to him.’
‘If they go on as they’re goings pursued his wife, circling a little nearer, ‘we shall live to see fine things.’
‘We shall, indeed,’ said Samson, a little mollified to find his wife so unusually warm in the quarrel. ‘There’s no such a thing as contentment to be found amongst ‘em. They settle up to be looked upon as gentlefolks.’
‘Yes; fine things we shall live to see, no doubt, if we don’t tek care. ”

“ The mules had naturally vanished in the gloom; and by the time I was again in my saddle, Samson was—I knew not where. On and on I travelled, far into the night. But failing to overtake my companion, and taking for granted that he had missed his way, I halted when I reached a stream, threw off the packs, let the animals loose, rolled myself in my blanket, and shut my eyes upon a trying day.
Nothing happens but the unexpected. Daylight woke me. Samson, still in his rugs, was but a couple of hundred yards further up the stream. In the afternoon of the third day we fell in with William. ”

“ The great man, who was also the simple man, smiled reminiscently. "They tried to teach me to herd sheep when my nose was itching for bird country. Bring on your man; I want to know him."
Samson was told nothing of the benevolent conspiracy, but one evening shortly later he found himself sitting at a café table with his sponsor and a stout man, almost as silent as himself. ”

“ It put Samson into the depth of misery, and as a sword in his bones were their reproaches, when they said, Where is now thy God? Nothing could be more grievous to so great a spirit; yet, being a penitent, his godly sorrow makes him patient, and he accepts the indignity as the punishment of his iniquity. How unrighteous soever the Philistines were, he could not but own that God was righteous. He had sported himself in his own deceivings and with his own deceivers, and justly are the Philistines let loose upon him to make sport with him. ”