For he wist not the Lord was gone:-- "I will go as I went erewhile," He said, "and shake my mighty brawn." Without the captains, file on file, Did execute Delilah's guile. [Sidenote: (Sansculottism, as it seemeth, is overthrown.)] At Gaza where the mockers pass, Midst curses and unholy sound, They fettered him with chains of brass, Put out his eyes, and being bound Within the prison house he ground. The heathen looking on did sing; "Behold our god into our hand, Hath brought him for our banqueting, Who slew us and destroyed our land, Against whom none of us could stand." [Sidenote: (Samson being no longer formidable and being deprived of his eyes is reduced to slavery and made the sport of the heathen.)] Now, therefore, when the festival Waxed merrily, with one accord, The lords and captains loud did call, To bring him out whom they abhorred, To make them sport who sat at board. [Sidenote: (After a time Samson prayeth for vengeance even though himself should perish thereby.)] And Samson made them sport and stood Betwixt the pillars of the house, Above with scornful hardihood, Both men and women made carouse, And ridiculed his eyeless brows. Then Samson prayed "Remember me O Lord, this once, if not again. O God, behold my misery, Now weaker than all other men, Who once was mightier than ten." "Grant vengeance for these sightless eyes, And for this unrequited toil, For fraud, injustice, perjuries, For lords whose greed devours the soil, And kings and rulers who despoil." [Sidenote: (Wherein by a very nice conceit revolution is symbolized.)] "For all that maketh light of Thee, And sets at naught Thy holy word, For tongues that babble blasphemy, And impious hands that hold the sword-- Grant vengeance, though I perish, Lord." He grasped the pillars, having prayed, And bowed himself--the building fell, And on three thousand souls was laid, Gone soon to death with mighty yell. And Samson died, for it was well. The lords and captains greatly err, Thinking that Samson is no more, Blind, but with ever-growing hair, He grinds from Tyre to Singapore, While yet Delilah plays the whore. So it hath been, and yet will be, The captains, drunken at the feast To garnish their felicity, Will taunt him as a captive beast, Until their insolence hath ceased. [Sidenote: (Wherein it is shown that while the people like Samson have been blinded, and have not recovered their sight still that their hair continueth to grow.)] Of ribaldry that smelleth sweet, To Dagon and to Ashtoreth; Of bloody stripes from head to feet, He will endure unto the death, Being blind, he also nothing saith.