DELILAH 



And through the silk awning steals lightly, 

 The sweet song my handmaidens sing. 



Dost think that thy God, in His anger, 



Will trifle with nature's great laws. 

 And slacken those sinews in languor 



That battled so well in His cause ? 

 Will he take back that strength He has given, 



Because to the pleasures of youth 

 Thou yieldest ? Nay, God-like, in heaven. 



He laughs at such follies, forsooth. 



Oh ! were I, for good or for evil, 



As great and as gifted as thou. 

 Neither God should restrain me, nor devil, 



To none like a slave would I bow. 

 If fate must indeed overtake thee, 



And feebleness come to thy clay, 

 Pause not till thy strength shall forsake thee, 



Enjoy it the more in thy day. 



Oh ! fork't-tongue of adder, by her pent 



In smooth lips! — oh. Sybarite blind! 



Oh, woman, allied to the serpent ! 



Oh, beauty with venom combined, 

 7 97 



