JUDICUM.
[CONQUEST OF CANAAN COMPLETED (1:1–36)]
3160 3165 3170 3175 3180 3185 3190 3195 3200 3205 3210 3215 3220 3225 3230 3235 3240	264. When Josue, that gentyll knyght,    was hent to Hevyn, ose men may here, The Ebrews, men of grett myght,    then leved in myrth full mony a yere. And forto wyn that was ther ryght    sadly thei soyght on sydes sere, And Fynys for them to fyght    ferd with the folke both farre and nere. The cyté of Salem    in the sort of Bynjamyn, Sythen cald Jerusalem,    that went thei forto wyn. 265. The cyté was both lang and wyde,    warded and walled full well for were. Thei segede yt on ylka syde    with men of ermys and other geyre. The Cananews war bold to byde;    thei dowtede non to do them dere. Bot at the last layd was ther pride;    thei fand full fell folke them to fere. Had thei lufed God lely,    no man myght them have noyde. Thei lyved in mawmentry,    that dyde them be dystroyde. 266. The Ebrews enturd as thei toyght,    and all ther enmys fast thei feld. Thei spoled and spylt and spared noyght    bot tresour that thei toke unteld. And when thei hade ther werkes wroyght,    at home no langer thei them held, Bot in Ebron fast have soyght    unto mowntans wher gyantes dweld. When Fynyes them fand,    he stroyde them in a thrawe And delyverd all ther land    to clerkes that keped the law. 267. Thei conqwerd marches, lesse and more,    and welth enogh so can thei wyne. Bot Salem, os I sayd before,    fell in the sort of Byngemyn, And therfor thus was ordand thore    that thei and thers suld dwell therin. That cyté sone can thei restore    in grett comforth to all ther kyn. Thei partyde them amang    thresour by chaunse to chesse, And so all can thei gang    unto ther awn cetyse. 268. Thus ware the Ebrews ylkon    logyde in the land of Canan. Thei had no lord bot God allon    forto do sewtt ne servyce than. Ne forto noye them fand thei none,    The commawnmentes kepe whyls thei cane. Bot hastely thei hath mysgone,    and Bynjamyns folke fyrst begane. Both Moyses and Josue    bad that thei suld them kepe Fro folke of that cuntré    and paynems feleschepe. 269. The lordes of Bynjamyn lynage    to breke this bedyng hath begune, When thei sufferd for certan stage    the hethyn men amang them wun, And towns lett thei for tripage,    wherin Philystyyns was fun. And paynyms, both man and page,    to be ther servandes hath thei bun. And evyn os thei began,    all other soyne assent, That unethes on man    toke kepe to the commawndment. 270. In hertes thei war so sterne and stowt,    for weltes of gud and grett maystri, The law them lyst not leve ne lawt,    bot lyved in lust and lechery. By cawse thei had no werre withowt,    amang them wex full grett envy, And the Bynjamyns was most abowt    to groche and greve God Allmighty. That was schewed in schort tyd    at the cyté of Gabaon, Next Salen nere besyde,    how fowle ther thei fon.	Joshua; (t-note) as men can hear strength joy to win that [land] was their right many sides Phinehas fared; far and near (see note) holdings Then guarded; for war besieged; each side; (t-note) arms; gear endure feared none; harm laid [low]; (t-note) found a very strong people; frighten; (t-note) loyally destroyed idolatry caused desired felled nothing untold; (t-note) deeds remained Hebron; (see note) giants lived found destroyed; brief time their; (t-note) who maintained borderlands wealth; did they win holdings of Benjamin (t-note) family shared among themselves treasures chosen by lot (chance) go their own cities every one established alone; (t-note) homage nor service then harm [were] kept; can; (t-note) soon; misbehaved began [the trouble] keep themselves [away] (i.e., Canaanites) pagan fellowship (i.e., contact with Gentiles) lineage command a certain time; (t-note) to live subjected; tribute were found pagans; boy taken other [Israelites] soon assented So that scarcely one (t-note) hearts; stout (i.e., hard-hearted) wealth of goods; mastery [of lands] pleased; believe; revere wars without grew; contention Benjaminites were most likely; (t-note) vex and anger revealed in a short time Gibeah Jerusalem; (t-note)
[THE INCIDENT AT GIBEAH; WAR AGAINST BENJAMIN (19:10–20:23)]
3245 3250 3255 3260	271. Ther yt befell apon a day    prowd Benjamyns with ther meneye Wentt in a place them forto play    befor the gattes of that ceté. An Ebrew com ther in the way    with his wyfe, full fayre and fre. Amang themself then can thei say,    “Yond woman this nyght weld wyll we.” Ther curstnes so the kyd,    qwat for scath and qwat for scorne, For dedes thei to hyr dyde,    scho was fun dede at morn. 272. Hyr husband then had mekyll care;    no wonder was thof he were wo. The body he toke and with hym bare    to his cuntré, wher he com froo. He sent to cetys lesse and more    to Gabaon be lyfe at goo Thor forto venge that fellows fare.    And hastely thei hafe done so. Bott thei that wroght this woghe    within ware sterne and stowt; Ten thowsand sone thei sloghe    of them that ware withowt.	(see note) company (i.e., Gibeah) An Israelite; (see note) (see note) possess; (t-note) wickedness so they showed whether; harm; contempt; (t-note) deeds found dead much sadness that because of this he was woeful bore (see note) at once to go There to avenge that man’s reception woe inside [the city] were strong soon they slew; (see note); (t-note) were outside [Gibeah]
[THE DEFEAT OF BENJAMIN (20:24–46)]
3265 3270 3275	273. Then ware the Ebrews put to payn,    for that asawt full sore them rews. For Fynyes then was not fayn    of the feyghyng, for all ware Jews. His host he sembled sone agayn,    and to the rebels he remews. Twenty milia sone ware slayn,    for with them wold he take no trews. Both wyf, chyld, and page    thei byrttynd sone and brent. So was all that lynage    for ther syn schamly schent.	they rue; (t-note) pleased; (see note) fighting assembled and against; moves 20,000 truce boy; (t-note) immediately cut to pieces and burned (t-note)
[BENJAMIN REPOPULATED (20:47–21:24)]
3280 3285 3290 3295 3300 3305 3310	274. Bycawse thei toke the trew manys wyfe,    that progenyté was put to pyn Bot sex hunderth that fled on lyve.    Ther lyved no mo of all that lyne, Qwylke aftur, qwen thei toyght to thryve,    with other Ebrews acordyd syne. And stylly so withowtyn stryfe    thei saved the sort of Benjamyne. All ther possessions playn    to them thei con restore And so ordand agayn    twelfe, os thei ware before. 275. In Gabaon thei con them sese    with other cytes large and lang. Then leved the Ebrews all at ese;    wold non with greve agayn them gange. Als lang os thei wold God plese,    was non in ward to wyrke them wrang. And when thei melled other ways,    sone mengyd myschef them amang. When they left Moyses Law    and to maumentres theym mende, So Cananews couth knaw    that God was not ther frend. 276. Then Fynyes dede aftur tytt    that them to maynten ever hym melled. Thei folowd all ther flesch delytt,    and God His helpyng from them held. Then Cananews withowt respett    dang them down qwerso thei dweld: Thus scaped thei not undyscumfeytt;    Fylysteyns in feldes them felled. Thus aboyde thei sorows sere,    and no wrschepe thei wan. This lastyd twenty yere,    and thus fell aftur then.	(see note) (t-note) Except for 600 who fled alive; (see note) Which; when; thought; (t-note) [were] accorded then; (t-note) quietly thus; battle people of Benjamin twelve [tribes], as seize lived; ease grievance against; go in [their] rule; wrong But; did otherwise soon mischief mingled Moses’ Law; (t-note) idolatry; turned Canaanites came to know Phinehas soon afterward died to assist them ever busied himself; (t-note) their fleshly delights withheld respite wheresoever escaped; punishment Philistines; fields; (t-note) endured; many honor; won
[THE JUDGES OTHNIEL, EHUD, AND SHAMGAR (3:9–31)]
3315 3320 3325 3330 3335 3340 3345 3350 3355 3360	277. A semly man, that Cenys hyght,    of Judas generacion, He proferd hym for them to fyght    and unto batell mad hym bown. Phylysteyns he putt to the flyght    and feld ther foys in feld and town. Sythyn faurty yere he rewled them ryght    and dyed sone aftur that seson. Then sone the folke can fon    and wroyght as wryches unwyse. So come the kyng Eglon    with full mony Moabyse. 278. He conquerde cuntres to and fro    and greved them with full grett owtrag: Sum to byrn and sum to slo    and sum thei sett in sere servage. He toke the cyté of Jerico    and putt the pepyll to pay trypage. Hyt was his ded, for he dyed so;    his lordschep last bot a lytill stage. An Ebrew, that hyght Howade,    that well cowd plese and playn, Made Kyng Eglon oft glade    with fals talyes that he cowd feyne. 279. Fell on a day the kyng and he    ware in a chamber them alone. He slogh the kyng in prevyté    and laft hym ded, styll ose a stone. And he wentt in the same ceté    and warned the Ebrews ylkon And bade thei suld son arayd be;    ther enmys suld als tytt be tone. When Moabyse wyst ther kyng    was so dede, sone thei remeved And fled both old and yyng,    and Ebrews fast persewed. 280. In that persewyng hade thei payn:    ther wold no cety them socour. Ten milia of them was slayn,    so ware thei stound in that stoure. The Ebrews can then ordand    Howade to be ther governowre. To aghtene yeres was past playn,    full surely saved he ther honour. Then regned Senagar,    that sex hunderth ons sloght Of panyms, that prowd ware,    with a soke of a ploght.	seemly; was called Kenaz; (see note) Judah’s tribe battle; ready felled their foes in field Then; ruled began to behave wrongly wretches unwise came [against them]; Eglon; (t-note) Moabites injury slay; (t-note) servitude made; tribute death little while Ehud often happy false stories; feign It happened were slew; privacy all should immediately be prepared quickly be taken knew their removed [themselves] succor 10,000 staggered in that battle did; (t-note) Ehud Until 18 years were fully past; (see note) (t-note) Shamgar; (t-note) once killed pagans; were plowshare (coulter of a plow)
[DEBORAH AND BARAK (4:1–5:31)]
3365 3370	281. Sythyn Ebrews assent to syn    and cowd not kepe ther laws clene, Then com on them Kyng Jabyn    with Cananews that ware full kene. He wold no sesse to slo and byrn,    bot sone aftur hade he tene. Two Ebrews, comyn of gentyll kyn,    in batell to hym them betwene. Barrett and Debora    thus ware thei named thore, And well goverand thei two    full faurty yere and more.	Then; assented to sin their laws Jabin keen cease to slay and burn pain noble line took; (see note) Barak and Deborah those two
[MIDIANITE OPPRESSION (6:1–6)]
3375 3380	282. When faurty yeres was fully past,    for thei to God ware ever grochand, In grett dyscumforth war thei cast    for hungar that fell in that land. And sevyn wynters, so lang yt last,    to sympyll folke no fode thei fand. Then unto God thei cryed full fast    and prayd his help with hert and hand. For als thei fayled mett,    yett had thei mo enmys That dyde them grevance grett:    Madyans and Malachys.	complaining discomfort famine that occurred; (see note) food; found even as they lacked food; (t-note) more enemies distress the Midianites and Amalekites
[CALL OF GIDEON (6:7–12)]
3385 3390 3395 3400 3405	283. When thei to God ther kayrs knew,    how thei agayns Hys wyll were went, On Gedion, a gentyll Jew    of ther awn lynage, hath He lent. And for He in His trowth was trew,    God hath His angell to hym sent, Like unto a man in hyd and hew,    and told hym how His maker ment Forto aray hym ryght,    both hert, hed, and hend. And then wend furth to fyght,    Goddes folke forto dyffend. 284. Gedeon was that same morne    purveyd in a prevé stede To clepe his schepe and thresch his corne    so forto ordand cloghes and brede. The angell that com hym beforne    and broyght bodword os God hym bede, He wened full well yt had ben scorne.    Therfor he was full wyll of rede And toyght he suld asay    by some experiment Whedder yt ware trew or nay    that God His servant had hym sent.	sorrows confessed against; had gone; (t-note) One [man named] Gideon their own people, God gave to them because; promise was true; (see note) flesh and appearance intended arm hand [he] went morning private place; (see note) shear; thresh make clothes and bread message; ordered fully imagined that it was a joke counsel test; (see note) true or not
[SIGN OF THE FLEECE (6:36–40)]
3410 3415 3420	285. A flesse he sprede befor his fette    on the erthe and all nyght lett yt ly. He sayd, “Yf this flese be wett    tomorn at morn and the moldes dry, Then wyll I trow and hertly hette    this message is of God Allmighty.” On the morn full drye was all the strett,    and the flese wett. That was ferly. Then the contrary    he ordand at evyn latte: At the morne the flese was dry    and all the ways full waytte.	fleece; feet lie [there on the ground] tomorrow; earth is dry believe and heartily be assured place wondrous opposite; (t-note) bade late that evening wet
[GIDEON’S ARMY CHOSEN (7:1–8)]
3425 3430 3435 3440	286. Gedion then trowed with trew entent    that thies tokyns was trew and ryght. He told the folke Goddes commawndment    how he suld them dyffend in fyght. He samed sone by on assent    neyn milia to beyre armys bryght. And God hym wysched, or ever he went,    forto asay them in His syght. He sayd, “Wende to the flome    with all thi folke in fere And make them all and sum    to drynke of that water clere. 287. “All thoo that on ther fette up standes    and fenys not for scheld ne spere Bot takes the watur up with ther handes    to drynke, tho sall do enmys dere. And tho that lyges low on the sandes    to drynke os a mule or a mere Ledde them no ferther to other landes;    thei ar not worth to wend in were.” When thei com to the flude,    ylk on heldyd down his hede. Of tho that evyn up stude    ware bot thre hunderth leved.	believed signs were true gathered soon by one 9,000 [men] to bear arms guided him, before test Go; river together (t-note) those who on their feet stand up let go; (see note) their do the enemy harm those who kneel mare Lead worthy to go in war river each one bent down still remaining
[GIDEON ROUTS THE MIDIANITES (7:9–8:27)]
3445 3450 3455	288. When Gedion saw that yt was so,    his hert began to hover and hone: He wyst panyms wer mony moe,    for of his folke wer left bot fone. Bot God bad he suld boldly go    and mell with them both morn and none. “For sone,” he sayd, “thou sall them slo.”    And als he demed, so was yt done. Oreb and Zebe, thei two    the hethyn folke con lede, Zebee and Salmana,    tho faur dyed at that dede.	(t-note) waver and hesitate pagans were many more [in number]; (t-note) only few ordered intermix with them (the enemy) slay decreed Oreb and Zeeb; (t-note) Zebah and Zalmunna died at that battle
[DEATH OF GIDEON; RISE AND FALL OF ABIMALECH (8:28–9:57)]
3460 3465 3470 3475 3480	289. All ware thei dede and dyscumfeyt,    the hethyn folke fully in fere. Bot all this was not done so tytt;    that batell was full strang to stere. Gedion to rewle them had respeyt    in rest and pese full faurty yere. He leved lyfand withowtyn lyte    sexty fayr suns of wemen sere. The eldyst, Abymalech,    putt his brethyr to pyn; He wrogh a wofull cheke,    that slogh fyfty and neyne. 290. When he had so his brethyr sloyn,    of Sychym was he soveran syre. Bot God hath vengiance on hym tane    that sone he past fro that empyre: Hys harnys was strekyn owt with a stone;    he served to have no bettur hyre. Then ware the Ebrews left alon;    ylkon myght do ther awn desyre. Of God thei had non aw    for gold and grett maystry. Therfor thei left His law    and lyved in mawmentry.	dead and discomfited heathen; all together; (t-note) quickly very difficult to manage rule; respite peace for forty years left alive without flaw sixty fair sons from many mothers; (see note) Abimalech brothers to pain; (t-note) slaughter slew brothers slain Shechem; sovereign sire taken at once he disappeared brain was struck out; (t-note) end alone no awe (reverence) (see note) idolatry
[OPPRESSION BY THE AMMONITES (10:6–18)]
3485 3490	291. Thei mad them goddes of gold and brasse    and sayd tho same ther seyle had sent. Then God full gretly greved was    that thei so wrang agayns Hym went. Enmys He putt on them to passe    that them slow and ther cetes brynt To tym thei kneled and cryd “alas”    and turned to God with gud entent. When thei ther trespasse knew,    God send them sone socour: On Gepte, a gentyll Jew,    to be ther governowre.	themselves gods; (t-note) those; their happiness killed them; cities burned Until [such] time [as] trespasses confessed One Jephthah; (t-note)
[JEPHTHAH (11:1–28)]
3495 3500	292. Gepte was a knyght in armys clere;    fro bayle, he sayd, he suld them bryng. A fayre lady he hade to fere,    and both thei lyvyd to Goddes lovyng. He had a doyghtur that was hym dere    and no mo chyldder, old ne yyng. To hyr befell, os men may heyre,    full gret myschefe, a mervel thyng. He send to cetys and town,    to all that myght armys beyre And bad thei suld be bown    to wend with hym in were.	bright; (see note); (t-note) confinement to spouse [to] him dear no more children, old nor young her; hear; (t-note) strange cities bear; (t-note) bade; ready go; war
[JEPHTHAH’S VOW (11:29–33)]
3505 3510 3515	293. Then unto God hertly he hett    and mad a vowe with all his mayne: That yf he myght the maystry geytt,    als sone os he com home agayn, The fyrst qwyke catell that he mett    of his for Goddes sake suld be slayn, In sacrafyce so forto sett.    Thus sayd he suld be done certayn. To batell then thei went    withowtyn more respyte. Ther enmys sone was schent,    both slayn and dyscumfeytt.	heartily; promised; (t-note) strength victory get as soon as living creature God’s sake should thus to set enemies soon were destroyed defeated
[JEPHTHAH’S DAUGHTER (11:34–12:7)]
3520 3525 3530 3535 3540 3545 3550 3555 3560 3565 3570 3575 3580 3585	294. Then past thei home with mekyll pride    becawse thei wan the vyctory. His doyghghtur herd, is not to hyde,    hyr fader suld come home in hy. Be lyfe scho went, and wold not byd,    agayns hym with gud mynstralsy. When he hyr saw, “Alas!” he cryed,    “My doyghghtur dere, now sall thou dy!” To his hors fette he fell —    in sadyll he myght not sytte. No tong in erth may tell    what kare his hert had hytt. 295. So when he myght hymselfe stere,    he toyght in hert how he had heyght: To slo the fyrst that suld apeyre    and sacrafyce yt in Goddes syght. “Alas,” he sayd, “my doyghghtur dere,    for my doyng thi dede is dyght.” Scho prayd hyr fader to mend his chere    and mad hym myrth all that scho myght. The more that scho mad glee    to comforth hym with all, The more sore hert had he,    for he wyst how yt suld fall. 296. “A, doyghtur,” he sayd, “I made a vowe    to God when I to batell wentt: Yf I of panyms myght have prow,    what so com fyrst in my present, That suld be slone — that same ys thou.    Alas for my sake now bees thou schent.” “Fader,” scho sayd, “I beseke yow    be trew and tornes not your entent. For bettur is that I dye,    that may no thyng avayle, Then so fayr cumpany    os ye broyght from batelle. 297. “Sen ye heyght sacrafyce to make    to God that goverans gud and yll, Leues it not, fader, for my sake    bot all your forward fast fulfyll. Bot graunteys me grace two wekes to wake,    to speke with lades lowd and styll And of maydyns leve to take,    and then do with me what ye wyll.” He gafe hyre leve to gang    with grefe and gretyng sore. All that scho come amang    ay menyd hyr more and more. 298. So went scho furth to mony a frend,    that for hyre syghyng sayd, “Alas!” All weped for wo os scho can wend,    when thei wyst how that it was. And when the tyme drogh nere the end    that hyr fader assygned has, Scho went agayn with wordes hend    and proferd hyr with payn to pas. Therfor hyr fader noyght leved;    his sword in hand he hent And swythly swopped of hyr hede    and bad scho suld be brent. 299. Grett sorow yt was this syght to se;    all weped that wyst of hyr wo. Bot most sorow in hert had he    that heddyd hyr and had no mo. Swylke folys suld men be fayn to flee    and be avysed or thei vow so. Foyle vow is bettur to broken be    then man or woman sakles slo. Sex yere governd Gepte Ebrews    and saved them from all angers yll Both of Phylysteyns and Cananews,    and then he dyed os was Goddes wyll.	journeyed; much; (see note) won heard, it cannot be hidden haste; (t-note) Quickly; wait; (t-note) toward; singing (t-note) shall you die horse’s feet saddle; (t-note) tongue grief; struck control; (t-note) promised slay death is assured (predestined) amend his mood made (t-note) heart knew; befall over the pagans; victory presence slain you will be killed; (t-note) true; turn avail Than Since you promised who governs; (t-note) Abandon; (t-note) promise precisely fulfill grant; two weeks to mourn; (see note) ladies publicly and privately gave her permission to go weeping sorrow Everyone always grieved for her woe as she did come [among them] knew drew near (t-note) courteous get on delayed not; (see note) took quickly struck off her head; (t-note) ordered [that] she should be burned (t-note) wept beheaded her; more [children]; (t-note) Such follies; eager to avoid; (t-note) considerate before; (t-note) [A] foolish vow; (t-note) than; guiltless slain; (t-note) Six years (t-note)
[JUDGES IBZAN, ELON, AND ABDON (12:8–15)]
3590 3595 3600	300. Next aftur Gepte regned Abessan,    os clerkes knawn that con theron. Grett wrschep in his tym he wan,    and aftur hym regned Achyron Ten yere; and aght yere aftur than    gufernd a gud man, hyght Abdon. And sythyn thei hade no mayster man:    that mad them fowly to fone. Thei forsoke Goddes servyce    and to mawmentes tham ment. Therfor with sere enmys    sone ware thei schamed and schent.	reigned Ibzan acknowledge who know about it honor; won Elon; (see note); (t-note) eight years afterward; (t-note) called Abdon then they (the Israelites) made; foully to live idols; returned many enemies shamed and killed; (t-note)
[BIRTH OF SAMSON (13:1–24)]
3605 3610 3615 3620 3625 3630 3635 3640 3645 3650 3655 3660 3665 3670	301. To God thei fast con call and crye    and dyd grett penance for ther plyght. And He ordand then helpe in hye.    An nobyll man, that Many hyght, Was haldyn chefe of chewalry    and had to wyfe a worthy wyght. Bot chylder bare scho non hym by;    therfor scho drowped day and nyght. Grett mornyng made that myld    and prayd in town and feld That God suld send sum chyld    that myght ther welthes weld. 302. So ose scho prayd with hert and hend,    hyrselfe alone in her selere, An angell saw scho by hyr lend    in forme of man with face full clere. “Woman,” he sayd, “thi mornyng mend;    God takes entent to thi prayer. A sone He sall to thee send,    that sall governe tho folke in fere. Of myght sall none be more    on mold amang mankynd. I warne thee thus before,    as thou sall forther fynd. 303. “The Ebrews that in bayle ar brast    sall he dyffend with forse in fyght. Cutt not hys hare of for no hast,    for therin sall be most his myght. Ne lycour loke he non tast    to make hym dronkyn day or nyght, For therwith may his wyttes be wast    to werke wrang, all yf he be wyght.” When he had told this tale,    no ferther of hym scho fand. Scho toyght hyr hert was hale    for joy of this tythand. 304. Unto hyr lord sone can scho tell    of all this case, os scho can kayre: How scho was werned with Goddes angell    to beyr a chyld to be ther ayre, And how he suld be ferse and fell    and his forse in his fax suld fayre. The gud man sayd, “No more thou mell;    of swylke dedes I am in dyspayre.” He trowde yt bot a trayn,    and to hymself he sayd, “Sum foyle to make hyr fayn    hath broyght hyr in this brayde.” 305. Than all thof scho before was glade    throgh bodword of the angell bryght, Sone was scho sore and sume dele rade    bycause hyr lord sett yt so lyght. Scho prayd to God with semland sade    to send sume tokyn to his syght So that he myght have, als scho hade,    gud hertyng from Hevyn on hyght. Hymselfe made sacrafyce    and prayd God of His grace Forto wytt on what wyse    this process com in place. 306. Sone aftur this then fell yt so,    as thei prayd both with stabyll stevyn, God send His angell to them two,    and that same note he can them nevyn. Manne then toke tent therto    and loved the Lord of Lyght and Levyn. For when the angell ferd them fro,    thei saw how he was hent to Hevyn. The wyfe sone wex with chyld    and bare withowtyn blame A barne to be ther byld.    Sampson thei cald his name.	(see note) ordained; haste; (t-note) Manoah was called considered supreme in chivalry; (see note); (t-note) person; (t-note) children bore she drooped (moped) mourning; gentle [woman]; (see note) field (i.e., everywhere) their happiness secure; (t-note) heart and hand (i.e., with all her being) private room her standing bright amend heed those peoples together strength earth captivity are bound; (t-note) force his hair off for any reason; (t-note) Nor liquor allow; taste drunk wits be wasted brave found thought; glad (whole) message her lord (husband) bear; their heir fierce and fell; (t-note) strength; hair speak events believed; trick fool; glad deception Then although good news Now; she annoyed; a bit angry (t-note) a grave face some sign good hearing [Manoah] himself know in what way (t-note) it befell voices news; mention Manoah; took heed Lightning went from them taken grew bore without blemish; (see note) child; their comfort Samson
[SAMSON’S YOUTH (13:25)]
3675 3680 3685 3690 3695	307. Phylysteyns had then maystry,    And Ebrews was withowtyn beld. This chyld was tent full tenderly;    all wold his hele that hym beheld. To batell bede he his body,    as sone ose hee myght wepyns weld. On mold was no man so myghty;    The Phylystyens his felnes feld, Ay whyls he leved Goddes law    and keped His commawndment. All men of hym had aw,    in werld wherever he wentt. 308. His moder herd the angell say    how that hys hore suld not be schorne. Therfor scho dyde yt wex allway;    so wex his myght mydday and morne. Phylesteyns oft can he flay    that was full fers and fell beforne, Tyll ay at the last he lufed ther lay    and went with them that wold hym scorne To ther cyté that heyght    Tanna, with thourys clene. Thor saw he sone a syght,    that sythyn turned hym to tene.	comfort attended [to] desired his safety he took his soon as; weapons wield earth; (t-note) fierceness felt All the while awe hair; shorn allowed it to grow thus grew his strength terrify fierce Until; loved their law their city that was called Timnah; (t-note) There later; sadness
[SAMSON AND A PHILISTINE WOMAN (14:1–4)]
3700 3705 3710 3715 3720 3725 3730 3735 3740 3745 3750 3755	309. Evyn os he enturd that ceté,    a semly madyn sone he mett, Of fygur fayre and face full free;    with full grett gladschepe scho hym grett. Hym toyght her semly on to se;    hys hert at all on hyr was sett, And to hyr kynradyn carped he    that hyr to wed wold he not lett. Then was the Phylesteyns fayn    to gare hym luf ther lay, For thei trowde by sum trayn    sum tyme hym to betray. 310. He playd hym thor lang os hym lyst    with mekyll myrth betwen them twa. His kynrede of this werke noyght wyst,    for that cety was farre them fro. His moyder morned, fro scho hym myst.    Then toke he his leve in Tanna And turned agayn unto his trest,    his frendes that sojornde in Sarra. He told them tales to the end    of his dedes day and nyght, And of that maydyn hende,    how he hys hert hade heyght. 311. His moyder mornyd, and mony moe    qwen thei herd tell of this tythyng. Bot no of them durst say hym so    to wreth hym, all yf he was kyng. His fader sayd betwen them two,    “Sun, yt is no semly thyng With Philysteyns us forto go;    thei hatte us Ebrews, old and yynge. And Moyses in his law    amonyst, als us menys, That we suld ever us withdraw    fro fals Phylysteyns. 312. “Us ow to lufe God Allmighty,    as our forme faders dyd beforne. Phylesteyns makes them mawmentry    and honers them both evyn and morn. Therfor, dere sone, sett not therby.    We have thee sayved sen thou was borne; Sayve now thiselfe fro socerry,    els may thou lyghtly be forlorne.” His moyder weped allway    and sayd he suld be schent. Bot all that thei cowde say    myght not turne his entent. 313. And when thei saw yt myght not spede    more forto lerne hym lowd ne styll, Sum dele for luf, sum dele for drede,    thei grawntt hym to have his wyll. Sone afturward all same thei yode    this foly forward to fulfyll, And with fayr wordes tho folke to fede,    throw spech yf thei myght yt spyll. So soyght thei fro Sarra    by wuddes and wastes wyld And toke the way to Tanna    with Sampson, ther semly chyld.	as; city beautiful maiden soon gladness she greeted him He thought; look; (see note) kindred he announced hesitate glad cause; [to] love their ways; (t-note) intended by some guile there [as] long as he desired much mirth; two family; knew not mourned; missed; (see note) Timnah trusty ones Zorah deeds fair maiden heart had promised; (t-note) many more [did so, too] news dared anger; (t-note) seemly hate; Hebrews (t-note) admonished, as we recall We ought to love founding fathers did before for themselves idols honor preserved since sorcery (corruption) forsaken wept destroyed alter help; (t-note) teach him publicaly or privately Somewhat for love, somewhat for fear all together they went silly promise those folk (the Philistines) to feed through speeches to see if they might undo it Zorah woods and wild wastes Timnah fair
[SAMSON KILLS A LION (14:5–9)]
3760 3765 3770 3775 3780 3785 3790 3795 3800 3805 3810 3815 3820 3825	314. Then of sum torfurs men may tell,    qwylke in that tyme to hym betyde. For os thei wentt, swylke ferles fell,    his herdenes may not be hyde. Behynd his frendes os he con dwell,    under a wud syde what so he dyde, A lyon come hym forto qwell,    for he saw none with hym abyde. And the lyon ther he slogh    evyn his twa handes betwen And tyll a dyke hym drogh,    for he suld not be sene. 315. When he had doyn this doyghty dede,    that non wyst of bot only hee, Aftur his frendes full fast he yede,    os thei raked to that rych ceté. Thor fand thei folke full fayre to fede,    of Phylysteyns full grett plenté. Bot that thei hethyn lyve can lede,    more plesand pepyll myght non be. To Manne and his fere    full grett myrth can thei make And gaf them drewres dere    for Sampson, ther sun, sake. 316. To loke his lufe he wold nott lett    for nothyng that myght betyde. Befor hyr frendes furth was scho sett    with mynstralcy and mekyll pryde. Qwen Manne and that meneye mett    and cause of ther comyng dyscryde, A certan seson sone was sett,    and sewrty layd for ayder syde That Sampson suld hyre wede    be swylke a certayn day. His frendes was sore adrede,    bot thei durst not say nay. 317. When all was sett so in certayn,    thei sojournd thor bot schort seson. Full fast thei hyed them home agayn    to Sarra, a cety of renown. Sampson was of this fayre full fayn;    to batell fast he made hym bown. He kyd that he was mekyll of mayn;    Phylesteyns oft fast dang he down. Thai that ware all abufe    and leved ay so to last, He putt them to reprove    in all place wher he past. 318. All Ebrews folke he can dyffend    and made fre that before was thrall. And when the tym come nere the ende    that was ordand amang them all, Hys kynradyn holl that he kend    bade he to be at his brydall. And os thei ydderward can wend,    a farly fare yett can fall: That place persayved he    wher he the lyon slogh, And the bayns forto se    to the dyke he hym drogh. 319. Evyn to that corse hys cowrse he kest,    and sone he fand the bones dry. Bees in the mowth had mad ther nest;    a honycame he fand in hy. He brake yt owt, so toyght hym best,    and menyd to make some bourd therby. Then raked he furth withowtyn rest    tyll he come to his cumpany. With the fayrest hony he fede    his fader and moyder also, And sythyn he brake and beyd    to other frendes moo.	troubles which such marvels happened [that] his hardiness; hid wooded area whatever he was doing lion; kill; (t-note) he (the lion); waiting he (Samson) killed only his two hands into a ditch he dragged it seen brave deed knew went progressed There found; feed Except; led [a] heathen’s life pleasing Manoah; company dowries dear their son’s sake certainty; (t-note) look [on]; cease songs and much pride When; company met was made known certain date soon securities laid; either would her wed such afraid dared remained there only a short time hastened pleased ready knew; great of strength struck all above [the ground] believed ever thus to endure reproof places; passed free; enslaved came near family whole; honored wedding as they thitherward wondrous thing perceived slew bones ditch he drew himself; (t-note) corpse his course he followed soon he found made honeycomb he found broke intended; jest fed then he broke and gave more [of it]
[SAMSON’S MARRIAGE (14:10–11)]
3830 3835 3840 3845 3850 3855 3860	320. And sum dele held he styll in store    forto part with his paramowre, For of all wemen that then wore    of fayrnes myght scho beyre the floure. And hastely when thei come thore,    thei ware resayved with grett honowur. And to fulfyll forward before,    assygned thei certan day and howre. Sampson wede that free    with both ther frendes assent, With all solempnité,    and myrth that myght be ment. 321. Thor was solace of servyce sere;    thei had sene non swylke bot the same. Both beyrys and bullys and baran dere,    ther wanted none wyld ne tame. Of turnamentes ther men myght lere;    who wold not hurle, hald hym at hame. Bot to Sampson durst non apeyre:    all dowt his hand that herd his name, Becawse he was so strang.    The Phylysteyns forthi Ordand them amang    of tresty men thrytty, 322. Qwylke thei well wyst was wyse and wyght    and stalworthest in stede and stall, Forto be nere hym day and nyght    for ferd of fare that myght befall. And when Sampson persayved that syght    and all ther gawdes, grett and small, A reson he devysyd and dyght    forto asay ther wyttes withall. Of the lyon that he slogh    and of the came with hony He made game gud enoght    forto abays them by.	beloved were [living]; (t-note) bear the flower (be the best) covenant; (t-note) wedded that lovely damsel their friends' assent diverse courses; (t-note) seen nothing like it until this bears; bulls; fallow deer there none lacked wild or domesticated meat tournaments where; (see note) joust, kept himself none dared challenge feared (see note) therefore thirty trustworthy men; (t-note) knew were wise and capable in every way fear of events that might happen tricks test their wits slew comb with honey good enough abash; (t-note)
[SAMSON’S RIDDLE (14:12–18)]
3865 3870 3875 3880 3885 3890 3895 3900 3905 3910 3915 3920 3925 3930 3935 3940 3945 3950 3955 3960 3965 3970 3975 3980	323. “Sers,” he sayd, “I sall yow tell    a taylle that sall our bowrdyng be, And yf ye thrytty yow amell    what it suld sygnyfye can see, Thrytty cloghes of sylke to sell    sall I gyfe yow in gud degré, And yf ye fayle how yt befell,    so mony sall ye gyf to me. Avyse yow in your mode;    the question this es: Owt of the herd come fode,    and of the swalowand swettenes.” 324. To them this reson he arayd    and bad thei suld that case dyscrye. Of the purpas thei ware not payd,    bot his wyll durst thei not denye. Of sevyn days respeyt thei hym prayd,    to be avysed therfor fully. “I grawntt your askyng, sers,” he sayd,    and with tho wordes thei went in hy. Thei dyde ther besenes    this ylke lesson to lere. Bot what the menyng was    cowd thei not all cum nere. 325. When thei had soyght faur days or fyve    by consell of ther clergy clene And oft reherssed this lesson ryve,    thei cowde not say what yt suld mene. Then ware thei stede to strutt and stryve.    So sayd on that had mekyll sene: “We wytt yt never bot yf his wyfe    may geytt yt told them two betwen. Sen scho ys of our kyn,    assay hyr sone we sall. So may we wrschep wyn.”    To this assentt thei all. 326. Two wysest of them to hyre wentt    and sayd, “Syster, thiselfe to sayve, Wytt of thi maystur what it ment,    the mater that he wold us crave. For and thou tell us his entent,    grett helpyng of us sall thou have. And yf thou suffer us to be schent,    thee ware os gud be grathed in grave: Sore vengance sall we take    on thee and all thin.” Scho sayd, “Sers, for yowr sake    I sall assay hym syne.” 327. Sone afturward, when scho myght wyn    alon with hyr lorde to dele, Scho kyssed hym kyndly cheke and chyn    and lett ose hyr luf was full lele. “A, ser,” scho sayd, “ye sall have syne,    your hert fro me yf ye oght hele. I wyll forsake both kyth and kyn    and wend with yow in wo and wele; My hert ware comforth clene.    Wole ye kyndly me kene What that mater may meyne    ye told to the thryty mene?” 328. “Gud leve,” he sayd, “lett be thi fayre    to tyme that thei have done ther dede. That mater wyll I not declare    forto be nevynd for nokyns nede.” Then sone scho sobed and syghyd sare    and feyned hyr febyll by falshede. Scho rent hyr cloghes and ruged hyr hare,    os scho wold dye withowtyn drede. When Sampson con hyre see    so mowrne and make swylke chere, He sayd, “Lemman, lett be;    the lesson sall thou lere.” 329. He lered hyr fyrst of this lyon,    how that he slogh hym with his hand, And aftur when that thei come to town    by the same way os he can wend, How he in a dyke ther down    fand the bones clene that he kend, And how bees then had made them bown    in the lyon mowth to loge and lend. “The mowth,” he sayd, “that ette,    and the bownes war hard and drye, And the hony was swett;    this case thei suld dyscrye. 330. “Bot wyfe,” he sayd, “this that is wroyght    lett no man wytt be way ne strette.” “A, ser,” scho sayd, “that wold I not,    for all this werld heyre I yow hette.” Bot in all hast that ever scho myght    scho made hyre with tho men to mette. A blyth bodword to them scho broyght    of all this fare fro hed to fette. Scho sayd, “This is certayn    and soth, so sall ye say.” Then ware thei ferly fayn    and bold to byde that day. 331. Be this was sex days comyn and gone;    the sevynt day was ther seson sett. To Sampson wentt thei ylkon    and sayd, “We come to do our dett. What ys more hard then is the bone    amang all fude that furth is fett, And swettur thyng then hony is none    in mowth, when yt is melled and mett.” When Sampson herd them say    so evyn unto his merke, He wyst full well allway    his wyfe had wroyght that werke. 332. And then persaved he properly    qwy scho so stretly can hym enquere The question forto com by,    hyr lynage for scho wold yt lere. Then carped he to that cumpany    and told before tho folke in fere, “I knaw all your confyderacy,    And I answer in this manere: What may bettur begyle    A lele man, lowd or styll, Then weked woman wyle,    wher yt is turned unto yll.”	entertainment among (t-note) garments of silk shall I give fail (t-note) Consider; mind; (see note) is this; (t-note) strong [thing] came food; (see note) swallowing [thing came] sweetness expound task; glad dared For; respite; (see note) take counsel those; haste; (t-note) their busyness; (t-note) same answer to learn (see note) counselors; their simple clergy; (t-note) often; frequently mean disposed; strive [in anger] one; much seen (experienced) unless Since ask her soon honor her (t-note) Learn subject; from us seek if you destroyed are as good [as to] be laid then alone on cheek and chin pretended that her love; loyal have committed transgression anything conceal country and family go; woe and weal pure explain tale might mean [that] men; (t-note) Good love; your concern; (t-note) until the time; their deed mentioned for any kind of need sobbed and sighed sorely feigned herself enfeebled through tore her clothes; messed up her hair doubt thus mourning; such moods Lover learn told her slew (t-note) as he can go ditch; (t-note) found; knew themselves a home lodge; (t-note) ate bones were sweet describe; (t-note) know in any way (t-note) here I promise you those men to meet glad tidings from beginning to end; (t-note) (t-note) true; (t-note) wondrously pleased appointment; (t-note) each one debt taken mixed; (t-note) close to his mark knew why she so earnestly tell called those gathered folk beguile good; aloud or silently a wicked woman’s wile
[SAMSON DESTROYS ASHKELON (14:19)]
3985 3990 3995 4000 4005 4010 4015 4020	333. He wyst well how thrytty wore    ordand, for gape men hym to geme. Forthi, all if his myght was more,    that tyme wold he not be breme. Ther falshed schewed he them before    that the woman wysched them well to deme. Than langer hym lyst not sojorne thore:    he wyst thei ware fayn hym to fleme. He toke his men ylkon,    all that myght armes beyre, And went to Askalone,    A cety walled fore were. 334. The cety fell, so has he fun,    to Ebrews, his helders of old, And then in bondeyg ware thei bown.    Swylke tales to Sampson sone thei told: Phylysteyns had the gaudes begun;    sone ware thei feld os fee in fold. That cety sone so he wun    Ebrews to weld yt, as thei wold. Then fayrd he furth them fro,    And so his way he wendes To sojorne in Sarra    with his fader and his frendes. 335. Ther wuned he with them mony a weke,    for of his fayre thei war full fayn. Of Sersyns syde none he forsoke;    who wold hym ware, sone ware thei slayn, Tyll at the last talent hym toke    to Tanna forto turne agayn Hys wyfe, that he lufyd, forto loke,    for whor he lufed he cowd not layn. All yf scho fawted before,    yett wold he frayst hyr ferr. And so when he come thore,    he fand hyr werkand werre.	thirty [men] were; (see note) ordered, as bold; guard (t-note) fierce; (t-note) falsehood had guided; to make answer; (t-note) he desired to remain there no longer; (t-note) anxious to drive him away; (t-note) bear Ashkelon for war found; (t-note) elders bondage were they (the Jews) taken Such; (t-note) tricks felled as cattle won rule he went away from them goes stayed; many weeks deeds; glad; (t-note) He refused to fight against pagans (Saracens) anger, soon were desire Timnah loved where; deny defaulted try her further there found her behaving even worse
[SAMSON DEFEATS THE PHILISTINES (14:20–15:17)]
4025 4030 4035 4040 4045 4050 4055 4060 4065 4070 4075 4080 4085 4090 4095 4100	336. Sampson was forgeyttyn than,    os unkouth man that is unknawn, And scho wede with another man,    that used hyr evynly os his awn. Then Sampson bytturly can bane    and sayd scho suld be hanged and drawn. And bettur consell none he cane    bot stroye the sede that thei have sawn. He was so mased and moved,    full mony he dang to dede, And cautels he controvyd    to harme all ther kynred. 337. In that same tym men suld begyn    ther cornes into ther howse to kest. He sembyld be a sutell gyn    thre hunderth fers foxys from est and west, And fyrebrandes that well wold byrne    full fast unto ther taylis he fest; That made them rasydly forto ryne    to all was brent; so toyght hym best. Cornes and wynes he dystroyd    that suld susteyn ther lyve. Of swylke maner he noyed    Phylysteyns for his wyfe. 338. Yf he was wroth, none myght hym wytt;    he went and wund wher he was born. Phylysteyns had full grett dyspytt,    for he had so dystroyd ther corne. Thei sayd thei suld yt qwykly qwytt,    and therto have thei othes sworne. Full grett ost geydderd thei full tyte    and sayd all Ebrews suld be lorne On lese then thei wold send    Sampson them untyll, Bonden both his hende,    to werke with hym ther wyll. 339. When that this soynd to them was send,    the Ebrews made full mekyll mone. Thei had no fors them to dyffend;    therfor thei ware full wyll of wone. No consell in that case thei kend,    bot to Sampson thei wentt ylkon And told hym all ther tale to end,    and helpe bot hym how thei had none. He bad thei suld hym bynd    be lyve, no langer sese, Both hys handes hym behynd    so forto make them pese. 340. Then ware thei bold when he them bade:    thei band his hend with cordes new. Unto the lordes thei have hym lede,    and in that tyme thei toke a trew. When he with his enmyse was stede,    thei wer full bown his bale to brew. Bot of them was he not adred;    he toyght thei suld that ryot rew. So were Ebrews certayn    that pese suld stably stand, And Phylysteyns was fayn,    for thei had hym in hand. 341. Hys frendes wer yett full wyll of rede,    for thei wyst not what wold betyde. His enmys bed no bettur bede    then umsett hym on ylka syde. He herd them deme he suld be dede,    and when thei war most in ther pride, He stert up sternly in that stede.    to breke his bandes he wold not byd, Sone ware thei sonder ylkon:    thei myght dere hym no dele, Bot wepyns had he ryght none    and thei war armed well. 342. Non armowrs ne no helpe he hath,    bot well he treste in Goddes grace. And als God wold, ryght so yt was:    sone had he comforth in that case. He fand a cheke bone of an asse    full sodanly in that same place. Therwith of panyms gart he passe    a thowssand lyves in lytyll space; All that hym batell bede    ware skomfett sone and slayn. Thei ware full fayn that flede,    and he leved alon.	forgotten then she (his wife) wed to just as his own curse knew destroyed the crops; sown amazed beat to death wiles he contrived grain; cast subtle contrivance fierce foxes; (t-note) firebrands (torches); burn tails he fastened swiftly to run until; burnt life troubled; (see note); (t-note) angry; blame dwelled; (t-note) their crops quickly avenge oaths destroyed Unless unto them Bound; hands message moan; (t-note) army; defend were utterly lacking hope solution; they knew (t-note) except for ordered; bind; (t-note) quickly; wait peace bound his hands (t-note) truce enemies was placed eager to make trouble for him afraid; (t-note) trouble rue; (t-note) were glad were at a loss for a plan knew not what would come about made; command; (t-note) surrounded deem; dead stood up strongly break his bonds; wait Soon; sundered altogether; (t-note) could harm him in no way; (t-note) Even though weapons No armor; (t-note) trusted; (t-note) soon jawbone of an ass; (see note) pagans did he take; (t-note) discomfited soon glad that fled left [them] alone
[SAMSON AND THE SPRING AT LEHI (ENHAKKORE) (15:18–19)]
4105 4110 4115 4120 4125 4130 4135 4140	343. He musterd that he was myghty    amang them that ware maysters mast. Then thanked he God full inwardly    that hym hade helped so in hast. For feghyng was his flesch so drye    that bown he was to gyfe the gast. And watur myght he non come by;    in byttur bale so was he brast. Then prayd he God in hy,    als He at His awn lyst Had send hym vyctorye,    vochsave to sleke his threyst. 344. God was ay bown his bale to bete    and unto beld hym forto bryng. The asse bown lay at his fette,    wherwith he can his enmys dyng. Therof com watur cold and sweytt,    os yt ware of a well spryng. That slekyd hys threyst and slaked his hette.    He thankyd God ever of all thyng: Fyrst for the lyon    He gafe hym grace to slo And sythyn in this seson    hath sayved his lyfe also. 345. Then wex he wygh, os he was are,    by wonder werke that ther was wroyght. Unto his frendes fast can he fare,    that for hym had full mekyll toyght. All that for hym before had kare,    he made them myrth all that he moyght, And all tho that ther enmys ware,    under ther bondowm hath he broyght. Whyls he wund in Sarraa,    all folke he fand his frend, Bot sythyn to Gasa    toke hym talent to wend.	showed most dominant; (t-note) quickly; (t-note) fighting his throat was ready; give up the ghost (i.e., die) misery; bound [to] God in haste pleasure slake ever ready his misery; (t-note) comfort [jaw]bone; feet strike sprung; (t-note) request slay then at this time he grew strong, as; before [the] wondrous work much concern sadness might; (t-note) enemies were their power While he dwelled in Zorah found then to Gaza desire to go
[SAMSON AT GAZA (16:1–3)]
4145 4150 4155 4160 4165 4170 4175 4180 4185 4190 4195 4200	346. This Gasa was a grett cety;    to fals Phylesteyns yt fell. Of panyms wonned ther grett plenté    that made grett maysterys them amell. Ydder wentt Sampson oft to see    a damsell that ther can dwell. None durst hym warne wher he wold be    for talys that thei of hym herd tell. He fand defawtes before    Phylysteyns forto treyst; Bot sythyn he mett with more    that made hym more abayst. 347. Hys lufe he wold not hele ne hyde,    for no man sayng sett he by. And so betyd yt on a tyde    to Gasa past he prevely. Bot sone Phylesteyns hym aspyd,    how he come with no cumpany, And how he buskyd hym forto abyd    and all nyght with his leman ly. By ther consell thei kest    how that he suld be tone And raysed owt of his rest    and so sodanly slone. 348. Thei wyll not fayle whatso befall;    therfor ther gattes speyre thei fast, And sett gud wache apon the wall    with wepyns that full well wold last. Thei say no sylver sayve hym sall;    his pompe and pryd suld sone be past. Bot Sampson hath persayved all,    how thei his ded devysed and cast. When he hopyd no man herd,    at mydnyght furth he meved And fand the gattes all sperred;    that gart hym be yll grevede. 349. Then wyst he well he was in wath;    to God he prayd with stevyn full styll Att helpe hym forto scape fro scath    sen all hys wele was in His wyll. Thor schewed he sone that he was wrath:    both gattes and postes he puld hym tyll, And on hys bake he bayre them bath    to Tabor, that was a heygh hyll. Phylysteyns that hym hattes    than fand a fowle affray When thei saw ther gattes    both brokyn and borne away. 350. Full mekyll mone thei made that morne,    and carfull was that cumpany; That he ascaped them toyght yt scorne,    for wo thei wyst wold fall therby. Wher he was sum dele frend beforne,    then was he foo and full enmy; Wher he them fand, none was forborne    that in Phylysteyns wold affy. Them forto schame and schend    with hand hade he none aw, And Ebrews he mayntend    and govarnd in Goddes law.	(t-note) pagans (Gentiles) dwelled warriors; among There dared warn him [off from]; wanted to be tales failures trust afterwards abashed conceal man’s words happened he went secretly soon; espied was accustomed; stay lover lie determined taken slain (t-note) their gates they bolted shut good watch silver (i.e., ransom) perceived death devised and planned moved found; barred grieved knew; danger small still voice That he should; escape from harm; (t-note) welfare; (t-note) There; angry (t-note) bore; both Tabor; high; (see note) hate; (t-note) scare great moan; (t-note) full of sadness seemed shameful to them troubles they knew; as a result in some ways a friend before foe; enemy spared ally [themselves] kill no fear; (t-note)
[SAMSON AND DELILAH (16:4–22)]
4205 4210 4215 4220 4225 4230 4235 4240 4245 4250 4255 4260 4265 4270 4275 4280 4285 4290 4295 4300 4305 4310 4315 4320 4325 4330 4335 4340 4345 4350 4355 4360 4365 4370 4375 4380 4385 4390	351. With wemen wold he wun and wend;    he ne royght whedder yt ware well or wrang. All yf Phylysteyns ware noyght his frend,    of them the fayrest wold he fang. In Soreth can a lady lend    that lemans lyfe had leved full lang. Hys hert all hale to hare he mend;    full mekyll myrth was them amang. For scho wold hym begyle,    with fayre chere scho hym fede. Bot he wyst of no wyle    and was nothyng adrede. 352. Scho was full fayre of hyd and hew,    bot of hyr luf scho was full lyght. Of hyr condicions noyght he knew;    Dalyda that damsell heyght. Phylysteyns was ever untrew:    when thei of Sampson saw this syght, Full prevely thei can persew    to marre his maystry yf thei myght. Thei wyst that woman cowde    dyssayve hym by sum gyn. Therfor thei melled with mouyth    to gayre that bourd be gyne. 353. Thei sayd thus: “Dalida, doyghtur dere,    Phylysteyns in thi fayth affy. Sampson, thi felow and thi fere,    thou wott he is our werst enmy. Wold thou qwayntly of hym enquere    wher in his wyghtnes most may ly And warne us, for we sall be nere.    Grett wrschep may thou wyn therby. So may thou stynt all stryve,    and gyftes we sall thee gyfe To lede a ladys lyve,    os lang os thou may lyfe.” 354. “Syrs,” scho sayd, “I sall asay    and fand sum of his fors to fell.” Sone aftur os he by hyr lay,    full grett myrth made scho them amell. Scho sayd, “Gud paramowre, I thee pray    A lytyll tale me forto tell, Sen thou so mekyll of myghtis may,    wherin thi strengh is dyght to dwell. So may I fully fele    how thi luf to me lys.” He dowted hyr sum dele    and answerd on this wyse: 355. “Yf I ware bown, both hend and fette,    with cordes that wald ryght well last, So myght ylk man to be me mette,    for then ware all my power past.” That scho hym lufed full well, scho lett,    tyll he on slepe was faln full fast. Scho band hym full herd, I yow hette,    and then a grett cry up scho cast, For thei that can aspy    suld wyn hym in ther weld. He stert up stalworthyly;    of hyr fayre noyght he feled. 356. He wyst nothyng how scho had wroght    for he persaved no perell yett. And that hyr warke was wast, hyr toyght;    therfor scho frest another fytt. Scho sayd, “Ser, and thou luf me oght,    thou wold not se me soroand sytt And namly for a thyng of noyght,    qwylke by thi word that I wold wytt: Wherin thy strengh is hyde.    I kepe noyght elles to crave. Sythyn als thiself wold byde,    I wyll se yt to save.” 357. He sayd, “Dame, whoso wold me bynd    with twanges schorn owt of a hyde, Both my handes fast me behynd,    then hastely war past my pryd.” When he on slepe ware wardly blynd,    to bynd hym wold scho not abyd. And for Phylesteyns suld hym fynd    or he was lawse, on lowd scho cryde. He waked, os he noght wyst;    the bandes in sonder brayde. For scho hyr purpase myst;    scho was nothyng well payd. 358. Bot furth yett, for scho wold not fayle,    scho sayd, “Sen I no ferther found, Yll may me lyke my long travele    to be beswyked.” With that scho swound. He sayd, “Whoso wold take a nale    and fest yt fast into the grownd, Yf enmys wold me then asayle,    I suld have no strengh in that stownd.” Scho broyght both nale and band    and fest yt when he sleped And drof yt with hyr hand    down into the erth full depe. 359. Scho wakyn hym then with a cry,    for his enmyse suld here in hast. And when he start up stallworthyly,    then wyst scho that hyr werke was wast. Full mekyll moyne scho made for thi    and sayd, “In bayle ever I am brayst, Sen I se grayth incheson why    thei lufe not me that I luf mast.” Scho sayd in yre and angere,    “Sen I werke so in vayne, I sall lufe them no langer    that lyst not luf agayne.” 360. Sone has scho chosyn another chare:    scho weped and wrang both hed and hand. I deme hyr a dewle os I dare;    scho mad hyr als scho myght not stand. Now nedes Sampson forto beware,    les he be wrethed with his awn wand. Bot for he saw hyr sogaytes fare,    he wex a foyle, and that he fand. He sayd, “Leman, be styll,    no lenger lyst me layn. Thou sall wytt all thi wyll;    I say thee in certayn. 361. “My myght is haly in my hare    so that yf yt were cutt of clene, Then suld I be of myght no mare    then other men before hath bene. Bot leman, loke thou layn this lare;    tell yt never bot us two betwene!” “A, luf,” scho sayd, “well lever me ware    forto be kylled with cayres kene. Derly I sall yt dyght    both by nyght and day Forto maynten thi myght    in all that ever I may.” 362. So sall Sampson be putt to pyn,    that maysteres mad full mony a myle. A woman with hyr weked ingyne    has lorne that led — alas that whyle! Of hyr falshed scho wold not fyn;    full freke scho was hym forto fyle. Scho dyd hym drynke of dyverse wyn    with grett gladnes hym to begyle. So yll wemen wyll glose    them that thei wold have schent, For men sall not suppose    in them none yll entent. 363. Hyre solace was to hys unsele,    becawse scho kest hym to betray. When he of wyn was dronkyn wele,    then was hys wytt all wast away. He fell on slepe and myght not fele    what folke to hym wold do or say. Hys hare scho cutt of ylka dele,    wherin his strengh and lykyng lay. This was a delfull dede    of all that ever was told, For trest of mekyll mede    made hyr to be so bold. 364. When this was done, scho mad a schowtt,    for enmys suld here, that was hyd. He wakynd and went withowtyn dowt    forto have done, os he are dyde. Bot fals Phylysteyns flokked abowt;    to bynd hym sore non thurt them byd. And sone both his eyn putt thei owt,    because no kyndnes suld be kyd. To Gaza thei gart hym ga    both blynd and bun in bandes. And the dewle Dalyda    was made lady of landes. 365. He that myght fell all folke beforn,    now is he fast with feturs fest. Phylysteyns fast can hym scorne,    for he had bene a grevus geyst. At qwernes thei gart hym grynd ther corn,    and fylth oft in his face thei kest, And grett byrdyns that suld be borne    to gayr hym beyre so toyght them best; Tho fellows folke ware fayn    to se hym fowle fare. Ebrews ware put to payn;    his kynradyn had gret kare. 366. In byttur bayle thus can he byde,    ay bon to beyre what thei wold byde. All way with hym thei flott and chyde,    bot in the meyn tyd thus betyde: His hare was waxin sum dele syde,    wherin his strengh was holy hyd. Therfor to venge hym he aspyd    on dedes that Dalyda hym dyd. Thrugh hir gyltry was he    full yll turment and tened. And venged wold he be,    yf he hymself suld schend.	women he would dwell and hang out; (see note) did not care Even if; (t-note) catch Sorek did dwell; (t-note) a harlot’s life altogether to her he gave over; (t-note) much pleasure beguile fed knew; deception beautiful skin and complexion love; fickle plans Delilah; was called (t-note) secretly knew deceive; contrivance; (t-note) spoke capture that man by trickery (see note) trust companion know cunningly; (see note) strength; (t-note) honor stop all strife; (see note) lead a lady’s life as long as you may live try find; strength to quench; (t-note) (t-note) between lover Since; great; (t-note) made feel lies somewhat in this way were bound; hand and foot any; my match; (t-note) pretended until; fallen bound; assure overtake their power started her workings (the bindings); felt peril yet so her work was wasted, she thought attempted; wicked stratagem aught sit in sorrow nothing (i.e., not worth a trifle) which; know have nothing else Since you expect to stay I expect to see it or else straps cut would my pride be passed away asleep was blind to the world wait before; loose nothing knew broke asunder not a little angered Since I’ve nothing better learned My long labor suits me ill hoodwinked; swooned; (t-note) stick; (t-note) (t-note) place bonds fastened woke should be here quickly stoutly; undertaking; (t-note) lament; therefore sadness Since; clear cause love most will not love in return mood wept and wrung; (t-note) deem her a devil; (see note) made as [if] she (see note) lest; grieved; own rod; (t-note) regarded her as exceedingly fair grew a fool, and that he revealed Lover does it please me to lie know all you want wholly; hair off cleanly (shaved bare) strength no more conceal this information love; I would prefer terrible woe take care of it (t-note) pain; (t-note) who had made masteries for a long time guile betrayed that man stop; (t-note) eager; defile wines; (see note) deceive; (see note) destroyed suspect; (see note) comforting; misfortune; (t-note) intended wasted feel hair she cut off every bit; (see note) pleasure woeful deed; (t-note) trust of much reward shout enemies to hear, who were hidden; (t-note) awoke; without fear he did before gathered needed; (t-note) soon; eyes shown made him go; (t-note) bound in bonds devil Delilah (see note) destroy all people before fetters strong grievous guest mills; made threw burdens make him bear Those; happy fare badly kindred; trouble; (t-note) sorrow always made to bear shout meanwhile thus occurred growing wholly concealed; (t-note) (t-note) deceit; (t-note) tormented and aggrieved [even] if; die
[SAMSON’S VENGEANCE AND DEATH (16:23–31)]
4395 4400 4405 4410 4415 4420 4425 4430 4435 4440	367. Ylke yere thei used to make a fest,    qwylk may not fayle, bot yf thei fon, And sacrafyce full mony a best    unto ther god that heyght Dagon. And now thei mad yt more honest,    for thei had maystry of Sampson. Ydder thei semled, most and lest,    and broyght hym to be wonderd on. As a best that was blynd    he balturd furth them by; Both before and behynd    thei bunsched hym bytterly. 368. In a palays thei hath purvayd    ther mangery with mekyll pride. Full ryally it was arayd    with wyndows and with wardes wyd. Bot all on heyght the halles was grayd    and selers beneth in to abyd, And on a pyller war thei brayd    that bare up all on ylka syde. Sampson befor had seen    the purpase of that place; He toyght at turne to tene    ther sang and ther solace. 369. He prayd a boy that lufed hym best    unto the pyler hym forto lede That he ther by his bake myght rest,    for of swylk helpe had he grett nede. Dame Dalyda on deese was drest    with mony a wyght in worthy wede. The pyler gart he bow and brest    that all the halle in sonder yede. Yt bare down man and barne    and slew them all at ons Bot the boy, that he can warne    to wend owt of the wons. 370. Ten milia Phylysteyns and mo    gart he be lorne in lytyll whyle, All for he wold that woman slo    that with hyr gaudes can hym begyll. Sampson hymselfe was ded also;    he mogh not passe from that perell, So wakynd weyre and mekyll wo    all throw a wekyd woman wyle. The Ebrews all and sum    governd he twenty yere. Thus endes Judicum,    bot more yett men may lere.	Each year; feast which beast their god who was called Dagon splendid There they assembled; (t-note) beast hobbled along struck palace their banquet; great royally courtyards were prepared cellars pillar were they supported; (see note) every side thought in turn to harm their song asked lead back; (see note) dais; seated (see note) man; clothes burst into pieces went; (t-note) It bore (fell) down Except; (see note) building 10,000 caused he to be killed because; slay; (see note) tricks; beguile dead may; peril Thus arose strife and much woe; (see note) through a wicked woman’s wiles (t-note) Judges learn; (see note)