The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Автор: Gutenberg
Год: 1910
Язык: английский
Жанр: Культурология

Электронная книга - «The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]». Краткое содержание книги:

Антология содержит:
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 01 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 02 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 03 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 04 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 05 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 06 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 07 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 08 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 09 — Lives and Letters от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 10 — Lives and Letters от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 11 — Ancient and Mediæval History от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 12 — Modern History от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 13 — Religion and Philosophy от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 14 — Philosophy and Economics от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 15 — Science от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 17 — Poetry and Drama от Неизвестный
The world's greatest books от Mee, Arthur, 1875-1943, joint editor & Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir, 1871-1949, joint editor & McClure, S. S. (Samuel Sidney), 1857-1949, joint editor
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 19 — Travel and Adventure от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 20 — Miscellaneous Literature and Index от Неизвестный

Перейти на страницу:

Such a discomfit as shall quite despoil him

Of all these boasted trophies won on me,

And with confusion blank his worshippers.

Manoa: But for thee what shall be done?

Thou must not in the meanwhile, here forgot,

Lie in this miserable, loathsome plight,

Neglected. I already have made way

To some Philistine lords, with whom to treat

About thy ransom.

Samson: Spare that proposal, father; let me here

As I deserve, pay on my punishment,

And expiate, if possible, my crime.

Manoa: Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite;

But act not in thy own affliction, son.

Repent the sin; but if the punishment

Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids.

Samson: Nature within me seems

In all her functions weary of herself;

My race of glory run, and race of shame,

And I shall shortly be with them that rest

Manoa: I, however,

Must not omit a father's timely care

To prosecute the means of thy deliverance

By ransom, or how else.

Chorus: But who is this? what thing of sea or land—

Female of sex it seems—

That, so bedecked, ornate, and gay,

Comes this way sailing?

Some rich Philistian matron she may seem;

And now at nearer view no other certain

Than Dalila, thy wife.

Samson: My wife! My traitress! Let her not come near me.

Dalila: With doubtful feet and wavering resolution

I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson.

Samson: Out, out, hyena! These are thy wonted arts,

And arts of every woman false like thee—

To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray;

Then, as repentant, to submit, beseech

A reconcilement, move with feigned remorse.

Dalila: Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson,

I to the lords will intercede, not doubting

Their favourable ear, that I may fetch thee

From forth this loathsome prison-house, to abide

With me, where my redoubled love and care,

With nursing diligence, to me glad office,

May ever tend about thee to old age.

Samson: No, no; of my condition take no care;

It fits not; thou and I long since are twain;

Nor think me so unwary or accursed

To bring my feet again into the snare

Where once I have been caught.

Dalila: Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand.

Samson: Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake

My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.

At distance I forgive thee; go with that;

Bewail thy falsehood, and the pious works

It hath brought forth to make thee memorable

Among illustrious women, faithful wives.

Dalila: I see thou art implacable, more deaf

To prayers than winds and seas. Yet winds to seas

Are reconciled at length, and sea to shore.

My name, perhaps, among the circumcised

In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering tribes

To all posterity may stand defamed.

But in my country, where I most desire,

I shall be named among the famousest

Of women, sung at solemn festivals,

Living and dead recorded, who to save

Her country from a fierce destroyer, chose

Above the faith of wedlock bands; my tomb

With odours visited and annual flowers.

Chorus: She's gone—a manifest serpent by her sting—

Discovered in the end, till now concealed.

This idol's day hath been to thee no day of rest,

Labouring thy mind

More than the working day thy hands.

And yet, perhaps, more trouble is behind;

For I descry this way

Some other tending; in his hand

A sceptre or quaint staff he bears,

A public officer, and now at hand.

His message will be short and voluble.

Officer: Hebrews, the prisoner Samson here I seek.

Chorus: His manacles remark him; there he sits.

Officer: Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say.

This day to Dagon is a solemn feast,

With sacrifices, triumph, pomp, and games;

Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,

And now some public proof thereof require

To honour this great feast and great assembly.

Rise, therefore, with all speed, and come along,

Where I will see thee heartened and fresh clad,

To appear as fit before the illustrious lords.

Samson: Thou know'st I am an Hebrew; therefore tell them

Our law forbids at their religious rites

My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

Officer: This answer, be assured will not content them.

Samson: Return the way thou camest;

I will not come.

Officer: Regard thyself; this will offend them highly.

Samson: Can they think me so broken, so debased

With corporal servitude, that my mind ever

Will condescend to such absurd commands?

Joined with extreme contempt! I will not come.

Officer: I am sorry what this stoutness will produce.

Chorus: He's gone, and who knows how he may report

Thy words by adding fuel to the flames.

Expect another message more imperious.

Samson: Shall I abuse this consecrated gift

Of strength, again returning with my hair,

After my great transgression!—so requite

Favour renewed, and add a greater sin

By prostituting holy things to idols.

Chorus: Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not.

Samson: Be of good courage; I begin to feel

Some rousing motions in me, which dispose

To something extraordinary my thoughts.

I with this messenger will go along—

If there be aught of presage in the mind,

This day will be remarkable in my life

By some great act, or of my days the last.

Chorus: In time thou hast resolved: the man returns.

Officer: Samson, this second message from our lords

To thee I am bid say: Art thou our slave,

And dar'st thou, at our sending and command,

Dispute thy coming? Come without delay;

Or we shall find such engines to assail

And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,

Though thou wert firmlier fastened than a rock.

Samson: Because they shall not trail me through their streets

Like a wild beast, I am content to go.

Officer: I praise thy resolution. Doff these links:

By this compliance thou wilt win the lords

To favour, and perhaps to set thee free.

Samson: Brethren, farewell. Your company along

I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them

To see me girt with friends.

Happen what may, of me expect to hear

Перейти на страницу:

Сюжет

Атмосфера

Главный герой

Общее впечатление

Итоговая оценка: 0.0 из 10 (голосов: 0 / История оценок)

Не работает?