moon her circuit hath performed, thou shalt overcome, and conquer him by force unconquerable, and wrest his secret from him. Call thine alluring arts and honest-seeming brow, the holy kiss of love and the transparent tear; put on fair linen, that with the lily vies, purple and silver; neglect thy hair, to seem more lovely in thy loose attire; put on thy country's pride, deceit; and eyes of love decked in mild sorrow, and sell thy lord for gold." For now, upon her sumptuous couch, reclined, in gorgeous pride, she still entreats, and still she grasps his vigorous knees with her fair arms. "Thou lovest me not! thou'rt war, thou art not love! O foolish Dalila! O weak woman! it is death clothed in flesh thou lovest, and thou hast been encircled in his arms! Alas, my lord, what am I calling thee? Thou art my God![1] To thee I pour my tears for sacrifice morning and evening: my days are covered with sorrow! shut up, darkened: by night I am deceived! Who says that thou wast born of mortal kind? Destruction was thy father, a lioness
- ↑ Compare Tennyson's treatment of a similar subject in the Idyll of Vivien, where, after demanding of Merlin his secret, in order to undo him with it, she calls his love in question on his refusal, and then, changing her tactics:
