The Booke of Thenseygnementes and Techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his Doughters/Chapter 48
OF DALIDA THE EUYLLE WYF.
SHALLE telle yow another Ensample vpon the faytte or dede of an euylle wyf and a fals woman, whiche was named Dalida, whiche was wyf of Sampson, that moche loued her, in so moche that he dyde nothyng but that he made her to knowe hit. And for the grete loue that he had to her, he lyke a foole discouered and told her that al his myst was in the heerys of the heed. And whanne the fals woma wist it, she made to telle the paynyms, whiche were enemyes to her lord, that yf they wold gyue her a good reward she sholde so do that they shold take hym. And anone the paynyms promysed her that yf she couthe so doo as she sayd, they shold gyue her a grete quantite of gold and of gownes, and as many precious stones as she wold take of them. And she that thorugh couetyse was deceyued, made her ford to slepe in her lappe. And whyle he fast slepte, she cutte awey the heerys of his heede, and anone sent for the paynyms, whiche nyghe were embusshed, and made hym to be taken of them. Thenne he awoke and fonde alle his myght and strengthe loste and gone, that before that tyme was wont to resiste and fyghte, he al one, ageynst thre thowsand men. And whanne they hadde hym fast bounden they thrested and putte oute bothe his eyen, and made hym to tourne aboute a mylle as a blynde hors. Behold ye, thenne, and loke how couetyse deceyued this folissh woman, that for a lytell gold bitrayed her lord that soo moche loued her, whiche was moost doubted of all men that euer were and euer shall be. A coueytous herte dar well saye & vndertake to do moch euylle, for he maketh the noble men to be rapynous & tyrauts ouer their men & subgettes. Couetyse also maketh many theues, many vsurers, many murderers, many maydens & wydowes to become harlottes, and many secrete homycyde is done by this fals vyce of couetyse; the children also to desyre and wysshe the dethe of theyr faders and moders, onely for to haue and rauysshe their goodes after theyr dethe. Also Iudas: for couetyse of syluer he bitrayed oure lord Ihesu Cryst. In suche maner done these dayes the aduocates and men of lawe, whiche sellen theyr talkyng & wordes, tornynge fro the trouthe and pletynge ageynst hit. For they doo the ryght of the good man to be dylayed for to haue and take of hym more syluer, and many one of them is that taketh of bothe partyes, and so they selle theyr speche, whiche god gaaf them to prouffyte with for the comyn wele. Therfor is couetyse moche deceyuable,, which brought the wyf of Sapson to doo grete folye. Here ye haue good ensample to kepe your self fro the vyce of couetyse for soone after god sente to the sayd dalida the deserte of her meryte and dede. She toke to spouse one of the paynyms, and made a grete feste. Sampson that knewe of it, and to whom his heres were growen and his strengthe come ageyne, made hym to be ledde there as they were sette at the dyner. And thenne he toke the pyler in his armes whiche stode in the myddell of the halle, and that susteyned and bare al the place, and shoke it with so grete strengthe and myght that he brake it in to pyeces, and the place fylle vpon them. There was slayne dalida, her newe lord, and the moost parte of them that were at that dyner. And thus Sampson venged hym of dalida his fals wyf, whiche was there punysshed of her euylle dede and folye. And well was reason and ryght that of euyl doynge euyl shold come to her.