The Historie of Samson: Section 9

Samson goes downe to celebrate
his mariage and his nuptiall feast:
The Lyon, which he lew of late
hath honey in his putrid brest.

When as the long expected time was come,
Wherin these lingring Lovers should con-summe
The promis'd mariage, & observe the rites,
Pertaining to those festivall delights,
Samson went downe to Timnah; there, t'enjoy
The sweet possession of his dearest joy;
But as he past those fruitfull Vineyards, where
His hands of late, acquit him of that feare
(Wherewith the fierce assaulting Lyon quail'd
His yet unpractis'd courage) and prevail'd
Vpon his life; as by that place he past,
He turn'd aside, and borrowed of his hast
A little time, wherein his eyes might view
The Carkas of the Lyon which he slew;
But when his wandring footsteps had drawne neer
The unlamented herse, his wondring eare
Perceiv'd a murm'ring noise, discerning not
From whence that strange confusion was, or what;
He staies his steps, and hearkens; still the voyce
Presents his eare, with a continued noyse;
At length, his gently moving feet apply
Their paces to the Carkas, where his eye
Discernes a Swarme of Bees, whose laden thighes
Repos'd their burthens, and the painfull prize
Of their sweet labour in the hollow Chest
Of the dead Lyon, whose unbowell'd brest
Became their plenteous storehouse, where, they laid
The blest encrease of their laborious Trade;
The fleshly Hive was fill'd with curious Combes,
Within whose dainty waxe-divided roomes,
Were shops of honey, whose delicious taste
Did sweetly recompence th'adjourned haste
Of lingring Samson, who does now repay
The time he borrow'd from his better way,
And with renewed speed, and pleasure, flies,
Where all his soule-delighting treasure lies;
He goes to Timnah, where his heart doth finde
A greater sweetnesse, than he left behinde;
His hasty hands invites her gladder eyes
To see, and lips to taste that obvious prize
His interrupted stay had lately tooke,
And as shee tasted, his fixt eyes would looke
Vpon her varnisht lips, and, there, discover
A sweeter sweetnesse to content a Lover:
And now the busie Virgins are preparing
Their costly Iewels, for the next dayes wearing;
Each lappe is sill'd with Flowers, to compose
The nuptiall Girland, for the Brides faire browes;
The costneglecting Cookes have now encreast
Their pastry dainties to adorne the feast;
Each willing hand is labring to provide
The needfull ornaments to deck the Bride.
But now, the crafty Philistins, for feare
Lest Samsons strength, (which startled every eare
With dread and wnder) under that pretence,
Should gaine the meanes, to offer violence;
And, through the shew of nuptiall devotion,
Should take advantages to breed commotion,
Or lest his popular power, by coaction
Or faire entreats, may gather to his faction
Some loose and discontented men of theirs,
And so betray them to supected feares;
They therefore to prevent ensuing harmes,
Gave strict command, that thirty men of armes,
Vnder the make of Bridemen, should attend
Vntill the nuptiall ceremonies end.