n that
is over Hebron, and there laid them down.

11. However, he at length [21] transgressed the laws of his country, and
altered his own regular way of living, and imitated the strange customs
of foreigners, which thing was the beginning of his miseries; for he
fell in love with a woman that was a harlot among the Philistines: her
name was Delilah, and he lived with her. So those that administered
the public affairs of the Philistines came to her, and, with promises,
induced her to get out of Samson what was the cause of that his
strength, by which he became unconquerable to his enemies. Accordingly,
when they were drinking, and had the like conversation together, she
pretended to admire the actions he had done, and contrived to get out of
him by subtlety, by what means he so much excelled others in strength.
Samson, in order to delude Delilah, for he had not yet lost his senses,
replied, that if he were bound with seven such green withs of a vine
as might still be wreathed, he should be weaker than any other man. The
woman said no more then, but told this to the rulers of the Philistines,
and hid certain of the soldiers in ambush within the house; and when he
was disordered in drink and asleep, she bound him as fast as possible
with the withs; and then upon her awakening him, she told him some of
the people were upon him; but he broke the withs, and endeavored to
defend himself, as though some of the people were upon him. Now this
woman, in the constant conversation Samson had with her, pretended
that she took it very ill that he had such little confidence in her
affections to him, that he would not tell her what she desired, as if
she would not conceal what she knew it was for his interest to have
concealed. However, he deluded her again, and told her, that if they
bound him with seven cords, he should lose his strength. And when, upon
doing this, she gained nothing, he told her the third thee, that his
hair should be woven into a web; but when, upon doing this, the truth
was not yet discovered, at length Samson, upon Delilah's prayer, [for
he was doomed to fall into some affliction,] was desirous to please
her, and told her that God took care of him, and that he was born by his
providence, and that "thence it is that I suffer my hair to grow, God
having charged me never to poll my head, and thence my strength is
according to the increase and continuance of my hair." When she had
learned thus much, and had deprived