“Samson et Dalila”

Characters

Samson — Tenor Delilah — Mezzo-soprano High Priest of Dagon — Baritone Abimelech (Satrap of Gaza) — Bass An old Hebrew — Bass A Philistine Messenger — Tenor First Philistine — Tenor Second Philistine — Bass A Boy — Silent role Philistine warriors, officers, priests, temple attendants, guards, princes and people; Hebrew people Priestesses — Ballet Place and Time Gaza, Palestine, c. 1150 BC

Act One

Scene One

A public square in Gaza, Palestine; to the left, the portico of the temple of Dagon. A crowd of Hebrews, men and women, are gathered in the square in sorrowing, prayerful attitudes. Samson is among them. It is night.

Hebrews O God! God of Israel! Hear the prayer of thy children, imploring thee on their knees, take pity on thy people in their misery! May their distress turn away thy wrath! One day, thou turnedst thy face from us, and in that day were thy people overcome! What! Wouldst thou then that the peoples who have known thee be utterly destroyed? Continually I call upon thee but in vain; deaf to my cry, he answereth me not! And yet, from evening to morn, I beseech the help of his arm! We have seen our cities overthrown, and the Gentiles defiling thy altar; and under their yoke our scattered tribes have lost everything, even to the very name of Israel! And under their yoke, etc. Art thou then no longer that God of deliverance who brought our tribes out of Egypt? O God! Hast thou broken that holy alliance, the sacred promises made to our forefathers? Samson (coming out of the crowd on the right) Cease, o my brethren! And bless the name of the Holy God of our fathers, for the hour of forgiveness peradventure is come! Verily, I hear within me an exalted voice! It is the voice of the Lord who speaks through my mouth: this God full of goodness, moved by our prayer, promises us freedom! Brothers, let us break our bonds and set up again the altar of the one God of Israel!

Hebrews Alas! Alas! Empty words! To go forth to battle where shall we find weapons? How arm ourselves? We have only our tears! Samson Have you then forgotten him, he who in his might once espoused your cause? He who, full of forgiveness, so often caused his oracles to speak for you, and rekindled your faith at the fire of his miracles? He who through the [Red] Sea was able to cleave a passage for our fathers fleeing a shameful slavery? Hebrews Those times are gone when the God of our fathers protected his children, harkened to their prayers! Samson Miserable wretches, be quiet! Your lack of faith is a blasphemy! Let us implore on our knees the Lord who loves us! Let us place again in his hands the care of our glory, and then gird up our loins, sure of our victory! He is the God of battles! He is the God of hosts! He will arm you with invincible swords! Hebrews Ah! The breath of the Lord has entered into his spirit! Ah! Let us banish from our hearts an unworthy terror and go forth with him towards our deliverance! Jehovah! Jehovah! Jehovah! Jehovah! Jehovah guides him and brings us new hope!

Scene Two

(Enter Abimelech followed by several Philistine soldiers and warriors.)

Abimelech Who dares to raise up his voice here? Yet again this vile herd of slaves, always daring to defy our edicts and seeking to break their shackles! Hold back your sighs and your tears which weary our patience; invoke, rather, the mercy of your conquerors! This god on whom you call has remained deaf to your cries, and yet you still dare to pray to him when he abandons you to our scorn? If his might is not false let him show his godhood! Let him break your bonds; let him grant you your freedom! Do you believe that this god can compare with Dagon, the greatest among the gods, who with his mighty arm leads our victorious soldiers? Your timorous god fled trembling before him, as the plaintive dove flees the pursuing vulture! Samson (inspired) It is thou he raileth against and the earth hath not trembled a whit? O Lord, we have reached the very depth of our shame! I see in the hands of the angels the fiery weapon blaze, and from the heavens the phalanxes come rushing to avenge God. Yea, the dark angel, passing before them, utters doom-laden cries which shake the heavens! At last the hour has come, the hour of God the avenger, and I hear his fury break out in the clouds. Yea, before his wrath all are terror-stricken and flee! The earth is felt shaking; in the heavens the thunderbolt flashes!

Hebrews Yea, before his wrath all are terror-stricken and flee! Abimelech Stop! Madman, reckless fool... Hebrews The earth is felt shaking; in the heavens the thunderbolt flashes! Abimelech ...or beware inflaming my wrath! Samson Israel! Burst your bonds! O my people, rise up! Come forth to satiate your hatred! The Lord has entered into me! O thou, God of Light, as in days of old harken to my prayer and fight to defend thy laws! Hebrews Israel! Burst your bonds! etc. Samson Yea, before his wrath all are terror-stricken and flee! The earth is felt shaking; in the heavens the thunderbolt flashes! He looses the storm, orders the hurricane; the ocean is seen to roll back in its path! Hebrews Israel! Burst your bonds! etc. Israel! Arise! Arise! (Abimelech hurls himself at Samson, sword in hand, to strike him. Samson wrests the sword from his hands and strikes him; Abimelech falls. The Philistines accompanying the Satrap try to come to his aid; Samson, brandishing his sword, keeps them at bay. He takes up position on the right side of the stage; the greatest confusion reigns among them. Samson and the Hebrews exit to the right.)

Scene Three

(The gates of the temple of Dagon open; the High Priest, followed by servants and guards, comes down the steps of the portico; he stops before Abimelech’s body; the Philistines make way for him.)

High Priest What’s this? Abimelech! Struck down by the slaves! Why are you letting them escape? Hurry, my men, hurry! To avenge your prince crush under your blows this rebellious people who defy your anger! First Philistine I felt my blood freeze in my veins; it is as though fetters were suddenly tightening around me. Second Philistine Uselessly I look to my weapons, my arms are powerless, my heart is full of fear, my knees quake! High Priest Cowards! More timid than women! You flee in the face of battle! Are you afraid that the fire of their god may shrivel up your arms?

Scene Four

(A Philistine messenger enters.) Philistine Messenger My lord! The infuriated mob led by Samson in his daring rebellion comes ravaging the harvest. First and Second Philistines Let’s fly from needless danger! First and Second Philistines, Messenger Let’s away with all speed! My lord, let us abandon the town, and keep our shame to ourselves!

High Priest Accursed for ever be the race of the children of Israel! I would wipe them out utterly, steep them in bitterness! Cursed be their leader! I will crush underfoot his broken bones, his parched throat without trace of pity! Cursed be the womb of the woman who gave him birth! May in the end a worthless woman betray his love! Accursed be the god he worships, this god, his one hope, whose altar and whose power in my hatred I insult yet again! Messenger, First and Second Philistines Let us fly into the mountains, get away from here, abandon our houses, our women, and even our gods! High Priest May Israel be accursed by our gods! (They go out, taking Abimelech’s body with them. Enter the womenfolk and old men of the Hebrews.)

Scene Five

Old men of the Hebrews Hymn of joy, hymn of deliverance, rise up to the Eternal One! He hath deigned in his omnipotence to succour Israel! Through him the weak is become master of the mighty that oppressed him! He hath overthrown the proud and the traitor whose voice reviled him! (Led by Samson, the Hebrews come in.) An old Hebrew He chastised us in his wrath for we defied his laws. Later, our foreheads in the dust, we lifted up our voice to him. He saith to his beloved tribes: rise up, go forth to battle! I am the Lord of Hosts, I am the strength of your arms! Old men of the Hebrews, an old Hebrew He hath turned to us in our distress, for his sons are dear to him. Let all things leap for joy! He hath broken our bonds! Hymn of joy! Hymn of deliverance! Rise up to the Eternal One! He hath deigned in his omnipotence to succour Israel!

Scene Six

(The doors of the temple of Dagon open. Delilah comes out with the Philistine maidens, who carry garlands.)

Philistine Girls Behold the spring, bringing us flowers to adorn the brow of the conquering warriors! Mingle we our tones with the scent of rosebuds! Sing with the birds, my sisters! Beauty, gift of heaven, springtime of our days, charming to look upon, Love’s hope, enter our hearts, suffuse our souls with thy gentle flame! Play on, sisters, ever play on at love! Delilah (to Samson) I am come to rejoice in the victory of him who reigns in my heart. Delilah wishes her conqueror love even more than glory! O beloved, follow me to Sorek, the gentle valley, into that lonely dwelling where Delilah opens her arms to you! Samson (aside) O God! Thou who seest my weakness, take pity on thy servant! Close my eyes, shut my heart to the sweet voice tempting me! Delilah For thee I have crowned my brow with dark clusters of privet, and set roses of Sharon in my ebony hair!

An old Hebrew Turn aside, my son, from her way! Have nothing to do with this foreign girl! Samson Cover her charms whose beauty troubles my senses, vexes my spirit! And from her eyes put out the flame which robs me of my freedom! An old Hebrew Stop your ears to her deceitful voice, and avoid the serpent’s poison. Delilah Sweet is the scented lily-of-the-valley; my kisses are yet sweeter; and the juice of the mandrake is less soothing, o my beloved! Open your arms to your lover, and lay her on your heart like a sweet-scented sachet whose perfume is intoxicating! Ah! Come to me! Samson O passion which consumes me and which she rouses in me here, be stilled, be stilled before my God! Take pity, Lord, on him who cries unto thee! Ah! Take pity, Lord, on him who cries unto thee! Lord! An old Hebrew Woe unto you, if you heed the charms of that voice, of that voice sweeter than honey! Never will your eyes hold enough tears to assuage the wrath of heaven! Dance of the priestesses of Dagon (The maidens accompanying Delilah wave their garlands as they dance and seem to provoke the Hebrew warriors accompanying Samson. He, profoundly agitated, vainly seeks to avoid Delilah’s glances; in spite of himself, his eyes follow her every movement; she remains among the Philistine girls, joining in their voluptuous poses and dances.)

Delilah Spring, that comes in bringing hope to loving hearts, thy passing breath from the earth wipes away unhappy days. Our souls are afire, and thy gentle flame comes to dry our tears; thou restorest to the earth, by a sweet mystery, the fruits and flowers. Unavailing my beauty! My heart full of love, weeping for the unfaithful one, awaits his return! Living in hope, my disconsolate heart treasures the memory of past happiness! (to Samson) At nightfall, a sad lover, I shall go and sit down by the stream to await him in tears! Casting off my sadness should he come back one day, for him my tenderness and the sweet rapture that a burning love saves for his return! An old Hebrew The spirit of evil has led this woman across your path to disturb your peace of mind. Flee from her glances’ burning flame! It is a poison which consumes the very bones. Delilah Casting off my sadness should he come back one day, for him my tenderness... (While singing, Delilah regains the steps of the temple and glances provocatively at Samson; he seems completely under her spell. He hesitates, struggling with his feelings and betraying the turmoil in his soul.) ...for him my tenderness, and the sweet rapture that a burning love saves for his return!

Act Two

Prelude Scene One

The scene represents the valley of Sorek in Palestine. To the left is Delilah’s dwelling, fronted by a light portico and surrounded by Asiatic plants and luxuriant vines. As the curtain rises, night is beginning to fall and grows progressively darker throughout the act. (Delilah is more richly adorned than in Act One. As the curtain rises, she is seated on a rock near the portico of her house and appears thoughtful.)

Delilah Samson, seeking me out again, this evening is bound to come here. This is the hour of vengeance which must satisfy our gods! Love! Come to aid me in my weakness! Pour the poison into his breast! See to it that, overcome by my wiles, Samson lies in fetters tomorrow! In vain would he like to be able to drive me out, to banish me from his heart! Could he extinguish the flame which memory sustains? He is mine, he is my slave! My brothers fear his wrath; I, alone among all, do dare him and keep him at my knees! Love! Come to aid me in my weakness! Pour the poison into his breast! See to it that, overcome by my wiles, Samson lies in fetters tomorrow! Against love his strength is useless; and he, the strongest among the strong, he who burst a nation’s bonds, will succumb to my endeavours!

Scene Two

(The High Priest enters.) High Priest I have climbed the mountain to seek you out; Dagon, who accompanies me, has guided me to your dwelling.

Delilah Greeting, my father! Be thou welcome, thou who art held in honour here! High Priest Our fate is known to you. The easy victory of the Hebrew slaves has delivered the town to them. Before them our soldiers have fled, terror-stricken at the very name of Samson, whose appalling daring has thrown them into confusion. Fatally for our people, he received from his god strength and daring. Bound by a vow, Samson from the day of his birth was singled out by heaven to restore the might of the Israelites. Delilah (bitterly) I know that his courage defies your wrath, and that there is no injury he does not save for you. High Priest At your knees his strength one day deserted him; but since then he has striven to forget Delilah. It is said that, in his soul forgetting your love, he laughs at the passion which lasted only a day! Delilah I know that, hearing from his brethren all the tales and bitter reproaches our love has caused, Samson, in spite of himself, struggles and strives in vain; I know how much he loves me, and my heart fears nothing. It is useless for him to resist me; he is mighty in battle, but he is my slave and trembles in my arms.

High Priest Put your power at our service! Lend us your help! Taken by surprise and defenceless, let him be overcome today! Sell me your slave Samson! And, in payment of his ransom, I’ll not make mere promises; you can choose from among all my wealth. Delilah What matters your gold to Delilah? And what could a whole treasure do if I was not dreaming of vengeance? You yourself, for all your wisdom, I have deceived by this love. Samson was able to master you once; but he has not been able to overcome me yet, for, as much as you, I loathe him! High Priest I should have guessed your hatred and your plan! My heart rejoices to hear you! But on his heart have you not already vainly measured your strength, tried out your wiles? Delilah Yes!...Three times already, disguising my purpose, I have tried to discover the secret of his strength. I kindled this love, hoping that by its flame I should read the unknown hidden in the depths of his soul. But three times too, frustrating my hopes, he has not been at all frank, has let me see nothing. Vainly I went through the pretence of a wild passion, hoping to soften his heart by my caresses! I saw this proud captive clasped in my arms tear himself from my bed and rush off to battle. Today, however, he is under my power, for I saw him grow pale and tremble in my presence, and I know that at this moment, deserting his own people, he is coming back here to tighten the bond between us. For this last encounter I have prepared my weapons; Samson will not be able to resist my tears.

High Priest May Dagon, our god, deign to extend his arm! You fight for his glory, and through him you will triumph! Delilah To gratify my hate, my power must ensnare him! I want him, overcome by love, to be humbled in his turn! High Priest To gratify my hate, I need Delilah to ensnare him; overcome by love, he must be humbled in his turn! Delilah To gratify my hate, etc. High Priest My hope lies in you alone, yours be the honour of vengeance! Yours! To gratify my hate, etc. Delilah Mine the honour of vengeance! Mine the honour! Mine! To gratify my hate, etc. Ah! Delilah and High Priest Let us ally ourselves, we two! Let us ally ourselves, we two! Death! Death! Death! Death! Death! Death to the Hebrew leader! High Priest Samson, you were telling me, is bound to come back here? Delilah I expect him! High Priest I’ll take my leave. He could surprise us together. By and by I’ll come back by secret paths. The fate of my people, woman, is in your hands.

Strip from his heart the impenetrable shield and discover the hidden secret of his strength. (He leaves.) Delilah (returns towards her house and leans dreamily against one of the pillars) Could it be that over his heart love has lost its power? The night is dark, without a gleam of light... Nothing can betray his presence. Alas! He does not come! (Samson comes in. He seems worried, hesitant, and looks all around him. The night is gradually darkening.)

Scene Three

(distant lightning) Samson To this place, in spite of myself, my steps have drawn me back... I would flee, but alas I cannot! I curse my love...and yet I still love... Away! Away from this place that in my weakness I adore!

Delilah (approaching Samson) It is you, o my beloved! I was waiting for you! I forget, in seeing you, all the hours of suffering! Greetings, o my sweet master! Samson Enough of these raptures! I cannot listen to you without shame or remorse! Delilah Samson, o my beloved, why repulse my affection? Why from my scented brow turn away your caresses? Samson You were always dear to my heart, and cannot be banished from it! I should have liked to give up my life to a love which made me happy!

Delilah By my side, why these fears? Would you have doubted my heart? Are you not my master and my lord? Has love lost its delights for you? Samson Alas! The slave of my God, I submit to his holy will; we must, in a last farewell, fearlessly and uncomplainingly break the sweet bond of our love. Hope springs anew in Israel. The Lord has ordained the day of our deliverance! He hath said unto his servant: I have chosen thee from among thy brethren to lead them towards the Lord and to set a term to their sufferings. Delilah What matters to my disconsolate heart the fate of Israel and her glory? For me a vanished happiness is the sole fruit of your victory. Love led my reason astray when I believed your promises, and I have drunk nothing but poison by delighting in your caresses. Samson Ah! Stop torturing me! I am subject to a supreme law... Your tears revive my sorrow! Delilah! Delilah! I love you! (distant lightning) Delilah A god greater than yours, beloved, speaks to you through my mouth: it is the god of love, he is my god! And, if this remembrance moves you, recall to your heart those smiling days spent at the knees of a lover you promised to love always, and who alone, alas, is constant! Samson Foolish girl! To dare to accuse me when my whole being cries out for you! Yea, were I to be struck down by a thunderbolt, though I should perish in its flame, (lightning, nearer) my love for you is so great that I dare to love in spite of God himself! Yea! Though I should die of it one day, Delilah! Delilah! I love you!

Delilah My heart opens to your voice as the flowers open to dawn’s kisses! But, o my beloved, the better to dry my tears, let your voice speak once more! Tell me that you are coming back to Delilah for ever! Remind me once again of the promises of bygone days, those promises I loved! Ah! Answer my tenderness, fill me with ecstasy! Answer my tenderness, etc. Samson Delilah! Delilah! I love you! Delilah Like ears of corn rippling in the gentle breeze, so flutters my heart, ready to take comfort from your beloved voice! The arrow is less swift in carrying death than is your lover to fly into your arms! To fly into your arms! Ah! Answer my tenderness! Fill me with ecstasy! Answer my tenderness! etc. Samson With my kisses I long to dry your tears, and drive out the fears from your heart. I long to dry your tears! I long to dry your tears! Delilah! Delilah! I love you! (loud clap of thunder) Delilah But...no! What am I saying? Alas! Unhappy Delilah trusts not your words. Swaying my reason, you have already deceived me with your fickle promises!

Samson [You say this] when for you I dare to forget God, his glory, my people, and my vow! This God who set on me at birth the holy seal of his power! Delilah Well! Then understand my love. It is your God himself of whom I am jealous! This God who gave you birth, this God who consecrated your life! The vow that binds you to this God and makes you so formidable, to my love confide it! Drive out the distrust that burdens me! (distant thunder and lightning) Samson Delilah, what do you want of me? Beware lest I come to doubt you! Delilah If I still have power over you, I will put it to the test today. I want to prove your love, by demanding your trust. (lightning and thunder coming gradually nearer) Samson Alas! What does it matter to your happiness, the sacred bond that binds me, this secret hidden in my heart? Delilah By disclosing it, comfort my sorrow! Samson You are powerless to rob me of it! Delilah Yes! Empty is my power, for empty is your tenderness! When I would know it, this secret that frets me, and which I want to share, dare you, in your shameless and pitiless soul, accuse me of being unworthy? Samson Out of immense sorrow my poor overburdened spirit cries unto the Lord in a desolate voice.

Delilah I had adorned myself for him in all my youthful beauty! Nothing is left to me now but a resort to tears. Samson Almighty God, I call upon thine aid! Delilah I cannot bring myself to say these last farewells. Fly, Samson, fly from this place where your lover will die! Samson Let me go! Delilah Your secret? Samson I cannot. Delilah Your secret? This secret that frightens me? Samson The storm on these hills unleashes its wrath. Over our heads the Lord causes his thunder to roll. Delilah I’ll face it with you. Come to me! Samson No! Delilah Come to me! Samson Let me go! I cannot bring myself to... Delilah What care I for the thunderbolt!

Samson It is the voice of my God. Delilah Coward! Loveless heart, I despise you. Farewell! (Delilah runs towards her house; the storm is at its height. Samson, raising his arms to the sky, seems to invoke God. He rushes after Delilah, hesitates, and finally enters her house. Philistine soldiers enter from the right and quietly approach Delilah’s house. A violent clap of thunder. Delilah appears at her window:) To me, Philistines! This way! Samson Treachery! (The soldiers rush into Delilah’s house.)

Act Three

Tableau One

The prison house of Gaza

Scene One

(Samson, in fetters, blind, his head shorn, is turning the millstone. In the wings, chorus of Hebrew prisoners.)

Samson See my misery, alas! See my distress! Take pity, Lord, on my weakness! My feet have strayed from thy path! Soon thou didst withdraw thy hand from me. O God, to thee I offer my poor broken spirit. I am nothing but an object of derision. They have taken away from me the light of the sky, they have filled me with bitterness and gall. Hebrews Samson, what have you done with your brothers? Samson, what have you done with the God of your fathers? Samson Alas! Israel in bondage, from heaven drawing down vengeance, has lost even hope through all the evils she has suffered. May our tribes find grace in thy sight! Deign to spare thy people their suffering! Abate thine anger before their ills, Lord, thou who art never lacking in mercy!

Hebrews God entrusted us to your arm to lead us in battle. Samson! What have you done with your brothers? Samson! What have you done with your brothers? What have you done with the God of your fathers? Samson Brothers! Your lamentation reaching me in my dark night, with mortal anguish floods my guilty, wretched heart. God! Take my life as a sacrifice to assuage thine anger! Hebrews For a woman he sold us... Samson From Israel... Hebrews For a woman he sold us... Samson ...turn away thy blows. Hebrews ...to pay for Delilah’s favours. Samson ...and I proclaim thy justice! Hebrews Son of Manoah, what have you done with our blood and our tears? Samson At thy feet, broken but contrite, I bless the hand that chastises me. Bring it to pass, Lord, that thy people escape the fury of their enemies! Hebrews Samson! What have you done with your brothers? What have you done with the God of your fathers? (The Philistines enter the prison house and drag Samson away.)

Tableau Two

Scene Two

Inside the temple of Dagon. A statue of the god. The sacrificial table. In the middle of the sanctuary, two marble columns appear to support the building. (The High Priest of Dagon is surrounded by Philistine princes. Delilah is followed by young Philistine women, crowned with flowers and carrying cups. A crowd fills the temple. Day is breaking.)

Philistines Dawn, already whitening the hillsides, extinguishes the torches of this beautiful night; let us prolong our revels, and despite the dawn, play on at love! Love lends our hearts forgetfulness of our ills. In the morning breeze night’s shadow like a light veil drifts to the horizon. The east reddens, and over the mountains the sun gleams, shedding its rays on earth’s bosom. Bacchanalia

Scene Three

(Enter Samson, led by the boy.) High Priest Hail! Hail to the Judge of Israel, who comes to enliven our festival with his presence! Delilah, see to it that a cup be made ready! Offer mead to your lover! He will empty his goblet in praise of his mistress and her seductive power! Philistines Samson! Samson! We drink with you! Samson! Samson! To Delilah your queen! Drain the cup fearlessly! Intoxication dispels pain. Samson (aside) Sick unto death in my soul, before thee, Lord, I bow; through thy divine will, let my destiny now be fulfilled!

Delilah (approaching Samson, cup in hand) Let me take your hand and show you the way, as I did in the dark lane leading to the valley on that day when, following me, you took me in your arms! You clambered up the mountains to come to me, I deserted my companions to be alone with you. Think back on our raptures! Think back on my caresses! Love served my purpose; to gratify my vengeance I tore from you your secret: I had already sold it. You believed in that love: it was this that riveted your chain. Delilah avenges today her god, her people, and her hatred. Philistines Delilah avenges today her god, her people, and her hatred. Samson When you spoke, I was deaf; and in the turmoil of my heart, alas! I defiled love in giving it to this woman. High Priest Come, Samson, make sport for us, by recounting to your lover the honeyed words, the sweet songs by which passion is sustained! Let Jehovah, taking pity, give you back your sight! I will serve this mighty god if he can answer your prayer! But, since he cannot help you, this god whom you call Father, I can afford to scoff at him, to show my hatred, by laughing at his wrath! Samson O God of Israel, thou allowest this impostor priest, in his fury and rage, to outrage thy name before heaven! If only I could avenge thy glory, and by a mighty miracle recover for one brief moment my sight, my strength, and victory!

Philistines (laughing) Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! etc. We laugh at his fury! You cannot frighten us! In your impotent rage, Samson, you cannot see a thing! Pick your steps carefully! Samson! Samson! You cannot see a thing, etc. His anger is ludicrous! Ha! ha! ha! etc. High Priest Come, Delilah, to do homage to our gods who set Jehovah quaking in the skies! From the great Dagon let us consult the omens! Let us pour out for him the sacrificial wine!

(Delilah and the High Priest make their way towards the sacrificial table, on which the sacred cups stand. A fire burns on the altar, which is decorated with flowers. Delilah and the High Priest take the cups and pour a libation over the sacred fire, which flares up, then dies down, to reappear at the third stanza of the invocation. Samson remains in the middle of the stage, with the boy who guides him beside him; he is overcome with sorrow and appears to pray.)

High Priest and Delilah Glory to Dagon the conqueror! He succoured my weakness, instilling in my heart strength and cunning. O thou, the greatest among all! Thou who madest the earth we inhabit, may thy spirit dwell among us, o master among gods and men! Philistines Let thy blessing fall on our abundant flocks! Ripen the vines on our hillsides! Give back to the fields our harvest that, in his hatred, Samson burned!

Delilah and High Priest Receive on our altars the blood of our victims, offered to thee by mortals in expiation of their sins! Philistines Glory to Dagon! Delilah and High Priest To the eyes of thy holy priests, alone able to look upon thy face, reveal the future which lies hidden from the sight of other men! Philistines Lord, be favourable to our destiny! Let thy justice to the Philistines give glory in battle! Let victory follow in our steps! High Priest Dagon reveals himself! Delilah Dagon reveals himself! High Priest The new flame... Delilah The new flame... High Priest ...on the altar revives from the ashes. Delilah ...on the altar revives from the ashes. Philistines Dagon reveals himself! The new flame on the altar revives from the ashes, on the altar revives from the ashes.

Delilah and High Priest The immortal one is coming down to us. It is the god through his presence displaying his power. Philistines Dagon reveals himself! Delilah Ah! Philistines Dagon reveals himself! Dagon reveals himself! Delilah Ah! High Priest The immortal one is coming down to us. Philistines Ah! Delilah The immortal one... Philistines Ah! Delilah ...is coming down to us. Delilah and High Priest It is the god through his presence displaying his power in this place. Philistines It is the god, etc.

High Priest (to Samson) So that the omens may be favourable, come, Samson, come with us unto Dagon, the mighty god, to offer your cup on bended knees! (to the boy) Lead him towards the middle of the temple so that the people can see him from afar! Samson Lord, inspire thou me, abandon me not! Boy, lead me towards the marble pillars! (The boy leads Samson between the two pillars.) Philistines Dagon reveals himself! The new flame on the altar revives from the ashes. It is the god through his presence displaying his power in this place. Lord, be favourable to our destiny! Let thy justice to the Philistines give glory in battle! Let victory follow in our steps! Before thee Israel’s insolence vanishes, our arms guided by thy spirit, in battle or through thy magic, have vanquished this accursed people... Delilah and High Priest Ah! Philistines ...have vanquished this accursed people who defy thy wrath and thy weapons! Delilah and High Priest Ah! Philistines To our destiny, Lord, be favourable! Let thy justice to the Philistines give glory in battle!

Delilah and High Priest Ah! Delilah, High Priest, Philistines Let victory follow in our steps! Philistines Glory to Dagon! Glory to Dagon! Glory! Glory! Glory! Samson (standing between the two pillars, begins to rock them) Remember thou thy servant from whom they have taken away his sight! Deign for a brief moment, Lord, to give me back my old strength! Let me avenge myself and thee, o God, by destroying them here in this place! (The temple collapses amid a tumult of cries.) Delilah, High Priest, Philistines Ah!

THE END