"Then I am blind," he said quietly, after a little while.  
"Dearest, I shall be eyes for you, watching, wary. Oh, poor, poor Samson, put your head on my shoulder, your eyes close to my heart. You shall see with my heart. I give it to you to see with.... Cry, Samson, if you must, cry on my shoulder." She sought to draw him closer to the haven of her breast. But he had stiffened, and his great hand and arm had stiffened. He just moved her ponderously aside.... He raised his head to the autumn sky, and a great bellow came from his chest.
 
"The Philistines are upon me. They have put out my eyes."
 
"Samson! Dear heart, listen—"
 
"They have shaven the seven locks of my head. They have taken my strength from me. They have put out my eyes."
 
"Samson, Samson, listen. It is I, Delilah. Don't you know me?"
 
His great roar had brought out the household, and men from the hillside, and stopped folk on the road. And they all came running now thinking some murder was being done.
 
"I know you, Delilah. I know you well. The Lords of the Philistines gave you silver to entice me. I knew you, and the Lord departed from me."
 
"Samson, don't! Don't, Samson!"
 
"Away, harlot!" And he struck at her blindly. Only the tips of his fingers touched her shoulder, but the force of them sent her to the ground. Her household crouched to spring.
 
"For God's sake, no!" she almost screamed at them.
 
"The Philistines are upon me. They have put out my eyes!" he roared. He went stumbling piteously through the orchard, the trunks of the trees hurtling him, the branches striking his defenseless face. Somehow he gained the road: "Delilah, the great whore, enticed me, and the Lords of the Philistines put out my eyes—" his piteous bellow was like the crying of some stricken animal. Delilah called a serving-lad.
 
"Go after my lord Samson," she said, "and lead him whithersoever he wishes."
 
All afternoon and evening, and late into the night she sat white and stricken, waiting for his step, waiting for news of him. In the darkness a horse galloped up. An officer of the Philistines sought her.
 
"Have you news of Samson?"
 
"Yes, Delilah. He is in Gaza, in the pr............