Page:The Poems of William Blake (Shepherd, 1887).djvu/105

"drink no wine, and eat not any unclean thing;
"for he shall be a Nazarite to God.—Then, as a
"neighbour, when his evening tale is told, departs,
"his blessing leaving; so seemed he to depart: she
"wondered with exceeding joy, nor knew he was
"an angel. Manoa left his fields to sit in the
"house, and take his evening's rest from labour—
"the sweetest time that God has allotted mortal
"man. He sat, and heard with joy, and praised
"God, who Israel still doth keep. The time rolled
"on, and Israel groaned oppressed. The sword
"was bright, while the ploughshare rusted, till
"hope grew feeble, and was ready to give place
"to doubting; then prayed Manoa: O Lord, thy
"flock is scattered on the hills! The wolf teareth
"them, Oppression stretches his rod over our
"land, our country is ploughed with swords, and
"reaped in blood! The echoes of slaughter reach
"from hill to hill! Instead of peaceful pipe the
"shepherd bears a sword; the ox-goad is turned
"into a spear! O when shall our Deliverer come?
"The Philistine riota on our flocks, our vintage is
"gathered by bands of enemies! Stretch forth thy
"hand, and save.—Thus prayed Manoa. The aged
"woman walked into the field, and lo! again the
"angel came, clad as a traveller fresh risen on
"his journey. She ran and called her husband,
"who came and talked with him. O man of God,
"said he, thou comest from far! Let us detain