"Samson, recherchant ma présence"
Samson, seeking my presence
Delilah contemplates how she will use her wiles to lure Samson to his doom.
Samson must come here tonight,
looking for me.
This is the hour of vengeance
To satisfy our gods.
Love! Help me in my weakness!
Pour poison into his heart!
May Samson, overcome by my wiles,
Be in chains tomorrow!
In vain he might wish
To drive me out, banish me from his soul!
Could he extinguish the flame
Which memory nurtures ?
He is mine! He is my slave!
My brothers fear his anger;
Only I, of them all, face him,
And keep him at my feet!
Love! Help me in my weakness!
Pour poison into his heart!
May Samson, overcome by my wiles,
Be in chains tomorrow!
Against love, his strength is in vain;
And he, the strongest of the strong,
He, who frees his people from their chains,
Will succumb to my schemes!
The opera Samson and Delilah by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is based on the biblical story. Delilah, High Priestess of the Philistines – who believes in earthly pleasure over heavenly rewards – uses all her charm, beauty and powers of seduction to entice Samson into loving her but then betrays him. When he reveals the secret of his strength - never cutting his hair - she calls on the Philistine soldiers to subdue and blind him. Enslaved, Samson calls upon God for one last moment of strength and pulls down the Philistine temple.