Lonfellow slowly incorporates details of Samson's story, so that the reader can guess who the main character of the poem is. Only at the end does Samson's name appear, revealing the real identity of the slave.

Firstly, Longfellow calls the man the "Israelite of old". This is the first reference to Samson, who was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible. Then, immediately, he writes "who tore the lion in his path". This was one of Samson's heroic actions for which he was known.

Later he refers to him as being "poor and blind". In his story, Samson's lover, Delilah, betrayed him by sending a Philistine enemy to cut his hair. This man also gauged Samson's eyes, leaving him blind. After this, Samson was "led forth to be apander to Philistine revelry" since he was taken prisoner and taken to Philistine.

Then Longfellow explains that this man destroyed the place where he was being held. It is said that Samsom prayed to God and recovered his strenght, with which he could tear down the collums of his prison, killing himself and everybody else.

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