Difglorify'd, blafphem'd, and had in fcorn
By the idolatrous rout amidst their wine;
Which to have come to pass by means of thee,
Samfon, of all thy fufferings think the heavieft, 445
Of all reproach the most with shame that ever
Could have befall'n thee and thy father's house.
Samf. Father, I do acknowledge and confefs
That I this honor, I this pomp have brought
To Dagon, and advanc'd his praises high
450
Among the Heathen round; to God have brought
Dishonor, obloquy, and op'd the mouths
Of idolifts, and atheists: have brought fcandal
To Ifrael, diffidence of God, and doubt
In feeble hearts, propense enough before
To waver, or fall off and join with idols;
Which is my chief affliction, shame and forrow,
The anguish of my soul, that suffers not
Mine eye to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest.
This only hope relieves me, that the strife
With me hath end; all the contéft is now
'Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath prefum'd,
Me overthrown, to enter lifts with God,
His deity comparing and preferring
Before the God of Abraham. He, be fure,
Will not connive, or linger, thus provok'd,
But will arise and his great name assert:
Dagon must stoop, and fhall ere long receive
Such a discomfit, as fhall quite defpoil him
Of all these boasted trophies won on me, 470 And with confusion blank his worshippers.
Man. With cause this hope relieves thee, and these
I as a prophecy receive, for God,
Nothing more certain, will not long defer
To vindicate the glory of his name
Against all competition, nor will long
Indure it doubtful whether God be Lord,
Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done?
Thou must not in the mean while here forgot
Lie in this miferable loathfome plight
Neglected. I already have made way
To fome Philiftian lords, with whom to treat
About thy ransome: well they may by this
Have fatisfy'd their utmost of revenge
By pains and flaveries, worse than death inflicted 485 On thee, who now no more canft do them harm.
Samf. Spare that proposal, Father, spare the trouOf that folicitation; let me here,
As I deferve, pay on my punishment;
And expiate, if poffible, my crime,
Shameful garrulity. To have reveal'd
Secrets of men, the secrets of a friend,
How hainous had the fact been, how deserving
Contempt, and scorn of all, to be excluded
All friendship, and avoided as a blab,
The mark of fool fet on his front?
But I God's counsel have not kept, his holy fecret
Presumptuously have publish'd, impiously,
Weakly at least, and shamefully: a fin
That Gentiles in their parables condemn
To their abyss and horrid pains confin'd.
Man. Be penitent and for thy fault contrite,
But act not in thy own affliction, Son;
Repent the fin, but if the punishment
Thou canst avoid, felf-preservation bids;
Or th' execution leave to high disposal,
And let another hand, not thine, exact
Thy penal forfeit from thyfelf; perhaps
God will relent, and quit thee all his debt;
Who ever more approves and more accepts
(Beft pleas'd with humble' and filial submission)
Him who imploring mercy fues for life,
Than who self-rigorous chooses death as due;
Which argues over-just, and self-displeas'd
For self-offense, more than for God offended. 515
Reject not then what offer'd means; who knows
But God hath fet before us, to return thee
Home to thy country and his facred house,
Where thou may'ft bring thy offerings, to avert
His further ire, with pray'rs and vows renew'd? 520
Samf. His pardon I implore; but as for life,
To what end fhould I feek it? when in ftrength
All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes
With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts
Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, 525
Full of divine inftinct, after fome proof
Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond
The fons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd,
Fearless of danger, like a petty God
I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded
On hoftile ground, none daring my affront.
Then fwoll'n with pride into the snare I fell
Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,
Soften'd with pleasure and voluptuous life;
At length to lay my head and hallow'd pledge
Of all my ftrength in the lafcivious lap
Of a deceitful concubine, who fhore me
Like a tame weather, all my precious fleece,
Then turn'd me out ridiculous, defpoil'd,
Shav'n, and difarm'd among mine enemies.
Chor. Defire of wine and all delicious drinks, Which many a famous warrior overturns, Thou couldst reprefs, nor did the dancing ruby Sparkling, out-pour'd, the flavor, or the smell, Or tafte that chears the heart of Gods and men, Allure thee from the cool cryftallin stream.
546 Samf. Wherever fountain or fresh current flow'd Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure With touch ethereal of Heav'n's fiery rod, I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying 550 Thirst, and refresh'd; nor envy'd them the grape Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes. Chor. O Madness, to think use of strongest wines
And strongest drinks our chief support of health, When God with thefe forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty champion, ftrong above compare, 556 Whofe drink was only from the liquid brook.
Samf. But what avail'd this temp'rance, not comAgainst another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defense,
And at another to let in the foe,
Effeminately vanquish'd? by which means,
Now blind, difhearten'd, fham'd, difhonor'd, quell'd, To what can I be useful, wherein serve
My nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, 565
But to fit idle on the houfhold hearth,
A burd'nous drone; to vifitants a gaze,
Or pity'd object, these redundant locks
Robuftious to no purpose clustring down,
Vain monument of ftrength; till length of years 570
And fedentary numnefs craze my limbs
To a contemptible old age obfcure?
Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread,
Till vermin or the draff of servile food
Confume me, and oft-invocated death
Haften the welcome end of all my pains.
Man. Wilt thou then serve the Philiftines with that
Which was exprefly giv'n thee to annoy them? Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, Inglorious, unemploy'd, with age out-worn. 580 But God who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer
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