That heroic, that renown'd, Irresistible Samson; whom unarmed 125 No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast could withstand? Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid; Ran on imbattled armies clad in iron, And, weaponless himself, Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgery Of brazen shield and spear, the hammer'd cuirass, Chalybean temper'd steel, and frock of mail Adamantéan proof? But safest he who stood aloof, 130 185 When insupportably his foot advanc'd, In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools, Spurn'd them to death by troops. The bold Ascalonite Fled from his lion ramp; old warriors turn'd Their plated backs under his heel; 140 Or, grov'ling, soil'd their crested helmets in the dust. Then with what trivial weapon came to hand, The jaw of a dead ass, his sword of bone, A thousand foreskins fell, the flow'r of Palestine, In Ramoth-lechi, famous to this day. 145 Then by main force pull'd up, and on his shoulders Bore the gates of Gaza, post, and massy bar, Up to the hill by Hebron, scat of giants old, No journey of a sabbath-day, and loaded so ; Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heav'n. 150 Which shall I first bewail, Thy bondage, or lost sight, Prison within prison Inseparably daik? Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!) The dungeon of thyself; thy soul, (Which men enjoying sight out without canse complain) VOL. III. 38 156 Imprison'd now indeed, In real darkness of the body dwells, O mirror of our fickle state, 160 165 The rarer thy example stands, By how much from the top of wond'rous glory, Strongest of mortal men, To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n. For him I reckon not in high estate 170 Whom long descent of birth, Or the sphere of fortune, raises; But thee whose strength, while virtue was her mate, Universally crown'd with highest praises. 175 Sams. I hear the sound of words; their sense the air Dissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear. Chor. He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might, The glory late of Israel, now the grief; We come, thy friends and neighbours not unknown; 180 From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful vale, To visit or bewail thee; or, if better, Counsel or consolation we may bring, Salve to thy sores; apt words have pow'r to swage 185 And are as balm to fester'd wounds. Sams. Your coming, friends, revives me, for I learn Now of my own experience, not by talk, How counterfeit a coin they are who friends Bear in their superscription (of the most 190 I would be understood) in prosp'rous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head, Sams. The first I saw at Timna, and she pleas'd 195 200 20 210 215 220 The marriage on; that by occasion hence 225 That specious monster, my accomplish'd snare. 230 Who, vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) 235 Gave up my fort of silence to a woman. Chor. In seeking just occasion to provoke The Philistine, thy country's enemy, Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness: Yet Israël still serves with all his sons. 240 Sams. That fault I take not on me, but transfer On Israel's governors, and heads of tribes, Who, seeing those great acts which God had done Singly by me against their conquerors, Acknowledg'd not, or not at all considered, 245 Deliv'rauce offer'd I on th' other side Us'd no ambition to command my deeds; The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the doer : But they persisted deaf, and would not seem To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 Their lords the Philistines with gather'd pow'rs 235 The harrass of their land, beset me round; I willingly on some conditions came Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me 200 Bound with two cords, but cords to me were threads Touch'd with the flame: on their whole host I flew Their choicest youth; they only liv'd who fled. 265 They had by this possess'd the tow'rs of Gath, Whom God hath of his special favour rais'd How frequent to desert him, and at last To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds? Chor. Thy words to my remembrance bring How Succoth and the fort of Penuel Their great deliverer contemn'd, The matchless Gideon in pursuit Of Magian and her vanquish'd kings: And how ingrateful Ephraïm Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, 270 275 280 285 |