Sams. Of such examples add me to the roll; 290 Me easily indeed mine may neglect, But God's propos'd deliverance not so. Chor. Just are the ways of God, And justifiable to men; Unless there be who think not God at all: 296 If any be they walk obscure; For of such doctrine never was there school, But the heart of the fool, And no man therein doctor but himself. Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300 As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then give the reins to wand'ring thought, 305 As if they would confine th' interminable, And tie him to his own prescript, Who made our laws to bind us, not himself, And hath full right t' exempt 310 Whom so pleases him by choice From national obstriction, without taint Of sin, or legal debt; For with his own laws he can best dispense. He would not else, who never wanted means, 315 Nor in respect of th' enemy just cause, To set his people free, Have prompted this heroic Nazarite, Against his vow of strictest purity, To seek in marriage that fallacious bride, Unclean, unchaste. Down reason then; at least vain reasonings down; 320 Though reason here aver, That mortal verdict quits her of unclean : Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive him. [Enter] MANOAH. Man. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem, Though in this uncouth place; if old respect, As I suppose, towards your once glory'd friend, My son, now captive, hither hath inform'd Chor. As single now in low dejected state, 325 330 335 340 345 350 In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son, 355 Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt Our earnest pray'rs, then, giv'n with solemn hand 360 For this did the angel twice descend? for this Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant 370 Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds. Sams. Appoint not heavenly disposition, father; Nothing of all these evils hath befall'n me But justly; I myself have brought them on, 375 Sole author I, sole cause: if ought seem vile, As vile hath been my folly, who have profan'd This well I knew, nor was at all surpris'd 380 But warn'd by oft experience: did not she 373. "Appoint not heav'nly disposition,"---Arraign not. summon not to answer. Of Timna first betray me, and reveal The secret wrested from me in her height 385 To them who had corrupted her, my spies,, Thrice she assay'd with flattering pray'rs and sighs, And amorous reproaches to win from me, My capital ecret, in what part my strength 390 Lay stor'd, in what part summ'd, that she might know; 305 Thrice I deluded her, and turn'd to sport Her importunity, each time perceiving How openly, and with what impudence She purpos'd to betray me, (and which was worse Yet the fourth time, when, must'ring all her wiles, 400 405 410 415 As was my former servitude, ignoble, True slavery, and that blindness worse than this, Man. I cannot praise thy marriage-choices, son, 420 I state not that; this I sure, our foes Found soon occasion thereby to make thee Their captive, and their triumph; thou the soouer 423 Temptation found'st, or over-potent charms, To violate the sacred trust of silence Deposited within thee; which to have kept 430 Bitterly hast thou paid,and still art paying, 435 To Dagon, as their God who hath deliver'd Thee, Samson, bound and blind into their hands, Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain. 440 Besides whom is no God, compar'd with idols, 445 |