Fo Dagon, and advanc'd his praises high Among the heathen round; to God have brought 450 In feeble hearts, propense enough before 455 Mine eye to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest. With me hath end; all the contest is now 460. "Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath presum'd Before the God of Abraham. He, be sure, 465 Of all these boasted trophies won on me, And with confusion blank his worshippers. 470 Man. With cause this hope relieves thee, and these words Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done? 480. About thy ransom well they may by this 'Have satisfy'd their utmost of revenge By pains and slav'ries, worse than death, inflicted On thee, who now no more canst do them harm. 486 Samps. Spare that proposal, father; spare the trouble Of that solicitation; let me here, As I deserve, pay on my punishment; And expiate, if possible, my crime, 490 How heinous had the fact been, how deserving The mark of fool set on his front? but I Man. Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite; But act not in thy own affliction, son: Repent the sin; but if the punishment Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids ; 505 510 Reject not then what offer'd means, who knows 515 Sams. His pardon I implore; but as for life, To what end should I seek it? when in strength All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes 520 With youthful courage, and magnanimous thoughts 525 Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond The sons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd, I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded Of all my strength in the lascivious lap 530 535 Like a tame weather, all my precious fleece Chor. Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, 540 530. "None daring my affront."---to front or face me in a hostile manner. VOL. III. 39 Allure thee from the cool crystalline stream. 545 Sams. Wherever fountain or fresh current flow'd 550 Chor. O madness, to think use of strongest wines And strongest drinks our chief support of health, When God with these forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty champion, strong above compare, 555 Whose drink was only from the liquid brook. Sams. But what avail'd this temp'rance, not complete Against another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defence, And at another to let in the foe, 560 Effeminately vanquish'd? by which means, Now blind, dishearten'd, sham'd, dishonour'd, quell'd, To what can I be useful, wherein serve My nation, and the work from heav'n impos'd, Here rather let me drudge, and earn my bread, Till vermin, or the draff of servile food, Consume me, and oft invocated death Hasten the welcome end of all my pains. 575 Man. Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift Which was expressly given thee to annoy them? Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, But God who caus'd a fountain at thy pray'r 580 From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst t' allay Cause light again within thy eyes to spring, Wherewith to serve him better than thou hast; 585 Samps. All otherwise to me my thoughts portend, 590 5.95 Man. Believe not these suggestions, which proceed, From anguish of the mind and humours black, That mingle with thy fancy. I however 600 Must not omit a father's timely care To prosecute the means of thy deliverance Sams. O that torment should not be confin'd With maladies innumerable In heart, head, breast, and reins; But must secret passage find |