Thence faintings, swoonings of despair, I was his nursling once and choice delight, Promis'd by heavenly message twice descending; Abstemious I grew up and thriv'd amain; Above the nerve of mortal arm Against th' uncircumcis'd, our enemies; Whom I by his appointment had provok'd, The close of all my miseries, and the balm. With studied argument and much persuasion sought, Lenient of grief and anxious thought: But with th' afflicted in his pangs their sound Little prevails, or rather seems a tune Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint! Unless he feel within Some source of consolation from above, Secret refreshings, that repair his strength, And fainting spirits uphold. God of our fathers, what is man! That thou tow'rds him with hand so various, Temper'st thy providence through his short course, Not evenly as thou rul'st 'Th' angelic orders and inferior creatures mute, Irrational and brute. Nor do I name of men the common rout, That wand'ring loose about Grow up and perish, as the summer fly, And people's safety, which in part they effect: Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard Of highest favours past From thee on them, or them to thee of service. To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission, But throw'st them lower than thou didst exalt them high, Unseemly falls in human eye, Too grievous for the trespass or omission; Of heathen and profane, their carcasses To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd; With sickness and disease thou bow'st them down, · Painful diseases and deform'd, In crude old age: Though not disordinate, yet causeless suff'ring For oft alike both come to evil end. So deal not with this once thy glorious champion, The image of thy strength, and mighty minister. What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already? That so bedeck'd, ornate, and gay, Like a stately ship Of Tarsus, bound for th' isles Of Javan or Gadire, With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, Her harbinger, a damsel train behind; Some rich Philistian matron she may seem, Sams. My wife, my trait'ress, let her not come near me. Chor. Yet on she moves, now stands, and eyes thee fix'd About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd, Like a fair flower surcharg'd with dew, she weeps, And words address'd seem into tears dissolved, Wetting the borders of her silken veil : But now again she makes address to speak. Dal. With doubtful feet and wavering resolution I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson, Which to have merited, without excuse, I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon way assur'd. But conjugal affection No Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt, Hath led me on, desirous to behold Once more thy face, and know of thy estate, To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease Sams. Out, out hyæna; these are thy wonted arts, And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse, Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, Dal. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endeavour To lessen or extenuate my offence, But that on th' other side if it be weigh'd The easier towards me, or thy hatred less. Of secrets, then with like infirmity To publish them, both common female faults: Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? Nor shouldst thou have trusted that to woman's frailty: Ere I to thee, thou to thyself was cruel. Let weakness then with weakness come to parle Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine More strength from me, than in thyself was found. In human hearts, nor less in mine tow'rds thee, Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou wouldst leave me Fearless at home of partners in my love. These reasons in love's law have pass'd for good, Be not unlike all others, not austere Sams. How cunningly the sorceress displays |