Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint; Unless he feel within

Some source of consolation from above,

Secret refreshings, that repair his strength, 665 And fainting spirits uphold.

God of our fathers, what is man!

That thou towards him with hand so various,

Or might I say contrarious,

Temper'st thy providence through his short course,
Not ev'nly, as thou rul'st

Th' angelic orders and inferior creatures mute,
Irrational and brute.

671

Nor do I name of men the common rout,

That wand'ring loose about

675

Grow up and perish, as the summer flie,
Heads without name no more remember'd,
But such as thou hast solemnly elected,
With gifts and graces eminently adorn'd

To some great work, thy glory,
And people's safety, which in part they' effect :

680

[gard

Yet toward these thus dignify'd, thou oft

Amidst their highth of noon

Changest thy count'nance, and thy hand with no re-

Of highest favours past

From thee on them, or them to thee of service.

Nor only dost degrade thein, or remit

685

To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission,
But throw'st them lower than thou didst exalt them

Unseemly falls in human eye,

Too grievous for the trespass or omission;

[high,

691

Oft leav'st them to the hostile sword

Of Heathen and profane, their carcases

To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd; 694 Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times,

And condemnation of th' ungrateful multitude.

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? 707 Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn His labors, for thou canst, to peaceful end.

But who is this, what thing of sea or land? 710 Female of sex it seems,

With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,

Sails fill'd, and streamers waving,

Courted by all the winds that hold them play,

An amber sent of odorous perfume

720

Her harbinger, a damsel train behind;

Volume III.

K

Some rich Philistian matron she may seem,
And now at nearer view, no other certain

Than Dalila thy wife.

724

SAM. My wife, my traitress, let her not come near [thee fix'd,

me.

CHOR. Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes 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 dissolv'd, Wetting the borders of her silken veil: But now again she makes address to speak.

730

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
May expiate (though the fact more evil drew
In the perverse event than I foresaw)

735

My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon
No way assur'd. But conjugal affection
Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt,
Hath led me on desirous to behold

Once more thy face, and know of thy estate,
If ought in my ability may serve

740

To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745
Though late, yet in some part to recompense
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

SAM. Out, out hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,
And arts of every women false like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750
Then as repentant to submit, beseech,

And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,
Confess, and promise wonders in her change,
Not truly penitent, but chief to try
Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears,
His virtue or weakness which way to assail:
Then with more cautions and instructed skill
Again transgresses, and again submits;
That wisest and best men full oft beguil'd
With goodness principled not to reject
The penitent, but ever to forgive,
Are drawn to wear out miserable days,
Intangled with a pois'nous bosom snake,
If not by quick destruction soon cut off
As I by thee, to ages an example.

756

760

765

DAL. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endevor

To lessen or extenuate my offense,
But that on the other side if it be weigh'd
By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd,
Or else with just allowance counterpois'd,
I may if possible, thy pardon find
The easier tow'ards me, or thy hatred less.

770

First granting, as I do, it was a weakness

In me, but incident to all our sex,

Curiosity, inquisitive, importune

775

Of secrets, then with like infirmity
To publish them, both common female faults:
Was it not weakness also to make known

For importunity, that is for nought,

Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? 780

To what I did thou showed'st me first the way.

But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not :

Nor should'st thou have trusted that to woman's

frailty:

786

791

Ere I to thee, thou to thyself wast cruel.
Let weakness then with weakness come to parle
So near related, or the same of kind,
Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine
The gentler, if severely thou exact not
More strength from me than in thyself was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'st hate,
The jealousy of love, powerful of sway
In human hearts, nor less in mind towards thee,
Caus'd what I did? I saw thee mutable
Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou would'st leave me
As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmest:
No better way I saw than by' impórtuning
To learn thy secrets, get into my power
The key of strength and safety: thou wilt say,
Why then reveal'd? I was assur'd by those
Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd
Against thee but safe custody and hold :
That made for me; I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,
While I at home sat full of cares and fears, 805

Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and Love's prisoner, not the Philistines,

Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,

Fearless at home of partners in my love.

796

800

810