Am I not fung and proverb'd for a fool In every street? do they not say, how well Are come upon him his deserts? yet why? Immeasurable ftrength they might behold In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean; This with the other fhould, at least, have pair'd, These two proportion'd ill drove me transverse.
CHO., Tax not divine difpofal; wisest men Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd; And shall again, pretend they ne'er fo wife. Deject not then so overmuch thyself, Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides ; Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,
At least of thy own nation, and as noble.
SAMS. The first I saw at Timna, and the pleas'd Me, not my parents, that I fought to wed The daughter of an infidel: they knew not That what I motion'd was of God; I knew From intimate impulse, and therefore urg'd The marriage on; that by occafion hence I might begin Ifrael's deliverance, The work to which I was divinely call'd. She proving falfe, the next I took to wife (O that I never had! fond wish too late,) Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila, That fpecious monfter, my accomplish'd fnare. I thought it lawful from my former act, And the fame end; ftill watching to opprefs
Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I fuffer She was not the prime cause, but I myself,
Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) Gave up my fort of silence to a woman.
CHO. In feeking juft occafion to provoke
The Philistine, thy country's enemy,
Thou never waft remifs, I bear thee witness: Yet Ifraël ftill ferves with all his fons.
SAMS. That fault I take not on me, but transfer
On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes,
Who feeing thofe great acts, which God had done Singly by me against their conquerors, Acknowledg'd not, or not at all confider'd Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other fide Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds,
The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the
But they perfifted deaf, and would not feem
To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 Their lords the Philistines with gather'd powers Enter'd Judea seeking me, who then
Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but fore-casting in what place To fet upon them, what advantag'd best: Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent
The harrafs of their land, befet me round;
I willingly on fome conditions came
Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me To the uncircumcis'd a welcome prey,
Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threads Touch'd with the flame: on their whole hoft I flew
Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd Their choiceft youth; they only liv'd who fled. Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole tribe, They had by this poffefs'd the towers of Gath, And lorded over them whom now they ferve: But what more oft in nations grown corrupt, And by their vices brought to fervitude, Than to love bondage more than liberty, Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty; And to defpife, or envy, or fufpe&t
Whom God hath of his special favor rais'd As their deliverer; if he ought begin,
Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings: And how ingrateful Ephraim
Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, Not worse than by his fhield and spear, Defended Ifrael from the Ammonite, Had not his prowess quell'd their pride In that fore battel when fo many dy'd Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,
For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.
SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 Me easily indeed mine may neglect,
But God's propos'd deliverance not fo.'
CHO. Juft are the ways of God,
Unless there be who think not God at all:
If any be, they walk obfcure;
For of fuch doctrin never was there fchool,
But the heart of the fool,
And no man therein do&tor but himself.
Yet more there be who doubt his ways not juft, 300 As to his own edicts found contradi&ting, Then give the reins to wandering thought, Regardless of his glory's diminution; Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, ftill lefs refolv'd,
But never find self-fatisfying folution.
As if they would confine th' Interminable,
And tie him to his own prefcript,
Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,
And hath full right t' exempt
Whom fo it pleases him by choice
From national obftriction, without taint
For with his own laws he can beft difpenfe.
Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down,
Though reafon here aver
That moral verdict quits her of unclean: Unchafte was fubfequent, her ftain not his. But fee here comes thy reverend Sire With careful step, locks white as down, Old Manoah: advise
Forthwith how thou oughtft to receive him.
SAMS. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330 With mention of that name renews th' affault. MAN. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye feem, Though in this uncouth place; if old refpect, As I fuppofe, tow'ards your once glory'd friend, My fon now captive, hither hath inform`d Your younger feet, while mine caft back with age Came lagging after; fay if he be here.
CHO. As fignal now in low dejected state, As erft in high'eft, behold him where he lies. MAN. O miferable change! is this the man, That invincible Samfon, far renown'd, The dread of Ifrael's foes, who with a strength Equivalent to Angels walk'd their streets, None offering fight; who fingle combatant Duel'd their armies rank'd in proud array, Himself an army, now unequal match To save himself against a coward arm'd At one fpear's length. O ever-failing trust In mortal ftrength! and oh what not in man Deceivable and vain? Nay what thing good Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane? I pray'd for children, and thought barrenness
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