But act not in thy own affliction, Son: 305 510 515 520 SAMS. His pardon I implore; but as for life, To what end should I feek it? When in strength All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, 525 Full of divine instinct, after some proof Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond The fons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd, affront. I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded 530 of Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains, 535 *540 CHO. Defire of wine and all delicious drinks, Which many a famous warrior overturns, Thou couldst reprefs, nor did the dancing ruby Sparkling, out-pour'd, the flavor, or the fmell, Or taste that chears the heart of Gods and men, Allure thee from the cool crystallin stream. SAMS. Wherever fountain or fresh current flow'd Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure With touch ethereal of Heav'n's fiery rod, 545 550 I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying SAMS. But what avail'd this temp'rance, not com Against another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defense, And at another to let in the foe, Effeminately vanquifh'd? by which means, [plete 560 Now blind, dishearten'd, fham'd, dishonor'd, quell'd, To what can I be useful, wherein ferve My nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, 565 A burd'nous drone; to vifitants a gaze, Vain monument of ftrength; till length of years 570 To a contemptible old-age obfcure? Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, Till vermin or the draff of fervile food Confume me, and oft-invoked death 575 Haften the welcome end of all my pains. MAN. Wilt thou then ferve the Philistines with that Which was exprefly giv'n thee to annoy them? [gift 580 Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, 585 Caufe light again within thy eyes to fpring,. But But yield to double darkness nigh at hand: 595 MAN. Believe not these fuggeftions, which proceed From anguish of the mind and humors black, 609 That mingle with thy fancy. I however To prosecute the means of thy deliverance By ransome, or how elfe: mean while be calm, To the body's wounds and fores, With maladies innumerable In heart, head, breaft and reins; But muft fecret passage find To th' inmoft mind, There exercise all his fierce accidents,. And on her purest spirits prey, 610 As on entrails, joints, and limbs, With answerable pains, but more intense, 619 Though void of corporal fenfe. My griefs not only pain me As a lingring disease, But finding no redress, ferment and rage, 620 Rankle, and fefter, and gangrene, To black mortification. Thoughts But now hath caft me off as never known, Whom I by his appointment had provok'd, Left me all helpless with th' irreparable lofs "Of fight, referv'd alive to be repeated 645 The fubject of their cruelty or scorn. Nor am I in the lift of them that hope; Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless; This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard, No long petition, speedy death, 650 The clofe of all my miferies, and the balın. CHO. Many are the fayings of the wife |