Am I not fung and proverb'd for a fool
In every street? do they not fay, how well
Are come upon him his deferts? yet why?
Immeasurable strength 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; wifeft men
Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd;
And shall again, pretend they ne'er fo wife.
Deject not then fo overmuch thyself,
Who haft of forrow thy full load besides;
Yet truth to fay, I oft have heard men wonder
Why thou shouldst wed Philiftian women rather
Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,

At least of thy own nation, and as noble.

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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 impulfe, 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,

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That specious monster, my accomplish'd fnare.
I thought it lawful from my former act,
And the fame end; ftill watching to opprefs

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Ifrael's

Ifrael's oppreflors: of what now I fuffer
She was not the prime caufe, but I myself,

Who vanquith'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) Gave up my fort of filence to a woman.

CHO. In fecking juft occafion to provoke

The Philistine, thy country's enemy,

Thou never waft remifs, I bear thee witnefs:
Yet Ifraël ftill ferves with all his fons.

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SAMS. That fault I take not on me, but transfer

On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes,

Who feeing those 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,

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[doer;

The deeds themfelves, though mute, fpoke loud the

But they perfifted deaf, and would not feem

To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 Their lords the Philiftines with gather'd powers Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then

Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but fore-cafting in what place
To fet upon them, what advantag'd beft:
Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent

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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,

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Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threads Touch'd with the flame: on their whole hoft I flew

Unarm'd,

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 eafe than ftrenuous liberty;
And to defpife, or envy, or fufpect

Whom God hath of his fpecial favor rais'd
As their deliverer; if he ought begin,

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Of Madian and her vanquifh'd kings:
And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,
Not worse than by his fhield and fpear,
Defended Ifrael from the Ammonite,
Had not his prowefs quell'd their pride
In that fore battel when fo many dy'd

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Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,

For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.

SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll,

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Me eafily indeed mine may neglect,

But God's propos'd deliverance not fo.

Сно.

CHO. Juft are the ways of God,

And juftifiable to men;

Unless there be who think not God at all:

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If any be, they walk obfcure;

For of fuch doctrin never was there school,

But the heart of the fool,

And no man therein doctor but himself.

Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300 As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then give the reins to wandering thought, Regardless of his glory's diminution; Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, still less resolv'd,

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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

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Whom so it pleases him by choice

From national obftriction, without taint

of fin, or legal debt;

For with his own laws he can best dispense.

Down reafon then, at leaft vain reafonings down,

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VOL. III.

C

Though

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.

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SAMS. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330
With mention of that name renews th' affault.
MAN. Brethren and men of Dan, for fuch ye feem,
Though in this uncouth place; if old respect,
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 ftrength
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 fave himself against a coward arm'd
At one fpear's length. O ever-failing trust
In mortal strength! 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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