Am I not fung and proverb'd for a fool CHO. Tax not divine difpofal; wifeft men At least of thy own nation, and as noble. 205 210 215 220 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, 225 That specious monster, my accomplish'd fnare. 230 Ifrael's Ifrael's oppreflors: of what now I fuffer 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: 240 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 245 [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, 255 The harrafs of their land, befet me round; I willingly on fome conditions came Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me 260 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. Whom God hath of his fpecial favor rais'd 265 270 Of Madian and her vanquifh'd kings: Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, 285 Without reprieve adjudg'd to death, For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 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: 295 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, 305 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 310 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, 320 VOL. III. C Though Though reafon here aver That moral verdict quits her of unclean: But fee here comes thy reverend Sire Forthwith how thou oughtft to receive him. 325 SAMS. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330 CHO. As fignal now in low dejected state, 335 349 345 350 |