mprison'd now indeed, n real darkness of the body dwells, from outward light Shut up To' incorporate with gloomy night; Puts forth no visual beam. O mirror of our fickle state, The rarer thy example stands, By how much from the top of wondrous glory, 160 165 To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n, Whom long descent of birth Or the sphere of fortune raises; 70 But thee whose strength, while virtue was her mate, Might have subdued the earth, Universally crown'd with highest praises. 175 SAM. I hear the sound of words, their sense the Dissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear. [air CHOR. He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless The glory late of Israel, now the grief; [in might, We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful vale, To visit or bewail thee, or if better, Counsel or consolation we may bring, 181 Salve to thy sores; apt words have power to swage The tumors of a troubled mind, And are as balm to fester'd wounds. 185 190 SAM. Your coming, friends, revives me, for I learn Now of my own experience, not by talk, How counterfeit a coin they are who friends Bear in their superscription, (of the most I would be understood) in prosp'rous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head, Not to be found, though sought. Ye see, O friends, How many evils have inclos'd me round; 194 Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me, Blindness, for had I sight, confus'd with shame, How could I once look up, or heave the head, Who like a foolish pilot have shipwrack'd My vessel trusted to me from above, Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, Fool, have divulg'd the secret gift of God To a deceitful woman? tell me, friends, Am I not sung and proverb'd for a fool In every street? do they not say, how well Are come upon him his deserts ? yet why? Immeasurable strength they might behold In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean; This with the other should, at least, have pair'd, These two proportion'd ill drove me transverse. 209 CHOR. Tax not divine disposal; wisest men Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd; And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise. Deject not then so overmuch thyself, Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides; 200 205 Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder 215 hy thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather an of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair, 220 - least of thy own nation, and as noble. And the same end; still watching to oppress 225 229 Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) Gave up my fort of silence to a woman. CHOR. In seeking just occasion to provoke The Philistine, thy country's enemy, 236 Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness: 240 SAM. That fault I take not on me, but transfer On Israel's governors, and heads of tribes, Acknowledg'd not, or not at all consider'd 245 [doer; The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the To count them things worth notice, till at length 252 Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd, To set upon them, what advantag'd best: 255 Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent The harrass of their land, beset me round; I willingly on some conditions came 260 Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me Whom God hath of his special favor rais'd 270 s their deliverer; if he ought begin, ow frequent to desert him, and at last -o heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds ? 275 CHOR. Thy words to my remembrance bring Low Succoth and the fort of Penuel Their great deliverer contemn'd, The matchless Gideon in pursuit 280 Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, SAM. Of such examples add me to the roll, 285 290 But God's propos'd deliverance not so. And justifiable to men; Unless there be who think not God at all; 295 If any be, they walk obscure; For of such 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, As to his own edicts found contradicting, 301 |