Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, still less resolv'd, But never find self-satisfying solution.
As if they would confine th' Interminable,
And tie him to his own prescript,
Who made our laws to bind us, not himself, And hath full right to exempt
Whom so it pleases him by choice
From national obstriction, without taint
Of sin, or legal debt;
For with his own laws he can best dispense.
He would not else who never wanted means, 315
Nor in respect of th' enemy just cause
Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down,
Though reason here aver
That moral verdict quits her of unclean : Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.
But see here comes thy reverend sire With careful step, locks white as down, Old Manoah: advise
Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive him. SAM. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330 With mention of that name renews th' assault. MAN. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem, Though in this uncouth place; if old respect,
As I suppose, tow'ards your once glory'd friend, My son now captive, hither hath inform'd Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age Came lagging after; say if he be here?
CHOR. As signal now in low dejected state, As erst in high'est, behold him where he lies. MAN. O miserable change! is this the man, 340 That invincible Samson, far renown'd, The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength Equivalent to angels walk'd their streets, None offering fight; who single 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 spear's length. O ever-failing trust In mortal strength! and oh what not in man Deceivable and vain? Nay what thing good 350 Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane ? I pray'd for children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son, And such a son as all men hail'd me happy; Who would be now a father in my stead? O wherefore did God grant me my request, And as a blessing with such pomp adorn'd? Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt Our earnest pray'rs, then giv'n with solemn hand As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind ? For this did th' angel twice descend? for this Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant Select, and sacred, glorious for a while,
360
The miracle of men; then in an hour
Insnar'd, assaulted, overcome, led bound, Thy foes' derision, captive, poor and blind, Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves? Alas, methinks whom God hath chosen once To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err, He should not so o'erwhelm, and as a thrall Subject him to so foul indignities
Be' it but for honor's sake of former deeds. SAM. Appoint not heav'nly disposition, Father; Nothing of all these evils hath befall'n me But justly; I myself have brought them on, 375 Sole author I, sole cause: if ought seem vile, As vile hath been my folly, who' have profan'd The mystery of God giv'n me under pledge Of vow, and have betray'd it to a woman, A Canaanite, my faithless enemy. This well I knew, nor was at all surpris'd, But warn'd by oft experience: did not she Of Timna first betray me, and reveal The secret wrested from me in her highth Of nuptial love profess'd, carrying it strait To them who had corrupted her, my spies, And rivals? In this other was there found More faith, who also in her prime of love, Spousal embraces, vitiated with gold, Though offer'd only, by the sent conceiv'd Her spurious first-born, treason against me? Thrice she assay'd with flattering pray'rs and sighs, And amorous reproaches, to win from me
My capital secret, in what part my strength[know; Lay stor'd, in what part summ'd, that she might Thrice I deluded her, and turn'd to sport Her importunity, each time perceiving
How openly, and with what impudence She purpos'd to betray me, and (which was worse Than undissembled hate) with what contempt 400 She sought to make me traitor to myself; Yet the fourth time, when must'ring all her wiles, With blandish'd parlies, femenine assaults, Tongue-batteries, she surceas'd not day nor night To storm me overwatch'd, and weary'd out, 405 At times when men seek most repose and rest, I yielded, and unlock'd her all my heart, Who with a grain of manhood well resolv'd Might easily have shook off all her snares; But foul effeminacy held me yok'd Her bond-slave; O indignity, O blot To honor and religion! servile mind Rewarded well with servile punishment! The base degree to which I now am fall'n. These rags, this grinding is not yet so base As was my former servitude, ignoble, Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,
True slavery, and that blindnes worse than this, That saw not how degenerately I serv'd.
MAN. I cannot praise thy marriage choices, Son,
Rather approv'd them not; but thou didst plead Divine impulsion prompting how thou might'st Find some occasion to infest our foes.
I state not that; this I am sure, our foes Found soon occasion thereby to make thee Their captive, and their triumph; thou the sooner Temptation found'st, or over-potent charms To violate the sacred trust of silence
Deposited within thee; which to have kept Tacit was in thy power: true; and thou bear'st 430 Enough, and more, the burden of that fault; Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains, This day the Philistines a popular feast Here celebrate in Gaza; and proclame Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud To Dagon, as their god who hath deliver'd Thee, Samson, bound and blind into their hands, Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain. So Dagon shall be magnify'd, and God, Besides whom is no god, compar'd with idols Disglorify'd, blasphem'd, and had in scorn By the idolatrous rout amidst their wine; Which to have come to pass by means of thee, Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest, 445 Of all reproach the most with shame that ever Could have befall'n thee and thy father's house.
SAM. Father, I do acknowledge and confess That I this honor, I this pomp have brought To Dagon, and advanc'd his praises high Among the Heathen round; to God have brought Dishonor, obloquy, and op'd the mouths Of idorists, and atheists; have brought scandal
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