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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;

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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

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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

325

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,

335

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?

345

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,

Volume III.

I

355

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

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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

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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

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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,

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True slavery, and that blindnes worse than this, That saw not how degenerately I serv'd.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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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