Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint; Unless he feel within Some source of consolation from above, Secret refreshings, that repair his strength, God of our fathers, what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various, 665 Temper'st thy providence through his short course, Not ev'nly, as thou rul'st 671 Th' angelic orders and inferior creatures mute, Irrational and brute. Nor do I name of men the common rout, That wand'ring loose about 675 Grow up and perish, as the summer flie, And people's safety, which in part they' effect : 680 [gard Changest thy count'nance, and thy hand with no re Of highest favours past From thee on them, or them to thee of service. Nor only dost degrade thein, or remit To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission, 685 But throw'st them lower than thou didst exalt them Unseemly falls in human eye, Too grievous for the trespass or omission; [high, 691 Oft leav'st them to the hostile sword To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd ; 694 Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times, With sickness and disease thou bow'st them down, In crude old age; Though not disordinate, yet causeless suff'ring For oft alike both come to evil end. 700 So deal not with this once thy glorious champion The image of thy strength, and mighty minister. What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already? 707 Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn His labors, for thou canst, to peaceful end. But who is this, what thing of sea or land? 710 Female of sex it seems, That so bedeck'd, ornate, and gay, Comes this way sailing Like a stately ship Of Tarsus, bound for th' iles Of Javan or Gadire 715 With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, Her harbinger, a damsel train behind; Volume III. 720 K Some rich Philistian matron she may seem, 724 SAM. My wife, my traitress, let her not come near me. [thee fix'd, CHOR. Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd Like a fair flower surcharged with dew, she weeps, And words address'd seem into tears dissolv'd, Wetting the borders of her silken veil: But now again she makes address to speak. 730 DAL.With doubtful feet and wavering resolution I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson, Which to have merited, without excuse, I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears 735 My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt, Once more thy face, and know of thy estate, To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease 740 Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745 SAM. Out, out hyæna; these are thy wonted arts, And arts of every women false like thee, To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, Then as repentant to submit, beseech, 750 And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse, Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 756 760 As I by thee, to ages an example. 765 DAL. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endevor To lessen or extenuate my offense, But that on the other side if it be weigh'd By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd, The easier tow'ards me, or thy hatred less. To publish them, both common female faults: For importunity, that is for nought, 770 775 Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? 780 To what I did thou showed'st me first the way. But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not: Nor should'st thou have trusted that to woman's frailty: Ere I to thee, thou to thyself wast cruel. Let weakness then with weakness come to parle 786 791 In human hearts, nor less in mind tow'ards thee, Caus'd what I did? I saw thee mutable Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou would'st leave me As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore 796 The key of strength and safety: thou wilt say, 800 805 810 |