Unless he feel within Some source of consolation from above, God of our fathers, what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various, Temper'st thy providence through his short course, Th' angelic orders and inferior creatures mute, Nor do I name of men the common rout, Grow up and perish as the summer flie, And people's safety, which in part they effect: 671 680 Changest thy count'nance, and thy hand with no re Of highest favours past [gard From thee on them, or them to thee of service. Nor only dost degrade them, or remit To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission, But throw'st them lower than thou didst exalt them Unseemly falls in human eye, Too grievous for the trespass or omission; Oft leav'st them to the hostile sword [high, 691 Of Heathen and profane, their carcases To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd; 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? Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn His labors, for thou cans't, 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 With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, Her barbinger, a damsel train behind; 720 And now at nearer view, no other certain 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 flow'r surcharg'd 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 My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon Once more thy face, and know of thy estate, To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease 740 SAM. Out, out hyæna; These are thy wonted arts, And arts of every woman false like thee, To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750 Then as repentant to submit, beseech, And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse, 760 Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, DAL. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endeavor The easier towards me, or thy hatred less. 770 To publish them, both common female faults: Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? 780 But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not: Nor shouldst thou have trusted that to woman's frailty: Ere I to thee, thou to thyself wast cruel. Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine 791 In human hearts, nor less in mind tow'ards thee, Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou would's leave me The key of strength and safety: thou wilt say. 810 |