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Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I fuffer
She was not the prime cause, but I myself,

Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) Gave up my fort of filence to a woman.

CHO. In feeking just occasion to provoke

The Philistine, thy country's enemy,

Thou never waft remifs, I bear thee witness:
Yet Ifraël ftill ferves with all his fons.

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SAMS. That fault I take not on me, but transfer

On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes,

Who seeing those great acts, which God had done
Singly by me against their conquerors,
Acknowledg'd not, or not at all confider'd
Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other fide
Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds,

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[doer;

The deeds themselves, though mute, fpoke loud the

But they perfifted deaf, and would not seem

To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 Their lords the Philiftines with gather'd powers Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then

Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but fore-cafting in what place
To set upon them, what advantag'd best:
Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent

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The harrass of their land, befet me round;

I willingly on fome conditions came

Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me
To the uncircumcis'd a welcome prey,

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Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threads Touch'd with the flame: on their whole hoft I flew

Unarm'd,

Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd
Their choiceft youth; they only liv'd who fled.
Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole tribe,
They had by this poffefs'd the towers of Gath,
And lorded over them whom now they ferve :
But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,
And by their vices brought to fervitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty,
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty;
And to defpife, or envy, or suspect

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Whom God hath of his fpecial favor rais'd
As their deliverer; if he ought begin,

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Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings:
And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,
Not worse than by his fhield and spear,
Defended Ifrael from the Ammonite,
Had not his prowefs quell'd their pride
In that fore battel when fo many dy'd
Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,

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For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.

SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 Me eafily indeed mine may neglect,

But God's propos'd deliverance not fo.

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CHO. Juft are the ways of God,

And justifiable to men;

Unless there be who think not God at all:

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If any be, they walk obfcure;

For of fuch doctrin never was there fchool,

But the heart of the fool,

And no man therein doctor but himself.

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Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300

As to his own edicts found contradi&ting,

Then give the reins to wandering thought,
Regardless of his glory's diminution;
Till by their own perplexities involv'd
They ravel more, ítill lefs refolv'd,

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But never find self-fatisfying folution.

As if they would confine th' Interminable,

And tie him to his own prefcript,

Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,

And hath full right t'exempt

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Whom so it pleases him by choice

From national obftriction, without taint

of fin, or legal debt;

For with his own laws he can beft difpenfe.

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Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down,

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Though

Though reafon here aver

That moral verdict quits her of unclean :
Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.
But fee here comes thy reverend Sire
With careful step, locks white as down,
Old Manoah: advise

Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him.

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SAMS. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330
With mention of that name renews th' affault.
MAN. Brethren and men of Dan, for fuch ye feem,
Though in this uncouth place; if old respect,
As I fuppofe, tow'ards your once glory'd friend,
My fon now captive, hither hath inform'd
Your younger feet, while mine caft back with age
Came lagging after; fay if he be here.

CHO. As fignal now in low dejected state,
As erft in high'eft, behold him where he lies.
MAN. O miferable change! is this the man,
That invincible Samfon, far renown'd,
The dread of Ifrael's foes, who with a strength
Equivalent to Angels walk'd their streets,
None offering fight; who fingle combatant
Duel'd their armies rank'd in proud array,
Himself an army, now unequal match
To fave himself against a coward arm'd
At one spear's length. O ever-failing trust
In mortal ftrength! and oh what not in man
Deceivable and vain? Nay what thing good
Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane?
I pray'd for children, and thought barrenness

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In

In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a fon,

And fuch a fon as all men hail'd me happy;

Who would be now a father in my stead?

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O wherefore did God grant me my request,

And as a bleffing with such pomp adorn'd?

Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt

Our earnest pray'rs, then, giv'n with folemn hand
As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind?

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For this did th' Angel twice defcend? for this

Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant

Select, and facred, glorious for a while,
The miracle of men; then in an hour

Infnar'd, affaulted, overcome, led bound,
Thy foes derifion, captive, poor and blind,
Into a dungeon thrust, to work with flaves?
Alas methinks whom God hath chofen once
To worthieft deeds, if he through frailty err,
He fhould not fo o'erwhelm, and as a thrall
Subject him to fo foul indignities,

Be it but for honor's fake of former deeds.

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SAMS. Appoint not heav'nly difpofition, Father;

Nothing of all these evils hath befall'n me

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But justly; I myself have brought them on,
Sole author I, fole caufe: 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 faithlefs enemy.
This well I knew, nor was at all furpris'd,
But warn'd by oft' experience: did not she

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