Some rich Philiftian matron she

may feem,

And now at nearer view, no other certain

Than Dalila thy Wife.

724

Sams. My Wife, my Trait'refs, let her not come

near me.

(fix'd,

Chor. Yet on fhe moves, now stands and eyes thee About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd Like a fair flow'r furcharg'd with dew, she weeps, And words addrefs'd feem into tears diffolv'd, Wetting the borders of her filken veil:

But now again she makes address to speak.

730

Dal. With doubtful feet and wavering refolution

I came, ftill dreading thy displeasure, Samfon,
Which to have merited, without excuse,

I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears
May expiate (though the fact more evil drew

In the perverse event than I forefaw)

735

My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon No way affur'd. But conjugal affection

Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt,

Hath led me on defirous to behold

Once more thy face, and know of thy estate,
If ought in my ability may serve

740

To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease

Thy mind with what amends is in my power,

745

Though late, yet in fome part to recompenfe

My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

Sams. Out, out Hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,

And

And arts of every woman false like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,
Then as repentant to fubmit, befeech,
And reconcilement move with feign'd remorfe,
Confefs, and promise wonders in her change,
Not truly penitent, but chief to try

750

Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 755 His virtue or weaknefs which way to assail:

Then with more cautious and instructed skill
Again transgresses, and again submits;

That wisest and best men full oft beguil'd,

With goodness principled not to reject

The penitent, but ever to forgive,

Are drawn to wear out miserable days,
Intangled with a pois'nous bosom snake,
If not by quick destruction foon cut off
As I by thee, to ages an example.

760

765

Dal. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endevor

To leffen or extenuate my offense,

But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd

By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd,

Or else with juft allowance counterpois'd, may, if poffible, thy pardon find

770

I

The easier towards me, or thy hatred less.
First granting, as I do, it was a weakness
In me, but incident to all our sex,
Curiofity, inquifitive, importune

Of fecrets, then with like infirmity

775

To

780

To publish them, both common female faults:
Was it not weakness also to make known
For importunity, that is for nought,
Wherein confifted all thy strength and safety?
To what I did thou fhowd'ft me first the
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 waft cruel.

way.

Let weakness then with weakness come to parle 785 So near related, or the fame of kind,

Thine forgive mine; that men may cenfure thine The gentler, if feverely thou exact not

More ftrength from me, than in thyself was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'ft hate, 790
The jealoufy of love, pow'rful of sway

In human hearts, nor less in mine towards thee
Caus'd what I did? I faw thee mutable

Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would'st leave me
As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore 795
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmeft:
No better way I faw than by impórtuning
To learn thy fecrets, get into my power

Thy key of ftrength and fafety: thou wilt say,
Why then reveal'd? I was affur'd by those
Who tempted me, that nothing was defign'd
Against thee but safe custody, and hold:

.800

That made for me; I knew that liberty

Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,

While I at home fat full of cares and fears,
Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and love's prisoner, not the Philistines,
Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,

Fearless at home of partners in

my love.

These reasons in love's law have past for good,
Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps;

805

810

And love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much woe,

Yet always pity' or pardon hath obtain❜d.

Be not unlike all others, not auftere

As thou art strong, inflexible as steel.

815

If thou in ftrength all mortals doft exceed,
In uncompaffionate anger do not so.

Sams. How cunningly the forceress displays
Her own tranfgreffions, to upbraid me mine?
That malice not repentance brought thee hither,
By this
appears: I gave, ́thou say'st, th' example,

I led the way; bitter reproach, but true;

820

I to myself was false ere thou to me;
Such pardon therefore as I give my folly,

825

Take to thy wicked deed; which when thou seest

Impartial, self-severe, inexorable,

Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather

Confefs it feign'd: weakness is thy excuse,

And I believe it, weakness to resist
Philiftian gold: if weakness may excuse,
What murderer, what traitor, parricide,

830

Incestuous, facrilegious, but may plead it?
All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
With God or Man will gain thee no remiffion. 835
But love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage
To fatisfy thy luft: love seeks to' have love;

My love how could'ft thou hope, who took'st the way
To raise in me inexpiable hate,

Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd? 840
In vain thou ftriv'ft to cover shame with shame,
Or by evasions thy crime uncover'st more.

Dal. Since thou determin'ft weakness for no plea
In man or woman, though to thy own condemning,
Here what assaults I had, what fnares befides, 845
What fieges girt me round, ere I consented;
Which might have aw'd the best resolv'd of men,
The constanteft, to' have yielded without blame.
It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st,

That wrought with me: thou know'st the magistrates

And princes of my country came in person,
Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urg'd,

851

Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil duty
And of religion, press'd how just it was,

How honorable, how glorious to intrap

855

A common enemy, who had destroy'd
Such numbers of our nation: and the priest
Was not behind, but ever at my ear,
Preaching how meritorious with the Gods
It would be to infnare an irreligious

860