To such a viper his most facred trust Of fecrefy, my fafety, and my life. (power, Chor. Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange After offense returning, to regain Love once poffefs'd, nor can be easily Repuls'd, without much inward paffion felt And fecret fting of amorous remorse. 1005 Sams. Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end, Not wedlock-treachery indang'ring life. Chor. It is not virtue, wisdom, valor, wit, Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit That woman's love can win or long inherit; But what it is, hard is to say, Harder to hit, (Which way foever men refer it) Much like thy riddle, Samfon, in one day Or fev'n, though one should musing fit. If any of these or all, the Timnian bride Had not fo foon preferr'd ΙΟΙΟ 1015 Thy paranymph, worthless to thee compar'd, 1020 Succeffor in thy bed, Nor both fo loosly disally'd Their nuptials, nor this last so treacherously Had fhorn the fatal harvest of thy head. Is it for that fuch outward ornament 1025 Was lavish'd on their sex, that inward gifts Were left for hafle unfinish'd, judgment fcant, Capacity not rais'd to apprehend Or value what is best In choice, but ofteft to affect the wrong? That either they love nothing, or not long? Whate'er it be, to wisest men and best 1030 Seeming at first all heav'nly under virgin veil, 1035 Once join'd, the contrary fhe proves, a thorn A cleaving mischief, in his way to virtue With dotage, and his sense deprav'd To folly' and shameful deeds which ruin ends. 1040 Imbark'd with such a steers-mate at the helm? 1045 Favor'd of Heav'n who finds One virtous rarely found, That in domestic good combines: Happy that house! his way to peace is smooth: And all temptation can remove, Most shines and moft is acceptable above. Therefore God's universal law Gave to the man defpotic power Over his female in due awe, 1055 Nor from that right to part an hour, Smile fhe or lour: So fhall he least confufion draw On his whole life, not sway'd By female ufurpation, or dismay'd. But had we best retire, I see a storm? 1060 Sams. Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain. Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud. The sumptuous Dalila floting this way: 1071 Sams. Or peace or not, alike to me he comes. 1704 Chor. His fraught we foon fhall know, he now arrives. Har. I come not, Samfon, to condole thy chance, As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been, Though for no friendly' intent. I am of Gath, Men call me Harapha, of stock renown'd That Kiriathaim held, thou know'st me now 1080 That That I was never prefent on the place Of those encounters, where we might have try'd And now am come to fee of whom fuch noise Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey, report. 1085 Sams. The way to know were not to see but taste. From the unforeskin'd race, of whom thou bear'st 1100 (but do Sams. Boaft not of what thou wouldft have done, What then thou wouldst, thou seeft it in thy hand. 1106 Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain, And thou haft need much washing to be touch'd. Sams. Such ufage as your honorable lords Afford me' affaffinated and betray'd, Who durft not with their whole united powers 1110 In fight withstand me single and unarm’d, Nor in the house with chamber ambushes Clofe Close-banded durft attack me, no not sleeping, 1124 1131 Har. Thou durft not thus disparage glorious arms, Which greatest heroes have in battel worn, Their ornament and fafety, had not spells And black inchantments, fome magician's art, Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from Heaven Feign'dft at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair, 1135 Where ftrength can least abide, though all thy hairs Were briftles rang'd like those that ridge the back Of chaf'd wild boars, or ruffled porcupines. Sams. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts; |