For inward light alas Puts forth no visual beam. O mirror of our fickle state, The rarer thy example stands, By how much from the top of wondrous glory, 165 To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n. For him I reckon not in high estate Whom long descent of birth Or the sphere of fortune raises; 170 But thee whose strength, while virtue was her mate, Might have fubdu'd the earth, Univerfally crown'd with highest praises. 175 Samf. I hear the found of words, their sense the Diffolves unjointed ere it reach my ear. (air Chor. He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in The glory late of Ifrael, now the grief; (might, We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown From Efhtaol and Zora's fruitful vale To vifit or bewail thee, or if better, 181 Salve to thy fores; apt words have pow'r to swage The tumors of a troubled mind, And are as balm to fefter'd wounds. 185 Samf. Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I Now of my own experience, not by talk, (learn How counterfeit a coin they are who friends O Bear Bear in their superscription, (of the most 190 I would be understood) in profp'rous days In every ftreet? do they not say, how well Are come upon him his deserts? yet why? Immeasurable strength they might behold 200 205 In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean; Chor. Tax not divine disposal; wisest men 210 Yet truth to fay, I oft have heard men wonder 215 Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair, At 220 At least of thy own nation, and as noble. 225 That specious monfter, my accomplish'd snare. 230 I thought it lawful from my former act, And the fame end; ftill watching to opprefs Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I suffer 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. 235 Chor. In feeking juft occafion to provoke The Philiftine, thy country's enemy, Thou never waft remiss, I bear thee witness: 240 Samf. That fault I take not on me, but transfer On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes, O 2 245 De Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other fide 249 Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds, (doer; Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd, To fet upon them, what advantag'd beft: 255 Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent 260 Whom God hath of his special favor rais'd 270 As As their deliverer; if he ought begin, Chor. Thy words to my remembrance bring To matchless Gideon in pursuit Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings : Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, 275 280 285 Samf. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 Me easily indeed mine may neglect, But God's propos'd deliverance not fo. Chor. Juft are the ways of God, And juftifiable to men; Unless there be who think not God at all: 295 If any be, they walk obfcure; For of fuch doctrin never was their school, But the heart of the fool, And no man therein doctor but himself. Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, As to his own edicts found contradicting, 301 Then |