Till by their own perplexities involv'd As if they would confine th' Interminable, And tie him to his own prescript, Who made our laws to bind us, not himself, And hath full right to' exempt Whom so it pleases him by choice From national obstriction, without taint Of sin, or legal debt; For with his own laws he can best dispense. 305 310 He would not else who never wanted means, 315 Nor in respect of th' enemy just cause Have prompted this heroic Nazarite, To set his people free, Against his vow of strictest purity, To seek in marriage that fallacious bride, 320 Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down, Though reason here aver That moral verdict quits her of unclean : Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive him. 325 SAM. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd 330 With mention of that name renews th' assault. MAN. Brethren and men of Dan,for such ye seem, Though in this uncouth place; if old respect, As I suppose, tow'ards your once glory'd friend, My son now captive, hither hath inform'd 335 Four younger feet, while mine cast back with age Came lagging after; say if he be here ? 345 CHOR. As signal now in low dejected state, As erst in high'est, behold him where he lies. MAN. O miserable change! is this the man, 340 That invincible Samson, far renown'd, The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength Equivalent to angels walk'd their streets, None offering fight; who single combatant Duel'd their armies rank'd in proud array, Himself an army, now unequal match To save himself against a coward arm'd At one spear's length. O ever-failing trust In mortal strength! and oh what not in man Deceivable and vain ? Nay what thing good 350 Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane? I pray'd for children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son, And such a son as all men hail'd me happy; Who would be now a father in my stead? O wherefore did God grant me my request, And as a blessing with such pomp adorn'd? Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt 355 Our earnest pray'rs, then giv'n with solemn hand For this did th' angel twice descend? for this Select, and sacred, glorious for a while, Volume III. I 360 Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid, Ran on imbattel'd armies clad in iron, And weaponless himself, Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgery 130 Of brazen shield and spear, the hammer'd cuirass, Chalybean temper'd steel, and frock of mail Adamantean proof; But safest he who stood aloof, When insupportably his foot advanc'd, 135 In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools, Spurn'd them to death by troops. The bold Ascalonite Fled from his lion ramp, old warriors turn'd 140 Or grov'ling soil'd their crested helmets in the dust. A thousand fore-skins fell, the flower of Palastine, [bore 145 Then by main force pull'd up, and on his shoulders The gates of Azza, post, and massy bar, Up to the hill by Hebron, seat of giants old, No journey of a sabbath-day, and loaded so; Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heav'n. Which shall I first bewail, Prison w thin prison Inseparably dark? 151 Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!) 155 The dungeon of thyself; thy soul [plain) (Which men enjoying sight oft without cause com Imprison'd now indeed, In real darkness of the body dwells, To' incorporate with gloomy night; Puts forth no visual beam. O mirror of our fickle state, Since man on earth unparallel'd! The rarer thy example stands, By how much from the top of wondrous glory, 160 165 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; 70 But thee whose strength, while virtue was her mate, Might have subdued the earth, Universally crown'd with highest praises. 175 SAM. I hear the sound of words, their sense the [air Dissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear. To visit or bewail thee, or if better, Counsel or consolation we may bring, 181 Salve to thy sores; apt words have power to swage The tumors of a troubled mind, And are as balm to fester'd wounds. 185 190 SAM. Your coming, friends,revives me, for I learn Now of my own experience, not by talk, How counterfeit a coin they are who friends Bear in their superscription, (of the most I would be understood) in prosp'rous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head, Not to be found, though sought. Ye see, O friends, How many evils have inclos'd me round; 194 Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me, Blindness, for had I sight, confus'd with shame, How could I once look up, or heave the head, Who like a foolish pilot have shipwrack'd My vessel trusted to me from above, Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, Fool, have divulg'd the secret gift of God To a deceitful woman? tell me, friends, Am I not sung and proverb'd for a fool In every street? do they not say, how well Are come upon him his deserts ? yet why? Immeasurable strength they might behold In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean; This with the other should, at least, have pair'd, These two proportion'd ill drove me transverse. 209 CHOR. Tax not divine disposal; wisest men Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd; And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise. Deject not then so overmuch thyself, Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides; 200 205 Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder 215 |