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

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

CHо. In feeking juft occafion 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 feeing 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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The deeds themselves, though mute, fpoke loud the But they perfifted deaf, and would not feem

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 fet upon them, what advantag'd best:

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Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent

The harrafs 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, 265
They had by this poffefs'd the towers of Gath,
And lorded over them whom now they serve :
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
Whom God hath of his special 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 fpear,
Defended Ifrael from the Ammonite,
Had not his prowess quell'd their pride
In that fore battel when fo many dy'd
Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,

For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.

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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 school,

But the heart of the fool,

And no man therein doctor but himself.

Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300 As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then give the reins to wandering thought, Regardless of his glory's diminution; Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, still less resolv'd,

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But never find felf-fatisfying folution.

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 t' exempt

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Whom fo it pleases him by choice

From national obftriction, without taint

Of fin, or legal debt;

For with his own laws he can best dispense.

He would not elfe who never wanted means,

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Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down,

VOL. XII.

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Though

Though reafon here aver
That moral verdict quits her of unclean:
Unchafte was subsequent, her stain not his.

But fee here comes thy reverend Sire
With careful step, locks white as down,
Old Manoah: advise

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Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him.
SAMS. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd
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; say if he be here.

CHO. As fignal now in low dejected state,
As erft in high'est, behold him where he lies.

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MAN. O miferable change! is this the man, 340 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 fpear's length. O ever-failing trust
In mortal strength! 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 barrennefs

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In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son,
And fuch a fon as all men hail'd me happy;
Who would be now a father in my ftead?

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O wherefore did God grant me my request,

And as a bleffing with fuch pomp adorn'd?
Why are his gifts defirable, to tempt

Our earnest pray'rs, then, giv'n with folemn hand
As graces, draw a fcorpion'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 slaves?
Alas methinks whom God hath chofen once
To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err,
He should not fo o’erwhelm, and as a thrall
Subject him to fo foul indignities,

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Be it but for honor's fake of former deeds.
SAMS. Appoint not heav'nly disposition, Father;
Nothing of all these evils hath befall'n me
But juftly; I myself have brought them on,
Sole author I, fole caufe: if ought feem 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 faithless enemy
This well I knew, nor was at all furpris'd,
But warn'd by oft' experience: did not the
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