Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,
At least of thy own nation, and as noble.

220

SAMS. The first I saw at Timna, and she pleas'd Me, not my parents, that I sought to wed The daughter of an infidel. They knew not That what I motion'd was of God; I knew From intimate impulse, and therefore urg'd The marriage on; that by occasion hence I might begin Israel's deliverance, The work to which I was divinely call'd. She proving false, the next I took to wife, O that I never had! fond wish too late! Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,

225

That specious monster, my accomplish'd snare. 230
I thought it lawful from my former act,
And the same end, still watching to oppress
Israel's oppressors. 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 silence to a woman.

CHOR. In seeking just occasion to provoke
The Philistine, thy country's enemy,
Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:
Yet Israel still serves with all his sons.

240

SAMS. That fault I take not on me, but transfer On Israel's governors, and heads of tribes, Who, seeing those great acts which God had done Singly by me against their conquerors, Acknowledg'd not, or not at all consider'd Deliverance offer'd. I on the other side

245

Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds, [doer;
The deeds themselves, tho' mute, spoke loud the
But they persisted deaf, and would not seem
To count them things worth notice, till at length
Their lords the Philistines with gather'd powers
Enter'd Judea seeking me, who then

Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but forecasting in what place
To set upon them, what advantag'd best.
Meanwhile the men of Judah, to prevent
The harass of their land, beset me round;
I willingly on some conditions came
Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me
To the uncircumcis'd a welcome prey,

Bound with two cords: but cords to me were

threads

255

260

Touch'd with the flame. On their whole host I flew
Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd

Their choicest youth; they only liv'd who fled.
Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole tribe, 265
They had by this possess'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 servitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty,
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty;
And to despise, or envy, or suspect
Whom God hath of his special favour rais'd

253 Etham] Judges xv. 8.

VOL. III.

Newton.

C

270

As their deliverer. If he aught begin,
How frequent to desert him, and at last
To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds?

CHOR. Thy words to my remembrance bring
How Succoth and the fort of Penuel
Their great deliverer contemn'd,
The matchless Gideon in pursuit
Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings:
And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,
Not worse than by his shield and spear,
Defended Israel from the Ammonite,
Had not his prowess quell'd their pride
In that sore battle, when so many died
Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,
For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.
SAMS. Of such examples add me to the roll,
Me easily indeed mine may neglect,
But God's propos'd deliverance not so.
CHOR. Just are the ways of God,

275

280

285

290

And justifiable to men;

Unless there be who think not God at all:

295

If any be, they walk obscure;

For of such doctrine 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, As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then give the reins to wand'ring thought, Regardless of his glory's diminution;

Till, by their own perplexities involv'd,
They ravel more, still less resolv'd,
But never find self-satisfying solution.

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

To set his people free,

Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,
Against his vow of strictest purity,

To seek in marriage that fallacious bride,
Unclean, unchaste.

320

Down reason then, at least vain reasonings Though reason here aver

[down,

That moral verdict quits her of unclean:
Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.
But, see! here comes thy reverend sire
With careful step, locks white as down,
Old Manoah; advise

Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive him.

325

SAMS. Aye 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, towards your once gloried friend,
My son now captive, hither hath inform'd
Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age
Came lagging after; say if he be here.

335

340

345

CHOR. As signal now in low dejected state, As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. MAN. O miserable change! is this the man, 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 Duell'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?

355

345 Duell'd] Barron's Cyprian Academy, p. 23, ed. 1648, and State Poems (by Denham), vol. i.

fowler.'

354 son] Terentii Andria, I. 1. 69.

P. 36.

'Duels the

tum uno ore omnes omnia

Bona dicere, et laudare fortunas meas,

Qui gnatum haberem tali ingenio præditum.'

Newton.