735

740

I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson,
Which to have merited, without excuse,
I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears
May expiate (though the fact more evil drew
In the perverse event than I foresaw)
My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon
No way assured. But conjugal affection
Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt,
Hath led me on desirous to behold
Once more thy face, and know of thy estate,
If aught in my ability may serve
To lighten what thou suffer'st and-appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745
Though late, yet in some part to recompense
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

Sam. Out, out, hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,

And arts of every woman false like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750
Then, as repentant, to submit, beseech,
And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,
Confess, and promise wonders in her change,
Not truly penitent, but chief to try

754

Her husband, how far urged his patience bears,
His virtue or weakness which way to assail:
Then with more cautious and instructed skill
Again transgresses, and again submits;
That wisest and best men, full oft beguiled,

714. This comparison is to be found in several of the older poets, Shakspeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, &c.

748. Hyena; this animal is known to imitate the human voice so well, as to have deceived travellers with its complaints.

786

791

Ere I to thee, thou to thyself wast cruel.
Let weakness then with weakness come to parle
So near related, or the same of kind,
Thine forgive mine: that men may censure thine
The gentler, if severely thou exact not
More strength from me than in thyself was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'st hate,
The jealousy of love, powerful of sway
In human hearts, nor less in mind tow'rds thee,
Caused what I did? I saw thee mutable [me
Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou would'st leave
As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore
How to endear, and hold thee to me firmest: 796
No better way I saw than by importuning
To learn thy secrets, get into my power
Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say,
Why then reveal'd? I was assured by those 800
Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd
Against thee but safe custody and hold;
That made for me; I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,
While I at home sat full of cares and fears, 805
Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and Love's prisoner, not the Philistines',
Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,
Fearless at home of partners in my love.
These reasons in love's law have past for good,
Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps :
And love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much
woe,

Yet always pity' or pardon hath obtain'd.
Be not unlike all others, not austere
As thou art strong, inflexible as steel,
If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed,
In uncompassionate anger do not so.

810

815

[ther

830

Impartial, self-severe, inexorable,
Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much ra-
Confess it feign'd: weakness is thy excuse,
And I believe it, weakness to resist
Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse,
What murderer, what traitor, parricide,
Incestuous, sacrilegious, but may plead it ?
All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
With God or man will gain thee no remission.
But love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage 836
To satisfy thy lust; love seeks to' have love;
My love how could'st thou hope, who took'st the
way

To raise in me inexpiable hate,
Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd ? 840
In vain thou striv'st to cover shame with shame,
Or by evasions thy crime uncover'st more.

[plea

Dal. Since thou determin'st weakness for no In man or woman, though to thy own condemning, Hear what assaults I had, what snares besides, What sieges girt me round, ere I consented; 846 Which might have awed the best resolved of men, The constantest, to' have yielded without blame. It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st, That wrought with me: thou know'st the magis

trates

855

And princes of my country came in person, 851
Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urged,
Adjured by all the bonds of civil duty
And of religion, press'd how just it was,
How honourable, how glorious, to entrap
A common enemy, who had destroy'd
Such numbers of our nation; and the priest
Was not behind, but ever at my ear,
Preaching how meritorious with the gods
It would be to insnare an irreligious
Dishonourer of Dagon: what had I
To' oppose against such powerful arguments?
Only my love of thee held long debate,
And combated in silence all these reasons

860

890

By thy request, who could deny thee nothing;
Yet now am judged an enemy. Why then
Did'st thou at first receive me for thy husband,
Then, as since then, thy country's foe profess'd?
Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave 885
Parents and country: nor was I their subject,
Nor under their protection, but my own,
Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life
Thy country sought of thee, it sought unjustly,
Against the law of nature, law of nations,
No more thy country, but an impious crew
Of men conspiring to uphold their state
By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends
For which our country is a name so dear;
Not therefore to be obey'd. But zeal moved thee;
To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable 896
To' acquit themselves and prosecute their foes
But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction
Of their own deity, gods cannot be ;
Less therefore to be pleased, obey'd, or fear'd. 900
These false pretexts and varnish'd colours failing,
Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear?

Dal. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. 904 Sam. For want of words no doubt, or lack of

breath;

Witness when I was worried with thy peals.

910

Dal. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken In what I thought would have succeeded best. Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson, Afford me place to show what recompense Tow'rds thee I intend for what I have misdone, Misguided; only what remains past cure Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist To' afflict thyself in vain: though sight be lost, Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd Where other senses want not their delights At home in leisure and domestic ease, Exempt from many a care and chance to which Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad.

915

920

I to the lords will intercede, not doubting
Their favourable ear, that I may fetch thee
From forth this loathsome prison-house, to abide
With me, where my redoubled love and care
With nursing diligence, to me glad office,
May ever tend about thee to old age
With all things grateful cheer'd, and so supplied,
That what by me thou' hast lost thou least shalt
miss.

925

930 [trains

Sam. No, no, of my condition take no care; It fits not; thou and I long since are twain : Nor think me so unwary or accursed, To bring my feet again into the snare Where once I have been caught; I know thy Though dearly to my cost, thy gins and toils; Thy fair enchanted cup, and warbling charms

965

Dal. I see thou art implacable, more deaf 960 To prayers than winds and seas, yet winds to seas Are reconciled at length, and sea to shore : Thy anger unappeasable, still rages, Eternal tempest never to be calm'd. Why do I humble thus myself, and suing For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate? Bid go with evil omen and the brand Of infamy upon my name denounced? To mix with thy concernments I desist Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own. 970 Fame if not double-faced is double-mouth'd, And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds; On both his wings, one black, the other white, Bears greatest names in his wild aery flight. My name perhaps among the circumcised In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering tribes, To all posterity may stand defamed, With malediction mention'd, and the blot Of falsehood most unconjugal traduced. But in my country, where I most desire, In Ecron, Gaza, Ashdod, and in Gath, I shall be named among the famousest Of women, sung at solemn festivals, Living and dead recorded, who, to save Her country from a fierce destroyer, chose Above the faith of wedlock bands, my tomb

975

980

985

In choice, but oftest to affect the wrong? 1030

Or was too much of self-love mix'd,

Of constancy no root infix'd,

That either they love nothing, or not long?

Whate'er it be, to wisest men and best

Seeming at first all heav'nly under virgin veil, 1035
Soft, modest, meek, demure,

Once join'd, the contrary she proves, a thorn
Intestine, far within defensive arms
A cleaving mischief, in his way to virtue
Adverse and turbulent, or by her charms
Draws him awry inslaved

With dotage, and his sense depraved

988, Judges iv. v.

1020. Paranymph; brideman.

1040

1034. There is a similar change of numbers to that in this passage of men, and the singular pronoun, in Par. Lost, ix. 1183.

1080

Har. I come not, Samson, 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 As Og or Anak, and the Emims old That Kiriathaim held; thou know'st me now If thou at all art known. Much I have heard Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd, Incredible to me, in this displeased, That I was never present on the place Of those encounters, where we might have tried Each other's force in camp or listed field; And now am come to see of whom such noise Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey, If thy appearance answer loud report.

1085

1090

Sam. The way to know were not to see but taste. Har. Dost thou already single me? I thought Gyves and the mill had tamed thee. O that For

tune

1075. His fraught; freight is proposed as a better reading.

1079. Harapha is a fictitious character, but the name was suggested to Milton by Arapha or Rapha being mentioned in Scripture as the father of the giants of Rephaim. See Deut. ii. 10, 11. iii. 11. Gen. xiv. 5. 1093. Gyves, fetters or chains.

Had brought me to the field, where thou art famed
To have wrought such wonders with an ass's jaw;
I should have forced thee soon with other arms,
Or left thy carcase where the ass lay thrown: 1097
So had the glory' of prowess been recover'd
To Palestine, won by a Philistine,

From the unforeskinn'd race, of whom thou bear'st
The highest name for valiant acts; that honour
Certain to' have won by mortal duel from thee, 1102
I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.

Sam. Boast not of what thou would'st have done,

but do

What then thou would'st, thou seest it in thy hand.
Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain,
And thou hast need much washing to be touch'd.
Sam. Such usage as your honourable lords 1108
Afford me,' assassinated and betray'd,
Who durst not with their whole united powers
In fight withstand me single and unarm'd, 1111
Nor in the house with chamber ambushes
Close-banded durst attack me, no not sleeping,
Till they had hired a woman with their gold
Breaking her marriage faith to circumvent me.
Therefore, without feign'd shifts let be assign'd
Some narrow place inclosed, where sight may give
thee,

1117

Or rather flight, no great advantage on me;
Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet
And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon,
Vant-brass and greves, and gauntlet, add thy

A weaver's beam, and seven-times folded shield,
I only with an oaken staff will meet thee,
And raise such outcries on thy clatter'd iron,
Which long shall not withhold me from thy head,
That in a little time, while breath remains thee,
Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath to boast 1127
Again in safety what thou would'st have done
To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.
Har. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious
arms,

Which greatest heroes have in battle worn, 1131
Their ornament and safety, had not spells
And black inchantments, some magician's art,
Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou
from Heav'n
1134
Feign'dst at thy birth was given thee in thy hair,
Where strength can least abide, though all thy
hairs

Were bristles ranged like those that ridge the back Of chafed wild boars, or ruffled porcupines.

Sam. I know no spells, use no forbidden arts; My trust is in the living God, who gave me 1140 At my nativity this strength, diffused

No less through all my sinews, joints and bones, Than thine, while I preserved these locks unshorn,

1120. Brigandine, a coat of mail.-Habergeon, a covering of mail for the head and shoulders.--Vantbrass or brace, covering for the arms; greves, for the legs, gauntlet, an iron glove.

1138. Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act 1, Sc. 8.

1145

1150

The pledge of my unviolated vow.
For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god,
Go to his temple, invocate his aid
With solemnest devotion, spread before him
How highly it concerns his glory now
To frustrate and dissolve these magic spells,
Which I to be the power of Israel's God
Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,
Offering to combat thee his champion bold,
With th' utmost of his godhead seconded:
Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow 1154
Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine.
Har. Presume not on thy God, whate'er he be,
Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off
Quite from his people, and deliver'd up
Into thy enemies' hand, permitted them

1159

To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee
Into the common prison, there to grind
Among the slaves and asses thy comrades,
As good for nothing else, no better service
With those thy boist'rous locks, no worthy match
For valour to assail, nor by the sword
Of noble warrior, so to stain his honour,
But by the barber's razor best subdued.

eye

1165

1171

Sam. All these indignities, for such they are
From thine, these evils 1 deserve and more,
Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me
Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon
Whose ear is ever open, and his
Gracious to re-admit the suppliant:
In confidence whereof I once again
Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight,
By combat to decide whose God is God,
Thine or whom I with Israel's sons adore.
Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in-
trusting

He will accept thee to defend his cause,
A murderer, a revolter, and a robber.

1175

1179

Sam. Tongue-doughty Giant, how dost thou prove me these?

Har. Is not thy nation subject to our lords? Their magistrates confess'd it, when they took thee

As a league-breaker and deliver'd bound

Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed 1185 Notorious murder on those thirty men

At Ascalon, who never did thee harm, Then like a robber stripp'dst them of their robes ? The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league, [ing, 1190 Went up with armed pow'rs thee only seekTo others did no violence, nor spoil.

1195

Sam. Among the daughters of the Philistines I chose a wife, which argued me no foe; And in your city held my nuptial feast: But your ill-meaning politician lords Under pretence of bridal friends and guests, Appointed to await me thirty spies, Who threat'ning cruel death, constrain'd the bride

To wring from me and tell to them my secret, That solved the riddle which I had proposed. 1200

To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict?
Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform'd ;
But take good heed my hand survey not thee. 1230
Har. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unused
Hear these dishonours, and not render death?
Sam. No man withholds thee, nothing from thy
hand

Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,
My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free.

1235

Har. This insolence other kind of answer fits. Sam. Go, baffled coward, lest I run upon thee, Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast, And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

Or swing thee in the air, then dash thee down 1240 To th' hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides. Har. By Astaroth, ere long thou shalt lament These braveries in irons loaded on thee. (fall'n,

Chor. His Giantship is gone somewhat crestStalking with less unconscionable strides, 1245 And lower looks, but in a sultry chafe.

Sam. I dread him not, nor all his giant brood, Though fame divulge him father of five sons, All of gigantic size, Goliath chief.

Chor. He will directly to the lords, I fear, 1250 And with malicious counsel stir them up Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

Sam. He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight

1231. Baalzebub, Astaroth, deities of the Philis tines.

1248. 1 Sam. xvii. 2 Sam. xx. i. 15.