But thee whofe ftrength, while virtue was her mate, Might have fubdued the earth, Univerfally crown'd with highest praises. 175 SAMS. I hear the found of words, their fenfe the air Diffolves unjointed ere it reach my ear. CHO. He speaks, let us draw nigh. The glory late of Ifrael, now the grief; Matchlefs in [might, We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown 180 From Efhtaol and Zora's fruitful vale, To vifit or bewail thee, or if better, Counfel or confolation we may bring, Salve to thy fores; apt words have pow'r to fwage 185 And are as balm to fefter'd wounds. SAMS. Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I Now of my own experience, not by talk, [learn How counterfeit a coin they are who friends 190 I would be understood); in profp'rous days Yet that which was the worst now leaft afflicts me, 195 Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, 200 Am Am I not fung and proverb'd for a fool 205 210 215 CHO. Tax not divine difpofal; wifest men Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd; And shall again, pretend they ne'er fo wife. Deject not then so overmuch thyself, Who haft of forrow thy full load besides; Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair, At least of thy own nation, and as noble. SAMS. The first I faw at Timna, and the pleas'd Me, not my parents, that I fought 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 occafion hence I might begin Ifrael's deliverance, The work to which I was divinely call'd. She proving falfe, the next I took to wife (O that I never had! fond wish too late,) Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila, 220 225 That fpecious monster, my accomplish'd fnare. 230 Ifrael's Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I fuffer Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) Gave up my fort of filence to a woman. CHO. In feeking juft occafion to provoke The Philistine, thy country's enemy, Thou never waft remifs, I bear thee witnefs: 240 SAMS. That fault I take not on me, but transfer On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes, Who seeing those great acts, which God had done 245 [doer; The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the But they perfifted deaf, and would not feem To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 Their lords the Philistines with gather'd powers Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd, Not flying, but fore-casting in what place 255 The harrafs of their land, befet me round; I willingly on fome conditions came Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me 260 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 265 270 Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings: Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. 285 SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 Me easily indeed mine may neglect, But God's propos'd deliverance not fo. Сно. Сно. 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 there fchool, 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, ftill lefs refolv'd, But never find self-fatisfying folution.. 305 As if they would confine th' Interminable, And tie him to his own prefcript, Who made our laws to bind us, not himself, And hath full right t' exempt 310 Whom fo it pleases him by choice From national obftriction, without taint Of fin, or legal debt; For with his own laws he can beft difpenfe.. Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down, VOL. III. C 320 Though |