I as a prophecy receive; for God, Nothing more certain, will not long defer Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done!' To fome Philiftian lords, with whom to treat 475 480 By pains and flaveries, worse than death inflicted 485 On thee, who now no more canft do them harm. SAMS. Spare that proposal, Father, fpare the trouble Of that folicitation; let me here, As I deserve, pay on my punishment; How heinous had the fact been, how deferving All friendship, and avoided as a blab, The mark of fool fet on his front! But I God's counsel have not kept, his holy secret 490 495 Prefumptuously have publish'd, impiously, Weakly at leaft, and fhamefully: a fin That Gentiles in their parables condemn To their abyfs and horrid pains confin'd. C 4 500 But But act not in thy own affliction, Son: 505 510 515 520 SAMS. His pardon I implore; but as for life, To what end fhould I feek it? When in strength All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, 525 Full of divine inftinct, after fome proof Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond The fons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd, Fearless of danger, like a petty God I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded 530 On hoftile ground, none daring my affront. Of Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains, Of a deceitful concubine, who fhore me 535 540 Сно. Defire of wine and all delicious drinks, Which many a famous warrior overturns, 550 SAMS. Wherever fountain or fresh current flow'd Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure With touch ethereal of Heav'n's fiery rod, I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying Thirst, and refresh'd; nor envy'd them the grape Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes. Сно. O madness, to think use of strongest wines And strongest drinks our chief fupport of health, When God with these forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty champion, strong above compare, Whose drink was only from the liquid brook! SAMS. But what avail'd this temp'rance, not comAgainst another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defense, And at another to let in the foe, Effeminately vanquish'd? by which means, Eplete 560 Now Now blind, dishearten'd, fham'd, dishonor'd, quell'd, To what can I be useful, wherein ferve My nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, 565 A burd'nous drone; to vifitants a gaze, Vain monument of ftrength; till length of years 570 To a contemptible old-age obfcure? Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, Till vermin or the draff of fervile food: Confume me, and oft-invoked death 575 Haften the welcome end of all my pains. MAN. Wilt thou then ferve the Philistines with that Which was exprefly giv'n thee to annoy them? [gift Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, Inglorious, unemploy'd, with age outworn. 586 From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst t' allay Caufe light again within thy eyes to spring, Wherewith to ferve him better than thou haft; 585 Nor fhall his wondrous gifts be fruftrate thus. ( SAMS. All otherwise to me my thoughts portend, That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light, Nor th' other light of life continue long, But But yield to double darknefs nigh at hand: 595 600 MAN. Believe not these fuggeftions, which proceed From anguish of the mind and humors black, That mingle with thy fancy. I however Muft not omit a father's timely care To profecute the means of thy deliverance By ranfome, or how elfe: mean while be calm, To the body's wounds and fores, With maladies innumerable In heart, head, breast and reins; But muft fecret paffage find To th' inmoft mind, There exercife all his fierce accidents, As on entrails, joints, and limbs, : 610 With answerable pains, but more intenfe, 615 Though void of corporal sense. My griefs not only pain me As a lingring disease, But finding no redress, ferment and rage, Rankle, and fester, and To black mortification. gangrene, 620 Thoughts |