Against th' uncircumcis'd, our enemies : 640 Whom I by his appointment had provok'd, Of fight, referv'd alive to be repeated 645 The fubject of their cruelty or scorn. Nor am I in the list of them that hope; Hopeless are all my evils, all remedilefs; This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard, 2 The close of all my miferies, and the balm. CHO. Many are the sayings of the wife In ancient and in modern books inroll'd, 655 With study'd argument, and much perfuafion fought Lenient of grief and anxious thought: But with th' afflicted in his pangs their found 660 Little prevails, or rather seems a tune Harsh, and of diffonant mood from his complaint; Unless he feel within Some, fource of confolation from above, Secret refreshings, that repair his ftrength, God of our fathers, what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various, Or might I fay contrarious, 665 Temper'ft thy providence through his fhort courfe, 670 Th' angelic orders and inferior creatures mute, Nor do I name of men the common rout, Grow up and perish, as the fummer flie, And people's fafety, which in part they' effect: 679 680 Amidft their highth of noon Changest thy count'nance, and thy hand with no regard Of highest favors past From thee on them, or them to thee of service. 685 Nor only doft degrade them, or remit To life obfcur'd, which were a fair difmiffion, But throw'ft them lower than thou didst exalt them high, Unseemly falls in human eye, 690 Too grievous for the trefpafs or omiffion; Oft leav'ft them to the hoftile fword Of Heathen and profane, their carcafes To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd; Or to th' unjust tribunals, under change of times, 695 And condemnation of th' ingrateful multitude. If these they scape, perhaps in poverty With fickness and disease thou bow'ft them down, In crude old-age; Though not difordinate, yet causeless suffering For oft alike both come to evil end. 700 So deal not with this once thy glorious champion, His labors, for thou canft, to peaceful end. Female of fex it seems, That fo bedeck'd, ornate, and gay, Comes Comes this way failing Like a stately fhip Of Tarfus, bound for th' iles 715 Cf Javan or Gadire With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and ftreamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, 720 Her harbinger, a damfel train behind; Some rich Philiftian matron fhe may feem, [near me. SAMS. My Wife, my Traitress, let her not come CHO. Yet on the moves, now ftands, and eyes thee, fix'd, About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd But now again she makes address to speak. 730 DAL. With doubtful feet and wavering resolution I came, ftill dreading thy displeasure, Samfon, May expiate (though the fact more evil drew My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon Hath led me on defirous to behold 735 740 Once Once more thy face, and know of thy estate, To lighten what thou fuffer'ft, and appease 745 ŞAMS. 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 Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 755 That wifeft and best men full oft beguil'd 760 The penitent, but ever to forgive, Are drawn to wear out miserable days, As I by thee, to ages an example. 765 DAL. Yet hear me, Samfon; not that I endevor To leffen or extenuate my offense, But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd, 770 The |