From forth this loathfome prifon-house, to abide May ever tend about thee to old age 925 With all things grateful chear'd, and fo fupply'd, It fits not; thou and I long fince are twain: To bring my feet again into the snare 930 Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains 'To fence my ear against thy forceries. If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men 949 Helpless, thence cafily contemn'd, and scorn'd, 945. To glofs upon, and cenfuring, frown or fmile? To thine, whofe doors my feet shall never enter. 950 DAL: Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand, SAMS. SAMS. Not for thy life, left fierce remembrance wake My fudden rage to tear thee joint by joint. At distance I forgive thee, go with that; Bewail thy falfhood, and the pious works It hath brought forth to make thee memorable Among illuftrious women, faithful wives : Cherish thy haften'd widowhood with the gold Of matrimonial treafon: fo farewel. DAL. I fee thou art implacable, more deaf To prayers, than winds and feas, yet winds to feas Thy anger, unappeafable, ftill rages, 955 960 Why do I humble thus myself, and suing For peace, reap nothing but repulfe and hate? Of infamy upon my name denounc'd ? D 4 965 970 975 982 I fhall I shall be nam'd among the famoufest 985 Not lefs renown'd than in mount Ephraim Jael, who with inhospitable guile Smote Sifera fleeping through the temples nail'd. 990 The public marks of honor and reward, Conferr'd upon me, for the piety Which to my country I was judg'd to' have shown. I leave him to his lot, and like my own. CHO. She's gone, a manifeft ferpent by her fting Discover'd in the end, till now conceal'd. SAMS. So let her go, God fent her to debafe me, And aggravate my folly, who committed To fuch a viper his moft facred trust Of fecrefy, my fafety, and my life. 995 1000 CHO. Yet beauty, though injurious, hath ftrange After offense returning, to regain Love once poffefs'd, nor can be easily Repuls'd, without much inward paffion felt And fecret fting of amorous remorse. [power, 1005 SAMS. Love-quarrels oft in pleafing concord end, Not wedlock-treachery indangering life. CHO. It is not virtue, wisdom, valor, wit, Strength, comeliness of shape, or ampleft merit ΙΟΙΟ That That woman's love can win or long inherit; Harder to hit, (Which way foever men refer it) Much like thy riddle, Samfon, in one day If any of these or all, the Timnian bride Thy paranymph, worthlefs to thee compar'd, Nor both fo loofly difally'd Their nuptials, nor this laft fo treacherously 1015 1020 In choice, but ofteft to affect the wrong? 1030 Of conftancy no root infix'd, That either they love nothing, or not long? Whate'er it be, to wifeft men and best Seeming at first all heav'nly under virgin veil, 1035 Once join'd, the contrary fhe proves, a thorn A cleaving mischief, in his way to virtue 1040 With dotage, and his sense deprav'd To folly' and shameful deeds which ruin ends. Favor'd of Heav'n who finds One virtuous rarely found, That in domeftic good combines : 1045 Happy that houfe! his way to peace is fmooth : Moft fhines and moft is acceptable above. Therefore God's univerfal law Gave to the man defpotic power Over his female in due awe, 1055 Nor from that right to part an hour, Smile the or lour: So fhall he leaft confufion draw On his whole life, not fway'd By female ufurpation, or dismay'd. 1060 But had we beft retire, I fee a storm? SAMS. Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain. CHO. But this another kind of tempeft brings. SAMS. Be less abftruse, my riddling days are past. CHO. Look now for no inchanting voice, nor fear The bait of honied words; a rougher tongue Draws hitherward, I know him by his ftride, The giant Harapha of Gath, his look Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud. Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither I lefs conjecture than when firft I faw The |