298
��SAMSON AGONISTES
��Down, Reason, then; at least, vain rea- sonings down; Though Reason here aver That moral verdit quits her of uueleaii: Unchaste was subsequent; her stain, not
his.
But see ! here comes thy reverend sire, With careful step, locks white as down, Old Mauoa: advise Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive
him.
Sams. Ay me ! another inward grief,
awaked 330
With mention of that name, renews the
assault. Man. Brethren and men of Dan (for
such ye seem
Though in this uncouth place), if old re- spect, As I suppose, towards your once gloried
friend,
My son, now captive, hither hath informed Your younger feet, while mine, cast back
with age,
Came lagging after, say if he be here. Char. As signal now in low dejected
state As erst in highest, behold him where he
lies.
Man. O miserable change ! Is this the man, 340
That invincible Samson, far renowned, The dread of Israel's foes, who with a
strength
Equivalent to Angels' walked their streets, None offering fight; who, single combatant, Duelled their armies ranked in proud array, Himself an Army now unequal match To save himself against a coward armed At one spear's length ? O ever-failing
trust In mortal strength ! and, oh, what not in
man
Deceivable and vain? Nay, what thing
good 350
Prayed for, but often proves our woe, our
bane ?
I prayed for children, and thought barren- ness
In wedlock a reproach; I gained a son, And such a son as all men hailed me happy: Who would be now a father in my stead ? Oh, wherefore did God grant me my re- quest, And as a blessing with such pomp adorned ?
��Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt Our earnest prayers, then, given with
solemn hand
As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind ? 360 For this did the Angel twice descend ? for
this
Ordained thy nurture holy, as of a plant Select and sacred ? glorious for a while, The miracle of men; then in an hour Ensnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound, Thy foes' derision, captive, poor and blind, Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves ! Alas ! jilt-thinks whom God hath chosen
once To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty
err, 369
He should not so o'erwhelm, and as a thrall
Subject him to so foul indignities,
Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds.
Sams. Appoint not heavenly disposition,
father.
Nothing of all these evils hath befallen me But justly; I myself have brought them
on; Sole author I, sole cause. If aught seem
vile,
As vile hath been my folly, who have pro- faned
The mystery of God, given me under pledge Of vow, and have betrayed it to a woman, A Canaauite, my faithless enemy. 380
This well I knew, nor was at all surprised, But warned by oft experience. Did not
she
Of Timna first betray me, and reveal The secret wrested from me in her highth Of nuptial love professed, carrying it
straight
To them who had corrupted her, my spies And rivals ? In this other was there found More faith, who, also in her prime of love, Spousal embraces, vitiated with gold, Though offered only, by the scent con- ceived 390 Her spurious first-born, Treason against
me? Thrice she assayed, with flattering prayers
and sighs,
And amorous reproaches, to win from me My capital secret, in what part my strength Lay stored, in what part summed, that she
might know;
Thrice I deluded her, and turned to sport Her importunity, each time perceiving How openly and with what impudence
�� �
