T'oppose against such powerful arguments? With hard contest: at length that grounded So rife and celebrated in the mouths [maxim, Of wisest men, that to the public good Virtue, as I thought, truth, duty, so enjoining. 870 SAMS. I thought where all thy circling wiles would end; In feign'd religion, smooth hypocrisy. 880 My enemies, lov'd thee, as too well thou knew'st, 800 No more thy country, but an impious crew By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd. 90 DAL. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. SAMS. For want of words, no doubt, or lack of breath, Witness when I was worried with thy peals. 905 DAL. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken In what I thought would have succeeded best. Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson, Afford me place to show what recompense Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone, Misguided; only what remains past cure Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist 910 To afflict thyself in vain. Though sight be lost, Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd Where other senses want not their delights At home in leisure and domestic ease, 915 Exempt from many a care and chance to which Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad. 920 I to the lords will intercede, not doubting 922 SAMS. No, no; of my condition take no care; It fits not; thou and I long since are twain; Nor think me so unwary or accurst, To bring my feet again into the snare 930 Where once I have been caught: I know thy trains Though dearly to my cost, thy gins, and toils, To fence my ear against thy sorceries. If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men Lov'd, honour'd, fear'd me, thou alone could'st hate me 939 Thy husband, slight me, sell me, and forego me; How would'st thou use me now, blind, and thereby Deceivable, in most things as a child Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd, 938 flower] Lucret. i. 565. Hom. II. N. 484. Virg. Æn. vii. 162. Sil. Ital. xv. 34. And last neglected? how would'st thou insult, In perfect thraldom, how again betray me, 945 To thine, whose doors my feet shall never enter. DAL. Let me approach at least and touch thy hand. SAMS. Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint. At distance I forgive thee, go with that, Bewail thy falsehood, and the pious works It hath brought forth to make thee memorable Among illustrious women, faithful wives: Cherish thy hasten'd widowhood with the gold Of matrimonial treason: so farewell. 955 DAL. I see thou art implacable, more deaf 960 To prayers than winds and seas, yet winds to seas Are reconcil'd at length, and sea to shore: Thy anger unappeasable still rages, Eternal tempest never to be calm'd. Why do I humble thus myself, and, suing Bid go with evil omen and the brand Of infamy upon my name denounc'd? 965 Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own. 970 Fame if not double-fac'd is double-mouth'd, And with contráry blast proclaims most deeds; 975 980 985 Smote Sisera sleeping through the temples nail'd. Nor shall I count it heinous to enjoy The public marks of honour and reward Conferr'd upon me, for the piety Which to my country I was judg'd to have shown. At this who ever envies or repines, I leave him to his lot, and like my own. 995 [sting CHOR. She's gone, a manifest serpent by her Discover'd, in the end, till now conceal'd. [me, SAMS. So let her go: God sent her to debase 972 contráry] Habington's Castara, 1635, p. 116. By virtue of a clean contráry gale.' Todd. |