Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd? DALILA. 840 845 Since thou determin'st weakness for no plea In man or woman, though to thy own condemning, Hear what assaults I had, what snares besides, What sieges girt me round, ere I consented; Which might have aw'd the best resolv'd of men, The constantest, to' have yielded without blame. It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st, That wrought with me: thou know'st the magistrates 850 And princes of my country came in person, Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urg'd, Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil duty 840. Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd?] The same manner of speaking as in Paradise Lost, ix. 792. And knew not eating death: where see Mr. Richardon's note. 841. In vain thou striv'st to cover shame with shame, Or by evasions thy crime uncover'st more.] Compare Par. Lost, ix. 1057. -naked left To guilty shame; he cover'd, but his E. 855 the reading of the old editions, and particularly of Milton's own: the later ones have For by evasionswhich is not so plain and intelligible. 850. -thou know'st the magistrates And princes of my country came in person,] Judg. xvi. 5. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, &c. So exact is Milton in all the particulars of the story, and improves [i. e. applies to his purpose, makes use 842. Or by evasions] This is of] every incident. Preaching how meritorious with the Gods T'oppose against such pow'rful arguments? And combated in silence all these reasons 860 With hard contest: at length that grounded maxim 865 So rife and celebrated in the mouths Of wisest men, that to the public good Private respects must yield with grave authority SAMSON. I thought where all thy circling wiles would end; In feign'd religion, smooth hypocrisy. But had thy love still odiously pretended, Been, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee And of my nation chose thee from among My enemies, lov'd thee, as too well thou knew'st, By thy request, who could deny thee nothing; 864. all these reasons] We follow the reading of Milton's 870 875 880 885 Nor under their protection but my own, By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends 890 Not therefore to be' obey'd. But zeal mov'd thee; 895 Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd. In argument with men a woman ever SAMSON. 900 For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath; 905 Witness when I was worried with thy peals. DALILA. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken T' afflict thyself in vain: though sight be lost, 910 Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd Exempt from many a care and chance to which I to the lords will intercede, not doubting May ever tend about thee to old age 915 920 925 With all things grateful cheer'd, and so supplied, No, no, of my condition take no care; It fits not; thou and I long since are twain: To bring my feet again into the snare Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains 934. Thy fair inchanted cup, and warbling charms] Alluding no doubt to the story of Circe and the Sirens; but did not our author's fondness for Greek learning make him here forget, that it is a little out of character to represent Samson acquainted with the mythology of that country? It seems the more odd, as the allusion to the adder immedi 930 935 ately following is taken from Scripture. Thyer. He might as well be supposed to know the story of Circe and the Sirens, as of Tantalus, &c. before, ver. 500. and there is no more impropriety in the one than in the other. 936. So much of adder's wisdom I have learn'd] The allusion is to Psal. lviii. 4, 5. They are like the To fence my ear against thy sorceries. If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd, To thine, whose doors my feet shall never enter. DALILA. Let me approach at least and touch thy hand. SAMSON. Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake DALILA. I see thou art implacable, more deaf To pray'rs, than winds and seas, yet winds to seas Are reconcil'd at length, and sea to shore: 940 945 950 955 960 deaf adder, that stoppeth her ear; of charmers, charming never so which will not hearken to the voice wisely. |