Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times,

And condemnation of the ingrateful multitude.

If these they 'scape, perhaps in poverty

With sickness and disease, thou bowest them down,

Painful diseases and deformed,

In crude old age;

Though not disordinate, yet causeless suffering,

The punishment of dissolute days. In fine,

Just or unjust, alike seem miserable,

For oft alike both come to evil end.

So deal not with this once thy glorious champion,

The image of thy strength, and mighty minister.

What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already?
Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn

His labours, for thou canst, to peaceful end.

700

-γηδόσιν διαστρέφεις.

καὶ τοὺς οὐκ ατάκτους

ἀταξίας σὺ ποινὰν

ὦ Πάτερ, ἀλόγοις νόμοις ἔπραξας. ὡς δὲ συνελόντι λέγειν,

πότμον λέλογχ ̓ ἀδιάφορον

σὰ θέσμ ̓ ὁ παραλιπών τε χώ φυλάξας,

ἄμφω τὸ πλεῖστον ἐξ ἴσης ἐφθαρμένω. μὴ τὸν πάλαι παμμέγαν,

λήματός τε θείου

αὐτὸν, θεὸν ὡς δυνάμει, δι

-άκονον φέριστον,

αἴκιζε τοῖσδ ̓ ἀντίσταθμα

ἤκισας μὲν, ἔκισας

ἀλλ ̓ ὦ πάντα νωμῶν,

ἰδών νιν ὧδ ̓ ἐλεινὸν,

δὸς φρενογαθῆ πόνων τελευτάν.

730

But who is this? what thing of sea or land

Female of sex it seems

That so bedecked, ornate, and gay,

Comes this way sailing,

Like a stately ship

Of Tarsus, bound for the isles

Of Javan or Gadire,

With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,

Sails filled, and streamers waving,

Courted by all the winds that hold them play,

An amber scent of odorous perfume

Her harbinger, a damsel train behind?

Some rich Philistian matron she may seem;

And now at nearer view, no other certain
Than Dalila thy wife.

710

720

SAMSON.

My wife my traitress; let her not come near me.

CHORUS.

Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes thee fixed,
About to have spoke; but now, with head declined,

τίς δ ̓ ἄρα, πόντοθεν εἴτ ̓ ἀπὸ χέρσου,
θήλει ̓ ἐσιδεῖν, ἔρχεται ἡμῖν;

740

ἢ μάλα λαμπρῷ κόσμῳ τρυφερὰ,

χώς ἀπὸ Ταρσοῦ ναῦς ὑψιφανὴς
νήσους Ελλάδος ἤ ποτ ̓ Ἰβήρων
ποτινισσομένη, καλὸν αἰωρεῖ
στολμὸν ναυτικὸν, ἱστία λαμπρῶς
μετεώροισιν παρὰ σημείοις
ἀνέμου σαίνοντος ἀκραοῦς.

τῇδ ̓ ἐναλίγκιος, ἀντὶ προπομποῦ
κηωέσσης ὀδμὴν αὔρας,

σὺν δ ̓ ἀκολούθῳ χορῷ ἡγεῖται
καλλιθείρῳ· τοία γ ̓ ἐσορᾶν
πολύδωρος τις μήτηρ εὔτεκνος
ὧδ ̓ ἐπιχωρία· ἀλλ ̓ ἐγγὺς ἰδὼν
σκεθρῶς ἔμαθον

τὴν σὴν, δύστηνε, γυναῖκα.

ΣΑΜΨΩΝ.

τὴν γυναῖκα, τὴν προδοῦσαν; ἅπαγε, μὴ πελαζέτω.

ΧΟΡΟΣ.

ἀλλ ̓ ὅμως, ὄψιν βεβαίαν ὀμμάτων τετραμμένην

δεῦρ ̓ ὁρῶ στείχουσαν, ἐν δὲ τῷ λαλεῖν ἐπαύσατο·

750

Like a fair flower surcharged with dew, she weeps,

And words addressed seem into tears dissolved,
Wetting the borders of her silken veil.

But now again she makes address to speak.
DALILA.

With doubtful feet and wavering resolution
I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson,
Which to have merited, without excuse,

I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears
May expiate-though the fact more evil drew
In the perverse event than I foresaw—

My penance hath not slackened, though my pardon
No way assured. But conjugal affection,

Prevailing over fear and timorous doubt,

Hath led me on, desirous to behold

Once more thy face, and know of thy estate,
If aught in my ability may serve

To lighten what thou sufferest, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power,
Though late, yet in some part to recompense
My rash, but more unfortunate, misdeed.

SAMSON.

Out, out, hyæna! these are thy wonted arts,

730

740