May expiate (though the fact more evil drew Sam. Out, out, hyæna; these are thy wonted arts, 760 The penitent, but ever to forgive, Are drawn to wear out miserable days, Entangled with a pois'nous bosom snake, If not by quick destruction soon cut off As I by thee, to ages an example. 765 Dal. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endeavour To lessen or extenuate my offence, But that on the other side if it be weigh'd By' itself, with aggravations not surcharged, Or else with just allowance counterpoised, 770 1 may, if possible, thy pardon find 775 Of secrets, then with like infirmity 748. Hyena ; this animal is known to imitate the human voice so well, as to have deceived travellers with its compluiats. To publish them, both common female faults: 810 815 As thou art strong, inflexible as steel. If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed, In uncompassionate anger do not so. Sam. How cunningly the sorceress displays Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine! 820 830 Dal. 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, 845 What sieges girt me round, ere I consented; Which might have awed the best resolved of men, The constantest, to have yielded without blame. It was not gold, as to my charge thou la y’st, That wrought with me: thou know'st the magistrates And princes of my country came in person, 851 Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urged, Adjured by all the bonds of civil duty And of religion, press'd how just it was, How honourable, how glorious, to entrap 855 A common enemy, who had destroy'd Such numbers of our nation; and the priest Was not behind, but ever at my ear, Preaching how meritorious with the gods It would be to insnare an irreligious 860 Dishonourer of Dagon: what had 1 To' oppose against such j'owerful arguments ? Only my love of thee held long debate, 866 Sum. I thought where all thy circling wiles would In feign'd religion, smooth hypocrisy. But had thy love, still odiously pretended, Been, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee Far other reasonings, brought forth other deeds. 875 I before all the daughters of my tribe And of my nation chose thee from among My enemies, loved thee, as too well thou knew'st, Too well, unbosom'd all my secrets to thee, Not out of levity, but overpower'd 880 By thy request, who could deny thee nothing; Yet now am judged an enemy. Why then Did'st thou at first receive me for thy husband, Then, as since then, thy country's foe profess'd ? Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave 885 Parents and country: nor was I their subject, Nor under their protection, but my own, Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life Thy country sought of thee, it sought unjustly Against the law of nature, law of nations, 890 No more thy country, but an impious crew Of men conspiring to uphold their state By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends For which our country is a name so dear; Not therefore to be obey'd. But zeal moved thee; To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable 898 To' acquit themselves and prosecute their foes But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction Of their own deity, gods cannot be ; Less therefore to be pleased, obey'd, or fear'd. 900 These false pretexts and varnish'd colours failing, Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear? Dal. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. 904 Sam. For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath; Witness when I was worried with thy peals. 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 shew what recompense 910 Tow'rds thee I intend for what I have misdone, Misguided ; only what remains past cure Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist To' afflict thyself in vain : though sight be lost, Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd OS Where other senses want not their delights At home in leisure and doinestic ease, Exempt from many a care and chance to which Eye-sight exposes daily inen abroad. I to the lords will intercede, not doubting 920 Their favourable ear, that I may fetch thee From forth this loathsome prison-house, to abide With me, where my redoubled love and care With nursing diligence, to me glad office, May ever tend about thee to old age 925 With all things grateful cheer'd, and so supplied, That what by me thou' hast lost thou least shalt miss. Sam. No, no, of my condition take no care; It fits not; thou and I long since are twain : Nor think me so unwary or accursed, 930 To bring my feet again into the snare Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains Though dearly to my cost, thy gins and toils; Thy fair enchanted cup, and warbling charms No more on me have power, their force is nullid, So much of adder's wisdom I have learn'd 936 To fence my ear against thy sorceries. If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men Loved, honour'd, fear'd me, thou alone could'st hate me Thy husband, slight me, sell me, and forego me; 910 How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby Deceivable, in most things as a child Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd, And last neglected ? How would'st thou insult, 934. There is no particular allusion here, as has tren supposed, to the fable of Circe and her enchanted cup; it is but the common figurative language of poetry, and involves no in propriety or anachronism. 936. Psal. Iviii. 4. 5. |
