T'oppose against such powerful arguments? And combated in silence all these reasons With hard contest: at length that grounded So rife and celebrated in the mouths Of wisest men, that to the public good [maxim, Private respects must yield with grave authority Took full possession of me and prevail'd; 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. My enemies, lov'd thee, as too well thou knew'st, 8:30 By thy request, who could deny thee nothing; 899 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 92 With all things grateful cheer'd, and so supplied, That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss. 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, 9.38 flower] Lucret. i. 565. Hom. II. N. 484. Virg. Æn. vii. 162. Sil. Ital. xv. 34. And last neglected? how would'st thou insult, 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. 955 DAL. I see thou art implacable, more deaf 960 Why do I humble thus myself, and, suing 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 92 contráry] Habington's Castara, 1635, p. 116. By virtue of a clean contráry gale.' Todd. |