To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n.
For him I reckon not in high estate
Whom long descent of birth

Or the fphere of fortune raises;

170

But thee whose strength, while virtue was her mate, Might have fubdued the earth,

Univerfally crown'd with highest praises.

175

SAMS. I hear the found of words, their sense the air Diffolves unjointed ere it reach my ear.

CHOR. Hefpeaks, let us draw nigh. Matchlefs in The glory late of Ifrael, now the grief;

[might, We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown From Efhtaol and Zora's fruitful vale

To vifit or bewail thee, or if better,
Counfel or confolation we may bring,

181

Salve to thy fores; apt words have pow'r to swage The tumors of a troubled mind,

And are as balm to fefter'd wounds.

185

190

SAMS. Your coming, Friends,revives me, for I learn
Now of my own experience, not by talk,
How counterfeit a coin they are who friends
Bear in their fuperfcription, (of the most
I would be understood) in profp'rous days
They fwarm, but in adverfe withdraw their head,
Not to be found, though fought. Ye fee, O Friends,
How many evils have inclos'd me round;

Yet that which was the worst now leaft afflicts me, 195
Blindness, for had I fight, confus'd with shame,
How could I once look up, or heave the head,
Who like a foolish pilot have fhipwrack`d
My veffel trusted to me from above,
Glorioufly rigg'd; and for a word, a tear,
Fool, have divulg'd the fecret gift of God
To a deceitful woman? tell me, Friends,
Am I not fung and proverb'd for a fool

200

205

In every street? do they not fay, how well
Are come upon him his deferts ? yet why?
Immeasurable ftrength they might behold
In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean;
This with the other fhould, at least, have pair'd,
These two proportion'd ill drove me transverse.

CHOR. Tax not divine difpofal; wifeft men 210
Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd;
And fhall again, pretend they ne'er fo wif..
Deject not then fo overmuch thyself,

Who haft of forrow thy full load befides;

220

Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder 215
Why thou fhouldft wed Philiftian women rather
Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,
At least of thy own nation, and as noble.
SAMS. The first I faw at Timna, and the pleas'd
Me, not my parents, that I fought to wed
The daughter of an infidel : they knew not
That what I motion'd was of God; I knew
From intimate impulfe, and therefore urg'd
The marriage on; that by occafion hence
I might begin Ifrael's deliverance,
The work to which I was divinely call'd.
She proving false, the next I took to wife
(O that I never had! fond with too late,)
Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,

225

That fpecious monfter, my accomplish'd fnare. 230
I thought it lawful from my former act,
And the fame end; ftill watching to oppress
Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I fuffer
She was not the prime caufe, but I myself,

Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!)
Gave up my fort of filence to a woman.
CHOR. In feeking just occasion to provoke
The Philiftine, thy country's enemy,

I 2

236

Thon

Thou never waft remifs, I bear thee witness:
Yet Ifraël ftill ferves with all his fons.

240

but transfer

SAMS. That fault I take not on me, On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes, Who feeing thofe great acts, which God had done Singly by me against their conquerors, Acknowledg'd not, or not at all confider'd Deliverance offer d: I on th' other fide Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds,

245

The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the
But they perfified deaf, and would not feem [doer;
To count them things worth notice, till at length
Their lords the Philistines with gather'd pow'rs 251
Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then
Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but fore-cafting in what place.
To fet upon them, what advantag'd best:
Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent
The harrals of their land, befet me round;
I willingly on fome conditions came

255

Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me
To the uncircumcis'd a welcome prey,

260

Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threds
Touch'd with the flame: on their whole hoft I flew
Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd
Their choiceft youth; they only liv'd who fled.
Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole tribe, 265
They had by this poffefs'd the tow'rs of Gath,
And lorded over them whom now they serve :
But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,
And by their vices brought to fervitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty,
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty;
And to defpife, or envy, or fufpect
Whom God hath of his fpecial favor rais'd

270

As

As their deliverer; if he ought begin,
How frequent to defert him, and at last
To heap ingratitude on worthieft deeds?

275

CHOR. Thy words to my remembrance bring How Succoth and the fort of Penuel Their great deliverer contemn'd,

The matchlefs Gideon in purfuit

Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings:

280

And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,
Not worse than by his shield and spear,
Defended Ifrael from the Ammonite,
Had not his prowefs quell'd their pride
In that fore battel, when so many dy'd
Without reprieve adjudg'd to death,
For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.

285

SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 230 Me easily indeed mine may neglect,

But God's propos'd deliverance not fo.
CHOR. Juft are the ways of God,

And juftifiable to men ;

Unless there be who think not God at all:

295

If any be, they walk obfcure

For of fuch doctrin never was there school,

But the heart of the fool,

And no man therein doctor but himself.

299

Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just,

As to his own edicts found contradicting,
Then give the reins to wand'ring thought,
Regardless of his glory's diminution;
Till by their own perplexities involv'd

They ravel more, ftill lefs refolv'd,

But never find self-fatisfying folution.

As if they would confine th' Interminable,

And tie him to his own prefcript,

I 3

305

Who

Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,
And hath full right t'exempt

Whom fo it pleates him by choice

From national obftriction, without taint

Of fin, or legal debt;

For with his own laws he can beft difpenfe.

3 го

He would not elfe who never wanted means, 315

Nor in refpect of th' enemy just cause

To fet his people free,

Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,

Against his vow of strictest purity,

To feek in marriage that fallacious bride,
Unclean, unchafte.

320

Down reafen then, at least vain reafonings down, Though reafon here aver

That moral verdict quits her of unclean :
Unchafte was fubfequent, her ftain not his.
But fee here comes thy reverend Sire
With careful step, locks white as down,
Old Manoah: advise

Forthwith how thou oughtft to receive him.

325

SAMS. Ay me, another inward grief awak`d 330 With mention of that name renews th affault.

MAN. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye feem, Though in this uncouth place; if old refpect, As I fuppofe, towards your once glory'd friend, My Son now captive, hither hath inform'd Your younger feet, while mine caft back with age Came lagging after; fay if he be here.

335

CHOR. As fignal now in low dejected state, As carft in high'eft, behold him where he lies. MAN. O miferable change! is this the man, 340 That invincible Samfon, far renown'd, The dread of Ifrael's foes, who with a strength Equivalent to Angels walk'd their streets,

None