Page:Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes (1671).djvu/178

 Parents and countrey; nor was I their subject, Nor under their protection but my own, Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life Thy countrey sought of thee, it sought unjustly, Against the law of nature, law of nations, No more thy countrey, but an impious crew Of men conspiring to uphold thir state By worse then hostile deeds, violating the ends For which our countrey is a name so dear; Not therefore to be obey'd. But zeal mov'd thee; To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction Of their own deity, Gods cannot be: Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd, 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. Rh