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��SAMSON AGONISTES

��Endure it doubtful whether God be Lord Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be

done? Thou must not in the meanwhile, here

forgot,

Lie in this miserable loathsome plight 480 Neglected. I already have made way To some Philistian lords, with whom to

treat

About thy ransom. Well they may by this Have satisfied their utmost of revenge, By pains and slaveries, worse than death,

inflicted On thee, who now no more canst do them

harm. Sams. Spare that proposal, father; spare

the trouble

Of that solicitation. Let me here, As I deserve, pay on my punishment, And expiate, if possible, my crime, 490

Shameful garrulity. To have revealed Secrets of men, the secrets of a friend, How heinous had the fact been, how de- serving

Contempt and scorn of all to be excluded All friendship, and avoided as a blab, The mark of fool set on his front ! But I God's counsel have not kept, his holy

secret

Presumptuously have published, impiously, Weakly at least and shamefully a sin That Gentiles in their parables condemn 500 To their Abyss and horrid pains confined. Man. Be penitent, and for thy fault con- trite ;

But act not in thy own affliction, son. Repent the sin; but, if the punishment Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids; Or the execution leave to high disposal, And let another hand, not thine, exact Thy penal forfeit from thyself. Perhaps God will relent, and quit thee all his debt; Who ever more approves and more ac- cepts 5 10 (Best pleased with humble and filial sub- mission)

Him who, imploring mercy, sues for life, Than who, self-rigorous, chooses death as

due;

Which argues over-just, and self-displeased For self-offence more than for God of- fended. Reject not, then, what offered means who

knows But God hath set before us to return thee

��Home to thy country and his sacred house. Where thou may'st bring thy offerings, to

avert

His further ire, with prayers and vows re- newed. 520 Sams. His pardon I implore; but, as for

life, To what end should I seek it ? When in

strength

All mortals I excelled, and great in hopes, With youthful courage, and magnanimous

thoughts Of birth from Heaven foretold and high

exploits,

Full of divine instinct, after some proof Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond The sons of Anak, famous now and blazed, Fearless of danger, like a petty god 529 I walked about, admired of all, and dreaded On hostile ground, none daring my af- front Then, swollen with pride, into the snare I

fell

Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains, Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life At length to lay my head and hallowed

pledge

Of all my strength in the lascivious lap Of a deceitful Concubine, who shore me, Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece, Then turned me out ridiculous, despoiled, Shaven, and disarmed among my ene- mies. 540 Chor. Desire of wine and all delicious

drinks,

Which many a famous warrior overturns, Thou could'st repress; nor did the dancing

ruby, Sparkling out-poured, the flavour or the

smell, Or taste, that cheers the heart of gods and

men,

Allure thee from the cool crystal'lin stream. Sams. Wherever fountain or fresh cur- rent flowed

Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure With touch sethereal of Heaven's fiery rod, I drank, from the clear milky juice allay- ing 550 Thirst, and refreshed; nor envied them the

grape Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills

with fumes.

Chor. O madness ! to think use of strong- est wines

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