For inward light alas Puts forth no visual beam. O mirror of our fickle state, Since man on earth unparallel'd! The rarer thy example stands, By how much from the top of wondrous glory, To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n. Whom long descent of birth Or the sphere of fortune raises; 165 170 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. He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might, The glory late of Ifrael, now the grief; We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown From Efhtaol and Zora's fruitful vale To vifit or bewail thee, or if better, Counsel or confolation we may bring, 181 Salve to thy fores; apt words have pow'r to fwage The tumors of a troubled mind, And are as balm to fefter'd wounds. 185 Sams. Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I learn Now of my own experience, not by talk, Bear in their superscription, (of the most I would be understood) in profp'rous days 190 They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head, Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me, 195 Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, 200 205 Chor. Tax not divine disposal; wisest men 210 Have err'd, and by bad women been deceiv'd; And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise. Deject not then so overmuch thyself, Who haft of forrow thy full load besides; Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder 215 Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair, At At least of thy own nation, and as noble. Sams. The firft I faw at Timna, and she pleas'd Me, not my parents, that I fought to wed 220 The daughter of an infidel: they knew not 225 That specious monster, my accomplish'd fnare. 230 Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) 235 Chor. In feeking juft occafion to provoke The Philistine, thy country's enemy, Thou never waft remifs, I bear thee witness: Yet Ifraël ftill ferves with all his fons. 240 Sams. That fault I take not on me, but transfer On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes, 245 Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other fide (doer; The harrafs of their land, befet me round; 255 Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me 260 Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threds Their choiceft youth; they only liv'd who fled. Than to love bondage more than liberty, 270 As As their deliverer; if he ought begin, Chor. Thy words to my remembrance bring 275 Their great deliverer contemn'd, The matchless Gideon in pursuit 280 Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings: Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, 285 For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. Sams. Of such examples add me to the roll, 290 Me easily indeed mine may neglect, But God's propos'd deliverance not so. Chor. Just are the ways of God, And justifiable to men; Unless there be who think not God at all: 295 If any be, they walk obscure; For of fuch doctrin never was their school, But the heart of the fool, And no man therein doctor but himself. Yet more there be who doubt his ways not juft, 300 As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then |