Some rich Philistian matron she may feem,
And now at nearer view, no other certain
Than Dalila thy Wife.

724

Sams. My Wife, my Trait'ress, let her not come

near me.

(fix'd,

Chor. Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes thee

About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd Like a fair flow'r furcharg'd with dew, she weeps, And words address'd seem into tears dissolv'd, Wetting the borders of her filken veil:

But now again she makes address to fpeak.

730

Dal. With doubtful feet and wavering resolution

I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samfon,
Which to have merited, without excuse,

Once more thy face, and know of thy eftate,
If ought in my ability may serve

To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745
Though late, yet in some part to recompenfe
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

Sams. Out, out Hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,
And
And arts of every woman false like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,
Then as repentant to submit, beseech,
And reconcilement move with feign'd remorfe,
Confefs, and promise wonders in her change,

Not truly penitent, but chief to try

750

Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 755

Are drawn to wear out miferable days,
Intangled with a pois'nous bosom snake,
If not by quick destruction foon cut off

As I by thee, to ages an example.

765

Dal. Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endevor

To lessen or extenuate my offense,

But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd
By' itself, with aggravations not furcharg'd,
Or else with just allowance counterpois'd,
I may, if possible, thy pardon find
The easier towards me, or thy hatred less.

770

First granting, as I do, it was a weakness
In me, but incident to all our sex,

Curiosity, inquifitive, importune
Of fecrets, then with like infirmity

775

To

To publish them, both common female faults:
Was it not weakness also to make known

For importunity, that is for nought,

Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? 780 To what I did thou showd'st me first the way.

But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not:

Nor should'st thou have trusted that to woman's frailty:.
Ere I to thee, thou to thyself waft cruel.
Let weakness then with weakness come to parle 785
So near related, or the fame of kind,

Thine forgive mine; that men may cenfure thine
The gentler, if feverely thou exact not
More strength from me, than in thyself was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'st hate, 790
The jealousy of love, pow'rful of fway
In human hearts, nor less in mine towards thee
Caus'd what I did? I saw thee mutable

Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would'st leave me As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore 795 How to indear, and hold thee to me firmest:

No better way I saw than by impórtuning
To learn thy secrets, get into my power
Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say,

Why then reveal'd? I was assur'd by those
Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd

• 800

Against thee but safe custody, and hold:
That made for me; I knew that liberty

Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,

While I at home fat full of cares and fears,
Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and love's prisoner, not the Philistines,

805

Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,
Fearless at home of partners in my love.
These reasons in love's law have past for good,

810

Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps;
And love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much woe,

Yet always pity' or pardon hath obtain'd.

Be not unlike all others, not auftere

815

As thou art strong, inflexible as steel.
If thou in strength all mortals doft exceed,
In uncompassionate anger do not fo.

Sams. How cunningly the forceress displays Her own tranfgreffions, to upbraid me mine? 820 That malice not repentance brought thee hither, By this appears: I gave, thou say'st, th' example,

I led the way; bitter reproach, but true;

I to myself was false ere thou to me;

Such pardon therefore as I give my folly,

825

Take to thy wicked deed; which when thou seest

Impartial, self-fevere, inexorable,

Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather Confefs it feign'd: weakness is thy excuse,

And I believe it, weakness to refift

830

Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse,

What murderer, what traitor, parricide,

Incestuous, facrilegious, but may plead it?
All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
With God or Man will gain thee no remission. 835
But love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage
To fatisfy thy lust: love seeks to' have love;

My love how could'st thou hope, who took'ft the way
To raise in me inexpiable hate,

Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd? 840
In vain thou striv'st to cover shame with shame,
Or by evasions thy crime uncover'st more.

Dal. Since thou determin'st weakness for no plea
In man or woman, though to thy own condemning,
Here what affaults I had, what snares besides, 845
What fieges girt me round, ere I consented;
Which might have aw'd the best resolv'd of men,
The constantest, to' have yielded without blame.
It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st,
That wrought with me: thou know'st the magistrates
And princes of my country came in person, 851
Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urg'd,
Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil duty
And of religion, press'd how just it was,
How honorable, how glorious to intrap
A common enemy, who had destroy'd
Such numbers of our nation: and the priest
Was not behind, but ever at my ear,
Preaching how meritorious with the Gods
It would be to insnare an irreligious

855

860