For inward light alas

Puts forth no visual beam.

O mirror of our fickle state,
Since man on earth unparrallel'd!

The rarer thy example stands,

By how much from the top of wondrous glory,
Strongest of mortal men,

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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 sphere of fortune raises;

170

But thee whofe ftrength, while virtue was her mate, Might have subdu'd the earth,

Universally crown'd with highest praises.

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Samf. I hear the found of words, their fense the Diffolves unjointed ere it reach my ear.

(air

Chor. He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless 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,
Counsel or confolation we may bring,

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

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Samf. Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I

And are as balm to fefter'd wounds.

Now of my own experience, not by talk,

(learn

Bear

Bear in their fuperfcription, (of the moft

190

I would be understood) in prosp'rous days
They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head,
Not to be found, though fought. Ye fee, O Friends,
How many evils have inclos'd me round; 194
Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me,
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 shipwreck'd
My vessel trusted to me from above,
Gloriously 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

In

200

205

every street? do they not say, how well Are come upon him his deserts? yet why? Immeasurable ftrength they might behold In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean ; This with the other should, 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 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 fay, I oft have heard men wonder 215 Why thou shouldft wed Philiftian women rather Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,

At

220

At least of thy own nation, and as noble.
Samf. The first I saw at Timna, and she 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 impulse, and therefore urg'd
The marriage on; that by occasion 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 wish too late,)
Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,

225

That specious monster, my accomplish'd fnare. 230
I thought it lawful from my former act,
And the fame end; still watching to oppress
Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I suffer

She was not the prime cause, but I myself,

Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!)

Gave up my fort of filence to a woman.

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Chor. In feeking just occasion to provoke

The Philistine, thy country's enemy,

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

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Samf. That fault I take not on me, but transfer

On Ifrael's governors, and heads of tribes,
Who seeing those great acts, which God had done
Singly by me against their conquerors,
Acknowledg'd not, or not at all confider'd

O 2

245

De

Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other fide
Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds, (doer;
The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the
But they perfifted deaf, and would not feem
To count them things worth notice, till at length
Their lords the Philiftines with gather'd pow'rs
Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then

249

Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,
Not flying, but fore-casting in what place

To set upon them, what advantag'd best:

255

Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent
The harrafs of their land, befet me round;
I willingly on fome conditions came
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 threads
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 ftrenuous liberty;
And to despise, or envy, or fufpect

Whom God hath of his special 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?

Chor. Thy words to my remembrance bring
How Succoth and the fort of Penuel

Their

great deliverer contemn'd,

To matchless Gideon in pursuit

Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings :
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.

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280

285

Samf. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 Me easily indeed mine may neglect,

But God's propos'd deliverance not so.

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 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,

As to his own edicts found contradicting,

301

Then