SAMSON. I thought where all thy circling wiles would end; In feigned religion, smooth hypocrisy. But had thy love, still odiously pretended, Been, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee Far other reasonings, brought forth other deeds. I, before all the daughters of my tribe And of my nation, chose thee from among My enemies, loved thee, as too well thou knewest, Too well; unbosomed all my secrets to thee, By thy request, who could deny thee nothing; Thou mine, not theirs. If aught against my life 880 ΣΑΜΨΩΝ. ἦ κάρτ ̓ ἔλεξας προσδοκῶντί μοι τάδε· σὲ δὴ πρὸ πασῶν τῆς ἐμῆς πάτρας κορῶν 910 920 Thy country sought of thee, it sought unjustly, Against the law of nature, law of nations; No more thy country, but an impious crew By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends Not therefore to be obeyed. But zeal moved thee; To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes Of their own deity, gods cannot be; Less therefore to be pleased, obeyed, or feared. DALILA. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. SAMSON. For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath— Witness when I was worried with thy peals. 930 φύσεως ὑπερβέβηκε καὶ βροτῶν νόμους. οἱ δ ̓ ἐκπεσόντες τῶν πολιτείας ὅρων, δεινοῖς ἐπ ̓ ἔργοις ξυνομόσαντες ἐκδίκως, οἷς οὐδ ̓ ἂν ἐξείη ποτ' ἐν μάχῃ δορὸς ῥυσιπτόλει, κάλλιστα τῆς πάτρας γέρα φθείρουσ', ἐρασμίαν τ ̓ ἐν ἀνθρώποις χάριν μὴ δὴ τοιούτους ἀξιοῦν τιμῆς λαχεῖν. μῶν σοῖς θεοῖς ἀρεστὰ ταῦτ ̓ ἐσπούδασας; ἀλλ ̓ οἵ γε μὴ σθένουσι μηδ' αὐτοὶ μένειν, ἢ πού γε δή τιν ̓ ἐχθρὸν ἀνατρέπειν βίᾳ, μὴ οὐ δύσθεόν τι δρῶντες, οἷά τ ̓ ἂν θεοῖς οὔπως ξυνάδοι, τούσδε γ ̓ οὐ θεοὺς λέγω, οὐδ ̓ ἂν τρόπῳ νιν προσκύσαιμ ̓ ἂν εὐσεβεῖ. 940 σκήψει σφαλεῖσ ̓ οὖν χρωμάτων πεπλασμένων, αἰσχρὰν ἐφάνθης ὑπερέχουσ ̓ ἀλιτρίαν. ΔΗΛΙΛΗ. ἢ μὴν ἀνὴρ, δίκαιον εἴτ ̓ ἐκτὸς δίκης, ἀεὶ γυναικὸς, ἐν λόγων μάχῃ, κρατεῖ. ΣΑΜΨΩΝ. ἐπῶν γὰρ, ἤ ποθ' οἵνεκα σμικρᾶς πνοῆς εὖ σοῦ τόδ' ἤδη καταβοώμενος πάλαι. DALILA. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson; Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist To afflict thyself in vain. Though sight be lost, Where other senses want not their delights, Exempt from many a care and chance, to which I to the lords will intercede, not doubting 910 920 Their favourable ear, that I may fetch thee With me, where my redoubled love and care, May ever tend about thee to old age, With all things grateful cheered, and so supplied, That, what by me thou hast lost, thou least shalt miss. |