Ifrael's oppreffors: of what now I fuffer Who vanquish'd with a peal of words (O weakness!) CHо. 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, Who feeing those great acts, which God had done 245 [doer ; The deeds themselves, though mute, fpoke loud the But they perfifted deaf, and would not feem To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 Their lords the Philiftines with gather'd powers Enter'd Judea feeking me, who then Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd, Not flying, but fore-cafting in what place To fet upon them, what advantag'd best: 255 Mean while the men of Judah, to prevent The harrafs of their land, befet me round; Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me 260 Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threads Touch'd with the flame: on their whole hoft I flew Unarm'd, Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd Their choiceft youth; they only liv'd who fled. 270 Of Madian and her vanquish'd kings: Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. 285 SAMS. Of fuch examples add me to the roll, 290 Me eafily indeed mine may neglect, But God's propos'd deliverance not fo. CHO. Juft are the ways of God, And justifiable to men ; Unless there be who think not God at all: 295 If any be, they walk obfcure; For of fuch doctrin never was there school, But the heart of the fool, And no man therein doctor but himself. Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300 As to his own edicts found contradicting, Then give the reins to wandering thought, Regardless of his glory's diminution; Till by their own perplexities involv'd They ravel more, still less resolv'd, 305 But never find felf-fatisfying folution. As if they would confine th' Interminable, And tie him to his own prescript, Who made our laws to bind us, not himself, And hath full right t' exempt 310 Whom fo it pleases him by choice From national obftriction, without taint Of fin, or legal debt; For with his own laws he can best dispense. He would not elfe who never wanted means, 315 Down reason then, at least vain reasonings down, VOL. XII. C Though Though reafon here aver But fee here comes thy reverend Sire 325 330 Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him. CHO. As fignal now in low dejected state, 335 MAN. O miferable change! is this the man, 340 That invincible Samfon, far renown'd, The dread of Ifrael's foes, who with a strength 345 350 In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son, 355 O wherefore did God grant me my request, And as a bleffing with fuch pomp adorn'd? Our earnest pray'rs, then, giv'n with folemn hand 360 For this did th' Angel twice defcend? for this Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant 365 370 375 Be it but for honor's fake of former deeds. 380 Of |