Of Acts indeed heroick, far beyond Chor. Defire of wine and all delicious drinks, Samf. Where ever fountain or fresh current flow'd Chor. O madness, to think use of strongest wines And strongest drinks our chief fupport of health, When God with these forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty Champion, ftrong above compare ; Whose drink was only from the liquid brook! 530 535 540 545 550 556 Sam, But what avail'd this temp'rance, not compleat Againit another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defence, 560 And at another to let in the Foe, Effeminately vanquish'd? by which means, Now blind, dishearten'd, fham'd, dishonour'd, quell'd, My Nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd?` 565. 570 Vain monument of ftrength: till length of years Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, 575 Haften the welcome end of all my pains. Man. Wilt thou then ferve Philiftians with that gift 580 585 Sam. All otherwife to me my thoughts portend; 590 That these dark Orbs no more fhall treat with light, Nor th' other light of life continue long, But yield to double darkness nigh at hand; So much I feel my genial Spirits droop, My hopes all flat, Nature within me seems 595 My race of Glory run, and race of Shame, And I fhall fhortly be with them that reft. Man. Believe not thefe fuggeftions, which proceed 600 To profecute the means of thy deliverance 605 Samf. O that torment should not be confin'd To the body's wounds and fores, With maladies innumerable Dire inflammation, which no cooling herb Rankle, and fefter, and gangreen, To black mortification. Thoughts, my Tormenters arm'd with deadly ftings, Mangle my apprehenfive tendereft parts, Exafperate, exulcerate, and raise 625 Or medicinal liquor can affuage, Nor breath of vernal Air from fnowy Alp.. To death's benumming Opium, as my only cure; 630 And And fenfe of Heav'ns defertion. I was his nurfling once, and choice delight, "His deftin'd from the womb, Under his special eye Promis'd by Heav'nly meffage twice defcending. 635 Abftemious I grew up, and thriv'd amain ; · Above the nerve of mortal arm, Against the uncircumcis'd, our enemies : 6405 But now hath caft me off as never known, 645 Nor am I in the lift of them that hope; Hopeless are all my evils, all remedilefs. This one Prayer yet remains, might I be heard, 650 The close of all my miferies, and the balm. 655 Chor. Many are the Sayings of the Wife With ftudy'd argument, and much perfuafion fought, But to th' afflicted in his pangs their found. Little prevails, or rather feems a tune Harfh, and of diffonant mood from his complaint; Unless he feel within Some fource of consolation from above; Secret refreshings, that repair his ftrength, And fainting Spirits uphold. H-35 660. 665 Ged God of our Fathers! what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various, Or might I fay contrarious, Temper'ft thy providence through his fhort courfe, 670 Th' Angelick orders and inferior creatures mute, Nor do I name of men the common rout, "That wandring loose about, Grow up and perish, as the fummer flie. To fome great work, thy glory, And peoples fafety, which in part they effect: Yet toward these thus dignify'd, thou oft Amidft their height of noon, 675 680. Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard Of higheft favours paft 685 From thee on th em, or them to thee of fervice. Nor only doft degrade them, or remit To life obfcur'd, which were a fair difmiffion, But throw'ft them lower than thou didst exalt them high; Unfeemly falls. In human eye, 690 Top grievous for the trefpafs or omiffion; Oft leav'ft them to the hoftile fword Of heathen and prophane, their carcaffes To dogs and fowls a prey, or elfe captiv'd; Or to th' unjust tribunals under change of times, 695 And condemnation of th' ingrateful multitude. With fickness and difeafe thou bow'it them down, In crude old age: Though not difordinate, yet caufelefs fuff'ring 7.00 |