Tow'ards thee I intend for what I have misdone,
Mifguided; only what remains paft cure
Bear not too fenfibly, nor ftill infist

T' afflict thyself in vain: though fight be loft,
Life yet hath many folaces, enjoy'd

Where other fenfes want not their delights

At home in leisure and domestic ease,

Exempt from many a care and chance to which
Eye-fight expofes daily men abroad.

915

920

I to the Lords will intercede, not doubting
Their favorable ear, that I may fetch thee
From forth this loathfome prifon-house, to abide
With me, where my redoubled love and care
With nurfing diligence, to me glad office,

May ever tend about thee to old age

925

With all things greatful chear'd, and so supply'd,

That what by me thou' haft loft thou least shalt miss.

SAMSON.

No, no, of my condition take no care;

934. Thy fair inchanted cup, and warbling charms] Alluding no doubt to the story of Circe and the Sirens, but did not our author's "fondness for Greek learning make him here forget that it is a little

It

out of character to reprefent Samfon acquainted with the mythology of that country? It seems the more odd as the allufion to the adder immediately following is taken from Scripture. Thyer. He

It fits not; thou and I long fince are twain:

Nor think me fo unwary or accurs'd,

930

To bring my feet again into the fnare

Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains
Though dearly to my coft, thy gins, and toils;
Thy fair inchanted cup, and warbling charms
No more on me have pow'r, their force is null'd,
So much of adder's wifdom I have learn'd
To fence my ear against thy forceries.

936

If in my flow'r of youth and strength, when all men
Lov'd, honor'd, fear'd me, thou alone could'st hate me
Thy husband, flight me, fell me, and forego me; 940
How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby
Deceivable, in most things as a child

Helpless, thence eafily contemn'd, and fcorn'd,
And last neglected? How would'st thou insult,
When I must live uxorious to thy will
In perfect thraldom, how again betray me,
Bearing my words and doings to the lords

He might as well be fuppofed to know the ftory of Circe and the Sirens as of Tantalus &c. before ver. 500. and there is no more impropriety in the one than in the other.

945

To

936. So much of adder's wifdom I

have learn'd] The allufion is to Pfal. LVIII. 4. 5. They are like the deaf adder, that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never fowifely. 973. On

To glofs upon, and cenfuring, frown or smile?
This jail I count the house of liberty

To thine, whose doors my feet shall never enter.

DALILA.

949

Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand.
SAMSON.

Not for thy life, left fierce remembrance wake
My fudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.

At distance I forgive thee, go with that ;
Bewail thy falfhood, and the pious works

955

It hath brought forth to make thee memorable
Among illuftrious women, faithful wives:
Cherish thy haften'd widowhood with the gold
Of matrimonial treason: so farewel.

To pray'rs, than winds and feas, yet winds to feas
Are reconcil'd at length, and fea to shore :
Thy anger, unappeafable, ftill rages,
Eternal tempeft never to be calm'd.
Why do I humble thus myself, and fuing

For peace, reap nothing but repulfe and hate?

Bid

go with evil omen and the brand

Of infamy upon my name denounc'd?

To mix with thy concernments: I defift

965

Henceforth, nor too much difapprove my own. 970
Fame if not double-fac'd is double-mouth'd,
And with contrary blaft proclames moft deeds;
On both his wings, one black, the other white,
Bears greatest names in his wild aery flight.
My name perhaps among the circumcis'd
In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering tribes,

So may fome gentle Mufe
With lucky words favor my de-

ftin'd urn,

And as he paffes turn,

975

Το

Bears greatest names in his wide aery flight.

What Milton fays of Fame's bear

And bid fair peace be to my fa- ing great names on his wings,

ble fhroud.

feems to be partly from Horace : Od. II. II. 7.

Illum

Perhaps it

aget penna metuente folvi Fama fuperftes.

T

Fortin.

To all posterity may ftand defam'd,
With malediction mention'd, and the blot
Of falfhood moft unconjugal traduc'd.
But in my country where I most desire,
In Ecron, Gaza, Asdod, and in Gath,
I shall be nam'd among the famousest
Of women, fung at folemn festivals,
Living and dead recorded, who to fave
Her country from a fierce destroyer, chose
Above the faith of wedlock-bands, my tomb
With odors visited and annual flowers;

Not lefs renown'd than in mount Ephraim
Jael, who with inhospitable guile

Smote Sifera fleeping through the temples nail'd.
Nor fhall I count it hainous to enjoy

The public marks of honor and reward,
Conferr'd upon me, for the piety

980

985

991