Chapter 10

Samson.A little onward lend thy guiding handTo these dark steps, a little further on;For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade.There I am wont to sit, when any chanceRelieves me from my task of servile toil,5Daily in the common prison else enjoined me,Where I, a prisoner chained, scarce freely drawThe air, imprisoned also, close and damp,Unwholesome draught. But here I feel amends—The breath of heaven fresh blowing, pure and sweet,10With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.This day a solemn feast the people holdTo Dagon, their sea-idol, and forbidLaborious works. Unwillingly this restTheir superstition yields me; hence with leave15Retiring from the popular noise, I seekThis unfrequented place to find some ease—Ease to the body some, none to the mindFrom restless thoughts, that, like a deadly swarmOf hornets armed, no sooner found alone20But rush upon me thronging, and presentTimes past, what once I was, and what am now.Oh, wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretoldTwice by an Angel, who at last, in sightOf both my parents, all in flames ascended25From off the altar where an offering burned,As in a fiery column chariotingHis godlike presence, and from some great actOr benefit revealed to Abraham's race?Why was my breeding ordered and prescribed30As of a person separate to God,Designed for great exploits, if I must dieBetrayed, captived, and both my eyes put out,Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze,To grind in brazen fetters under task35With this heaven-gifted strength? O glorious strength,Put to the labour of a beast, debasedLower than bond-slave! Promise was that IShould Israel from Philistian yoke deliver!Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him40Eyeless, in Gaza, at the mill, with slaves,Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke.Yet stay; let me not rashly call in doubtDivine prediction. What if all foretoldHad been fulfilled but through mine own default?45Whom have I to complain of but myself,Who this high gift of strength committed to me,In what part lodged, how easily bereft me,Under the seal of silence could not keep,But weakly to a woman must reveal it,50O'ercome with importunity and tears?O impotence of mind, in body strong!But what is strength without a double shareOf wisdom? vast, unwieldy, burdensome,Proudly secure, yet liable to fall55By weakest subtleties; not made to rule,But to subserve where wisdom bears command.God, when he gave me strength, to show withalHow slight the gift was, hung it in my hair.But peace! I must not quarrel with the will60Of highest dispensation, which hereinHaply had ends above my reach to know.Suffices that to me strength is my bane,And proves the source of all my miseries—So many, and so huge, that each apart65Would ask a life to wail. But chief of all,O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!Blind among enemies! Oh worse than chains,Dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age!Light, the prime work of God, to me is extinct,70And all her various objects of delightAnnulled, which might in part my grief have eased.Inferior to the vilest now becomeOf man or worm, the vilest here excel me:They creep, yet see; I, dark in light, exposed75To daily fraud, contempt, abuse, and wrong,Within doors, or without, still as a fool,In power of others, never in my own—Scarce half I seem to live, dead more than half.Oh dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,80Irrecoverably dark, total eclipseWithout all hope of day!O first created beam, and thou great Word,'Let there be light, and light was over all,'Why am I thus bereaved thy prime decree?85The sun to me is darkAnd silent as the moon,When she deserts the night,Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.Since light so necessary is to life,90And almost life itself, if it be trueThat light is in the soul,She all in every part, why was the sightTo such a tender ball as the eye confined,So obvious and so easy to be quenched,95And not, as feeling, through all parts diffused,That she might look at will through every pore?Then had I not been thus exiled from light,As in the land of darkness, yet in light,To live a life half dead, a living death,100And buried; but, oh yet more miserable!Myself, my sepulchre, a moving grave;Buried, yet not exempt,By privilege of death and burial,From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs;105But made hereby obnoxious moreTo all the miseries of life,Life in captivityAmong inhuman foes.But who are these? for with joint pace I hear110The tread of many feet steering this way;Perhaps my enemies, who come to stareAt my affliction, and perhaps to insult—Their daily practice to afflict me more.Chorus.This, this is he; softly a while;115Let us not break in upon him.Oh change beyond report, thought, or belief!See how he lies at random, carelessly diffused,With languished head unpropt,As one past hope, abandoned,120And by himself given over,In slavish habit, ill-fitted weedsO'er-worn and soiled.Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be he,That heroic, that renowned,125Irresistible Samson? whom unarmed,No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast, could withstand;Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid;Ran on embattled armies clad in iron,And, weaponless himself,130Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgeryOf brazen shield and spear, the hammered cuirass,Chalybean-tempered steel, and frock of mailAdamantean proof;But safest he who stood aloof,135When insupportably his foot advanced,In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools,Spurned them to death by troops. The bold AscaloniteFled from his lion ramp; old warriors turnedTheir plated backs under his heel,140Or grovelling soiled their crested helmets in the dust.Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,The jaw of a dead ass, his sword of bone,A thousand foreskins fell, the flower of Palestine,In Ramath-lechi, famous to this day.145Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore,The gates of Azza, post and massy bar,Up to the hill by Hebron, seat of giants old,No journey of a sabbath-day, and loaded so;Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heaven.150Which shall I first bewail,Thy bondage or lost sight?Prison within prisonInseparably dark.Thou art become (Oh worst imprisonment!)155The dungeon of thyself; thy soul(Which men enjoying sight oft without cause complain)Imprisoned now indeed,In real darkness of the body dwells,Shut up from outward light160To incorporate with gloomy night;For inward light, alas!Puts forth no visual beam.O mirror of our fickle state,Since man on earth unparalleled,165The rarer thy example stands,By how much from the top of wondrous glory,Strongest of mortal men,To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallen.For him I reckon not in high estate170Whom long descent of birthOr the sphere of fortune raises;But thee, whose strength, while virtue was her mate,Might have subdued the earth,Universally crowned with highest praises.175Samson.I hear the sound of words; their sense the airDissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear.Chorus.He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might,The glory late of Israel, now the grief!We come, thy friends and neighbours not unknown,180From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful vale,To visit or bewail thee; or, if better,Counsel or consolation we may bring,Salve to thy sores; apt words have power to swageThe tumours of a troubled mind,185And are as balm to festered wounds.Samson.Your coming, friends, revives me; for I learnNow of my own experience, not by talk,How counterfeit a coin they are who 'friends'Bear in their superscription (of the most190I would be understood). In prosperous daysThey swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head,Not to be found, though sought. Ye see, O friends,How many evils have enclosed me round;Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me,195Blindness; for had I sight, confused with shame,How could I once look up, or heave the head,Who, like a foolish pilot, have shipwrackedMy vessel trusted to me from above,Gloriously rigged; and for a word, a tear,200Fool! have divulged the secret gift of GodTo a deceitful woman? tell me, friends,Am I not sung and proverbed for a foolIn every street? do they not say, 'how wellAre come upon him his deserts?' yet why?205Immeasurable strength they might beholdIn me, of wisdom nothing more than mean.This with the other should, at least, have paired;These two, proportioned ill, drove me transverse.Chorus.Tax not divine disposal. Wisest men210Have erred, and by bad women been deceived;And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise.Deject not, then, so overmuch thyself,Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides.Yet, truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder215Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women ratherThan of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,At least of thy own nation, and as noble.Samson.The first I saw at Timna, and she pleasedMe, not my parents, that I sought to wed220The daughter of an infidel. They knew notThat what I motioned was of God; I knewFrom intimate impulse, and therefore urgedThe marriage on, that, by occasion hence,I might begin Israel's deliverance—225The work to which I was divinely called.She proving false, the next I took to wife(Oh that I never had! fond wish too late!)Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,That specious monster, my accomplished snare.230I thought it lawful from my former act,And the same end, still watching to oppressIsrael's oppressors. Of what now I sufferShe was not the prime cause, but I myself,Who, vanquished with a peal of words (oh weakness!)235Gave up my fort of silence to a woman.Chorus.In seeking just occasion to provokeThe Philistine, thy country's enemy,Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:Yet Israel still serves with all his sons.240Samson.That fault I take not on me, but transferOn Israel's governors and heads of tribes,Who, seeing those great acts which God had doneSingly by me against their conquerors,Acknowledged not, or not at all considered,245Deliverance offered. I, on the other side,Used no ambition to commend my deeds;The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the doer.But they persisted deaf, and would not seemTo count them things worth notice, till at length250Their lords, the Philistines, with gathered powers,Entered Judea, seeking me, who thenSafe to the rock of Etham was retired—Not flying, but forecasting in what placeTo set upon them, what advantaged best.255Meanwhile the men of Judah, to preventThe harass of their land, beset me round;I willingly on some conditions cameInto their hands, and they as gladly yield meTo the Uncircumcised a welcome prey,260Bound with two cords. But cords to me were threadsTouched with the flame: on their whole host I flewUnarmed, and with a trivial weapon felledTheir choicest youth; they only lived who fled.Had Judah that day joined, or one whole tribe,265They had by this possessed the towers of Gath,And lorded over them whom they now serve.But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,And by their vices brought to servitude,Than to love bondage more than liberty—270Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty—And to despise, or envy, or suspect,Whom God hath of his special favour raisedAs their deliverer? If he aught begin,How frequent to desert him, and at last275To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds!Chorus.Thy words to my remembrance bringHow Succoth and the fort of PenuelTheir great deliverer contemned,The matchless Gideon, in pursuit280Of Madian, and her vanquished kings;And how ingrateful EphraimHad dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,Not worse than by his shield and spear,Defended Israel from the Ammonite,285Had not his prowess quelled their prideIn that sore battle when so many diedWithout reprieve, adjudged to death,For want of well pronouncingShibboleth.Samson.Of such examples add me to the roll.290Me easily indeed mine may neglect,But God's proposed deliverance not so.Chorus.Just are the ways of God,And justifiable to men,Unless there be who think not God at all.295If any be, they walk obscure;For of such doctrine never was there schoolBut the heart of the fool,And no man therein doctor but himself.Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just,300As to his own edicts found contradicting;Then give the reins to wandering thought,Regardless of his glory's diminution,Till, by their own perplexities involved,They ravel more, still less resolved,305But never find self-satisfying solution.As if they would confine the Interminable,And tie him to his own prescript,Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,And hath full right to exempt310Whomso it pleases him by choiceFrom national obstriction, without taintOf sin, or legal debt;For with his own laws he can best dispense.He would not else, who never wanted means,315Nor in respect of the enemy just cause,To set his people free,Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,Against his vow of strictest purity,To seek in marriage that fallacious bride,320Unclean, unchaste.Down, Reason, then; at least, vain reasonings, down;Though Reason here averThat moral verdict quits her of unclean:Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.325But see! here comes thy reverend sire,With careful step, locks white as down,Old Manoa: adviseForthwith how thou ought'st to receive him.Samson.Ay me! another inward grief, awaked330With mention of that name, renews the assault.Manoa.Brethren and men of Dan (for such ye seem,Though in this uncouth place), if old respect,As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend,My son, now captive, hither hath informed335Your younger feet, while mine, cast back with age,Came lagging after, say if he be here.Chorus.As signal now in low dejected state,As erst in highest, behold him where he lies.Manoa.Oh miserable change! is this the man?340That invincible Samson, far renowned,The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strengthEquivalent to Angels', walked their streets,None offering fight; who, single combatant,Duelled their armies ranked in proud array,345Himself an army, now unequal matchTo save himself against a coward armedAt one spear's length. Oh ever-failing trustIn mortal strength! and oh, what not in manDeceivable and vain? Nay, what thing good350Prayed for, but often proves our woe, our bane?I prayed for children, and thought barrennessIn wedlock a reproach; I gained a son,And such a son as all men hailed me happy.Who would be now a father in my stead?355Oh, wherefore did God grant me my request,And as a blessing with such pomp adorned?Why are his gifts desirable, to temptOur earnest prayers, then, given with solemn handAs graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind?360For this did the Angel twice descend? for thisOrdained thy nurture holy, as of a plantSelect and sacred? glorious for a while,The miracle of men; then in an hourEnsnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound,365Thy foes' derision, captive, poor and blind,Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves!Alas! methinks whom God hath chosen onceTo worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err,He should not so o'erwhelm, and as a thrall370Subject him to so foul indignities,Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds.Samson.Appoint not heavenly disposition, father.Nothing of all these evils hath befallen meBut justly; I myself have brought them on;375Sole author I, sole cause. If aught seem vile,As vile hath been my folly, who have profanedThe mystery of God, given me under pledgeOf vow, and have betrayed it to a woman,A Canaanite, my faithless enemy.380This well I knew, nor was at all surprised,But warned by oft experience. Did not sheOf Timna first betray me, and revealThe secret wrested from me in her highthOf nuptial love professed, carrying it straight385To them who had corrupted her, my spiesAnd rivals? In this other was there foundMore faith, who, also in her prime of love,Spousal embraces, vitiated with gold,Though offered only, by the scent conceived390Her spurious first-born, Treason against me?Thrice she assayed, with flattering prayers and sighsAnd amorous reproaches, to win from meMy capital secret, in what part my strengthLay stored, in what part summed, that she might know;395Thrice I deluded her, and turned to sportHer importunity, each time perceivingHow openly and with what impudenceShe purposed to betray me, and (which was worseThan undissembled hate) with what contempt400She sought to make me traitor to myself.Yet, the fourth time, when, mustering all her wiles,With blandished parleys, feminine assaults,Tongue-batteries, she surceased not day nor nightTo storm me, over-watched, and wearied out,405At times when men seek most repose and rest,I yielded, and unlocked her all my heart,Who, with a grain of manhood well resolved,Might easily have shook off all her snares;But foul effeminacy held me yoked410Her bond-slave. Oh indignity, oh blotTo honour and religion! servile mindRewarded well with servile punishment!The base degree to which I now am fallen,These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base415As was my former servitude, ignoble,Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,True slavery; and that blindness worse than this,That saw not how degenerately I served.Manoa.I cannot praise thy marriage-choices, son,420Rather approved them not; but thou didst pleadDivine impulsion prompting how thou might'stFind some occasion to infest our foes.I state not that; this I am sure—our foesFound soon occasion thereby to make thee425Their captive, and their triumph; thou the soonerTemptation found'st, or over-potent charms,To violate the sacred trust of silenceDeposited within thee—which to have keptTacit, was in thy power; true; and thou bear'st430Enough, and more, the burden of that fault;Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying,That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains:This day the Philistines a popular feastHere celebrate in Gaza, and proclaim435Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud,To Dagon, as their god who hath deliveredThee, Samson, bound and blind, into their hands,Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain.So Dagon shall be magnified, and God440Besides whom is no god, compared with idols,Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scornBy the idolatrous rout amidst their wine;Which to have come to pass by means of thee,Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest,445Of all reproach the most with shame that everCould have befallen thee and thy father's house.Samson.Father, I do acknowledge and confessThat I this honour, I this pomp, have broughtTo Dagon, and advanced his praises high450Among the Heathen round; to God have broughtDishonour, obloquy, and oped the mouthsOf idolists and atheists; have brought scandalTo Israel, diffidence of God, and doubtIn feeble hearts, propense enough before455To waver, or fall off and join with idols;Which is my chief affliction, shame and sorrow,The anguish of my soul, that suffers notMine eye to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest.This only hope relieves me, that the strife460With me hath end; all the contest is now'Twixt God and Dagon. Dagon hath presumed,Me overthrown, to enter lists with God,His deity comparing and preferringBefore the God of Abraham. He, be sure,465Will not connive, or linger, thus provoked,But will arise and his great name assert.Dagon must stoop, and shall ere long receiveSuch a discomfit, as shall quite despoil himOf all these boasted trophies won on me,470And with confusion blank his worshippers.Manoa.With cause this hope relieves thee, and these wordsI as a prophecy receive; for God(Nothing more certain) will not long deferTo vindicate the glory of his name475Against all competition, nor will longEndure it doubtful whether God be Lord,Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done?Thou must not in the mean while, here forgot,Lie in this miserable loathsome plight480Neglected. I already have made wayTo some Philistian lords, with whom to treatAbout thy ransom: well they may by thisHave satisfied their utmost of revenge,By pains and slaveries, worse than death, inflicted485On thee, who now no more canst do them harm.Samson.Spare that proposal, father; spare the troubleOf that solicitation. Let me here,As I deserve, pay on my punishment,And expiate, if possible, my crime,490Shameful garrulity. To have revealedSecrets ofmen, the secrets of a friend,How heinous had the fact been, how deservingContempt and scorn of all—to be excludedAll friendship, and avoided as a blab,495The mark of fool set on his front!But IGod'scounsel have not kept, his holy secretPresumptuously have published, impiously,Weakly at least, and shamefully—a sinThat Gentiles in their parables condemn500To their Abyss and horrid pains confined.Manoa.Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite;But act not in thy own affliction, son.Repent the sin; but, if the punishmentThou canst avoid, self-preservation bids;505Or the execution leave to high disposal,And let another hand, not thine, exactThy penal forfeit from thyself. PerhapsGod will relent, and quit thee all his debt;Who ever more approves and more accepts510(Best pleased with humble and filial submission)Him who, imploring mercy, sues for life,Than who, self-rigorous, chooses death as due;Which argues over-just, and self-displeasedFor self-offence, more than for God offended.515Reject not, then, what offered means. Who knowsBut God hath set before us to return theeHome to thy country and his sacred house,Where thou mayst bring thy offerings, to avertHis further ire, with prayers and vows renewed?520Samson.His pardon I implore; but as for life,To what end should I seek it? when in strengthAll mortals I excelled, and great in hopes,With youthful courage, and magnanimous thoughtsOf birth from Heaven foretold and high exploits,525Full of divine instinct, after some proofOf acts indeed heroic, far beyondThe sons of Anak, famous now and blazed,Fearless of danger, like a petty godI walked about, admired of all, and dreaded530On hostile ground, none daring my affront—Then, swollen with pride, into the snare I fellOf fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life,At length to lay my head and hallowed pledge535Of all my strength in the lascivious lapOf a deceitful concubine, who shore meLike a tame wether, all my precious fleece,Then turned me out ridiculous, despoiled,Shaven, and disarmed among mine enemies.540Chorus.Desire of wine and all delicious drinks,Which many a famous warrior overturns,Thou could'st repress; nor did the dancing rubySparkling, out-poured, the flavour, or the smell,Or taste that cheers the heart of gods and men,545Allure thee from the cool crystalline stream.Samson.> Wherever fountain or fresh current flowedAgainst the eastern ray, translucent, pureWith touch ethereal of Heaven's fiery rod,I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying550Thirst, and refreshed; nor envied them the grapeWhose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes.Chorus.Oh madness! to think use of strongest winesAnd strongest drinks our chief support of health,When God with these forbidden made choice to rear555His mighty champion, strong above compare,Whose drink was only from the liquid brook!Samson.But what availed this temperance, not completeAgainst another object more enticing?What boots it at one gate to make defence,560And at another to let in the foe,Effeminately vanquished? by which means,Now blind, disheartened, shamed, dishonoured, quelled,To what can I be useful? wherein serveMy nation, and the work from Heaven imposed?565But to sit idle on the household hearth,A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze,Or pitied object; these redundant locks,Robustious to no purpose, clustering down,Vain monument of strength; till length of years570And sedentary numbness craze my limbsTo a contemptible old age obscure.Here rather let me drudge, and earn my bread,Till vermin, or the draff of servile food,Consume me, and oft-invocated death575Hasten the welcome end of all my pains.Manoa.Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that giftWhich was expressly given thee to annoy them?Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle,Inglorious, unemployed, with age outworn.580But God, who caused a fountain at thy prayerFrom the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allayAfter the brunt of battle, can as easyCause light again within thy eyes to spring,Wherewith to serve him better than thou hast.585And I persuade me so. Why else this strengthMiraculous yet remaining in those locks?His might continues in thee not for nought,Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus.Samson.All otherwise to me my thoughts portend—590That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light,Nor the 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 seems595In all her functions weary of herself;My race of glory run, and race of shame,And I shall shortly be with them that rest.Manoa.Believe not these suggestions, which proceedFrom anguish of the mind, and humours black600That mingle with thy fancy. I, however,Must not omit a father's timely careTo prosecute the means of thy deliveranceBy ransom or how else. Mean while be calm,And healing words from these thy friends admit.605

Samson.A little onward lend thy guiding hand

To these dark steps, a little further on;

For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade.

There I am wont to sit, when any chance

Relieves me from my task of servile toil,5

Daily in the common prison else enjoined me,

Where I, a prisoner chained, scarce freely draw

The air, imprisoned also, close and damp,

Unwholesome draught. But here I feel amends—

The breath of heaven fresh blowing, pure and sweet,10

With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.

This day a solemn feast the people hold

To Dagon, their sea-idol, and forbid

Laborious works. Unwillingly this rest

Their superstition yields me; hence with leave15

Retiring from the popular noise, I seek

This unfrequented place to find some ease—

Ease to the body some, none to the mind

From restless thoughts, that, like a deadly swarm

Of hornets armed, no sooner found alone20

But rush upon me thronging, and present

Times past, what once I was, and what am now.

Oh, wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold

Twice by an Angel, who at last, in sight

Of both my parents, all in flames ascended25

From off the altar where an offering burned,

As in a fiery column charioting

His godlike presence, and from some great act

Or benefit revealed to Abraham's race?

Why was my breeding ordered and prescribed30

As of a person separate to God,

Designed for great exploits, if I must die

Betrayed, captived, and both my eyes put out,

Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze,

To grind in brazen fetters under task35

With this heaven-gifted strength? O glorious strength,

Put to the labour of a beast, debased

Lower than bond-slave! Promise was that I

Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver!

Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him40

Eyeless, in Gaza, at the mill, with slaves,

Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke.

Yet stay; let me not rashly call in doubt

Divine prediction. What if all foretold

Had been fulfilled but through mine own default?45

Whom have I to complain of but myself,

Who this high gift of strength committed to me,

In what part lodged, how easily bereft me,

Under the seal of silence could not keep,

But weakly to a woman must reveal it,50

O'ercome with importunity and tears?

O impotence of mind, in body strong!

But what is strength without a double share

Of wisdom? vast, unwieldy, burdensome,

Proudly secure, yet liable to fall55

By weakest subtleties; not made to rule,

But to subserve where wisdom bears command.

God, when he gave me strength, to show withal

How slight the gift was, hung it in my hair.

But peace! I must not quarrel with the will60

Of highest dispensation, which herein

Haply had ends above my reach to know.

Suffices that to me strength is my bane,

And proves the source of all my miseries—

So many, and so huge, that each apart65

Would ask a life to wail. But chief of all,

O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!

Blind among enemies! Oh worse than chains,

Dungeon, or beggary, or decrepit age!

Light, the prime work of God, to me is extinct,70

And all her various objects of delight

Annulled, which might in part my grief have eased.

Inferior to the vilest now become

Of man or worm, the vilest here excel me:

They creep, yet see; I, dark in light, exposed75

To daily fraud, contempt, abuse, and wrong,

Within doors, or without, still as a fool,

In power of others, never in my own—

Scarce half I seem to live, dead more than half.

Oh dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,80

Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse

Without all hope of day!

O first created beam, and thou great Word,

'Let there be light, and light was over all,'

Why am I thus bereaved thy prime decree?85

The sun to me is dark

And silent as the moon,

When she deserts the night,

Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.

Since light so necessary is to life,90

And almost life itself, if it be true

That light is in the soul,

She all in every part, why was the sight

To such a tender ball as the eye confined,

So obvious and so easy to be quenched,95

And not, as feeling, through all parts diffused,

That she might look at will through every pore?

Then had I not been thus exiled from light,

As in the land of darkness, yet in light,

To live a life half dead, a living death,100

And buried; but, oh yet more miserable!

Myself, my sepulchre, a moving grave;

Buried, yet not exempt,

By privilege of death and burial,

From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs;105

But made hereby obnoxious more

To all the miseries of life,

Life in captivity

Among inhuman foes.

But who are these? for with joint pace I hear110

The tread of many feet steering this way;

Perhaps my enemies, who come to stare

At my affliction, and perhaps to insult—

Their daily practice to afflict me more.

Chorus.This, this is he; softly a while;115Let us not break in upon him.Oh change beyond report, thought, or belief!See how he lies at random, carelessly diffused,With languished head unpropt,As one past hope, abandoned,120And by himself given over,In slavish habit, ill-fitted weedsO'er-worn and soiled.Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be he,That heroic, that renowned,125Irresistible Samson? whom unarmed,No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast, could withstand;Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid;Ran on embattled armies clad in iron,And, weaponless himself,130Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgeryOf brazen shield and spear, the hammered cuirass,Chalybean-tempered steel, and frock of mailAdamantean proof;But safest he who stood aloof,135When insupportably his foot advanced,In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools,Spurned them to death by troops. The bold AscaloniteFled from his lion ramp; old warriors turnedTheir plated backs under his heel,140Or grovelling soiled their crested helmets in the dust.Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,The jaw of a dead ass, his sword of bone,A thousand foreskins fell, the flower of Palestine,In Ramath-lechi, famous to this day.145Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore,The gates of Azza, post and massy bar,Up to the hill by Hebron, seat of giants old,No journey of a sabbath-day, and loaded so;Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heaven.150Which shall I first bewail,Thy bondage or lost sight?Prison within prisonInseparably dark.Thou art become (Oh worst imprisonment!)155The dungeon of thyself; thy soul(Which men enjoying sight oft without cause complain)Imprisoned now indeed,In real darkness of the body dwells,Shut up from outward light160To incorporate with gloomy night;For inward light, alas!Puts forth no visual beam.O mirror of our fickle state,Since man on earth unparalleled,165The rarer thy example stands,By how much from the top of wondrous glory,Strongest of mortal men,To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallen.For him I reckon not in high estate170Whom long descent of birthOr the sphere of fortune raises;But thee, whose strength, while virtue was her mate,Might have subdued the earth,Universally crowned with highest praises.175

Chorus.This, this is he; softly a while;115

Let us not break in upon him.

Oh change beyond report, thought, or belief!

See how he lies at random, carelessly diffused,

With languished head unpropt,

As one past hope, abandoned,120

And by himself given over,

In slavish habit, ill-fitted weeds

O'er-worn and soiled.

Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be he,

That heroic, that renowned,125

Irresistible Samson? whom unarmed,

No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast, could withstand;

Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid;

Ran on embattled armies clad in iron,

And, weaponless himself,130

Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgery

Of brazen shield and spear, the hammered cuirass,

Chalybean-tempered steel, and frock of mail

Adamantean proof;

But safest he who stood aloof,135

When insupportably his foot advanced,

In scorn of their proud arms and warlike tools,

Spurned them to death by troops. The bold Ascalonite

Fled from his lion ramp; old warriors turned

Their plated backs under his heel,140

Or grovelling soiled their crested helmets in the dust.

Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,

The jaw of a dead ass, his sword of bone,

A thousand foreskins fell, the flower of Palestine,

In Ramath-lechi, famous to this day.145

Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore,

The gates of Azza, post and massy bar,

Up to the hill by Hebron, seat of giants old,

No journey of a sabbath-day, and loaded so;

Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heaven.150

Which shall I first bewail,

Thy bondage or lost sight?

Prison within prison

Inseparably dark.

Thou art become (Oh worst imprisonment!)155

The dungeon of thyself; thy soul

(Which men enjoying sight oft without cause complain)

Imprisoned now indeed,

In real darkness of the body dwells,

Shut up from outward light160

To incorporate with gloomy night;

For inward light, alas!

Puts forth no visual beam.

O mirror of our fickle state,

Since man on earth unparalleled,165

The rarer thy example stands,

By how much from the top of wondrous glory,

Strongest of mortal men,

To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallen.

For him I reckon not in high estate170

Whom long descent of birth

Or the sphere of fortune raises;

But thee, whose strength, while virtue was her mate,

Might have subdued the earth,

Universally crowned with highest praises.175

Samson.I hear the sound of words; their sense the airDissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear.

Samson.I hear the sound of words; their sense the air

Dissolves unjointed ere it reach my ear.

Chorus.He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might,The glory late of Israel, now the grief!We come, thy friends and neighbours not unknown,180From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful vale,To visit or bewail thee; or, if better,Counsel or consolation we may bring,Salve to thy sores; apt words have power to swageThe tumours of a troubled mind,185And are as balm to festered wounds.

Chorus.He speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might,

The glory late of Israel, now the grief!

We come, thy friends and neighbours not unknown,180

From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful vale,

To visit or bewail thee; or, if better,

Counsel or consolation we may bring,

Salve to thy sores; apt words have power to swage

The tumours of a troubled mind,185

And are as balm to festered wounds.

Samson.Your coming, friends, revives me; for I learnNow of my own experience, not by talk,How counterfeit a coin they are who 'friends'Bear in their superscription (of the most190I would be understood). In prosperous daysThey swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head,Not to be found, though sought. Ye see, O friends,How many evils have enclosed me round;Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me,195Blindness; for had I sight, confused with shame,How could I once look up, or heave the head,Who, like a foolish pilot, have shipwrackedMy vessel trusted to me from above,Gloriously rigged; and for a word, a tear,200Fool! have divulged the secret gift of GodTo a deceitful woman? tell me, friends,Am I not sung and proverbed for a foolIn every street? do they not say, 'how wellAre come upon him his deserts?' yet why?205Immeasurable strength they might beholdIn me, of wisdom nothing more than mean.This with the other should, at least, have paired;These two, proportioned ill, drove me transverse.

Samson.Your coming, friends, revives me; for I learn

Now of my own experience, not by talk,

How counterfeit a coin they are who 'friends'

Bear in their superscription (of the most190

I would be understood). In prosperous days

They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head,

Not to be found, though sought. Ye see, O friends,

How many evils have enclosed me round;

Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me,195

Blindness; for had I sight, confused with shame,

How could I once look up, or heave the head,

Who, like a foolish pilot, have shipwracked

My vessel trusted to me from above,

Gloriously rigged; and for a word, a tear,200

Fool! have divulged the secret gift of God

To a deceitful woman? tell me, friends,

Am I not sung and proverbed for a fool

In every street? do they not say, 'how well

Are come upon him his deserts?' yet why?205

Immeasurable strength they might behold

In me, of wisdom nothing more than mean.

This with the other should, at least, have paired;

These two, proportioned ill, drove me transverse.

Chorus.Tax not divine disposal. Wisest men210Have erred, and by bad women been deceived;And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise.Deject not, then, so overmuch thyself,Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides.Yet, truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder215Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women ratherThan of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,At least of thy own nation, and as noble.

Chorus.Tax not divine disposal. Wisest men210

Have erred, and by bad women been deceived;

And shall again, pretend they ne'er so wise.

Deject not, then, so overmuch thyself,

Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides.

Yet, truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder215

Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather

Than of thine own tribe fairer, or as fair,

At least of thy own nation, and as noble.

Samson.The first I saw at Timna, and she pleasedMe, not my parents, that I sought to wed220The daughter of an infidel. They knew notThat what I motioned was of God; I knewFrom intimate impulse, and therefore urgedThe marriage on, that, by occasion hence,I might begin Israel's deliverance—225The work to which I was divinely called.She proving false, the next I took to wife(Oh that I never had! fond wish too late!)Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,That specious monster, my accomplished snare.230I thought it lawful from my former act,And the same end, still watching to oppressIsrael's oppressors. Of what now I sufferShe was not the prime cause, but I myself,Who, vanquished with a peal of words (oh weakness!)235Gave up my fort of silence to a woman.

Samson.The first I saw at Timna, and she pleased

Me, not my parents, that I sought to wed220

The daughter of an infidel. They knew not

That what I motioned was of God; I knew

From intimate impulse, and therefore urged

The marriage on, that, by occasion hence,

I might begin Israel's deliverance—225

The work to which I was divinely called.

She proving false, the next I took to wife

(Oh that I never had! fond wish too late!)

Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,

That specious monster, my accomplished snare.230

I thought it lawful from my former act,

And the same end, still watching to oppress

Israel's oppressors. Of what now I suffer

She was not the prime cause, but I myself,

Who, vanquished with a peal of words (oh weakness!)235

Gave up my fort of silence to a woman.

Chorus.In seeking just occasion to provokeThe Philistine, thy country's enemy,Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:Yet Israel still serves with all his sons.240

Chorus.In seeking just occasion to provoke

The Philistine, thy country's enemy,

Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:

Yet Israel still serves with all his sons.240

Samson.That fault I take not on me, but transferOn Israel's governors and heads of tribes,Who, seeing those great acts which God had doneSingly by me against their conquerors,Acknowledged not, or not at all considered,245Deliverance offered. I, on the other side,Used no ambition to commend my deeds;The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the doer.But they persisted deaf, and would not seemTo count them things worth notice, till at length250Their lords, the Philistines, with gathered powers,Entered Judea, seeking me, who thenSafe to the rock of Etham was retired—Not flying, but forecasting in what placeTo set upon them, what advantaged best.255Meanwhile the men of Judah, to preventThe harass of their land, beset me round;I willingly on some conditions cameInto their hands, and they as gladly yield meTo the Uncircumcised a welcome prey,260Bound with two cords. But cords to me were threadsTouched with the flame: on their whole host I flewUnarmed, and with a trivial weapon felledTheir choicest youth; they only lived who fled.Had Judah that day joined, or one whole tribe,265They had by this possessed the towers of Gath,And lorded over them whom they now serve.But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,And by their vices brought to servitude,Than to love bondage more than liberty—270Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty—And to despise, or envy, or suspect,Whom God hath of his special favour raisedAs their deliverer? If he aught begin,How frequent to desert him, and at last275To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds!

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

On Israel's governors and heads of tribes,

Who, seeing those great acts which God had done

Singly by me against their conquerors,

Acknowledged not, or not at all considered,245

Deliverance offered. I, on the other side,

Used no ambition to commend my deeds;

The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the doer.

But they persisted deaf, and would not seem

To count them things worth notice, till at length250

Their lords, the Philistines, with gathered powers,

Entered Judea, seeking me, who then

Safe to the rock of Etham was retired—

Not flying, but forecasting in what place

To set upon them, what advantaged best.255

Meanwhile the men of Judah, to prevent

The harass of their land, beset me round;

I willingly on some conditions came

Into their hands, and they as gladly yield me

To the Uncircumcised a welcome prey,260

Bound with two cords. But cords to me were threads

Touched with the flame: on their whole host I flew

Unarmed, and with a trivial weapon felled

Their choicest youth; they only lived who fled.

Had Judah that day joined, or one whole tribe,265

They had by this possessed the towers of Gath,

And lorded over them whom they now serve.

But what more oft in nations grown corrupt,

And by their vices brought to servitude,

Than to love bondage more than liberty—270

Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty—

And to despise, or envy, or suspect,

Whom God hath of his special favour raised

As their deliverer? If he aught begin,

How frequent to desert him, and at last275

To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds!

Chorus.Thy words to my remembrance bringHow Succoth and the fort of PenuelTheir great deliverer contemned,The matchless Gideon, in pursuit280Of Madian, and her vanquished kings;And how ingrateful EphraimHad dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,Not worse than by his shield and spear,Defended Israel from the Ammonite,285Had not his prowess quelled their prideIn that sore battle when so many diedWithout reprieve, adjudged to death,For want of well pronouncingShibboleth.

Chorus.Thy words to my remembrance bring

How Succoth and the fort of Penuel

Their great deliverer contemned,

The matchless Gideon, in pursuit280

Of Madian, and her vanquished kings;

And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,

Not worse than by his shield and spear,

Defended Israel from the Ammonite,285

Had not his prowess quelled their pride

In that sore battle when so many died

Without reprieve, adjudged to death,

For want of well pronouncingShibboleth.

Samson.Of such examples add me to the roll.290Me easily indeed mine may neglect,But God's proposed deliverance not so.

Samson.Of such examples add me to the roll.290

Me easily indeed mine may neglect,

But God's proposed deliverance not so.

Chorus.Just are the ways of God,And justifiable to men,Unless there be who think not God at all.295If any be, they walk obscure;For of such doctrine never was there schoolBut the heart of the fool,And no man therein doctor but himself.Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just,300As to his own edicts found contradicting;Then give the reins to wandering thought,Regardless of his glory's diminution,Till, by their own perplexities involved,They ravel more, still less resolved,305But never find self-satisfying solution.As if they would confine the Interminable,And tie him to his own prescript,Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,And hath full right to exempt310Whomso it pleases him by choiceFrom national obstriction, without taintOf sin, or legal debt;For with his own laws he can best dispense.He would not else, who never wanted means,315Nor in respect of the enemy just cause,To set his people free,Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,Against his vow of strictest purity,To seek in marriage that fallacious bride,320Unclean, unchaste.Down, Reason, then; at least, vain reasonings, down;Though Reason here averThat moral verdict quits her of unclean:Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.325But see! here comes thy reverend sire,With careful step, locks white as down,Old Manoa: adviseForthwith how thou ought'st to receive him.

Chorus.Just are the ways of God,

And justifiable to men,

Unless there be who think not God at all.295

If any be, they walk obscure;

For of such doctrine 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 involved,

They ravel more, still less resolved,305

But never find self-satisfying solution.

As if they would confine the Interminable,

And tie him to his own prescript,

Who made our laws to bind us, not himself,

And hath full right to exempt310

Whomso it pleases him by choice

From national obstriction, without taint

Of sin, or legal debt;

For with his own laws he can best dispense.

He would not else, who never wanted means,315

Nor in respect of the enemy just cause,

To set his people free,

Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,

Against his vow of strictest purity,

To seek in marriage that fallacious bride,320

Unclean, unchaste.

Down, Reason, then; at least, vain reasonings, down;

Though Reason here aver

That moral verdict quits her of unclean:

Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.325

But see! here comes thy reverend sire,

With careful step, locks white as down,

Old Manoa: advise

Forthwith how thou ought'st to receive him.

Samson.Ay me! another inward grief, awaked330With mention of that name, renews the assault.

Samson.Ay me! another inward grief, awaked330

With mention of that name, renews the assault.

Manoa.Brethren and men of Dan (for such ye seem,Though in this uncouth place), if old respect,As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend,My son, now captive, hither hath informed335Your younger feet, while mine, cast back with age,Came lagging after, say if he be here.

Manoa.Brethren and men of Dan (for such ye seem,

Though in this uncouth place), if old respect,

As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend,

My son, now captive, hither hath informed335

Your younger feet, while mine, cast back with age,

Came lagging after, say if he be here.

Chorus.As signal now in low dejected state,As erst in highest, behold him where he lies.

Chorus.As signal now in low dejected state,

As erst in highest, behold him where he lies.

Manoa.Oh miserable change! is this the man?340That invincible Samson, far renowned,The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strengthEquivalent to Angels', walked their streets,None offering fight; who, single combatant,Duelled their armies ranked in proud array,345Himself an army, now unequal matchTo save himself against a coward armedAt one spear's length. Oh ever-failing trustIn mortal strength! and oh, what not in manDeceivable and vain? Nay, what thing good350Prayed for, but often proves our woe, our bane?I prayed for children, and thought barrennessIn wedlock a reproach; I gained a son,And such a son as all men hailed me happy.Who would be now a father in my stead?355Oh, wherefore did God grant me my request,And as a blessing with such pomp adorned?Why are his gifts desirable, to temptOur earnest prayers, then, given with solemn handAs graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind?360For this did the Angel twice descend? for thisOrdained thy nurture holy, as of a plantSelect and sacred? glorious for a while,The miracle of men; then in an hourEnsnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound,365Thy foes' derision, captive, poor and blind,Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves!Alas! methinks whom God hath chosen onceTo worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err,He should not so o'erwhelm, and as a thrall370Subject him to so foul indignities,Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds.

Manoa.Oh miserable change! is this the man?340

That invincible Samson, far renowned,

The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength

Equivalent to Angels', walked their streets,

None offering fight; who, single combatant,

Duelled their armies ranked in proud array,345

Himself an army, now unequal match

To save himself against a coward armed

At one spear's length. Oh ever-failing trust

In mortal strength! and oh, what not in man

Deceivable and vain? Nay, what thing good350

Prayed for, but often proves our woe, our bane?

I prayed for children, and thought barrenness

In wedlock a reproach; I gained a son,

And such a son as all men hailed me happy.

Who would be now a father in my stead?355

Oh, wherefore did God grant me my request,

And as a blessing with such pomp adorned?

Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt

Our earnest prayers, then, given with solemn hand

As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind?360

For this did the Angel twice descend? for this

Ordained thy nurture holy, as of a plant

Select and sacred? glorious for a while,

The miracle of men; then in an hour

Ensnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound,365

Thy foes' derision, captive, poor and blind,

Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves!

Alas! methinks whom God hath chosen once

To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err,

He should not so o'erwhelm, and as a thrall370

Subject him to so foul indignities,

Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds.

Samson.Appoint not heavenly disposition, father.Nothing of all these evils hath befallen meBut justly; I myself have brought them on;375Sole author I, sole cause. If aught seem vile,As vile hath been my folly, who have profanedThe mystery of God, given me under pledgeOf vow, and have betrayed it to a woman,A Canaanite, my faithless enemy.380This well I knew, nor was at all surprised,But warned by oft experience. Did not sheOf Timna first betray me, and revealThe secret wrested from me in her highthOf nuptial love professed, carrying it straight385To them who had corrupted her, my spiesAnd rivals? In this other was there foundMore faith, who, also in her prime of love,Spousal embraces, vitiated with gold,Though offered only, by the scent conceived390Her spurious first-born, Treason against me?Thrice she assayed, with flattering prayers and sighsAnd amorous reproaches, to win from meMy capital secret, in what part my strengthLay stored, in what part summed, that she might know;395Thrice I deluded her, and turned to sportHer importunity, each time perceivingHow openly and with what impudenceShe purposed to betray me, and (which was worseThan undissembled hate) with what contempt400She sought to make me traitor to myself.Yet, the fourth time, when, mustering all her wiles,With blandished parleys, feminine assaults,Tongue-batteries, she surceased not day nor nightTo storm me, over-watched, and wearied out,405At times when men seek most repose and rest,I yielded, and unlocked her all my heart,Who, with a grain of manhood well resolved,Might easily have shook off all her snares;But foul effeminacy held me yoked410Her bond-slave. Oh indignity, oh blotTo honour and religion! servile mindRewarded well with servile punishment!The base degree to which I now am fallen,These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base415As was my former servitude, ignoble,Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,True slavery; and that blindness worse than this,That saw not how degenerately I served.

Samson.Appoint not heavenly disposition, father.

Nothing of all these evils hath befallen me

But justly; I myself have brought them on;375

Sole author I, sole cause. If aught seem vile,

As vile hath been my folly, who have profaned

The mystery of God, given me under pledge

Of vow, and have betrayed it to a woman,

A Canaanite, my faithless enemy.380

This well I knew, nor was at all surprised,

But warned by oft experience. Did not she

Of Timna first betray me, and reveal

The secret wrested from me in her highth

Of nuptial love professed, carrying it straight385

To them who had corrupted her, my spies

And rivals? In this other was there found

More faith, who, also in her prime of love,

Spousal embraces, vitiated with gold,

Though offered only, by the scent conceived390

Her spurious first-born, Treason against me?

Thrice she assayed, with flattering prayers and sighs

And amorous reproaches, to win from me

My capital secret, in what part my strength

Lay stored, in what part summed, that she might know;395

Thrice I deluded her, and turned to sport

Her importunity, each time perceiving

How openly and with what impudence

She purposed to betray me, and (which was worse

Than undissembled hate) with what contempt400

She sought to make me traitor to myself.

Yet, the fourth time, when, mustering all her wiles,

With blandished parleys, feminine assaults,

Tongue-batteries, she surceased not day nor night

To storm me, over-watched, and wearied out,405

At times when men seek most repose and rest,

I yielded, and unlocked her all my heart,

Who, with a grain of manhood well resolved,

Might easily have shook off all her snares;

But foul effeminacy held me yoked410

Her bond-slave. Oh indignity, oh blot

To honour and religion! servile mind

Rewarded well with servile punishment!

The base degree to which I now am fallen,

These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base415

As was my former servitude, ignoble,

Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,

True slavery; and that blindness worse than this,

That saw not how degenerately I served.

Manoa.I cannot praise thy marriage-choices, son,420Rather approved them not; but thou didst pleadDivine impulsion prompting how thou might'stFind some occasion to infest our foes.I state not that; this I am sure—our foesFound soon occasion thereby to make thee425Their captive, and their triumph; thou the soonerTemptation found'st, or over-potent charms,To violate the sacred trust of silenceDeposited within thee—which to have keptTacit, was in thy power; true; and thou bear'st430Enough, and more, the burden of that fault;Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying,That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains:This day the Philistines a popular feastHere celebrate in Gaza, and proclaim435Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud,To Dagon, as their god who hath deliveredThee, Samson, bound and blind, into their hands,Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain.So Dagon shall be magnified, and God440Besides whom is no god, compared with idols,Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scornBy the idolatrous rout amidst their wine;Which to have come to pass by means of thee,Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest,445Of all reproach the most with shame that everCould have befallen thee and thy father's house.

Manoa.I cannot praise thy marriage-choices, son,420

Rather approved them not; but thou didst plead

Divine impulsion prompting how thou might'st

Find some occasion to infest our foes.

I state not that; this I am sure—our foes

Found soon occasion thereby to make thee425

Their captive, and their triumph; thou the sooner

Temptation found'st, or over-potent charms,

To violate the sacred trust of silence

Deposited within thee—which to have kept

Tacit, was in thy power; true; and thou bear'st430

Enough, and more, the burden of that fault;

Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying,

That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains:

This day the Philistines a popular feast

Here celebrate in Gaza, and proclaim435

Great pomp, and sacrifice, and praises loud,

To Dagon, as their god who hath delivered

Thee, Samson, bound and blind, into their hands,

Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain.

So Dagon shall be magnified, and God440

Besides whom is no god, compared with idols,

Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scorn

By the idolatrous rout amidst their wine;

Which to have come to pass by means of thee,

Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest,445

Of all reproach the most with shame that ever

Could have befallen thee and thy father's house.

Samson.Father, I do acknowledge and confessThat I this honour, I this pomp, have broughtTo Dagon, and advanced his praises high450Among the Heathen round; to God have broughtDishonour, obloquy, and oped the mouthsOf idolists and atheists; have brought scandalTo Israel, diffidence of God, and doubtIn feeble hearts, propense enough before455To waver, or fall off and join with idols;Which is my chief affliction, shame and sorrow,The anguish of my soul, that suffers notMine eye to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest.This only hope relieves me, that the strife460With me hath end; all the contest is now'Twixt God and Dagon. Dagon hath presumed,Me overthrown, to enter lists with God,His deity comparing and preferringBefore the God of Abraham. He, be sure,465Will not connive, or linger, thus provoked,But will arise and his great name assert.Dagon must stoop, and shall ere long receiveSuch a discomfit, as shall quite despoil himOf all these boasted trophies won on me,470And with confusion blank his worshippers.

Samson.Father, I do acknowledge and confess

That I this honour, I this pomp, have brought

To Dagon, and advanced his praises high450

Among the Heathen round; to God have brought

Dishonour, obloquy, and oped the mouths

Of idolists and atheists; have brought scandal

To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt

In feeble hearts, propense enough before455

To waver, or fall off and join with idols;

Which is my chief affliction, shame and sorrow,

The anguish of my soul, that suffers not

Mine eye to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest.

This only hope relieves me, that the strife460

With me hath end; all the contest is now

'Twixt God and Dagon. Dagon hath presumed,

Me overthrown, to enter lists with God,

His deity comparing and preferring

Before the God of Abraham. He, be sure,465

Will not connive, or linger, thus provoked,

But will arise and his great name assert.

Dagon must stoop, and shall ere long receive

Such a discomfit, as shall quite despoil him

Of all these boasted trophies won on me,470

And with confusion blank his worshippers.

Manoa.With cause this hope relieves thee, and these wordsI as a prophecy receive; for God(Nothing more certain) will not long deferTo vindicate the glory of his name475Against all competition, nor will longEndure it doubtful whether God be Lord,Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done?Thou must not in the mean while, here forgot,Lie in this miserable loathsome plight480Neglected. I already have made wayTo some Philistian lords, with whom to treatAbout thy ransom: well they may by thisHave satisfied their utmost of revenge,By pains and slaveries, worse than death, inflicted485On thee, who now no more canst do them harm.

Manoa.With cause this hope relieves thee, and these words

I as a prophecy receive; for God

(Nothing more certain) will not long defer

To vindicate the glory of his name475

Against all competition, nor will long

Endure it doubtful whether God be Lord,

Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done?

Thou must not in the mean while, here forgot,

Lie in this miserable loathsome plight480

Neglected. I already have made way

To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat

About thy ransom: well they may by this

Have satisfied their utmost of revenge,

By pains and slaveries, worse than death, inflicted485

On thee, who now no more canst do them harm.

Samson.Spare that proposal, father; spare the troubleOf that solicitation. Let me here,As I deserve, pay on my punishment,And expiate, if possible, my crime,490Shameful garrulity. To have revealedSecrets ofmen, the secrets of a friend,How heinous had the fact been, how deservingContempt and scorn of all—to be excludedAll friendship, and avoided as a blab,495The mark of fool set on his front!But IGod'scounsel have not kept, his holy secretPresumptuously have published, impiously,Weakly at least, and shamefully—a sinThat Gentiles in their parables condemn500To their Abyss and horrid pains confined.

Samson.Spare that proposal, father; spare the trouble

Of that solicitation. Let me here,

As I deserve, pay on my punishment,

And expiate, if possible, my crime,490

Shameful garrulity. To have revealed

Secrets ofmen, the secrets of a friend,

How heinous had the fact been, how deserving

Contempt and scorn of all—to be excluded

All friendship, and avoided as a blab,495

The mark of fool set on his front!

But IGod'scounsel have not kept, his holy secret

Presumptuously have published, impiously,

Weakly at least, and shamefully—a sin

That Gentiles in their parables condemn500

To their Abyss and horrid pains confined.

Manoa.Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite;But act not in thy own affliction, son.Repent the sin; but, if the punishmentThou canst avoid, self-preservation bids;505Or the execution leave to high disposal,And let another hand, not thine, exactThy penal forfeit from thyself. PerhapsGod will relent, and quit thee all his debt;Who ever more approves and more accepts510(Best pleased with humble and filial submission)Him who, imploring mercy, sues for life,Than who, self-rigorous, chooses death as due;Which argues over-just, and self-displeasedFor self-offence, more than for God offended.515Reject not, then, what offered means. Who knowsBut God hath set before us to return theeHome to thy country and his sacred house,Where thou mayst bring thy offerings, to avertHis further ire, with prayers and vows renewed?520

Manoa.Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite;

But act not in thy own affliction, son.

Repent the sin; but, if the punishment

Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids;505

Or the execution leave to high disposal,

And let another hand, not thine, exact

Thy penal forfeit from thyself. Perhaps

God will relent, and quit thee all his debt;

Who ever more approves and more accepts510

(Best pleased with humble and filial submission)

Him who, imploring mercy, sues for life,

Than who, self-rigorous, chooses death as due;

Which argues over-just, and self-displeased

For self-offence, more than for God offended.515

Reject not, then, what offered means. Who knows

But God hath set before us to return thee

Home to thy country and his sacred house,

Where thou mayst bring thy offerings, to avert

His further ire, with prayers and vows renewed?520

Samson.His pardon I implore; but as for life,To what end should I seek it? when in strengthAll mortals I excelled, and great in hopes,With youthful courage, and magnanimous thoughtsOf birth from Heaven foretold and high exploits,525Full of divine instinct, after some proofOf acts indeed heroic, far beyondThe sons of Anak, famous now and blazed,Fearless of danger, like a petty godI walked about, admired of all, and dreaded530On hostile ground, none daring my affront—Then, swollen with pride, into the snare I fellOf fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life,At length to lay my head and hallowed pledge535Of all my strength in the lascivious lapOf a deceitful concubine, who shore meLike a tame wether, all my precious fleece,Then turned me out ridiculous, despoiled,Shaven, and disarmed among mine enemies.540

Samson.His pardon I implore; but as for life,

To what end should I seek it? when in strength

All mortals I excelled, and great in hopes,

With youthful courage, and magnanimous thoughts

Of birth from Heaven foretold and high exploits,525

Full of divine instinct, after some proof

Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond

The sons of Anak, famous now and blazed,

Fearless of danger, like a petty god

I walked about, admired of all, and dreaded530

On hostile ground, none daring my affront—

Then, swollen with pride, into the snare I fell

Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,

Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life,

At length to lay my head and hallowed pledge535

Of all my strength in the lascivious lap

Of a deceitful concubine, who shore me

Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece,

Then turned me out ridiculous, despoiled,

Shaven, and disarmed among mine enemies.540

Chorus.Desire of wine and all delicious drinks,Which many a famous warrior overturns,Thou could'st repress; nor did the dancing rubySparkling, out-poured, the flavour, or the smell,Or taste that cheers the heart of gods and men,545Allure thee from the cool crystalline stream.

Chorus.Desire of wine and all delicious drinks,

Which many a famous warrior overturns,

Thou could'st repress; nor did the dancing ruby

Sparkling, out-poured, the flavour, or the smell,

Or taste that cheers the heart of gods and men,545

Allure thee from the cool crystalline stream.

Samson.> Wherever fountain or fresh current flowedAgainst the eastern ray, translucent, pureWith touch ethereal of Heaven's fiery rod,I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying550Thirst, and refreshed; nor envied them the grapeWhose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes.

Samson.> Wherever fountain or fresh current flowed

Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure

With touch ethereal of Heaven's fiery rod,

I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying550

Thirst, and refreshed; nor envied them the grape

Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes.

Chorus.Oh madness! to think use of strongest winesAnd strongest drinks our chief support of health,When God with these forbidden made choice to rear555His mighty champion, strong above compare,Whose drink was only from the liquid brook!

Chorus.Oh madness! to think use of strongest wines

And strongest drinks our chief support of health,

When God with these forbidden made choice to rear555

His mighty champion, strong above compare,

Whose drink was only from the liquid brook!

Samson.But what availed this temperance, not completeAgainst another object more enticing?What boots it at one gate to make defence,560And at another to let in the foe,Effeminately vanquished? by which means,Now blind, disheartened, shamed, dishonoured, quelled,To what can I be useful? wherein serveMy nation, and the work from Heaven imposed?565But to sit idle on the household hearth,A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze,Or pitied object; these redundant locks,Robustious to no purpose, clustering down,Vain monument of strength; till length of years570And sedentary numbness craze my limbsTo a contemptible old age obscure.Here rather let me drudge, and earn my bread,Till vermin, or the draff of servile food,Consume me, and oft-invocated death575Hasten the welcome end of all my pains.

Samson.But what availed this temperance, not complete

Against another object more enticing?

What boots it at one gate to make defence,560

And at another to let in the foe,

Effeminately vanquished? by which means,

Now blind, disheartened, shamed, dishonoured, quelled,

To what can I be useful? wherein serve

My nation, and the work from Heaven imposed?565

But to sit idle on the household hearth,

A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze,

Or pitied object; these redundant locks,

Robustious to no purpose, clustering down,

Vain monument of strength; till length of years570

And sedentary numbness craze my limbs

To a contemptible old age obscure.

Here rather let me drudge, and earn my bread,

Till vermin, or the draff of servile food,

Consume me, and oft-invocated death575

Hasten the welcome end of all my pains.

Manoa.Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that giftWhich was expressly given thee to annoy them?Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle,Inglorious, unemployed, with age outworn.580But God, who caused a fountain at thy prayerFrom the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allayAfter the brunt of battle, can as easyCause light again within thy eyes to spring,Wherewith to serve him better than thou hast.585And I persuade me so. Why else this strengthMiraculous yet remaining in those locks?His might continues in thee not for nought,Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus.

Manoa.Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift

Which was expressly given thee to annoy them?

Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle,

Inglorious, unemployed, with age outworn.580

But God, who caused a fountain at thy prayer

From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allay

After the brunt of battle, can as easy

Cause light again within thy eyes to spring,

Wherewith to serve him better than thou hast.585

And I persuade me so. Why else this strength

Miraculous yet remaining in those locks?

His might continues in thee not for nought,

Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus.

Samson.All otherwise to me my thoughts portend—590That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light,Nor the 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 seems595In all her functions weary of herself;My race of glory run, and race of shame,And I shall shortly be with them that rest.

Samson.All otherwise to me my thoughts portend—590

That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light,

Nor the 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 seems595

In all her functions weary of herself;

My race of glory run, and race of shame,

And I shall shortly be with them that rest.

Manoa.Believe not these suggestions, which proceedFrom anguish of the mind, and humours black600That mingle with thy fancy. I, however,Must not omit a father's timely careTo prosecute the means of thy deliveranceBy ransom or how else. Mean while be calm,And healing words from these thy friends admit.605

Manoa.Believe not these suggestions, which proceed

From anguish of the mind, and humours black600

That mingle with thy fancy. I, however,

Must not omit a father's timely care

To prosecute the means of thy deliverance

By ransom or how else. Mean while be calm,

And healing words from these thy friends admit.605

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