No more thy country, but an impious crew Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd. 900 DAL. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. SAMS. For want of words, no doubt, or lack of breath, Witness when I was worried with thy peals. 905 DAL. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken In what I thought would have succeeded best. Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson, Afford me place to show what recompense Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone, Misguided; only what remains past cure Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist 910 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 915 920 I to the lords will intercede, not doubting 925 With all things grateful cheer'd, and so supplied, That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss. SAMS. No, no, of my condition take no care; It fits not; thou and I long since are twain; Nor think me so unwary or accurst, To bring my feet again into the snare 930 Where once I have been caught: I know thy trains Though dearly to my cost, thy gins, and toils, To fence my ear against thy sorceries. If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men Lov'd, honour'd, fear'd me, thou alone could'st hate me 939 Thy husband, slight me, sell me, and forego me; How would'st thou use me now, blind, and thereby Deceivable, in most things as a child Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd, 938 flower] Lucret. i. 565. Hom. II. N. 484. Virg. Æn. vii. 162. Sil. Ital. xv. 34. And last neglected? how would'st thou insult, 945 To thine, whose doors my feet shall never enter. DAL. Let me approach at least and touch thy hand. SAMS. Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint. 955 DAL. I see thou art implacable, more deaf 960 Why do I humble thus myself, and, suing Bid go with evil omen and the brand Of infamy upon my name denounc'd? To mix with thy concernments I desist 965 Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own. 970 Fame if not double-fac'd is double-mouth'd, And with contráry blast proclaims most deeds; 975 980 985 Smote Sisera sleeping through the temples nail'd. Nor shall I count it heinous to enjoy The public marks of honour and reward Conferr'd upon me, for the piety Which to my country I was judg'd to have shown. At this who ever envies or repines, I leave him to his lot, and like my own. 995 [sting CHOR. She's gone, a manifest serpent by her Discover'd in the end, till now conceal'd. [me, SAMS. So let her go: God sent her to debase 972 contráry] Habington's Castara, 1635, p. 116. By virtue of a clean contráry gale.' Todd. And aggravate my folly, who committed 1000 CHOR. Yet beauty, tho' injurious, hath strange power, After offence returning, to regain Love once possess'd, nor can be easily 1005 [end; SAMS. Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord Not wedlock-treachery endang'ring life. CHOR. It is not virtue, wisdom, valour, wit, Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit,' That woman's love can win or long inherit; But what it is, hard is to say, Harder to hit, Which way soever men refer it, Much like thy riddle, Samson, in one day If any of these or all, the Timnian bride 1015 Thy paranymph, worthless to thee compar'd, 1020 Successor in thy bed, Nor both so loosely disallied Their nuptials, nor this last so treacherously Is it for that such outward ornament Was lavish'd on their sex, that inward gifts > 1008 Love] Terence, And. iii. 3. 23. 1025 'Amantium iræ, amoris integratio est.' Newton. |