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Some rich Philiftian matron fhe may feem,
And now at nearer view, no other certain
Than Dalila thy wife.

724

Samf. My Wife, my Trait'ress, let her not come (fix'd,

near me.

Chor. Yet on fhe moves, now stands and eyes thee About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd Like a fair flow'r furcharg'd with dew, fhe weeps, And words addrefs'd feem into tears diffolv'd, Wetting the borders of her filken veil :

But now again she makes address to speak.

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Dal. With doubtful feet and wavering refolution

I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson,
Which to have merited, without excufe,

I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears
May expiate (though the fact more evil drew
In the perverse event than I foresaw)

735

740.

My penance hath not flacken'd, though my pardon
No way affur'd. But conjugal affection
Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt,
Hath led me on defirous to behold
Once more thy face, and know of thy eftate,
If ought in my ability may serve

To lighten what thou fuffer'ft, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745
Though late, yet in fome part to recompenfe
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

Samf. Out, out Hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,

And

And arts of every woman false like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750
Then as repentant to submit, beseech,

And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,
Confefs, and promise wonders in her change,
Not truly penitent, but chief to try

Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 755 His virtue or weakness which way to affail: . Then with more cautious and inftructed skill Again tranfgreffes, and again submits;

That wifeft and beft men full oft beguil'd,

With goodness principled not to reject

The penitent, but ever to forgive,

Are drawn to wear out miserable days,
Intangled with a pois'nous bosom snake,
If not by quick deftruction foon cut off
As I by thee, to ages an example.

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Dal. Yet hear me, Samfon; not that I endevor

To leffen or extenuate my offense,

But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd

By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd,
Or else with just allowance counterpois'd,
I may, if poffible, thy pardon find

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The easier towards me, or thy hatred less.

First granting, as I do, it was a weakness
In me, but incident to all our fex,
Curiofity, inquifitive, importune
Of fecrets, then with like infirmity

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Το

To publish them, both common female faults:
Was it not weakness alfo to make known

For importunity, that is for nought,

Wherein confifted all thy ftrength and fafety? 780
To what I did thou fhowd'ft me firft the way.
But I to enemies reveal'd, and fhould not:
Nor fhould't thou have trufled that to woman's
Ere I to thee, thou to thyfelf waft cruel. (frailty:
Let weakness then with weakness come to parle
So near related, or the fame of kind,
786
Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine
The gentler, if severely thou exact not
More ftrength from me, than in thyself was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'st hate,
The jealousy of love, pow'rful of sway

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In human hearts, nor less in mine tow'ards thee
Caus'd what I did? I faw thee mutable

Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would'st leave me
As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmeft: 796
No better way I faw than by importuning
To learn thy fecrets, get into my power
Thy key of ftrength and safety: thou wilt fay,
Why then reveal'd? I was affur'd by those
Who tempted me, that nothing was defign'd

800

Against thee but safe custody, and hold:

That made for me; I knew that liberty

Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,

While

810

While I at home fat full of cares and fears, 805
Wailing thy abfence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and love's prifoner, not the Philiflines,
Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,
Fearless at home of partners in my love.
These reasons in love's law have paft for good,
Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps;
And love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much woe,
Yet always pity' or pardon hath obtain'd.
Be not unlike all others, not auflere

As thou art firong, inflexible as steel.
If thou in ftrength all mortals doft exceed,
In uncompaffionate anger do not fo.

815

Samf. How cunningly the forceress displays Her own tranfgreffions, to upbraid me mine? 820 That malice not repentance brought thee hither, By this appears: I gave, thou say'st, th' example, I led the way; bitter reproach, but true;

I to myself was false ere thou to me;
Such pardon therefore as I give my folly,

825

Take to thy wicked deed; which when thou seest Impartial, felf-fevere, inexorable,

830

Thou wilt renounce thy feeking, and much rather
Confefs it feign'd: weakness is thy excuse,
And I believe it, weakness to resist
Philiftian gold: if weakness may excuse,
What murderer, what traitor, parricide,

Inceftuous, facrilegious, but may plead iɩ?
All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
With God or Man will gain thee no remission. 835
But love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage
To fatisfy thy luft: love feeks to' have love;
My love how could'st thou hope, who took'ft the way
To raise in me inexpiable hate,

Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd? 840
In vain thou ftriv'ft to cover fhame with fhame,.
Or by evasions thy crime uncover'st more.

Dal. Since thou determin'st weakness for no plea In man or woman, though to thy own condemning, Here what affaults I had, what fnares befides, 845 What fieges girt me round, ere I consented; Which might have aw'd the best refolv'd of men, The conftanteft, to' have yielded without blame. It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st, That wrought with me: thou know'ft the magiftrates And princes of my country came in perfon, 851 Solicited, commanded, threaten'd, urg'd, Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil duty And of religion, press'd how just it was, How honorable, how glorious to intrap A common enemy, who had destroy'd Such numbers of our nation: and the priest Was not behind, but ever at my ear, Preaching how meritorious with the Gods It would be to infnare an irreligious R

855

860

Dif

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