Might easily have shook off all her snares: 410 415 True slavery, and that blindness worse than this, That saw not how degenerately I serv'd. MAN. I cannot praise thy marriage choices, son, Rather approv'd them not; but thou didst plead Divine impulsion prompting how thou might'st Find soon occasion to infest our foes. 425 I state not that; this I am sure, our foes Tacit, was in thy power. True; and thou bear'st 430 440 Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain. 450 455 SAMS. Father, I do acknowledge and confess That I this honour, I this pomp, have brought To Dagon, and advanc'd his praises high Among the heathen round; to God have brought Dishonour, obloquy, and op'd the mouths Of idolists and atheists; have brought scandal To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt In feeble hearts, propense enough before 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 strife With me hath end; all the contést is now 'Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath presum'd, Me overthrown, to enter lists with God, His deity comparing and preferring Before the God of Abraham. He, be sure, Will not connive, or linger, thus provok'd, But will arise, and his great name assert: Dagon must stoop, and shall ere long receive 460 465 470 Such a discomfit, as shall quite despoil him I as a prophecy receive: for God, 475 480 To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat 484 SAMS. Spare that proposal, father, spare the Of that solicitation: let me here, [trouble As I deserve, pay on my punishment, All friendship, and avoided as a blab, 471 blank] Hamlet, act iii. sc. 2. 'Each opposite that blanks the face of joy.' Todd. 490 495 333 Though in this uncouth place; if old respect, 345 CHOR. As signal now in low dejected state, As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. MAN. O miserable change! is this the man, 340 That invincible Samson, far renown'd, The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength Equivalent to angels walk'd their streets, None offering fight; who single combatant Duell'd their armies rank'd in proud array, Himself an army, now unequal match To save himself against a coward arm'd At one spear's length. O ever-failing trust In mortal strength! and, oh! what not in man Deceivable and vain? nay, what thing good, Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane? I pray'd for children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a son, And such a son as all men hail'd me happy: Who would be now a father in my stead? 350 355 845 Duell'd] Barron's Cyprian Academy, p. 23, ed. 1648. and State Poems (by Denham), vol. i. p. 36. 'Duels the fowler.' 354 son] Terentii Andria, I. 1. 69. tum uno ore omnes omnia Bona dicere, et laudare fortunas meas, Qui gnatum haberem tali ingenio præditum.' Newton. O wherefore did God grant me my request, 360 Our earnest pray'rs, then, giv'n with solemn hand 365 370 375 Be it but for honour's sake of former deeds. 378 Appoint] That is, arraign, summon to answer. Warburton. 380 |