SAMSON AGONISTES. 103 Which argues over-just, and self-displeas'd Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond The sons of Anak, famous now and blaz'd, 526 530 I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded Of a deceitful concubine, who shore me 540 CHOR. Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, Which many a famous warrior overturns, Sparkling, out-pour'd, the flavor, or the smell, Or taste that cheers the heart of gods and men, 545 Allure thee from the cool crystallin stream. SAM. Wherever fountain or fresh current flow'd Against the eastern ray, translucent, pure With touch ethereal of Heav'n's fiery rod I drank, from the clear milky juice allaying Thirst, and refresh'd; nor envy'd them the grape Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes. 550 CHOR. O madness, to think use of strongest wines And strongest drinks our chief support of health, When God with these forbidd'n made choice to rear His mighty champion, strong above compare, 556 Whose drink was only from the liquid brook. [plete SAM. But what avail'd this temp'rance, not comAgainst another object more enticing? What boots it at one gate to make defense, And at another to let in the foe, Effeminately vanquish'd? by which means, 560 Now blind,dishearten'd, sham'd, dishonor'd, quell'd, To what can I be useful, wherein serve My nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, 565 A burd'nous drone; to visitant's a gaze, Vain monument of strength; till length of years 570 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-invoked death Hasten the welcome end of all my pains. 575 MAN. Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that Which was expressly giv❜n thee to annoy them? [gift Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, Inglorious, unemploy'd, with age outworn. 580 But God who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer Cause light again within thy eyes to spring, SAM.All otherwise to me my thoughts portend, 590 595 MAN. Believe not these suggestions which proceed From anguish of the mind and humors black, 600 That mingle with thy fancy. I however Must not omit a father's timely care To prosecute the means of thy deliverance By ransome, or how else: mean while be calm, SAM. O that Torment should not be confin'd To the body's wounds and sores, 607 My griefs not only pain me As a lingring disease, But finding no redress, ferment and rage, Nor less than wounds immedicable Rankle, and fester, and gangrene, To black mortification. 620 Thoughts my tormentors arm'd with deadly stings Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts, Exasperate, exulcerate, and raise 625 Dire inflammation, which no cooling herb Or medicinal liquor can asswage, Nor breath of vernal air from snowy Alp. Sleep hath forsook and giv'n me o'er To death's benumming opium as my only cure: 630 Thence faintings, swoonings of despair, And sense of Heav'n's desertion. But now hath cast me off as never known, Whom I by his appointment had provok'd, 645 The subject of their cruelty or scorn. Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless; This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard, 650 The close of all my miseries, and the balm. 655 With study'd argument, and much persuasion sought Lenient of grief and anxious thought: But with th' afflicted in his pangs their sound 660 |