Chor. Yet on she moves, now ftands and eyes thee About t'have spoke, but now, with head declin'd [fix'd.
Like a fair flow'r furcharg'd with dew, the weeps And words addrefs'd feem tears diffolv'd, Wetting the Borders of her filk'n veil:
But now again she makes address to speak.
Dal. With doubtful feet and wavering refolution I came, ftill dreading thy difpleasure, Samfon, 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 forefaw)
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 aught in my ability may serve
To light'n what thou fuffer'ft, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my pow'r,
Though late, yet in fome part to recompence
My rash, but more unfortunate misdeed.
Samf. Out, out Hyana; thefe are thy wonted arts, And arts of ev'ry woman falfe like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,
Then as repentant to submit, befeech,
And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,
Confess, and promise wonders in her change,
Not truly penitent, but chief to try
Her Husband, how far urg'd his patience bears,
His virtue or weakness which way to affail:
Then with more cautious and inftructed skill
Again tranfgreffes, and again fubmits;
That wifest and best men full oft beguil❜d,
With goodness principl'd not to reject
The penitent, but ever to forgive,
Are drawn to wear out miferable days,
Entangl❜d with a pois'nous bofom snake,
If not by quick destruction soon cut off
As I by thee, to Ages an example,
Dal. Yet hear me, Samfon; not that I endeavour
To leffen or extenuate my offence,
But that on th❜other fide if it be weigh'd
By it self, with aggravations not surcharg❜d,
Or else with just allowance counterpois'd,
Imay, if poffible, thy pardon find
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
To publish them, both common female faults:
Was it not weakness also to make known
For importunity, that is, for naught,
Wherein confifted all thy strength and safety?
To what I did thou fhewd'ft me first the way.
But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not.
[frailty: Nor fhould'st thou have trufted that to woman's
E'er I to thee, thou to thy felf waft cruel.
Let weakness then with weakness come to parl
So near related, or the fame of kind,
Thine forgive mine; that men may cenfure thine
The gentler, if feverely thou exact not
More strength from me, than in thy felf was found.
And what if Love, which thou interpret'ft hate,
The jealoufie of Love, powerful of fway.
In human hearts, nor lefs in mine tow'rds thee,
Caus'd what I did? I faw thee mutable
Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would't leave me
As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore
How to endear, and hold thee to me firmest :
No better way I saw than by importuning
To learn thy fecrets, get into my pow'r
Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt fay,
Why then reveal'd? I was affur'd by those
Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd
Against thee but fafe cuftody, and hold:
That made for me, I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,
While I at home fate full of cares and fears
Wailing thy abfence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and Love's pris'ner, not the Philiftins,
Whole to my self, unhazarded abroad,
Fearless at home of partners in my love.
These reasons in Love's law have past for good,
Though fond and reafonless to some perhaps,
And Love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much wo,
Yet always pity or pardon hath obtain❜d.
Be not unlike all others, not auftere
As thou art strong, inflexible as fteel.
If thou in ftrength all mortals doft exceed,
In uncompaffionate anger do not fo.
Samf. How cunningly the Sorferess displays Her own tranfgreffions, to upbraid me mine? That malice not repentance brought thee hither, By this appears: I gave, thou fay'ft, th’example, I led the way, bitter reproach, but true, I to my felf was falfe e'er thou to me, Such pardon therefore as I give my folly,
Take to thy wicked deed: which when thou feest
Impartial, felf-fevere, inexorable,
Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather
Confess it feign'd, weakness is thy excuse,
And I believe it, weakness to refift
Philiftian gold: if weakness may excufe,
What Murtherer, what Traitor, Paricide,
Incestuous, Sacrilegious, but may plead it?
All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
With God or Man will gain thee no remiffion.
But Love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage
To satisfie thy luft: Love feeks to have Love;
My love how could't thou hope, who took'ft the way
To raife in me inexpiable hate,
|
