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Her harbinger, a damsel train behind;
Some rich Philistian matron she may seem,
And now at nearer view, no other certain

Than Dalila thy wife.

SAMSON.

My wife, my traitress, let her not come near me. 725 CHORUS.

Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes thee fix'd, About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd Like a fair flow'r surcharg'd with dew, she weeps, And words address'd seem into tears dissolv'd, Wetting the borders of her silken veil: But now again she makes address to speak. DALILA.

With doubtful feet and wavering resolution

See Drayton, Polyolb. s. xx. vol. iv. p. 1042. and Borde's Dietarie of Health, ch. viii. ed. 1542. Compare Howell's Letters, (Let. dat. 1629.) vol. i. sect. 5.

As 'mongst all flowres the rose excells,

As amber 'mongst the fragrant'st smells.

See also A Poem Royal, 1641. ibid. And Jonson's Cynth. Rev. a. v. s. 4. And in the Winter's Tale, a. iv. s. 3.

-necklace-amber

Perfume for a lady's chamber.
See also Tam. Shrew, a. iv. s. 3.
T. Warton.

726. Yet on she moves, &c.] Like Ismene in the Antigone of Sophocles, ver. 532.

Και μην προ πυλων ἡδ' Ισμηνη
Φιλαδελφα κάτω δακρυ ειβομενη
Νεφελη δ' οφρύων ὑπερ, αἱματοεν

Ρεθος αισχύνει,

Τεγγουσ' ευωπα παρειαν.

730

Mr. Jortin and Mr. Thyer both concurred in the same observation, and therefore it is more likely to be true.

729. And words address'd &c.] This verse is printed imperfect in most of the editions,

And words address'd seem tears dissolv'd,

that being wanted which is in the first edition,

And words address'd seem into tears dissolv'd.

Mr. Jortin conjectured it should be so read, without seeing the first edition.

The scene between Samson and 732. With doubtful feet &c.] Dalila is drawn up with great judgment, and particular beauty. One cannot conceive a more artful, soft, and persuasive eloquence than that which is put into the mouth of Dalila, nor is the part

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

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

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

To lighten what thou suffer'st, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power,
Though late, yet in some part to recompense
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.
SAMSON.

Out, out hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,
And arts of every woman false like thee,
To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,
Then as repentant to submit, beseech,
And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,

of Samson less to be admired for that stern and resolute firmness which runs through it. What also gives both parts a great additional beauty is their forming so fine a contrast to each other. Thyer.

748. Out, out hyana;] The hyæna is a creature somewhat like a wolf, and is said to imitate a human voice so artfully as to draw people to it, and then devour them. So Solinus, the transcriber of Pliny, cap. 27. Multa de ea mira: primum quod

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sequitur stabula pastorum, et auditu assiduo addiscit vocamen, quod exprimere possit imitatione vocis humanæ, ut in hominem astu accitum nocte sæviat. A celebrated tragic writer makes use of the same comparison. Orphan, act ii.

'Tis thus the false hyæna makes her

moan,

To draw the pitying traveller to her
den;
Your sex are so, such false dissem-
blers all, &c.

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 assail:
Then with more cautious and instructed skill
Again transgresses, and again submits;
That wisest and best 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 destruction soon cut off
As I by thee, to ages an example.
DALILA.

Yet hear me, Samson; not that I endeavour

To lessen or extenuate my offence,

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

By' itself, with aggravations not surcharged,

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Or else with just allowance counterpois'd,

I

may, if possible, 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 sex,
Curiosity, inquisitive, importune
Of secrets, then with like infirmity

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

For importunity, that is for nought,

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Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety?
To what I did thou showd'st me first the way.
But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not:

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Nor should'st thou have trusted that to woman's frailty: Ere I to thee, thou to thyself wast cruel.

Let weakness then with weakness come to parle 785
So near related, or the same of kind,

Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine
The gentler, if severely thou exact not

More strength from me than in thyself was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'st hate,
The jealousy of love, pow'rful of sway

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

Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou would'st leave me
As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmest :
No better way I saw than by importuning
To learn thy secrets, get into my power
Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say,
Why then reveal'd? I was assur'd by those
Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd
Against thee but safe custody, and hold:
That made for me; I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,
While I at home sat full of cares and fears,
Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
Mine and love's prisoner, not the Philistines,
Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,
Fearless at home of partners in my love.

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These reasons in love's law have past 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 austere
As thou art strong, inflexible as steel.

If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed,
In uncompassionate anger do not so.

SAMSON.

How cunningly the sorceress displays

Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine! That malice not repentance brought thee hither, appears: I gave, thou say'st, th' example,

By this

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,

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Take to thy wicked deed; which when thou see'st
Impartial, self-severe, inexorable,

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Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather
Confess it feign'd: weakness is thy excuse,
And I believe it, weakness to resist
Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse,
What murderer, what traitor, parricide,
Incestuous, sacrilegious, but may plead it?
All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
With God or man will gain thee no remission.
But love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage
To satisfy thy lust: love seeks to❜ have love;
My love how could'st thou hope, who took'st the

way

To raise in me inexpiable hate,

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