Amidft their highth of noon Changeft thy count'nance, and thy hand with no regard Of highest favors past From thee on them, or them to thee of fervice. 685 Nor only doft degrade them, or remit To life obfcur'd, which were a fair difmiffion, But throw'ft them lower than thou didst exalt them high, Unfeemly falls in human eye, Too grievous for the trefpafs or omiffion; Oft leav'ft them to the hoftile fword To dogs and fowls a prey, or elfe captív'd; 690 Or to th' unjust tribunals, under change of times, 695 And condemnation of th' ingrateful multitude. If these they scape, perhaps in poverty With fickness and disease thou bow'ft them down, In crude old-age; Though not difordinate, yet causeless suffering For oft alike both come to evil end. 700 So deal not with this once thy glorious champion, The image of thy ftrength, and mighty minifter. What do I beg? how haft thou dealt already? Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn His labors, for thou canft, to peaceful end. But who is this, what thing of sea or land? 710 Female of fex it seems, That so bedeck'd, ornate, and gay, Comes Comes this way failing Like a ftately fhip Of Tarfus, bound for th' iles 715 Of Javan or Gadire With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and ftreamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play, 720 [near me. SAMS. My Wife, my Traitress, let her not come CHO. Yet on the moves, now ftands, and eyes thes fix'd, About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd But now again she makes address to speak. 730 DAL. With doubtful feet and wavering refolution I came, ftill dreading thy difpleafure, Samfon, My penance hath not slacken'd, though my pardon Hath led me on defirous to behold 735 740 Once Once more thy face, and know of thy estate, To lighten what thou fufer'ft, and appease 745 SAMS. Out, out, Hyæna; thefe are thy wonted arts, And arts of every woman falfe like thee, To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, · 750 And reconcilement move-with feign'd remorse, Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 755 7601 765 DAL. Yet hear me, Samfon; not that I endevor To leffen or extenuate my offenfe, But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd, 770 The The easier towards me, or thy hatred lefs. 775 To publish them, both common female faults: Wherein confifted all thy ftrength and safety? 780 Nor should't 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 Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine More ftrength from me, than in thyfelf was found. In human hearts, nor less in mine tow'rds thee, Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would't leave me D 790 795 800 Again't Against thee but safe cuftody, and hold: Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps ; 805 810 And love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much woe, Yet always pity' or pardon hath obtain'd. Be not unlike all others, not auftere 815 As thou art strong, inflexible as steel. If thou in ftrength all mortals doft exceed, SAMS. How cunningly the forceress displays gave, I to myself was falfe ere thou to me ; Such pardon therefore as I give my folly, Take to thy wicked deed; which when thou seest Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather 820 825 And I believe it, weakness to refift 830 Philiftian gold if weakness may excuse, What |