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Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Milton

Page 80

by John Milton


  625

  Exasperate, exulcerate, and raise

  Dire inflammation which no cooling herb

  Or medcinal liquor can asswage,

  Nor breath of Vernal Air from snowy Alp.

  Sleep hath forsook and giv’n me o’re

  630

  To deaths benumming Opium as my only cure.

  Thence faintings, swounings of despair,

  And sense of Heav’ns desertion.

  I was his nursling once and choice delight,

  His destin’d from the womb,

  635

  Promisd by Heav’nly message twice descending.

  Under his special eie

  Abstemious I grew up and thriv’d amain;

  He led me on to mightiest deeds

  Above the nerve of mortal arm

  640

  Against th’ uncircumcis’d, our enemies.

  But now hath cast me off as never known,

  And to those cruel enemies,

  Whom I by his appointment had provok’t,

  Left me all helpless with th’ irreparable loss

  645

  Of sight, reserv’d alive to be repeated

  The subject of thir cruelty, or scorn.

  Nor am I in the list of them that hope;

  Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless;

  This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard,

  650

  No long petition, speedy death,

  The close of all my miseries, and the balm.

  Chorus. Many are the sayings of the wise

  In antient and in modern books enroll’d;

  Extolling Patience as the truest fortitude;

  655

  And to the bearing well of all calamities,

  All chances incident to mans frail life

  Consolatories writ

  With studied argument, and much perswasion sought

  Lenient72 of grief and anxious thought,

  660

  But with th’ afflicted in his pangs thir sound

  Little prevails, or rather seems a tune,

  Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint,

  Unless he feel within

  Some sourse of consolation from above;

  665

  Secret refreshings, that repair his strength,

  And fainting spirits uphold.

  God of our Fathers, what is man!

  That thou towards him with hand so various,

  Or might I say contrarious,

  670

  Temperst thy providence through his short course,

  Not ev’nly, as thou rul’st

  Th’ Angelic orders and inferiour creatures mute,

  Irrational and brute.

  Nor do I name of men the common rout,

  675

  That wandring loose about

  Grow up and perish, as the summer flie,

  Heads without name no more rememberd,

  But such as thou hast solemnly elected,

  With gifts and graces eminently adorn’d

  680

  To some great work, thy glory,

  And peoples safety, which in part they effect:

  Yet toward these thus dignifi’d, thou oft

  Amidst thir highth of noon,

  Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard

  685

  Of highest favours past

  From thee on them, or them to thee of service.

  Nor only dost degrade them, or remit

  To life obscur’d, which were a fair dismission,

  But throw’st them lower then thou didst exalt them high,

  690

  Unseemly falls in human eie,

  Too grievous for the trespass or omission,

  Oft leav’st them to the hostile sword

  Of Heathen and prophane, thir carkasses

  To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv’d:

  695

  Or to th’ unjust tribunals, under change of times,

  And condemnation of th’ ingrateful multitude.

  If these they scape, perhaps in poverty

  With sickness and disease thou bow’st them down,

  Painful diseases and deform’d,

  700

  In crude73 old age;

  Though not disordinate, yet causless suffring

  The punishment of dissolute days, in fine,

  Just or unjust, alike seem miserable,

  For oft alike, both come to evil end.

  705

  So deal not with this once thy glorious Champion,

  The Image of thy strength, and mighty minister.

  What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already?

  Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn

  His labours, for thou canst, to peaceful end.

  710

  But who is this, what thing of Sea or Land?

  Femal of sex it seems,

  That so bedeckt, ornate, and gay,

  Comes this way sailing

  Like a stately Ship

  715

  Of Tarsus, bound for th’ Isles

  Of Javan or Gadier74

  With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,

  Sails fill’d, and streamers waving,

  Courted by all the winds that hold them play,

  720

  An Amber75 scent of odorous perfume

  Her harbinger, a damsel train behind;

  Some rich Philistian Matron she may seem,

  And now at nearer view, no other certain

  Then Dalila thy wife.

  725

  Samson. My Wife, my Traytress, let her not come near me.

  Chorus. Yet on she moves, now stands and eies thee fixt,

  About t’ have spoke, but now, with head declin’d

  Like a fair flower surcharg’d with dew, she weeps

  And words addrest seem into tears dissolv’d,

  730

  Wetting the borders of her silk’n veil:

  But now again she makes address to speak.

  Dalila. With doubtful feet and wavering resolution

  I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson,

  Which to have merited, without excuse,

  735

  I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears

  May expiate (though the fact more evil drew

  In the perverse event then I foresaw)

  My penance hath not slack’n’d, though my pardon

  No way assur’d. But conjugal affection

  740

  Prevailing over fear, and timerous doubt

  Hath led me on desirous to behold

  Once more thy face, and know of thy estate,

  If aught in my ability may serve

  To light’n what thou suffer’st, and appease

  745

  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;76 these are thy wonted arts,

  And arts of every woman false like thee,

  750

  To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,

  Then as repentant to submit, beseech,

  And reconcilement move77 with feign’d remorse,

  Confess, and promise wonders in her change,

  Not truly penitent, but chief to try

  755

  Her husband, how far urg’d his patience bears,

  His vertue or weakness which way t’ assail:

  Then with more cautious and instructed skill

  Again transgresses, and again submits;

  That wisest and best men full oft beguil’d">760

  With goodness principl’d not to reject

  The penitent, but ever to forgive,

  Are drawn to wear out miserable days,

  Entangl’d with a poysnous bosom snake,

  If not by quick destruction soon cut off

  765

  As I by thee, to Ages an ex
ample.

  Dalila. Yet hear me Samson; not that I endeavour

  To lessen or extenuate my offence,

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

  By it self, with aggravations not surcharg’d,

  770

  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,

  775

  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 naught,

  780

  Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety?

  To what I did thou shewdst me first the way.

  But I to enemies reveal’d, and should not.

  Nor shouldst thou have trusted that to womans frailty:

  E’re I to thee, thou to thy self wast cruel.

  785

  Let weakness then with weakness come to parl

  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, then in thy self was found.

  790

  And what if Love, which thou interpret’st hate,

  The jealousie of Love, powerful of sway

  In human hearts, nor less in mine towards thee,

  Caus’d what I did? I saw thee mutable

  Of fancy, feard lest one day thou wouldst leave me

  795

  As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore

  How to endear, and hold thee to me firmest:

  No better way I saw then by importuning

  To learn thy secrets, get into my power

  Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say,

  800

  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,

  805

  While I at home sate full of cares and fears

  Wailing thy absence in my widow’d bed;

  Here I should still enjoy thee day and night

  Mine and Loves prisoner, not the Philistines,

  Whole to my self, unhazarded abroad,

  810

  Fearless at home of partners in my love.

  These reasons in Loves law have past for good,

  Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps;

  And Love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much wo,

  Yet always pity or pardon hath obtain’d.

  815

  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

  820

  Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine!

  That malice not repentance brought thee hither,

  By this appears: I gave, thou say’st, th’ example,

  I led the way; bitter reproach, but true,

  I to my self was false e’re thou to me;

  825

  Such pardon therefore as I give my folly,

  Take to thy wicked deed: which when thou seest

  Impartial, self-severe, inexorable,

  Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather

  Confess it feign’d, weakness is thy excuse,

  830

  And I believe it. Weakness to resist

  Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse,

  What Murtherer, what Traytor, Parricide,

  Incestuous, Sacrilegious, but may plead it?

  All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore

  835

  With God or Man will gain thee no remission.

  But Love constrain’d thee; call it furious rage

  To satisfie thy lust: Love seeks to have Love;

  My love how couldst thou hope, who tookst the way

  To raise in me inexpiable hate,

  840

  Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray’d?

  In vain thou striv’st to cover shame with shame,

  Or by evasions thy crime uncoverst more.

  Dalila. Since thou determinst weakness for no plea

  In man or woman, though to thy own condemning,

  845

  Hear what assaults I had, what snares besides,

  What sieges girt me round, e’re I consented;

  Which might have aw’d the best resolv’d of men,

  The constantest t’ have yielded without blame.

  It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay’st,

  850

  That wrought with me: thou know’st the Magistrates

  And Princes of my countrey came in person,

  Sollicited, commanded, threat’n’d, urg’d,

  Adjur’d by all the bonds of civil Duty

  And of Religion, press’d how just it was,

  855

  How honourable, how glorious to entrap

  A common enemy, who had destroy’d

  Such numbers of our Nation: and the Priest

  Was not behind, but ever at my ear,

  Preaching how meritorious with the gods

  860

  It would be to ensnare an irreligious

  Dishonourer of Dagon: what had I

  T’ oppose against such powerful arguments?

  Only my love of thee held long debate;

  And combated in silence all these reasons

  865

  With hard contest: at length that grounded maxim

  So rife and celebrated in the mouths

  Of wisest men; that to the public good

  Private respects must yield; with grave authority

  Took full possession of me and prevail’d;

  870

  Vertue, as I thought, truth, duty so enjoyning.

  Samson. I thought where all thy circling wiles would end;

  In feign’d Religion, smooth hypocrisie.

  But had thy love, still odiously pretended,

  Bin, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee

  875

  Far other reasonings, brought forth other deeds.

  I before all the daughters of my Tribe

  And of my Nation chose thee from among

  My enemies, lov’d thee, as too well thou knew’st,

  Too well, unbosom’d all my secrets to thee,

  880

  Not only of levity, but over-power’d

  By thy request, who could deny thee nothing;

  Yet now am judg’d an enemy. Why then

  Didst thou at first receive me for thy husband?

  Then, as since then, thy countries foe profest:

  885

  Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave

  Parents and countrey; nor was I their subject,

  Nor under their protection but my own,

  Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life

  Thy countrey sought of thee, it sought unjustly,

  890

  Against the law of nature, law of nations,

  No more thy countrey, but an impious crew

  Of men conspiring to uphold thir state

  By worse then hostile deeds, violating th’ ends

  For which our countrey is a name so dear;

  895

  Not therefore to be obey’d. But zeal mov’d thee;

  To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable

  To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes

  But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction
>
  Of their own deity, Gods cannot be:

  900

  Less therefore to be pleas’d, obey’d, or fear’d;

  These false pretexts and varnish’d colours failing,

  Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear!

  Dalila. In argument with men a woman ever

  Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.

  905

  Samson, For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath,

  Witness when I was worried with thy peals.78

  Dalila. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken

  In what I thought would have succeeded best.

  Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson,

  910

  Afford me place to shew what recompence

  Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone,

  Misguided; only what remains past cure

  Bear not too sensibly,79 nor still insist

  T’ afflict thy self in vain: though sight be lost,

  915

  Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy’d

  Where other senses want80 not their delights

  At home in leisure and domestic ease,

  Exempt from many a care and chance to which

  Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad.

  920

  I to the Lords will intercede, not doubting

  Thir favourable ear, that I may fetch thee

  From forth this loathsom prison-house, t’ abide

  With me, where my redoubl’d love and care

  With nursing diligence, to me glad office,

  925

  May ever tend about thee to old age

  With all things grateful chear’d, and so suppli’d,

  That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss.

  Samson. No, no, of my condition take no care;

  It fits not; thou and I long since are twain;

  930

  Nor think me so unwary or accurst

  To bring my feet again into the snare

  Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains

  Though dearly to my cost, thy ginns, and toyls;81

  Thy fair enchanted cup, and warbling charms

  935

  No more on me have power, their force is null’d,

 

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