yfs SAMSON AGONISTES. 563 None offering fight; who fingle combatant Duel'd their armies rank'd in proud array, 345 Himfelf an army, now unequal match To fave himfelf againft a coward arm'd At one fpear's length. 0 ever failing truft In mortal firength ! and oh what not in man Deceivable and vain ? Nay what thing good 350 Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane ? I pray'd for children, and thought barrennefs In wedlock a reproach ; I gain'd a fon, And fuch a fon as all men hail'd me happy ; Who would be now a father in my (lead ? 355 0 wherefore did God grant me my requef1, And as a bleffing with fuch pomp adorn'd ? Why are his gifts defirable, to tempt Our earnefi pray'rs, then giv'n with folemn hand As graces, draw a icorpion's tail behind ? 360 For this did th' Angel twice defcend ? for this Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a plant Select, and facred, glorious for a while, The miracle of men then in an hour Infnar'd, afraulted, overcome, led bound, 365 Thy foes derifion, captive, poor and blind, Into a dungeon thruff, to work with (laves Alas methinks whom God bath chofen once To worthieft deeds, if he through frailty err, He fhould not fo o'erwhelm, and as a thrall 370 Subject him to fuch foul indignities, Be it but for honor's fake of former deeds. Sam. Appoint not heav'nly difpofition, Father ; Nothing of all thefe evils bath befall'n me But juffly ; I myfelf have brought them on, 375 Sole author I, foie caufe : if ought feem vile, As vile bath been my folly, who' have profan'd The myftery of God giv'n me under pledge Of
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