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SAMSON AGONISTES. Ill
MANOAH.
Wilt thou then ferve the Philiftines with that gift
Which was exprefsly giv'n thee to annoy them ?
Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle,
Inglorious, unemploy'd, with age outworn.
But God who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer
From the dry ground to fpring, thy thirft t' allay
After the brunt of battle, can as eafy
Caufe light again within thy eyes to fpring,
Wherewith to ferve him better than thou haftj
And I perfuade me fo; why elfe this ftrength
Miraculous yet remaining in thofe locks?
His might continues in thee not for nought,
Nor mall his wondrous gifts be fruftrate thus.
SAMSON.
All otherwife to me my thoughts portend,
That thefe dark orbs no more mail treat with light,
Nor th' other light of life continue long,
But yield to double darknefs nigh at hand :
So much I feel my genial fpirits droop,
My hopes all flat, nature within me feems
In all her functions weary of herfelf,
My race of glory run, and race of fhame,
And I thall fhortly be with them that reft.
MANOAH.
Believe not thefe fuggeftions which proceed
From anguifh of the mind and humours black,
That mingle with thy fancy.
I however
Muft not omit a father's timely care
To profecute the means of thy deliverance
By ranfom, or how elfe : mean while be calm,