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118 SAMSON AGONISTES.
To what I did thou fhow'dft me firft the way.
But I to enemies reveal'd, and fhould not:
Nor fhould' ft thou have trufted that to woman's frailty:
Ere I to thee, thou to thyfelf waft cruel.
Let weaknefs then with weaknefs come to parle
So near related, or the fame of kind,
Thine forgive mine; that men may cenfure thine
The gentler, if fcverely thou exa6t not
More ftrength from me, than in thyfelf was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'ft hate,
The jealoufy of love, pow'rful of fway
In human hearts, nor lefs in mine tow'rds thee,
Caus'd what I did? I faw thee mutable
Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would'ft leave me
As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmed:
No better way I faw than by importuning
To learn thy fecrets, get into my powep-
The key of ftrength and fafety: thou wilt
fay,
Why then reveal'd? I was affur'd by thofe
Who tempted me, that nothing was defign'd
Againft thee but fafe cuftody, and hold:
That made for me; I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprifes,
While I at home fat full of cares and fears,
Wailing thy abfence in my widow'd bedj
Here I fhould ftill enjoy thee day and night
Mine and love's prifoner, not the Philiftines,
Whole to myfelf, unhazarded abroad,
Fearlefs at home of partners in my love.
Thefe reafons in love's law have paft for good,