Samson Agonistes

"To live a life half dead, a living death."

"The sun to me is dark And silent as the moon, When she deserts the night, Hid in her vacant interlunar cave."

"Ran on embattled armies clad in iron, And, weaponless himself, Made arms ridiculous."

"What boots it at one gate to make defense, And at another to let in the foe?"

"But who is this, what thing of sea or land? Female of sex it seems, That so bedecked, ornate, and gay, Comes this way sailing Like a stately ship Of Tarsus, bound for th isles Of Javan or Gadire, With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails filled, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play; An amber scent of odorous perfume Her harbinger?"

"Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt, Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair, And what may quiet us in a death so noble."

"Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do What then thou wouldst."

"My race of glory run, and race of shame, And I shall shortly be with them at rest."

"Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end; Not wedlock-treachery."

"Dalila: In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. Samson: For want of words, no doubt, or lack of breath!"

"Fame, if not double-faced, is double-mouthed, And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds; On both his wings, one black, the other white, Bears greatest names in his wild airy flight."

"The way to know were not to see, but taste."