To set his people free,

Have prompted this heroic Nazarite,

Against his vow of strictest purity,

To seek in marriage that fallacious bride, 320

Unclean, unchaste.

Down, Reason, then; at least, vain reasonings, down;

Though Reason here aver

That moral verdict quits her of unclean:

Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his. 325

But see! here comes thy reverend sire,