Man. Sad, but thou know'ft to Ifraelites not faddeft The defolation of a hostile city.

1561

Mefs. Feed on that first, there may in grief be furfeit.
Man. Relate by whom. Mefs. By Samfon.
Man. That ftill leffens

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

Mess. Ah Manoah, I refrain, too suddenly 1565 To utter what will come at last too soon; Left evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

1575

Man. Suspense in news is torture, speak them out. Mefs. Take then the worst in brief, Samson is dead. Man. The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated 1571 To free him hence! but death who fets all free Hath paid his ransome now and full discharge. What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost! Yet ere I give the reins to grief, say first, How dy'd he; death to life is crown or fhame. All by him fell thou fay'ft, by whom fell he, 1580 What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound? Mefs. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

Man. Wearied with flaughter then or how? explain. Mefs. By his own hands.

Man. Self-violence? what cause

Brought him fo foon at variance with himself

1585

Among his foes? Mefs. Inevitable cause
At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The edifice, where all were met to see him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.

1590

Man. O laftly over-strong against thyself!
A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge.
More than enough we know; but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canft,

Eye-witnefs of what firft or laft was done,
Relation more particular and distinct.

1595

Mefs. Occafions drew me early to this city, And as the gates I enter'd with sun-rise, The morning trumpets feftival proclam'd Through each high street: little I had dispatch'd, When all abroad was rumor'd that this day

1601

Samfon should be brought forth, to show the people
Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;
I forrow'd at his captive ftate, but minded
Not to be abfent at that fpcctacle.

The building was a spacious theatre

Half-round on two main pillars vaulted high,
With feats where all the lords and each degree
Of fort, might fit in order to behold;

1605

The other fide was open, where the throng

1610

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand;

I among these aloof obscurely stood.

The feast and noon grew high, and facrifice

Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high chear, and wine,

When

When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately 1615
Was Samfon as a public fervant brought,

In their state livery clad; before him pipes
And timbrels, on each fide went armed guards,
Both horse and foot, before him and behind
Archers, and flingers, cataphracts and fpears. 1620
At fight of him the people with a shout
Rifted the air, clamoring their God with praise,
Who' had made their dreadful enemy their thrall.
He patient but undaunted where they led him,
Came to the place, and what was set before him,
Which without help of eye might be assay'd,
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he ftill perform'd
All with incredible, ftupendious force,

None daring to appear antagonist.

At length for intermiffion fake they led him
Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For fo from fuch as nearer stood we heard)
As over-tir'd to let him lean a while
With both his arms on those two massy pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main support.
He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfon
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd,
And eyes faft fix'd he flood, as one who pray'd,
Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd:
At last with head erect thus cry'd aloud,
Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd
I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,

1625

1630

1635

1640

Not

Not without wonder or delight beheld:

Now of my own accord fuch other trial

I mean to fhow you of my ftrength, yet greater; 1645
As with amaze fhall ftrike all who behold.

This utter'd, flraining all his nerves he bow'd,
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars
With horrible convulfion to and fro,

1650

He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder Upon the heads of all who fat beneath,

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flow'r, not only
Of this but each Philiftian city round
Met from all parts to folemnize this feast.
Samfon with thefe immix'd, inevitably
Pull'd down the fame deftruction on himself;
The vulgar only fcap'd who flood without.

Chor. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious!

1655

1661

Thee with thy flaughter'd foes in number more
Than all thy life had flain before.

(lime,

Semichor. While their hearts were jocond and sub

Drunk

Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine,

1671

And fat regorg'd of bulls and goats,

Chaunting their idol, and preferring
Before our living Dread who dwells

In Silo his bright fanctuary:

Among them he a spirit of phrenzy sent,
Who hurt their minds,

And urg'd them on with mad defire
To call in hafte for their destroyer;
They only set on sport and play
Unweetingly importun'd

1675

1680

Their own destruction to come speedy upon them.

So fond are mortal men

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themselves t' invite,

1685