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

1561

Melf. Feed on that firft, there may in grief be fur-
Man. Relate by whom. Me. By Samson. (feit.
Man. That ftill leffens

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Mess. Ah Manoah, I refrain, too fuddenly 1565
To utter what will come at laft too foon;
Left evil tidings with too rude irruption
Hitting thy aged ear fhould pierce too deep.

1575

Man. Suspense in news is torture, speak them out. Melf. Take then the worst in brief, Samfon 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 say'st, by whom fell he, 1580 What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound? Meff. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

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

Man. Self-violence? what cause

1585

Among

Brought him fo foon at variance with himself

U 2

Among his foes? Meff. 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 lafly over-strong against thyself!
A dreadful thou took'ft to thy revenge.

way

More than enough we know; but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canft,
Eye-witness of what first or laft was done,
Relation more particular and distinct.

1595

Me. 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 ftrength in feats and games; I forrow'd at his captive state, but minded Not to be abfent at that spectacle.

1605

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;..

The other fide was open, where the throng 1610
On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand;
I among these aloof obfcurely ftood.

The feaft and noon grew high, and facrifice (wine,
Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high chear, and

When

1616

When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately
Was Samfon as a public fervant brought,
In their state livery clad; before him pipes
And timbrels, on each side 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 fet before him,
Which without help of eye might be affay'd, 1626
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd
All with incredible, ftupendious force,
None daring to appear antagonist.

At length for intermission sake they led him 1630
Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For so from such 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 fupport. 1635
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 laft with head erect thus cry'd aloud,
Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd
I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,

1640

Not

1

Not without wonder or delight beheld:
Now of my own accord fuch other trial

I mean to show you of my ftrength, yet greater;
As with amaze fhall ftrike all who behold.
1646
This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves he bow'd,
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When mountains tremble, those two maffy 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 1655
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 scap'd who stood without. 1660 Chor. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! Living or dying thou haft fulfill'd

The work for which thou waft foretold

To Ifrael, and now ly'ft victorious

Among thy flain felf-kill'd

Not willingly, but tangled in the fold

1665

Of dire neceffity, whose law in death conjoin'd 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 spi'rit of phrenzy fent,

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 deftruction to come speedy upon

them.

So fond are mortal men

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themfelves t' invite.

1685