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monly called the plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but such œconomy, or disposition of the fable as may stand best with verisimilitude and decorum; they only will best judge who are not unacquainted with Eschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the three tragic poets unequalled yet by any, and the best rule to all who endeavour to write tragedy. The circumscription of time, wherein the whole drama begins and ends, is according to ancient rule, and best example, within the space of twenty-four hours.

THE ARGUMENT.

SAMSON made captive, blind, and now in the prison at Gaza, there to labour as in a common workhouse, on a festival day, in the general cessation from labour, comes forth into the open air to a place nigh, somewhat retired, there to sit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be visited by certain friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who seek to comfort him what they can; then by his old father Manoah, who endeavours the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his liberty by ransom; lastly, that this feast was proclaimed by the Philistines as a day of thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samson, which yet more troubles him. Manoah then departs to prosecute his endeavour with the Philistian lords for Samson's redemption; who in the mean while is visited by other persons; and lastly by a public officer, to require his coming to the feast before the lords and people, to play or shew his strength in their presence; he at first refuses, dismissing the public officer with absolute denial to come; at length persuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the second time with great threatenings to fetch him: the Chorus yet remaining on the place, Manoah returns full of joyful hope, to procure ere long his son's deliverance; in the midst of which discourse an Hebrew comes in haste, confusedly at first, and afterward more distinctly relating the catastrophe, what Samson had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends.

SAMSON.

THE PERSONS.

MANOAH, the Father of Samson.

DALILA, his Wife.

HARAPHA of Gath.

PUBLIC OFFICER.

MESSENGER.

CHORUS OF DANITES.

The Scene before the Prison in Gaza.

SAMSON AGONISTES.

SAMSON.

A LITTLE onward lend thy guiding hand
To these dark steps, a little further on;
For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade:

Samson Agonistes.] The subject, but a very indifferent one for a dramatic fable. However he has made the best of it. He seems to have chosen it for the sake of the satire on bad wives. Warburton.

Samson Agonistes.] That is, Samson an actor, Samson represented in a play. Ayons, ludio, histrio, actor scenicus.

Samson Agonistes.] Rather ayaon, certator, a combatant, that is, one, according to Milton himself, v. 1601.

-brought forth, to shew the people Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;

a combatant indeed not opposed, as he says, v. 1628.

None daring to appear antagonist. Further proof, if more be wanted, of the true meaning of this title, may be found in the titles of Milton's intended tragedies printed at the end of this, where every epithet marks some particular circumstance in the life of the hero of the proposed drama;

e. g. Eliseus Hudrophantes, Adorodocetus, Menutes, i. e. Elisha the discoverer of water, the uncorrupted, the revealer of counsels, &c. (2 Kings iii. v. vi.) E.

Samson.] Milton, after the example of the Greek tragedians, whom he professes to imitate, opens his drama with introducing one of its principal personages explaining the story upon which it is founded. Thyer.

1. A little onward lend thy guiding hand

To these dark steps,] So Tiresias in Euripides, Phonissæ, ver. 841.

Ήγου προπαροιθε θυγατερ, ὡς τυφλῳ wodi &c.

Richardson.

3. For yonder bank] The scene of this tragedy is much the same as that of the Οιδίπους επί Κολωνῳ in Sophocles, where blind Edipus is conducted in like manner, and represented sitting upon a little hill near Athens: but yet I think there is scarcely a single

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