Vipt with the lagging rear of winters frost.
Yet e're I give the rains to grief, say first,
How dy'd he? death to life is crown or shame.
All by him fell thou fay'ft, by whom fell he,
What glorious hand gave Samfon his deaths wound?
Meff. Unwounded of his enemies he fell. [plain.
Man. Wearied with slaughter then or how? ex-
Meff. By his own hands. Man. Self-violence?
what cause
Brought him so soon at variance with himself
Among his foes? Me. Inevitable cause
At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The Edifice where all were met to fee him
Upon thir heads and on his own he pull'd.
Man. O laftly over-strong against thy felf! 1590
A dreadful way thou took'ft to thy revenge.
More then anough we know; but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canst,
Eye-witness of what first or last was done,
Relation more particular and distinct.
Me. Occafions drew me early to this City,
And as the gates I enter'd with Sun-rise,
The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim'd
Through each high street: little I had dispatch't
When all abroad was rumour'd that this day 1600
Samfon fhould be brought forth to shew the people
Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;
I forrow'd at his captive state, but minded
Not to be absent at that spectacle.
The building was a fpacious Theatre
Half round on two main Pillars vaulted high, With feats where all the Lords and each degree
Or reason though disturb'd, and scarfe confulted
To have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these
My Countreymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at some distance from the place of horrour,
So in the fad event too much concern'd.
Man. The accident was loud, & here before thee With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not, No Preface needs, thou seest we long to know. Meff. It would burst forth, but I recover breath And sense distract, to know well what I utter.
Man. Tell us the fum, the circumftance defer. Meff. Gaza yet stands, but all her Sons are fall'n, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.
Man. Sad, but thou knowft to Ifraelites not faddeft The defolation of a Hoftile City. 1561 Me. Feed on that first, there may in griefbe surfet. Man. Relate by whom. Me. By Samfon. Man. That still leffens
The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Meff. Ah Manoa I refrain, too fuddenly To utter what will come at laft too foon; Left evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.
Man. Sufpenfe in news is torture, speak them out. Me. Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead. Man. The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated To free him hence! but death who fets all free Hath paid his ransom 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 winters frost.
Yet e're I give the rains to grief, say first,
How dy'd he? death to life is crown or fhame.
All by him fell thou fay'st, by whom fell he,
What glorious hand gave Samfon his deaths wound?
Meff. Unwounded of his enemies he fell. [plain.
Man. Wearied with slaughter then or how? ex-
Meff. By his own hands. Man. Self-violence?
Brought him fo foon at variance with himself
Among his foes? Me. Inevitable cause
At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The Edifice where all were met to fee him
thir heads and on his own he pull'd.
Man. O laftly over-strong against thy self! 1590
A dreadful way thou took'ft to thy revenge.
More then anough we know; but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canft,
Eye-witness of what first or last was done,
Relation more particular and distinct.
Me. Occafions drew me early to this City,
And as the gates I enter'd with Sun-rife,
The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim'd
Through each high street: little I had dispatch't
When all abroad was rumour'd that this day 1600
Samfon fhould be brought forth to shew 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.
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 op'n, where the throng
On banks and scaffolds under Skie might stand; I among these aloof obscurely stood.
The Feast and noon grew high, and Sacrifice
Had fill'd thir hearts with mirth, high chear, & wine,
When to thir sports they turn'd. Immediately
Was Samfon as a public fervant brought,
In thir state Livery clad; before him Pipes
And Timbrels, on each fide went armed guards,
Both horse and foot before him and behind
Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts and Spears.
At fight of him the people with a shout
Rifted the Air clamouring thir god with praise,
Who had made thir dreadful enemy thir 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 affay'd,
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still 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 1630 (For fo from fuch as nearer ftood we heard)
As over-tir'd to let him lean a while
With both his arms on those two maffie Pillars
That to the arched roof gave main fupport.
He unfufpitious led him; which when Samfon
Felt in his arms, with head a while enclin'd,
And eyes faft fixt he stood, as one who pray'd,
Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd.
At last with head erect thus cryed aloud,
Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd
I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,
Not without wonder or delight beheld.
Now of my own accord fuch other tryal
I mean to fhew you of my strength, yet greater;
As with amaze shall strike all who behold.
This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves he bow'd,
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When Mountains tremble, thofe two maffie Pillars
With horrible convulfion to and fro,
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 fate beneath,
Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests,
Thir choice nobility and flower, not only
Of this but each Philiftian City round
Met from all parts to folemnize this Feast.
Samfon with these immixt, inevitably
Pulld down the fame deftruction on himself;
The vulgar only scap'd who stood without.
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 self-kill'd
Not willingly, but tangl'd in the fold,
Of dire neceffity, whose law in death conjoin'd Thee with thy flaughter'd foes in number more
Then all thy life had flain before.
Semichor. While thir hearts were jocund and fubDrunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine,
And fat regorg'd of Bulls and Goats,
|