Page images
PDF
EPUB

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 way thou took'ft to thy revenge.
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 diftinct.

1595

Meff. Occasions drew me early to this city, And as the gates I enter'd with sun-rise, The morning trumpets festival 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 fhow 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

1605

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 obscurely stood.

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 fide went armed guards,
Both horse and foot, before him and behind
Archers, and flingers, cataphracts and spears. 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 assay'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 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 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 last with head erect thus cry'd aloud,
Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd
I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,

1640

Not

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 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 1655
Of this but each Philiftian city round

Met from all parts to folemnize this feast.
Samfon with these immix'd, inevitably

Pull'd down the fame deftruction on himself;
The vulgar only fcap'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 self-kill'd

Not willingly, but tangled in the fold

1665

Of dire neceffity, whofe 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 fub

Drunk

Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine,
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 fet on sport and play
Unweetingly importun'd

1671

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

[blocks in formation]

Deprefs'd, and overthrown, as feem'd,

Like that felf-begotten bird

In the Arabian woods imbost,

That no fecond knows or third,
And lay here while a holocaust,

1700

From out her afhy womb now teem'd,

Revives, reflorishes, then vigorous moft

1705

When most unactive deem'd,

And though her body die, her fame survives
A fecular bird ages of lives.

Man. Come, come, no time for lamentation now, Nor much more cause; Samson hath quit himself Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd

A life heroic, on his enemies

1711

1715

Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,
And lamentation to the fons of Caphtor
Through all Philiftian bounds; to Ifrael
Honor hath left, and freedom, let but them
Find courage to lay hold on this occafion;
To' himself and father's houfe eternal fame;
And which is best and happiest yet, all this
With God not parted from him, as was fear'd, 1720
But favoring and assisting to the end.

Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt, Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair, And what may quiet us in a death fo noble. 1725 Let us go find the body where it lies

Sok'd

« PreviousContinue »