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The Argument.

Amfon made Captive, Blind, and now in the Prifon at Gaza, there to labour as in a common workboufe; on a Festival day, in the general ceffation from labour, comes forth into the open Air, to a place nigh, fomewhat retir'd, there to fit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be vifited by certain friends and equals of bis tribe, which make the Chorus, who seek to comfort him what they can; then by his old Father Manoa, who endeavours the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his liberty by ranfom; and laftly, that this Feaft was proclaim'd by the Philiftines as a day of Thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more troubles him. Manoa then departs to profecute his endeavour with the Philiftian Lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and lastly by a public Officer to require bis coming to the Feaft before the Lords and People, to play or fhew his ftrength in their prefence:

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be at first refufes, dismissing the public Officer with abfolute denial to come; at length perfuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the fecond time with great threatnings to fetch him The Chorus yet remaining on the place, Manoa returns full of joyful hope, to procure ere long his Son's deliverance: in the midft of which difcourfe an Hebrew comes in bafte, confufedly at firft, and afterward more diftinctly relating to him the Cataftrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philif tines, and by accident to himself; where with the Tragedy ends.

E 4

The PERSONS.

SAMSON.

MANOA, The Father of Samfon.

DALILA bis Wife.

HARAPHA of Gath.

Publick Officer.

Messenger.

Chorus of Danites.

The Scene before the Prifon in Gaza.

SAMSON AGONISTES.

A

SAMSON.

Little onward lend thy guiding hand
To thefe dark fteps, a little farther on;
For yonder bank hath choice of Sun or

shade:

5.

There I am wont to fit, when any chance
Relieves me from my task of servile toil,
Daily in the common Prifon else enjoin'd me;
Where I a Pris'ner chain'd, fcarce freely draw
The Air imprison'd alfo, close and damp,
Unwholefome draught: but here I feel amends,
The breath of Heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet,
With day-fpring born; here leave me to refpire. 11
This day a folemn Feast the people hold
To Dagon their Sea-Idol, and forbid
Laborious works; unwillingly this reft

Their Superftition yields me: hence with leave 15
Retiring from the pop'lar noife, I feek
This unfrequented Place to find some ease,
Eafe to the body fome, none to the mind
From reftless thoughts, that like a deadly fwarm
Of hornets arm'd, no fooner found alone,

E 5

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But rush upon me thronging, and present
Times paft, what once I was, and what am now.
O wherefore was my birth from Heav'n foretold
Twice by an Angel; who at last in fight,
Of both my Parents all in flames afcended
From off the Altar, where an Off'ring burn'd,
As in a fiery column charioting

His God-like prefence, and from some great act
Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race?

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Why was my breeding order'd and prefcrib'd, 30. As of a perfon feparate to God,

Defign'd for great exploits; if I must die

Betray'd, captiv`d, and both my Eyes put out,
Made of my Enemies the fcorn and gaze;

To grind in brazen fetters under task,

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With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious strength

Put to the labour of a beast, debas'd

Lower than bondflave! Promife was that I

Should Ifrael from Philiftian yoke deliver;

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Afk for this great deliv'rer now, and find him 40
Eyelefs in Gaza at the Mill with flaves,
Himself in bonds under Philiftian yoke.
Yet ftay, let me not rafhly call in doubt
Divine Prediction: what if all foretold
Had been fulfill'd but thro' my own default,
Whom have I to complain of but myself;
Who this high gift of ftrength committed to me,
In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me,
Under the Seal of filence could not keep,
But weakly to a Woman muft reveal it,
O'ercome with importunity and tears?

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