Samfon made captive, blind, and now in the prifon at Gaza, there to labor as in a common work-house, on a festival day, in the general ceffation from labor, 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 his tribe, which make the Chorus, who feek to comfort him what they can; then by his old father Manoah, who endevors the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his liberty by ranfome; laftly, that this feaft was proclam'd by the Philifines as a day of thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more troubles him. Manoah then departs to profecute his endevor with the Philiftian lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and lafly by a public officer to require his coming to the feast before the lords and people, to play or fhow his frength in their prefence; he at first refufes, difmiffing 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, Manoah returns full of joyful hope, to procure ere long his fon's deliverance: in the midst of which difcourfe an Hebrew comes in hafte, confufedly at first, and afterward more diftinctly relating the catastrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philiftines, and by accident to himfelf; wherewith the tragedy ends. THE PERSONS. SAMSON. MANOAH, the Father of Samfon. DALILA, his Wife. HARAPHA of Gath. Public Officer. Messenger. Chorus of Danites. The SCENE before the Prifon in Gaza.. SAMSON AGONISTES. Samf. A Little onward lend thy guiding hand To these dark steps, a little further on; For yonder bank hath choice of fun or fhade: 5 Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends, Their superstition yields me; hence with leave 15 N 2 20 Times 256553B Times past, what once I was, and what am now. His god-like prefence, and from fome great act 25 Why was my breeding order'd and prefcrib'd 30 As of a person separate to God, Design'd for great exploits; if I must die Betray'd, captiv'd, and both my eyes put out, To grind in brazen fetters under task 35 With this Heav'n-gifted frength? O glorious flrength Lower than bondflave! Promife was that I Afk for this great deliverer now, and find him 40 Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, 45 But But weakly to a woman muft reveal it, 50 55 By weakeft fubtleties, not made to rule, But to fubferve where wifdom bears command! God, when he gave me strength, to show withal How flight the gift was, hung it in my hair. But peace, I must not quarrel with the will бо 65 Light the prime work of God to me' is extinct, 70 And all her various objects of delight Annull'd, which might in part my grief have eas'd, Of man or worm; the vileft here excel me, 75 |