In fleshly tabernacle, and human form, 600 605 610 For Adam and his chosen sons, whom thou 615 Where they shall dwell secure, when time shall be, Or lightning thou shalt fall from Heav'n, trod down 621 625 630 Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek Sung Victor, and from heav'nly feast refresh'd Brought on his way with joy; he unobserved Home to his mother's house private return'd. 635 605. Debel; from the Latin debellare, to overcome in battle. 619. Luke x. 18. 624. Rev ix. 11. SAMSON AGONISTES: A DRAMATIC POEM. THE ARGUMENT. Sanison made captive, blind, and now in the prison of Gaza, nere 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 awhile 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 Philistine lords for Samson's redemption; who in the meanwhile 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 afterwards more distinctly relating the catastrophe what Samson had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends. SAMSON. Attendant leading him. A LITTLE onward lend thy guiding hand 5 Samson Agonistes; Agonistes is a Greek word signifying Actor. The introduction is in imitation of the Edipus Coloneus of Sophocles. For the subject of the poem, and most of the scriptural allusions it contains, reference may be made in general to the Book of Judges. Daily in the common prison else enjoin'd me, Unwholesome draught! but here I feel amends, To Dagon their sea-idol, and forbid Laborious works; unwillingly this rest Their superstition yields me; hence with leave 15 This unfrequented place to find some ease, From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm 20 25 His god-like presence, and from some great act Why was my breeding order'd and prescribed Design'd for great exploits: if I must die Betray'd, captived, and both my eyes put ont, To grind in brazen fetters under task With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious strength Put to the labour of a beast, debased Lower than bond-slave! Promise was that I Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver; Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him 40 Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, 45 Under the seal of silence could not keep By weakest subtleties, not made to rule, 50 55 But to subserve where wisdom bears command ? peace, God, when he gave me strength, to shew withal GO 65 70 Annull'd, which might in part my grief have eased Inferior to the vilest now become Of man or worm; the vilest here excel me, 75 Scarce half I seem to live, dead more than half. 80 Without all hope of day! O first-created beam, and thou great Word, Let there be light, and light was over all; And silent as the moon, When she deserts the night 85 87. Shakspeare, second part of Henry VI. Act 1. Sc. 8.-The silent of the night, which is a classical expression, means, according to Warburton, an interlunar night. Hid in her vacant interlunar cave. She all in every part; why was the sight 95 100 Bury'd, yet not exempt By privilege of death and burial From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs, 105 But made hereby obnoxious more To all the miseries of life, Life in captivity Among inhuman foes. But who are these? for with joint pace I hear 110 The tread of many feet steering this way; Perhaps my enemies, who come to stare Chor. This, this is he; softly a while, Let us not break in upon him; 115 O change beyond report, thought, or belief! See how he lies at random, carelessly diffused, With languish'd head unpropt, As one past hope abandon'd, 120 And by himself given over; In slavish habit, ill-fitted weeds O'er-worn and soil'd; Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be he, Irresistible Samson? whom unarm'd 125 [stand; No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast, could with Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid, Ran on embattled armies clad in iron, 118. Diffused, a classical expression very frequently used to describe the languid posture of a weary person. |