THE PERSONS. SAMSON. MANOAH, the Father of Samson. DALILA, his Wife, HARAPHA OF GATH. Public Officer. Messenger. Chorus of Danites. The Scene before the Prison in Gaza. SAMSON AGONISTES. SAMS. A LITTLE onward lend thy guiding hand For yonder bank hath choice of sun or shade: 5 Unwholesome draught: but here I feel amends, Their superstition yields me; hence with leave 15 2 dark steps] Euripidis Phoenissæ, 841. Ηγοῦ πάροιθε, θύγατερ, ὥς τυφλῶ πόδι. Richardson. 19 swarm] Sydney's Arcadia, p. 164, ed. 13th. 'A new swarm of thoughts stinging her mind.' Todd. 20 Of hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone, Of both my parents all in flames ascended His god-like presence, and from some great act Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd Design'd for great exploits, if I must die Lower than bondslave! 25 30 35 [strength Promise was that I Should Israel from Philistine yoke deliver; Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him 40 33 captiv'd] And captìv'd kings.' Ross's Mel Heliconium, p. 55. Israel captìv'd.' Cowley's Davideis, lib. ii. p. 84. In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me, By weakest subtleties, not made to rule, But to subserve where wisdom bears command. 50 55 60 65 Light the prime work of God to me's 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 vilest here excel me; 53 strength] Ovidii Met. xiii. 363. • Tú vires sine mente geris.' Jortin. 75 To daily fraud, contempt, abuse, and wrong. Scarce half I seem to live, dead more than half. O first created beam, and thou great Word, Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime decree? And silent as the moon, When she deserts the night Hid in her vacant interlunar cave. Since light so necessary is to life, 80 85 90 And almost life itself, if it be true That light is in the soul, She all in every part; why was the sight To such a tender ball as th' eye confin'd, So obvious and so easy to be quench'd? And not as feeling through all parts diffus'd, 95 87 silent] Mediæque silentia lunæ.' Stat. Theb. ii. 58. 'tacito sub lumine Phoeben.' Sil. Ital. xv. 566. Mr. Todd quotes Dante Inferno, c. 1. Mi ripingeva là dove 'l sol tace.' Mr. Dyce cites Shirley's Bird in a Cage, act iii. sc. 2. As silent as the moon.' 89 cave] Claudiani Cons. Stilickonis, iii. 268. Concepit luna cavernis.' Iliados Epitome, ed. Korten, ver. 875. quantum vel in orbe mearet |