But providence or instinct of nature seems,
Or reafon though difturb'd, and fcarce confulted,
To' have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first, reverend Manoah, and to these
My countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at fome diftance from the place of horror,
So in the fad event too much concern'd.

1545

1550

MAN. The accident was loud, and here before thee With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not; No preface needs, thou feeft we long to know. MESS. It would burst forth, but I recover breath And fenfe diftract, to know well what I utter.

MAN. Tell us the fum, the circumstance defer. MESS. Gaza yet ftands, but all her fons are fall'n, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

MAN. Sad, but thou know'ft to Ifraelites not faddeft, The defolation of a hostile city. [furfeit. MESS. Feed on that first, there may in grief be MAN. Relate by whom.

MESS. By Samfon.

MAN. That still leffens

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

MESS. Ah Manoah, I refrain too fuddenly 1565 To utter what will come at last too soon; Left evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

MAN. Sufpenfe in news is torture, speak them out. MESS. Take then the worst in brief, Samfon is dead. MAN. The worst indeed, O all my hopes defeated To free him hence! but death who fets all free

Hath

Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd
Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring
Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's froft!
Yet, ere I give the reins to grief, say first,
How dy'd he; death to life is crown or shame.
All by him fell thou fay'st, by whom fell hc,

1575

1580

What glorious hand gave Samson his death's wound? MESS. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

MAN. Wearied with flaughter then, or how? explain. MESS. By his own hands.

MAN. Self-violence? what cause

Brought him fo foon at variance with himself
Among his foes?

1585

MESS. Inevitable cause,

At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The edifice, where all were met to fee him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.

MAN. O laftly over-ftrong against thy felf!

1590

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 last was done,

Relation more particular and distinct.

1595

MESS. Occafions drew me early to this city,

And as the gates I enter'd with fun-rife,
The morning trumpets festival proclam'd
Through each high-street: little I had dispatch'd,
When all abroad was rumor'd that this day

1600 Samfon

Samfon should be brought forth, to show the people
Proof of his mighty strength 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
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

1605

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand;

1610

I among these aloof obfcurely stood.

The feast and noon grew high, and facrifice

Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high chear, and wine, When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately

Was Samfon as a public servant brought,

1615

In their state livery clad; before him pipes

1620

And timbrels, on each fide went armed guards,
Both horfe and foot, before him and behind
Archers and flingers, cataphracts and fpears.
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 affay'd,
To heave, pull, draw, or break, he ftill perform'd
All with incredible, ftupendous force,

1625

None daring to appear antagonist.

At length for intermiffion fake they led him
Between the pillars; he his guide requested

1630

(For

(For fo from fuch as nearer stood we heard)
As over-tir'd to let him lean a while
With both his arms on thofe two maffy pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main fupport.
He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfon
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd,
And eyes faft fix'd he ftood, as one who pray'd,
Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd:

At laft with head erect thus cry'd aloud,

1635

Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd 1640
I have perform'd, as reafon was, obeying,
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.
This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves he bow'd,
As with the force of winds and water pents,
When mountains tremble, thofe two maffy pillars
With horrible convulfion to and fro,

1

1645

He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came, and drew
The whole roof after them, with burft of thunder
Upon the heads of all who fat beneath,

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priefts,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only

Of this but each Philiftian city round,

1655

Met from all parts to folemnize this feast.

Samfon with thefe immix'd, inevitably

Pull'd down the fame deftruction on himself;
The vulgar only fcap'd who stood without.

CHO. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! 1660

So fond are mortal men

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As their own ruin on themselves t' invite,

Infenfate left, or to fenfe reprobate,

And with blindness internal struck.

2 SEMICHOR. But he, though blind of fight,

Defpis'd and thought extinguish'd quite,

With inward eyes illuminated,

His fiery virtue rous'd

1680

1685

1690

From