Samson Agonistes THE ARGUMENT

Samson made Captive, Blind, and now in the Prison at Gaza , there to labour as in a common work-house, on a Festival day , in the general cessation from labour, comes forth into the open Air, to a place nigh, somewhat retir'd there to sit a while 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 Manoa, who endeavours the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his liberty by ransom; lastly, that this Feast was proclaim'd by the Philistins as a day of Thanksgiving for thir deliverance from the hands of Samson, which yet more troubles him. Manoa then departs to prosecute his endeavour with the Philistian Lords for Samson's redemption; who in the mean while is visited by other persons; and lastly by a publick Officer to require his coming to the Feast before the Lords and People, to play or shew his strength in thir presence; he at first refuses, dismissing the publick Officer with absolute denyal to come; at length perswaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the second time with great threatnings to fetch him; the Chorus yet remaining on the place, Manoa returns full of joyful hope, to procure e're long his Sons deliverance: in the midst of which discourse an Ebrew comes in haste confusedly at first; and afterward more distinctly relating the Catastrophe , what Samson had done to the Philistins, and by accident to himself; wherewith the Tragedy ends.

The Scene before the Prison in Gaza

Sams.

A little onward lend thy guiding hand

To these dark steps, a little further on;

For yonder bank hath choice of Sun or shade,

There I am wont to sit, when any chance

Relieves me from my task of servile toyl, [ 5 ]

Daily in the common Prison else enjoyn'd me,

Where I a Prisoner chain'd, scarce freely draw

The air imprison'd also, close and damp,

Unwholsom draught: but here I feel amends,

The breath of Heav'n fresh-blowing, pure and sweet, [ 10 ]

With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.

This day a solemn Feast the people hold

To Dagon thir Sea-Idol, and forbid

Laborious works, unwillingly this rest

Thir Superstition yields me; hence with leave [ 15 ]

Retiring from the popular noise, I seek

This unfrequented place to find some ease,

Ease to the body some, none to the mind

From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm

Of Hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone, [ 20 ]

But rush upon me thronging, and present

Times past, what once I was, and what am now.

O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold

Twice by an Angel, who at last in sight

Of both my Parents all in flames ascended [ 25 ]

From off the Altar, where an Off'ring burn'd,

As in a fiery column charioting

His Godlike presence, and from some great act

Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race?

Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd [ 30 ]

As of a person separate to God,

Design'd for great exploits; if I must dye

Betray'd, Captiv'd, and both my Eyes put out,

Made of my Enemies the scorn and gaze;

To grind in Brazen Fetters under task [ 35 ]

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

Put to the labour of a Beast, debas't

Lower then bondslave! Promise was that I

Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver;

Ask for this great Deliverer now, and find him [ 40 ]

Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves,

Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke;

Yet stay, let me not rashly call in doubt

Divine Prediction; what if all foretold

Had been fulfill'd but through mine own default, [ 45 ]

Whom have I to complain of but my self?

Who this high gift of strength committed to me,

In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me,

Under the Seal of silence could not keep,

But weakly to a woman must reveal it, [ 50 ]

O'recome with importunity and tears.

O impotence of mind, in body strong!

But what is strength without a double share

Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensom,

Proudly secure, yet liable to fall [ 55 ]

By weakest subtleties, not made to rule,

But to subserve where wisdom bears command.

God, when he gave me strength, to shew withal

How slight the gift was, hung it in my Hair.

But peace, I must not quarrel with the will [ 60 ]

Of highest dispensation, which herein

Happ'ly had ends above my reach to know:

Suffices that to me strength is my bane,

And proves the sourse of all my miseries;

So many, and so huge, that each apart [ 65 ]

Would ask a life to wail, but chief of all,

O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!

Blind among enemies, O worse then chains,

Dungeon, or beggery, or decrepit age!

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,

Inferiour to the vilest now become

Of man or worm; the vilest here excel me,

They creep, yet see, I dark in light expos'd [ 75 ]

To daily fraud, contempt, abuse and wrong,

Within doors, or without, still as a fool,

In power of others, never in my own;

Scarce half I seem to live, dead more then half.

O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, [ 80 ]

Irrecoverably dark, total Eclipse

Without all hope of day!

O first created Beam, and thou great Word,

Let there be light, and light was over all;

Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime decree? [ 85 ]

The Sun to me is dark

And silent as the Moon,

When she deserts the night

Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.

Since light so necessary is to life, [ 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 easie to be quench't, [ 95 ]

And not as feeling through all parts diffus'd,

That she might look at will through every pore?

Then had I not been thus exil'd from light;

As in the land of darkness yet in light,

To live a life half dead, a living death, [ 100 ]

And buried; but O yet more miserable!

My self, my Sepulcher, a moving Grave,

Buried, yet not exempt

By priviledge 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 stearing this way;

Perhaps my enemies who come to stare

At my affliction, and perhaps to insult,

Thir daily practice to afflict me more.

Chor. This, this is he; softly a while, [ 115 ]

Let us not break in upon him;

O change beyond report, thought, or belief!

See how he lies at random, carelessly diffus'd,

With languish't head unpropt,

As one past hope, abandon'd, [ 120 ]

And by himself given over;

In slavish habit, ill-fitted weeds

O're worn and soil'd;

Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be hee,

That Heroic, that Renown'd, [ 125 ]

Irresistible Samson? whom unarm'd

No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast could withstand;

Who tore the Lion, as the Lion tears the Kid,

Ran on embattelld Armies clad in Iron,

And weaponless himself, [ 130 ]

Made Arms ridiculous, useless the forgery

Of brazen shield and spear, the hammer'd Cuirass,

Chalybean temper'd steel, and frock of mail

Adamantean Proof;

But safest he who stood aloof, [ 135 ]

When insupportably his foot advanc't,

In scorn of thir proud arms and warlike ,

Spurn'd them to death by Troops. The bold Ascalonite

Fled from his Lion ramp, old Warriors turn'd

Thir plated backs under his heel; [ 140 ]

Or grovling soild thir crested helmets in the dust.

Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,

The Jaw of a dead Ass, his sword of bone,

A thousand fore-skins fell, the flower of Palestin

In Ramath-lechi famous to this day: [ 145 ]

Then by main force pull'd up, and on his shoulders bore

The Gates of Azza, Post, and massie Bar

Up to the Hill by Hebron, seat of Giants old,

No journey of a Sabbath day, and loaded so;

Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heav'n. [ 150 ]

Which shall I first bewail,

Thy Bondage or lost Sight,

Prison within Prison

Inseparably dark?

Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!) [ 155 ]

The Dungeon of thy self; thy Soul

(Which Men enjoying sight oft without cause complain)

Imprison'd now indeed,

In real darkness of the body dwells,

Shut up from outward light [ 160 ]

To incorporate with gloomy night;

For inward light alas

Puts forth no visual beam.

O mirror of our fickle state,

Since man on earth unparallel'd! [ 165 ]

The rarer thy example stands,

By how much from the top of wondrous glory,

Strongest of mortal men,

To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n.

For him I reckon not in high estate [ 170 ]

Whom long descent of birth

Or the sphear of fortune raises;

But thee whose strength, while vertue was her mate

Might have subdu'd the Earth,

Universally crown'd with highest praises. [ 175 ]

Sam. I hear the sound of words, thir sense the air

Dissolves unjointed e're it reach my ear.

Chor. Hee speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might,

The glory late of Israel, now the grief;

We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown [ 180 ]

From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful Vale

To visit or bewail thee, or if better,

Counsel or Consolation we may bring,

Salve to thy Sores, apt words have power to swage

The tumors of a troubl'd mind, [ 185 ]

And are as Balm to fester'd wounds.

Sam. Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I learn

Now of my own experience, not by talk,

How counterfeit a coin they are who friends

Bear in their Superscription (of the most [ 190 ]

I would be understood) in prosperous days

They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head

Not to be found, though sought. Yee see, O friends,

How many evils have enclos'd me round;

Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me, [ 195 ]

Blindness, for had I sight, confus'd with shame,

How could I once look up, or heave the head,

Who like a foolish Pilot have shipwrack't,

My Vessel trusted to me from above,

Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, [ 200 ]

Fool, have divulg'd the secret gift of God

To a deceitful Woman: tell me Friends,

Am I not sung and proverbd for a Fool

In every street, do they not say, how well

Are come upon him his deserts? yet why? [ 205 ]

Immeasurable strength they might behold

In me, of wisdom nothing more then mean;

This with the other should, at least, have paird,

These two proportion'd ill drove me transverse.

Chor. Tax not divine disposal, wisest Men [ 210 ]

Have err'd, and by bad Women been deceiv'd;

And shall again, pretend they ne're so wise.

Deject not so overmuch thy self,

Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides;

Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder [ 215 ]

Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather

Then of thine own Tribe fairer, or as fair,

At least of thy own Nation, and as noble.

Sam. The first I saw at Timna, and she pleas'd

Mee, not my Parents, that I sought to wed, [ 220 ]

The daughter of an Infidel: they knew not

That what I motion'd was of God; I knew

From intimate impulse, and therefore urg'd

The Marriage on; that by occasion hence

I might begin Israel's Deliverance, [ 225 ]

The work to which I was divinely call'd;

She proving false, the next I took to Wife

(O that I never had! fond wish too late.)

Was in the Vale of Sorec, Dalila,

That specious Monster, my accomplisht snare. [ 230 ]

I thought it lawful from my former act,

And the same end; still watching to oppress

Israel's oppressours: of what now I suffer

She was not the prime cause, but I my self,

Who vanquisht with a peal of words (O weakness!) [ 235 ]

Gave up my fort of silence to a Woman.

Chor. In seeking just occasion to provoke

The Philistine, thy Countries Enemy,

Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:

Yet Israel still serves with all his Sons. [ 240 ]

Sam. That fault I take not on me, but transfer

On Israel's Governours, and Heads of Tribes,

Who seeing those great acts which God had done

Singly by me against their Conquerours

Acknowledg'd not, or not at all consider'd [ 245 ]

Deliverance offer'd: I on th' other side

Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds,

The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the dooer;

But they persisted deaf, and would not seem

To count them things worth notice, till at length [ 250 ]

Thir Lords the Philistines with gather'd powers

Enter'd Judea seeking mee, who then

Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd,

Not flying, but fore-casting in what place

To set upon them, what advantag'd best; [ 255 ]

Mean while the men of Judah to prevent

The harrass of thir Land, beset me round;

I willingly on some conditions came

Into thir hands, and they as gladly yield me

To the uncircumcis'd a welcom prey, [ 260 ]

Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threds

Toucht with the flame: on thir whole Host I flew

Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd

Thir choicest youth; they only liv'd who fled.

Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole Tribe, [ 265 ]

They had by this possess'd the Towers of Gath,

And lorded over them whom now they serve;

But what more oft in Nations grown corrupt,

And by thir vices brought to servitude,

Then to love Bondage more then Liberty, [ 270 ]

Bondage with ease then strenuous liberty;

And to despise, or envy, or suspect

Whom God hath of his special Favour rais'd

As thir Deliverer; if he aught begin,

How frequent to desert him, and at last [ 275 ]

To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds?

Chor. Thy words to my remembrance bring

How Succoth and the Fort of Penuel

Thir great Deliverer contemn'd,

The matchless Gideon in pursuit [ 280 ]

Of Madian and her vanquisht Kings:

And how ingrateful Ephraim

Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,

Not worse then by his shield and spear

Defended Israel from the Ammonite, [ 285 ]

Had not his prowess quell'd thir pride

In that sore battel when so many dy'd

Without Reprieve adjudg'd to death,

For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.

Sam. Of such examples add mee to the roule, [ 290 ]

Mee easily indeed mine may neglect,

But Gods propos'd deliverance not so.

Chor. Just are the ways of God,

And justifiable to Men;

Unless there be who think not God at all, [ 295 ]

If any be, they walk obscure;

For of such Doctrine never was there School,

But the heart of the Fool,

And no man therein Doctor but himself.

Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, [ 300 ]

As to his own edicts, found contradicting,

Then give the rains to wandring thought,

Regardless of his glories diminution;

Till by thir own perplexities involv'd

They ravel more, still less resolv'd, [ 305 ]

But never find self-satisfying solution.

As if they would confine th' interminable,

And tie him to his own prescript,

Who made our Laws to bind us, not himself,

And hath full right to exempt [ 310 ]

Whom so it pleases him by choice

From National obstriction, without taint

Of sin, or legal debt;

For with his own Laws he can best dispence.

He would not else who never wanted means, [ 315 ]

Nor in respect of the enemy just cause

To set his people free,

Have prompted this Heroic Nazarite,

Against his vow of strictest purity,

To seek in marriage that fallacious Bride, [ 320 ]

Unclean, unchaste.

Down Reason then, at least vain reasonings down,

Though Reason here aver

That moral verdit quits her of unclean:

Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his. [ 325 ]

But see here comes thy reverend Sire

With careful step, Locks white as doune,

Old Manoa: advise

Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him.

Sam. Ay me, another inward grief awak'd, [ 330 ]

With mention of that name renews th' assault.

Man. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem,

Though in this uncouth place; if old respect,

As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend,

My Son now Captive, hither hath inform'd [ 335 ]

Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age

Came lagging after; say if he be here.

Chor. As signal now in low dejected state,

As earst in highest, behold him where he lies.

Man. O miserable change! is this the man, [ 340 ]

That invincible Samson, far renown'd,

The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength

Equivalent to Angels walk'd thir streets,

None offering fight; who single combatant

Duell'd thir Armies rank't in proud array, [ 345 ]

Himself an Army, now unequal match

To save himself against a coward arm'd

At one spears length. O ever failing trust

In mortal strength! and oh what not in man

Deceivable and vain! Nay what thing good [ 350 ]

Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane?

I pray'd for Children, and thought barrenness

In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a Son,

And such a Son as all Men hail'd me happy;

Who would be now a Father in my stead? [ 355 ]

O wherefore did God grant me my request,

And as a blessing with such pomp adorn'd?

Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt

Our earnest Prayers, then giv'n with solemn hand

As Graces, draw a Scorpions tail behind? [ 360 ]

For this did the Angel twice descend? for this

Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a Plant;

Select, and Sacred, Glorious for a while,

The miracle of men: then in an hour

Ensnar'd, assaulted, overcome, led bound, [ 365 ]

Thy Foes derision, Captive, Poor, and Blind

Into a Dungeon thrust, to work with Slaves?

Alas methinks whom God hath chosen once

To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err,

He should not so o'rewhelm, and as a thrall [ 370 ]

Subject him to so foul indignities,

Be it but for honours sake of former deeds.

Sam. Appoint not heavenly disposition, Father,

Nothing of all these evils hath befall'n me

But justly; I my self have brought them on, [ 375 ]

Sole Author I, sole cause: if aught seem vile,

As vile hath been my folly, who have profan'd

The mystery of God givn me under pledge

Of vow, and have betray'd it to a woman,

A Canaanite, my faithless enemy. [ 380 ]

This well I knew, nor was at all surpris'd,

But warn'd by oft experience: did not she

Of Timna first betray me, and reveal

The secret wrested from me in her highth

Of Nuptial Love profest, carrying it strait [ 385 ]

To them who had corrupted her, my Spies,

And Rivals? In this other was there found

More Faith? who also in her prime of love,

Spousal embraces, vitiated with Gold,

Though offer'd only, by the sent conceiv'd [ 390 ]

Her spurious first-born; Treason against me?

Thrice she assay'd with flattering prayers and sighs,

And amorous reproaches to win from me

My capital secret, in what part my strength

Lay stor'd, in what part summ'd, that she might know: [ 395 ]

Thrice I deluded her, and turn'd to sport

Her importunity, each time perceiving

How openly, and with what impudence

She purpos'd to betray me, and (which was worse

Then undissembl'd hate) with what contempt [ 400 ]

She sought to make me Traytor to my self;

Yet the fourth time, when mustring all her wiles,

With blandisht parlies, feminine assaults,

Tongue-batteries, she surceas'd not day nor night

To storm me over-watch't, and wearied out. [ 405 ]

At times when men seek most repose and rest,

I yielded, and unlock'd her all my heart,

Who with a grain of manhood well resolv'd

Might easily have shook off all her snares:

But foul effeminacy held me yok't [ 410 ]

Her Bond-slave; O indignity, O blot

To Honour and Religion! servil mind

Rewarded well with servil punishment!

The base degree to which I now am fall'n,

These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base [ 415 ]

As was my former servitude, ignoble,

Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,

True slavery, and that blindness worse then this,

That saw not how degeneratly I serv'd.

Man. I cannot praise thy Marriage choises, Son, [ 420 ]

Rather approv'd them not; but thou didst plead

Divine impulsion prompting how thou might'st

Find some occasion to infest our Foes.

I state not that; this I am sure; our Foes

Found soon occasion thereby to make thee [ 425 ]

Thir Captive, and thir triumph; thou the sooner

Temptation found'st, or over-potent charms

To violate the sacred trust of silence

Deposited within thee; which to have kept

Tacit, was in thy power; true; and thou bear'st [ 430 ]

Enough, and more the burden of that fault;

Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying

That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains,

This day the Philistines a popular Feast

Here celebrate in Gaza; and proclaim [ 435 ]

Great Pomp, and Sacrifice, and Praises loud

To Dagon, as their God who hath deliver'd

Thee Samson bound and blind into thir hands,

Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain.

So Dagon shall be magnifi'd, and God, [ 440 ]

Besides whom is no God, compar'd with Idols,

Disglorifi'd, blasphem'd, and had in scorn

By th' Idolatrous rout amidst thir wine;

Which to have come to pass by means of thee,

Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest, [ 445 ]

Of all reproach the most with shame that ever

Could have befall'n thee and thy Fathers house.

Sam. Father, I do acknowledge and confess

That I this honour, I this pomp have brought

To Dagon, and advanc'd his praises high [ 450 ]

Among the Heathen round; to God have brought

Dishonour, obloquie, and op't the mouths

Of Idolists, and Atheists; have brought scandal

To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt

In feeble hearts, propense anough before [ 455 ]

To waver, or fall off and join with Idols;

Which is my chief affliction, shame and sorrow,

The anguish of my Soul, that suffers not

Mine eie to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest.

This only hope relieves me, that the strife [ 460 ]

With me hath end; all the contest is now

Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath presum'd,

Me overthrown, to enter lists with God,

His Deity comparing and preferring

Before the God of Abraham. He, be sure, [ 465 ]

Will not connive, or linger, thus provok'd,

But will arise and his great name assert:

Dagon must stoop, and shall e're long receive

Such a discomfit, as shall quite despoil him

Of all these boasted Trophies won on me, [ 470 ]

And with confusion blank his Worshippers.

Man. With cause this hope relieves thee, and these words

I as a Prophecy receive: for God,

Nothing more certain, will not long defer

To vindicate the glory of his name [ 475 ]

Against all competition, nor will long

Endure it, doubtful whether God be Lord,

Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done?

Thou must not in the mean while here forgot

Lie in this miserable loathsom plight [ 480 ]

Neglected. I already have made way

To some Philistian Lords, with whom to treat

About thy ransom: well they may by this

Have satisfi'd thir utmost of revenge

By pains and slaveries, worse then death inflicted [ 485 ]

On thee, who now no more canst do them harm.

Sam. Spare that proposal, Father, spare the trouble

Of that sollicitation; let me here,

As I deserve, pay on my punishment;

And expiate, if possible, my crime, [ 490 ]

Shameful garrulity. To have reveal'd

Secrets of men, the secrets of a friend,

How heinous had the fact been, how deserving

Contempt, and scorn of all, to be excluded

All friendship, and avoided as a blab, [ 495 ]

The mark of fool set on his front?

But I Gods counsel have not kept, his holy secret

Presumptuously have publish'd, impiously,

Weakly at least, and shamefully: A sin

That Gentiles in thir Parables condemn [ 500 ]

To thir abyss and horrid pains confin'd.

Man. Be penitent and for thy fault contrite,

But act not in thy own affliction, Son,

Repent the sin, but if the punishment

Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids; [ 505 ]

Or th' execution leave to high disposal,

And let another hand, not thine, exact

Thy penal forfeit from thy self; perhaps

God will relent, and quit thee all his debt;

Who evermore approves and more accepts [ 510 ]

(Best pleas'd with humble and filial submission)

Him who imploring mercy sues for life,

Then who self-rigorous chooses death as due;

Which argues over-just, and self-displeas'd

For self-offence, more then for God offended. [ 515 ]

Reject not then what offerd means, who knows

But God hath set before us, to return thee

Home to thy countrey and his sacred house,

Where thou may'st bring thy off'rings, to avert

His further ire, with praiers and vows renew'd. [ 520 ]

Sam. His pardon I implore; but as for life,

To what end should I seek it? when in strength

All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes

With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts

Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, [ 525 ]

Full of divine instinct, after some proof

Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond

The Sons of Anac, famous now and blaz'd,

Fearless of danger, like a petty God

I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded [ 530 ]

On hostile ground, none daring my affront.

Then swoll'n with pride into the snare I fell

Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,

Softn'd with pleasure and voluptuous life;

At length to lay my head and hallow'd pledge [ 535 ]

Of all my strength in the lascivious lap

Of a deceitful Concubine who shore me

Like a tame Weather, all my precious fleece,

Then turn'd me out ridiculous, despoil'd,

Shav'n, and disarm'd among my enemies. [ 540 ]

Chor. Desire of wine and all delicious drinks,

Which many a famous Warriour overturns,

Thou could'st repress, nor did the dancing Rubie

Sparkling, out-pow'red, the flavor, or the smell,

Or taste that cheers the heart of Gods and men, [ 545 ]

Allure thee from the cool Crystalline stream.

Sam. Where ever fountain or fresh current flow'd

Against the Eastern ray, translucent, pure,

With touch ætherial of Heav'ns fiery rod

I drank, from the clear milkie juice allaying [ 550 ]

Thirst, and refresht; nor envy'd them the grape

Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes.

Chor. O madness, to think use of strongest wines

And strongest drinks our chief support of health,

When God with these forbid'n made choice to rear [ 555 ]

His mighty Champion, strong above compare,

Whose drink was only from the liquid brook.

Sam. But what avail'd this temperance, not compleat

Against another object more enticing?

What boots it at one gate to make defence, [ 560 ]

And at another to let in the foe

Effeminatly vanquish't? by which means,

Now blind, dishearten'd, sham'd, dishonour'd, quell'd,

To what can I be useful, wherein serve

My Nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, [ 565 ]

But to sit idle on the houshold hearth,

A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze,

Or pitied object, these redundant locks

Robustious to no purpose clustring down,

Vain monument of strength; till length of years [ 570 ]

And sedentary numness craze my limbs

To a contemptible old age obscure.

Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread,

Till vermin or the draff of servil food

Consume me, and oft-invocated death [ 575 ]

Hast'n the welcom end of all my pains.

Man. Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift

Which was expressly giv'n thee to annoy them?

Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle,

Inglorious, unimploy'd, with age out-worn. [ 580 ]

But God who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer

From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allay

After the brunt of battel, can as easie

Cause light again within thy eies to spring,

Wherewith to serve him better then thou hast; [ 585 ]

And I perswade me so; why else this strength

Miraculous yet remaining in those locks?

His might continues in thee not for naught,

Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus.

Sam. All otherwise to me my thoughts portend, [ 590 ]

That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light,

Nor th' other light of life continue long,

But yield to double darkness nigh at hand:

So much I feel my genial spirits droop,

My hopes all flat, nature within me seems [ 595 ]

In all her functions weary of her self;

My race of glory run, and race of shame,

And I shall shortly be with them that rest.

Man. Believe not these suggestions which proceed

From anguish of the mind and humours black, [ 600 ]

That mingle with thy fancy. I however

Must not omit a Fathers timely care

To prosecute the means of thy deliverance

By ransom or how else: mean while be calm,

And healing words from these thy friends admit. [ 605 ]

Sam. O that torment should not be confin'd

To the bodies wounds and sores

With maladies innumerable

In heart, head, brest, and reins;

But must secret passage find [ 610 ]

To th' inmost mind,

There exercise all his fierce accidents,

And on her purest spirits prey,

As on entrails, joints, and limbs,

With answerable pains, but more intense, [ 615 ]

Though void of corporal sense.

My griefs not only pain me

As a lingring disease,

But finding no redress, ferment and rage,

Nor less then wounds immedicable [ 620 ]

Ranckle, and fester, and gangrene,

To black mortification.

Thoughts my Tormenters arm'd with deadly stings

Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts,

Exasperate, exulcerate, and raise [ 625 ]

Dire inflammation which no cooling herb

Or medcinal liquor can asswage,

Nor breath of Vernal Air from snowy Alp.

Sleep hath forsook and giv'n me o're

To deaths benumming Opium as my only cure. [ 630 ]

Thence faintings, swounings of despair,

And sense of Heav'ns desertion.

I was his nursling once and choice delight,

His destin'd from the womb,

Promisd by Heavenly message twice descending. [ 635 ]

Under his special eie

Abstemious I grew up and thriv'd amain;

He led me on to mightiest deeds

Above the nerve of mortal arm

Against the uncircumcis'd, our enemies. [ 640 ]

But now hath cast me off as never known,

And to those cruel enemies,

Whom I by his appointment had provok't,

Left me all helpless with th' irreparable loss

Of sight, reserv'd alive to be repeated [ 645 ]

The subject of thir cruelty, or scorn.

Nor am I in the list of them that hope;

Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless;

This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard,

No long petition, speedy death, [ 650 ]

The close of all my miseries, and the balm.

Chor. Many are the sayings of the wise

In antient and in modern books enroll'd;

Extolling Patience as the truest fortitude;

And to the bearing well of all calamities, [ 655 ]

All chances incident to mans frail life

Consolatories writ

With studied argument, and much perswasion sought

Lenient of grief and anxious thought,

But with th' afflicted in his pangs thir sound [ 660 ]

Little prevails, or rather seems a tune,

Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint,

Unless he feel within

Some sourse of consolation from above;

Secret refreshings, that repair his strength, [ 665 ]

And fainting spirits uphold.

God of our Fathers, what is man!

That thou towards him with hand so various,

Or might I say contrarious,

Temperst thy providence through his short course, [ 670 ]

Not evenly, as thou rul'st

The Angelic orders and inferiour creatures mute,

Irrational and brute.

Nor do I name of men the common rout,

That wandring loose about [ 675 ]

Grow up and perish, as the summer flie,

Heads without name no more rememberd,

But such as thou hast solemnly elected,

With gifts and graces eminently adorn'd

To some great work, thy glory, [ 680 ]

And peoples safety, which in part they effect:

Yet toward these thus dignifi'd, thou oft

Amidst thir highth of noon,

Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard

Of highest favours past [ 685 ]

From thee on them, or them to thee of service.

Nor only dost degrade them, or remit

To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission,

But throw'st them lower then thou didst exalt them high,

Unseemly falls in human eie, [ 690 ]

Too grievous for the trespass or omission,

Oft leav'st them to the hostile sword

Of Heathen and prophane, thir carkasses

To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd:

Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times, [ 695 ]

And condemnation of the ingrateful multitude.

If these they scape, perhaps in poverty

With sickness and disease thou bow'st them down,

Painful diseases and deform'd,

In crude old age; [ 700 ]

Though not disordinate, yet causeless suffring

The punishment of dissolute days, in fine,

Just or unjust, alike seem miserable,

For oft alike, both come to evil end.

So deal not with this once thy glorious Champion, [ 705 ]

The Image of thy strength, and mighty minister.

What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already?

Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn

His labours, for thou canst, to peaceful end.

But who is this, what thing of Sea or Land? [ 710 ]

Femal of sex it seems,

That so bedeckt, ornate, and gay,

Comes this way sailing

Like a stately Ship

Of Tarsus, bound for th' Isles [ 715 ]

Of Javan or Gadier

With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,

Sails fill'd, and streamers waving,

Courted by all the winds that hold them play,

An Amber sent of odorous perfume [ 720 ]

Her harbinger, a damsel train behind;

Some rich Philistian Matron she may seem,

And now at nearer view, no other certain

Then Dalila thy wife.

Sam. My Wife, my Traytress, let her not come near me. [ 725 ]

Chor. Yet on she moves, now stands & eies thee fixt,

About t' have spoke, but now, with head declin'd

Like a fair flower surcharg'd with dew, she weeps

And words addrest seem into tears dissolv'd,

Wetting the borders of her silk'n veil: [ 730 ]

But now again she makes address to speak.

Dal. With doubtful feet and wavering resolution

I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson,

Which to have merited, without excuse,

I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears [ 735 ]

May expiate (though the fact more evil drew

In the perverse event then I foresaw)

My penance hath not slack'n'd, though my pardon

No way assur'd. But conjugal affection

Prevailing over fear, and timerous doubt [ 740 ]

Hath led me on desirous to behold

Once more thy face, and know of thy estate.

If aught in my ability may serve

To light'n what thou suffer'st, and appease

Thy mind with what amends is in my power, [ 745 ]

Though late, yet in some part to recompense

My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

Sam. Out, out Hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,

And arts of every woman false like thee,

To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, [ 750 ]

Then as repentant to submit, beseech,

And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,

Confess, and promise wonders in her change,

Not truly penitent, but chief to try

Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, [ 755 ]

His vertue or weakness which way to assail:

Then with more cautious and instructed skill

Again transgresses, and again submits;

That wisest and best men full oft beguil'd

With goodness principl'd not to reject [ 760 ]

The penitent, but ever to forgive,

Are drawn to wear out miserable days,

Entangl'd with a poysnous bosom snake,

If not quick destruction soon cut off

As I by thee, to Ages an example. [ 765 ]

Dal. Yet hear me Samson; not that I endeavour

To lessen or extenuate my offence,

But that on th' other side if it be weigh'd

By it self, with aggravations not surcharg'd,

Or else with just allowance counterpois'd [ 770 ]

I may, if possible, thy pardon find

The easier towards me, or thy hatred less.

First granting, as I do, it was a weakness

In me, but incident to all our sex,

Curiosity, inquisitive, importune [ 775 ]

Of secrets, then with like infirmity

To publish them, both common female faults:

Was it not weakness also to make known

For importunity, that is for naught,

Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? [ 780 ]

To what I did thou shewdst me first the way.

But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not.

Nor shouldst thou have trusted that to womans frailty

E're I to thee, thou to thy self wast cruel.

Let weakness then with weakness come to parl [ 785 ]

So near related, or the same of kind,

Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine

The gentler, if severely thou exact not

More strength from me, then in thy self was found.

And what if Love, which thou interpret'st hate, [ 790 ]

The jealousie of Love, powerful of sway

In human hearts, nor less in mine towards thee,

Caus'd what I did? I saw thee mutable

Of fancy, fear'd lest one day thou wouldst leave me

As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore [ 795 ]

How to endear, and hold thee to me firmest:

No better way I saw then by importuning

To learn thy secrets, get into my power

Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say,

Why then reveal'd? I was assur'd by those [ 800 ]

Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd

Against thee but safe custody, and hold:

That made for me, I knew that liberty

Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,

While I at home sate full of cares and fears [ 805 ]

Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed;

Here I should still enjoy thee day and night

Mine and Loves prisoner, not the Philistines,

Whole to my self, unhazarded abroad,

Fearless at home of partners in my love. [ 810 ]

These reasons in Loves law have past for good,

Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps;

And Love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much wo,

Yet always pity or pardon hath obtain'd.

Be not unlike all others, not austere [ 815 ]

As thou art strong, inflexible as steel.

If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed,

In uncompassionate anger do not so.

Sam. How cunningly the sorceress displays

Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine? [ 820 ]

That malice not repentance brought thee hither,

By this appears: I gave, thou say'st, th' example,

I led the way; bitter reproach, but true,

I to my self was false e're thou to me,

Such pardon therefore as I give my folly, [ 825 ]

Take to thy wicked deed: which when thou seest

Impartial, self-severe, inexorable,

Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather

Confess it feign'd, weakness is thy excuse,

And I believe it, weakness to resist [ 830 ]

Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse,

What Murtherer, what Traytor, Parricide,

Incestuous, Sacrilegious, but may plead it?

All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore

With God or Man will gain thee no remission. [ 835 ]

But Love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage

To satisfie thy lust: Love seeks to have Love;

My love how couldst thou hope, who tookst the way

To raise in me inexpiable hate,

Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd? [ 840 ]

In vain thou striv'st to cover shame with shame,

Or by evasions thy crime uncoverst more.

Dal. Since thou determinst weakness for no plea

In man or woman, though to thy own condemning,

Hear what assaults I had, what snares besides, [ 845 ]

What sieges girt me round, e're I consented;

Which might have aw'd the best resolv'd of men,

The constantest to have yielded without blame.

It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st,

That wrought with me: thou know'st the Magistrates [ 850 ]

And Princes of my countrey came in person,

Sollicited, commanded, threatn'd, urg'd,

Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil Duty

And of Religion, press'd how just it was,

How honourable, how glorious to entrap [ 855 ]

A common enemy, who had destroy'd

Such numbers of our Nation: and the Priest

Was not behind, but ever at my ear,

Preaching how meritorious with the gods

It would be to ensnare an irreligious [ 860 ]

Dishonourer of Dagon: what had I

To oppose against such powerful arguments?

Only my love of thee held long debate;

And combated in silence all these reasons

With hard contest: at length that grounded maxim [ 865 ]

So rife and celebrated in the mouths

Of wisest men; that to the public good

Private respects must yield; with grave authority

Took full possession of me and prevail'd;

Vertue, as I thought, truth, duty so enjoyning. [ 870 ]

Sam. I thought where all thy circling wiles would end;

In feign'd Religion, smooth hypocrisie.

But had thy love, still odiously pretended,

Bin, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee

Far other reasonings, brought forth other deeds. [ 875 ]

I before all the daughters of my Tribe

And of my Nation chose thee from among

My enemies, lov'd thee, as too well thou knew'st,

Too well, unbosom'd all my secrets to thee,

Not out of levity, but over-powr'd [ 880 ]

By thy request, who could deny thee nothing;

Yet now am judg'd an enemy. Why then

Didst thou at first receive me for thy husband?

Then, as since then, thy countries foe profest:

Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave [ 885 ]

Parents and countrey; nor was I their subject,

Nor under their protection but my own,

Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life

Thy countrey sought of thee, it sought unjustly,

Against the law of nature, law of nations, [ 890 ]

No more thy countrey, but an impious crew

Of men conspiring to uphold thir state

By worse then hostile deeds, violating the ends

For which our countrey is a name so dear;

Not therefore to be obey'd. But zeal mov'd thee; [ 895 ]

To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable

To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes

But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction

Of their own deity, Gods cannot be:

Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd, [ 900 ]

These false pretexts and varnish'd colours failing,

Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear?

Dal. In argument with men a woman ever

Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.

Sam. For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath, [ 905 ]

Witness when I was worried with thy peals.

Dal. I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken

In what I thought would have succeeded best.

Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson,

Afford me place to shew what recompense [ 910 ]

Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone,

Misguided: only what remains past cure

Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist

To afflict thy self in vain: though sight be lost,

Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd [ 915 ]

Where other senses want not their delights

At home in leisure and domestic ease,

Exempt from many a care and chance to which

Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad.

I to the Lords will intercede, not doubting [ 920 ]

Thir favourable ear, that I may fetch thee

From forth this loathsom prison-house, to abide

With me, where my redoubl'd love and care

With nursing diligence, to me glad office,

May ever tend about thee to old age [ 925 ]

With all things grateful chear'd, and so suppli'd,

That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss.

Sams. No, no, of my condition take no care;

It fits not; thou and I long since are twain;

Nor think me so unwary or accurst [ 930 ]

To bring my feet again into the snare

Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains

Though dearly to my cost, thy ginns, and toyls;

Thy fair enchanted cup, and warbling charms

No more on me have power, their force is null'd, [ 935 ]

So much of Adders wisdom I have learn't

To fence my ear against thy sorceries.

If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men

Lov'd, honour'd, fear'd me, thou alone could hate me

Thy Husband, slight me, sell me, and forgo me; [ 940 ]

How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby

Deceiveable, in most things as a child

Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd,

And last neglected? How wouldst thou insult

When I must live uxorious to thy will [ 945 ]

In perfet thraldom, how again betray me,

Bearing my words and doings to the Lords

To gloss upon, and censuring, frown or smile?

This Gaol I count the house of Liberty

To thine whose doors my feet shall never enter. [ 950 ]

Dal. Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand.

Sam. Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake

My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.

At distance I forgive thee, go with that;

Bewail thy falshood, and the pious works [ 955 ]

It hath brought forth to make thee memorable

Among illustrious women, faithful wives:

Cherish thy hast'n'd widowhood with the gold

Of Matrimonial treason: so farwel.

Dal. I see thou art implacable, more deaf [ 960 ]

To prayers, then winds and seas, yet winds to seas

Are reconcil'd at length, and Sea to Shore:

Thy anger, unappeasable, still rages,

Eternal tempest never to be calm'd.

Why do I humble thus my self, and suing [ 965 ]

For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate?

Bid go with evil omen and the brand

Of infamy upon my name denounc't?

To mix with thy concernments I desist

Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own. [ 970 ]

Fame if not double-fac't is double-mouth'd,

And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds,

On both his wings, one black, th' other white,

Bears greatest names in his wild aerie flight.

My name perhaps among the Circumcis'd [ 975 ]

In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering Tribes,

To all posterity may stand defam'd,

With malediction mention'd, and the blot

Of falshood most unconjugal traduc't.

But in my countrey where I most desire, [ 980 ]

In Ecron, Gaza, Asdod, and in Gath

I shall be nam'd among the famousest

Of Women, sung at solemn festivals,

Living and dead recorded, who to save

Her countrey from a fierce destroyer, chose [ 985 ]

Above the faith of wedlock-bands, my tomb

With odours visited and annual flowers.

Not less renown'd then in Mount Ephraim,

Jael, who with inhospitable guile

Smote Sisera sleeping through the Temples nail'd. [ 990 ]

Nor shall I count it hainous to enjoy

The public marks of honour and reward

Conferr'd upon me, for the piety

Which to my countrey I was judg'd to have shewn.

At this who ever envies or repines [ 995 ]

I leave him to his lot, and like my own.

Chor. She's gone, a manifest Serpent by her sting

Discover'd in the end, till now conceal'd.

Sam. So let her go, God sent her to debase me,

And aggravate my folly who committed [ 1000 ]

To such a viper his most sacred trust

Of secresie, my safety, and my life.

Chor. Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power,

After offence returning, to regain

Love once possest, nor can be easily [ 1005 ]

Repuls't, without much inward passion felt

And secret sting of amorous remorse.

Sam. Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end,

Not wedlock-trechery endangering life.

Cho. It is not vertue, wisdom, valour, wit, [ 1010 ]

Strength, comliness of shape, or amplest merit

That womans love can win or long inherit;

But what it is, hard is to say,

Harder to hit,

(Which way soever men refer it) [ 1015 ]

Much like thy riddle, Samson, in one day

Or seven, though one should musing sit;

If any of these or all, the Timnian bride

Had not so soon preferr'd

Thy Paranymph, worthless to thee compar'd, [ 1020 ]

Successour in thy bed,

Nor both so loosly disally'd

Thir nuptials, nor this last so treacherously

Had shorn the fatal harvest of thy head.

Is it for that such outward ornament [ 1025 ]

Was lavish't on thir Sex, that inward gifts

Were left for haste unfinish't, judgment scant,

Capacity not rais'd to apprehend

Or value what is best

In choice, but oftest to affect the wrong? [ 1030 ]

Or was too much of self-love mixt,

Of constancy no root infixt,

That either they love nothing, or not long?

What e're it be, to wisest men and best

Seeming at first all heavenly under virgin veil, [ 1035 ]

Soft, modest, meek, demure,

Once join'd, the contrary she proves, a thorn

Intestin, far within defensive arms

A cleaving mischief, in his way to vertue

Adverse and turbulent, or by her charms [ 1040 ]

Draws him awry enslav'd

With dotage, and his sense deprav'd

To folly and shameful deeds which ruin ends.

What Pilot so expert but needs must wreck

Embarqu'd with such a Stears-mate at the Helm? [ 1045 ]

Favour'd of Heav'n who finds

One vertuous rarely found,

That in domestic good combines:

Happy that house! his way to peace is smooth:

But vertue which breaks through all opposition, [ 1050 ]

And all temptation can remove,

Most shines and most is acceptable above.

Therefore Gods universal Law

Gave to the man despotic power

Over his female in due awe, [ 1055 ]

Nor from that right to part an hour,

Smile she or lowre:

So shall he least confusion draw

On his whole life, not sway'd

By female usurpation, nor dismay'd. [ 1060 ]

But had we best retire, I see a storm?

Sam. Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain.

Chor. But this another kind of tempest brings.

Sam. Be less abstruse, my riddling days are past.

Chor. Look now for no inchanting voice, nor fear [ 1065 ]

The bait of honied words; a rougher tongue

Draws hitherward, I know him by his stride,

The Giant Harapha of Gath, his look

Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud.

Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither [ 1070 ]

I less conjecture then when first I saw

The sumptuous Dalila floating this way:

His habit carries peace, his brow defiance.

Sam. Or peace or not, alike to me he comes.

Chor. His fraught we soon shall know, he now arrives. [ 1075 ]

Har. I come not Samson, to condole thy chance,

As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been,

Though for no friendly intent. I am of Gath,

Men call me Harapha, of stock renown'd

As Og or Anak and the Emims old [ 1080 ]

That Kiriathaim held, thou knowst me now

If thou at all art known. Much I have heard

Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd

Incredible to me, in this displeas'd,

That I was never present on the place [ 1085 ]

Of those encounters, where we might have tri'd

Each others force in camp or listed field:

And now am come to see of whom such noise

Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey,

If thy appearance answer loud report. [ 1090 ]

Sam. The way to know were not to see but taste.

Har. Dost thou already single me; I thought

Gives and the Mill had tam'd thee; O that fortune

Had brought me to the field where thou art fam'd

To have wrought such wonders with an Asses Jaw; [ 1095 ]

I should have forc'd thee soon with other arms,

Or left thy carkass where the Ass lay thrown:

So had the glory of Prowess been recover'd

To Palestine, won by a Philistine

From the unforeskinn'd race, of whom thou bear'st [ 1100 ]

The highest name for valiant Acts, that honour

Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee,

I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.

Sam. Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do

What then thou would'st, thou seest it in thy hand. [ 1105 ]

Har. To combat with a blind man I disdain,

And thou hast need much washing to be toucht.

Sam. Such usage as your honourable Lords

Afford me assassinated and betray'd,

Who durst not with thir whole united powers [ 1110 ]

In fight withstand me single and unarm'd,

Nor in the house with chamber Ambushes

Close-banded durst attaque me, no not sleeping,

Till they had hir'd a woman with their gold

Breaking her Marriage Faith to circumvent me. [ 1115 ]

Therefore without feign'd shifts let be assign'd

Some narrow place enclos'd, where sight may give thee,

Or rather flight, no great advantage on me;

Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy Helmet

And Brigandine of brass, thy broad Habergeon, [ 1120 ]

Vant-brass and Greves, and Gauntlet, add thy Spear

A Weavers beam, and seven-times-folded shield,

I only with an Oak'n staff will meet thee,

And raise such out-cries on thy clatter'd Iron,

Which long shall not with-hold mee from thy head, [ 1125 ]

That in a little time while breath remains thee,

Thou oft shalt wish thy self at Gath to boast

Again in safety what thou wouldst have done

To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.

Har. Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms [ 1130 ]

Which greatest Heroes have in battel worn,

Thir ornament and safety, had not spells

And black enchantments, some Magicians Art

Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from Heaven

Feigndst at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair, [ 1135 ]

Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs

Were bristles rang'd like those that ridge the back

Of chaf't wild Boars, or ruffl'd Porcupines.

Sam. I know no Spells, use no forbidden Arts;

My trust is in the living God who gave me [ 1140 ]

At my Nativity this strength, diffus'd

No less through all my sinews, joints and bones,

Then thine, while I preserv'd these locks unshorn,

The pledge of my unviolated vow.

For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god, [ 1145 ]

Go to his Temple, invocate his aid

With solemnest devotion, spread before him

How highly it concerns his glory now

To frustrate and dissolve these Magic spells,

Which I to be the power of Israel's God [ 1150 ]

Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,

Offering to combat thee his Champion bold,

With th' utmost of his Godhead seconded:

Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow

Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine. [ 1155 ]

Har. Presume not on thy God, what e're he be,

Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off

Quite from his people, and delivered up

Into thy Enemies hand, permitted them

To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee [ 1160 ]

Into the common Prison, there to grind

Among the Slaves and Asses thy comrades,

As good for nothing else, no better service

With those thy boyst'rous locks, no worthy match

For valour to assail, nor by the sword [ 1165 ]

Of noble Warriour, so to stain his honour,

But by the Barbers razor best subdu'd.

Sam. All these indignities, for such they are

From thine, these evils I deserve and more,

Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me [ 1170 ]

Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon

Whose ear is ever open; and his eye

Gracious to re-admit the suppliant;

In confidence whereof I once again

Defie thee to the trial of mortal fight, [ 1175 ]

By combat to decide whose god is god,

Thine or whom I with Israel's Sons adore.

Har. Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting

He will accept thee to defend his cause,

A Murtherer, a Revolter, and a Robber. [ 1180 ]

Sam. Tongue-doubtie Giant, how dost thou prove me these?

Har. Is not thy Nation subject to our Lords?

Their Magistrates confest it, when they took thee

As a League-breaker and deliver'd bound

Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed [ 1185 ]

Notorious murder on those thirty men

At Askalon, who never did thee harm,

Then like a Robber stripdst them of thir robes?

The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league,

Went up with armed powers thee only seeking, [ 1190 ]

To others did no violence nor spoil.

Sam. Among the Daughters of the Philistines

I chose a Wife, which argu'd me no foe;

And in your City held my Nuptial Feast:

But your ill-meaning Politician Lords, [ 1195 ]

Under pretence of Bridal friends and guests,

Appointed to await me thirty spies,

Who threatening cruel death constrain'd the bride

To wring from me and tell to them my secret,

That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. [ 1200 ]

When I perceiv'd all set on enmity,

As on my enemies, where ever chanc'd,

I us'd hostility, and took thir spoil

To pay my underminers in thir coin.

My Nation was subjected to your Lords. [ 1205 ]

It was the force of Conquest; force with force

Is well ejected when the Conquer'd can.

But I a private person, whom my Countrey

As a league-breaker gave up bound, presum'd

Single Rebellion and did Hostile Acts. [ 1210 ]

I was no private but a person rais'd

With strength sufficient and command from Heav'n

To free my Countrey; if their servile minds

Me their Deliverer sent would not receive,

But to thir Masters gave me up for nought, [ 1215 ]

Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.

I was to do my part from Heav'n assign'd,

And had perform'd it if my known offence

Had not disabl'd me, not all your force:

These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant [ 1220 ]

Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts,

Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,

As a petty enterprise of small enforce.

Har. With thee a Man condemn'd, a Slave enrol'd,

Due by the Law to capital punishment? [ 1225 ]

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.

Sam. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me,

To descant on my strength, and give thy verdit?

Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform'd;

But take good heed my hand survey not thee. [ 1230 ]

Har. O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd

Hear these dishonours, and not render death?

Sam. No man with-holds thee, nothing from thy hand

Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,

My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free. [ 1235 ]

Har. This insolence other kind of answer fits.

Sams. Go baffl'd coward, lest I run upon thee,

Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast,

And with one buffet lay thy structure low,

Or swing thee in the Air, then dash thee down [ 1240 ]

To the hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides.

Har. By Astaroth e're long thou shalt lament

These braveries in Irons loaden on thee.

Chor. His Giantship is gone somewhat crest-fall'n,

Stalking with less unconsci'nable strides, [ 1245 ]

And lower looks, but in a sultrie chafe.

Sam. I dread him not, nor all his Giant-brood,

Though Fame divulge him Father of five Sons

All of Gigantic size, Goliah chief.

Chor. He will directly to the Lords, I fear, [ 1250 ]

And with malitious counsel stir them up

Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.

Sam. He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight

Will not dare mention, lest a question rise

Whether he durst accept the offer or not, [ 1255 ]

And that he durst not plain enough appear'd.

Much more affliction then already felt

They cannot well impose, nor I sustain;

If they intend advantage of my labours

The work of many hands, which earns my keeping [ 1260 ]

With no small profit daily to my owners.

But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove

My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence,

The worst that he can give, to me the best.

Yet so it may fall out, because thir end [ 1265 ]

Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine

Draw thir own ruin who attempt the deed.

Chor. Oh how comely it is and how reviving

To the Spirits of just men long opprest!

When God into the hands of thir deliverer [ 1270 ]

Puts invincible might

To quell the mighty of the Earth, th' oppressour,

The brute and boist'rous force of violent men

Hardy and industrious to support

Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue [ 1275 ]

The righteous and all such as honour Truth;

He all thir Ammunition

And feats of War defeats

With plain Heroic magnitude of mind

And celestial vigour arm'd [ 1280 ]

Thir Armories and Magazins contemns,

Renders them useless, while

With winged expedition

Swift as the lightning glance he executes

His errand on the wicked, who supris'd [ 1285 ]

Lose thir defence distracted and amaz'd.

But patience is more oft the exercise

Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude,

Making them each his own Deliverer,

And Victor over all [ 1290 ]

That tyrannie or fortune can inflict,

Either of these is in thy lot,

Samson, with might endu'd

Above the Sons of men; but sight bereav'd

May chance to number thee with those [ 1295 ]

Whom Patience finally must crown.

This Idols day hath bin to thee no day of rest,

Labouring thy mind

More then the working day thy hands,

And yet perhaps more trouble is behind. [ 1300 ]

For I descry this way

Some other tending, in his hand

A Scepter or quaint staff he bears,

Comes on amain, speed in his look.

By his habit I discern him now [ 1305 ]

A Public Officer, and now at hand.

His message will be short and voluble.

Off. Ebrews, the Pris'ner Samson here I seek.

Chor. His manacles remark him, there he sits.

Off. Samson, to thee our Lords thus bid me say; [ 1310 ]

This day to Dagon is a solemn Feast,

With Sacrifices, Triumph, Pomp, and Games;

Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,

And now some public proof thereof require

To honour this great Feast, and great Assembly; [ 1315 ]

Rise therefore with all speed and come along,

Where I will see thee heartn'd and fresh clad

To appear as fits before th' illustrious Lords.

Sam. Thou knowst I am an Ebrew, therefore tell them,

Our Law forbids at thir Religious Rites [ 1320 ]

My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

Off. This answer, be assur'd, will not content them.

Sam. Have they not Sword-players, and ev'ry sort

Of Gymnic Artists, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners,

Juglers and Dancers, Antics, Mummers, Mimics, [ 1325 ]

But they must pick me out with shackles tir'd,

And over-labour'd at thir publick Mill,

To make them sport with blind activity?

Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels

On my refusal to distress me more, [ 1330 ]

Or make a game of my calamities?

Return the way thou cam'st, I will not come.

Off. Regard thy self, this will offend them highly.

Sam. My self? my conscience and internal peace.

Can they think me so broken, so debas'd [ 1335 ]

With corporal servitude, that my mind ever

Will condescend to such absurd commands?

Although thir drudge, to be thir fool or jester,

And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief

To shew them feats and play before thir god, [ 1340 ]

The worst of all indignities, yet on me

Joyn'd with extream contempt? I will not come.

Off. My message was impos'd on me with speed,

Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?

Sam. So take it with what speed thy message needs. [ 1345 ]

Off. I am sorry what this stoutness will produce.

Sa. Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed.

Chor. Consider, Samson; matters now are strain'd

Up to the highth, whether to hold or break;

He's gone, and who knows how he may report [ 1350 ]

Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?

Expect another message more imperious,

More Lordly thund'ring then thou well wilt bear.

Sam. Shall I abuse this Consecrated gift

Of strength, again returning with my hair [ 1355 ]

After my great transgression, so requite

Favour renew'd, and add a greater sin

By prostituting holy things to Idols;

A Nazarite in place abominable

Vaunting my strength in honour to thir Dagon? [ 1360 ]

Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,

What act more execrably unclean, prophane?

Chor. Yet with this strength thou serv'st the Philistines,

Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean.

Sam. Not in thir Idol-worship, but by labour [ 1365 ]

Honest and lawful to deserve my food

Of those who have me in thir civil power.

Chor. Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not.

Sam. Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds;

But who constrains me to the Temple of Dagon, [ 1370 ]

Not dragging? the Philistian Lords command.

Commands are no constraints. If I obey them,

I do it freely; venturing to displease

God for the fear of Man, and Man prefer,

Set God behind: which in his jealousie [ 1375 ]

Shall never, unrepented, find forgiveness.

Yet that he may dispense with me or thee

Present in Temples at Idolatrous Rites

For some important cause, thou needst not doubt.

Chor. How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach. [ 1380 ]

Sam. Be of good courage, I begin to feel

Some rouzing motions in me which dispose

To something extraordinary my thoughts.

I with this Messenger will go along,

Nothing to do, be sure, that may dishonour [ 1385 ]

Our Law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.

If there be aught of presage in the mind,

This day will be remarkable in my life

By some great act, or of my days the last.

Chor. In time thou hast resolv'd, the man returns. [ 1390 ]

Off. Samson, this second message from our Lords

To thee I am bid say. Art thou our Slave,

Our Captive, at the public Mill our drudge,

And dar'st thou at our sending and command

Dispute thy coming? come without delay; [ 1395 ]

Or we shall find such Engines to assail

And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,

Though thou wert firmlier fastn'd then a rock.

Sam. I could be well content to try thir Art,

Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. [ 1400 ]

Yet knowing thir advantages too many,

Because they shall not trail me through thir streets

Like a wild Beast, I am content to go.

Masters commands come with a power resistless

To such as owe them absolute subjection; [ 1405 ]

And for a life who will not change his purpose?

(So mutable are all the ways of men)

Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply

Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.

Off. I praise thy resolution, doff these links: [ 1410 ]

By this compliance thou wilt win the Lords

To favour, and perhaps to set thee free.

Sam. Brethren farwel, your company along

I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them

To see me girt with Friends; and how the sight [ 1415 ]

Of me as of a common Enemy,

So dreaded once, may now exasperate them

I know not. Lords are Lordliest in thir wine;

And the well-feasted Priest then soonest fir'd

With zeal, if aught Religion seem concern'd: [ 1420 ]

No less the people on thir Holy-days

Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable;

Happ'n what may, of me expect to hear

Nothing dishonourable, impure, unworthy

Our God, our Law, my Nation, or my self, [ 1425 ]

The last of me or no I cannot warrant.

Chor. Go, and the Holy One

Of Israel be thy guide

To what may serve his glory best, & spread his name

Great among the Heathen round: [ 1430 ]

Send thee the Angel of thy Birth, to stand

Fast by thy side, who from thy Fathers field

Rode up in flames after his message told

Of thy conception, and be now a shield

Of fire; that Spirit that first rusht on thee [ 1435 ]

In the camp of Dan

Be efficacious in thee now at need.

For never was from Heaven imparted

Measure of strength so great to mortal seed,

As in thy wond'rous actions hath been seen. [ 1440 ]

But wherefore comes old Manoa in such hast

With youthful steps? much livelier then e're while

He seems: supposing here to find his Son,

Or of him bringing to us some glad news?

Man. Peace with you brethren; my inducement hither [ 1445 ]

Was not at present here to find my Son,

By order of the Lords new parted hence

To come and play before them at thir Feast.

I heard all as I came, the City rings

And numbers thither flock, I had no will, [ 1450 ]

Lest I should see him forc't to things unseemly.

But that which moved my coming now, was chiefly

To give ye part with me what hope I have

With good success to work his liberty.

Cho. That hope would much rejoyce us to partake [ 1455 ]

With thee; say reverend Sire, we thirst to hear.

Man. I have attempted one by one the Lords

Either at home, or through the high street passing,

With supplication prone and Fathers tears

To accept of ransom for my Son thir pris'ner, [ 1460 ]

Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh,

Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite;

That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his Priests,

Others more moderate seeming, but thir aim

Private reward, for which both God and State [ 1465 ]

They easily would set to sale, a third

More generous far and civil, who confess'd

They had anough reveng'd, having reduc't

Thir foe to misery beneath thir fears,

The rest was magnanimity to remit, [ 1470 ]

If some convenient ransom were propos'd.

What noise or shout was that? it tore the Skie.

Chor. Doubtless the people shouting to behold

Thir once great dread, captive, & blind before them,

Or at some proof of strength before them shown. [ 1475 ]

Man. His ransom, if my whole inheritance

May compass it, shall willingly be paid

And numberd down: much rather I shall chuse

To live the poorest in my Tribe, then richest,

And he in that calamitous prison left. [ 1480 ]

No, I am fixt not to part hence without him.

For his redemption all my Patrimony,

If need be, I am ready to forgo

And quit: not wanting him, I shall want nothing.

Chor. Fathers are wont to lay up for thir Sons, [ 1485 ]

Thou for thy Son art bent to lay out all;

Sons wont to nurse thir Parents in old age,

Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy Son,

Made older then thy age through eye-sight lost.

Man. It shall be my delight to tend his eyes, [ 1490 ]

And view him sitting in the house, enobl'd

With all those high exploits by him atchiev'd,

And on his shoulders waving down those locks,

That of a Nation arm'd the strength contain'd:

And I perswade me God had not permitted [ 1495 ]

His strength again to grow up with his hair

Garrison'd round about him like a Camp

Of faithful Souldiery, were not his purpose

To use him further yet in some great service,

Not to sit idle with so great a gift [ 1500 ]

Useless, and thence ridiculous about him.

And since his strength with eye-sight was not lost,

God will restore him eye-sight to his strength.

Chor. Thy hopes are not ill founded nor seem vain

Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon [ 1505 ]

Conceiv'd, agreeable to a Fathers love,

In both which we, as next participate.

Man. I know your friendly minds and — O what noise!

Mercy of Heav'n what hideous noise was that!

Horribly loud unlike the former shout. [ 1510 ]

Chor. Noise call you it or universal groan

As if the whole inhabitation perish'd,

Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noise,

Ruin, destruction at the utmost point.

Man. Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise, [ 1515 ]

Oh it continues, they have slain my Son.

Chor. Thy Son is rather slaying them, that outcry

From slaughter of one foe could not ascend.

Man. Some dismal accident it needs must be;

What shall we do, stay here or run and see? [ 1520 ]

Chor. Best keep together here, lest running thither

We unawares run into dangers mouth.

This evil on the Philistines is fall'n,

From whom could else a general cry be heard?

The sufferers then will scarce molest us here, [ 1525 ]

From other hands we need not much to fear.

What if his eye-sight (for to Israels God

Nothing is hard) by miracle restor'd,

He now be dealing dole among his foes,

And over heaps of slaughter'd walk his way? [ 1530 ]

Man. That were a joy presumptuous to be thought.

Chor. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible

For his people of old; what hinders now?

Man. He can I know, but doubt to think he will;

Yet Hope would fain subscribe, and tempts Belief. [ 1535 ]

A little stay will bring some notice hither.

Chor. Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner;

For evil news rides post, while good news baits.

And to our wish I see one hither speeding,

An Ebrew, as I guess, and of our Tribe. [ 1540 ]

Mess. O whither shall I run, or which way flie

The sight of this so horrid spectacle

Which earst my eyes beheld and yet behold;

For dire imagination still persues me.

But providence or instinct of nature seems, [ 1545 ]

Or reason though disturb'd, and scarce consulted

To have guided me aright, I know not how,

To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these

My Countreymen, whom here I knew remaining,

As at some distance from the place of horrour, [ 1550 ]

So in the sad event too much concern'd.

Man. The accident was loud, & here before thee

With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not,

No Preface needs, thou seest we long to know.

Mess. It would burst forth, but I recover breath [ 1555 ]

And sense distract, to know well what I utter.

Man. Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer.

Mess. Gaza yet stands, but all her Sons are fall'n,

All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

Man. Sad, but thou knowst to Israelites not saddest [ 1560 ]

The desolation of a Hostile City.

Mess. Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfet.

Man. Relate by whom. Mess. By Samson. Man. That still lessens

The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

Mess. Ah Manoa I refrain, too suddenly [ 1565 ]

To utter what will come at last too soon;

Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption

Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

Man. Suspense in news is torture, speak them out.

Mess. Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead. [ 1570 ]

Man. The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated

To free him hence! but death who sets all free

Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge.

What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd

Hopeful of his Delivery, which now proves [ 1575 ]

Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring

Nipt with the lagging rear of winters frost.

Yet e're I give the reins to grief, say first,

How dy'd he? death to life is crown or shame.

All by him fell thou say'st, by whom fell he, [ 1580 ]

What glorious hand gave Samson his deaths wound?

Mess. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

Man. Wearied with slaughter then or how? explain.

Mess. By his own hands. Man. Self-violence? what cause

Brought him so soon at variance with himself [ 1585 ]

Among his foes? Mess. Inevitable cause

At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;

The Edifice where all were met to see him

Upon thir heads and on his own he pull'd.

Man. O lastly over-strong against thy self! [ 1590 ]

A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge.

More then anough we know; but while things yet

Are in confusion, give us if thou canst,

Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

Relation more particular and distinct. [ 1595 ]

Mess. Occasions drew me early to this City,

And as the gates I enter'd with Sun-rise,

The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim'd

Through each high street: little I had dispatch't

When all abroad was rumour'd that this day [ 1600 ]

Samson should be brought forth to shew the people

Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;

I sorrow'd at his captive state, but minded

Not to be absent at that spectacle.

The building was a spacious Theatre [ 1605 ]

Half round on two main Pillars vaulted high,

With seats where all the Lords and each degree

Of sort, might sit in order to behold,

The other side was op'n, where the throng

On banks and scaffolds under Skie might stand; [ 1610 ]

I among these aloof obscurely stood.

The Feast and noon grew high, and Sacrifice

Had fill'd thir hearts with mirth, high cheare, & wine,

When to thir sports they turn'd. Immediately

Was Samson as a public servant brought, [ 1615 ]

In thir state Livery clad; before him Pipes

And Timbrels, on each side went armed guards,

Both horse and foot before him and behind

Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts and Spears.

At sight of him the people with a shout [ 1620 ]

Rifted the Air clamouring thir god with praise,

Who had made thir dreadful enemy thir thrall.

He patient but undaunted where they led him,

Came to the place, and what was set before him

Which without help of eye, might be assay'd, [ 1625 ]

To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd

All with incredible, stupendious force,

None daring to appear Antagonist.

At length for intermission sake they led him

Between the pillars; he his guide requested [ 1630 ]

(For so from such as nearer stood we heard)

As over-tir'd to let him lean a while

With both his arms on those two massie Pillars

That to the arched roof gave main support.

He unsuspitious led him; which when Samson [ 1635 ]

Felt in his arms, with head a while enclin'd,

And eyes fast fixt he stood, as one who pray'd,

Or some great matter in his mind revolv'd.

At last with head erect thus cryed aloud,

Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd [ 1640 ]

I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying,

Not without wonder or delight beheld.

Now of my own accord such other tryal

I mean to shew you of my strength, yet greater;

As with amaze shall strike all who behold. [ 1645 ]

This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd,

As with the force of winds and waters pent,

When Mountains tremble, those two massie Pillars

With horrible convulsion to and fro,

He tugg'd, he shook, till down thy came and drew [ 1650 ]

The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder

Upon the heads of all who sate beneath,

Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests,

Thir choice nobility and flower, not only

Of this but each Philistian City round [ 1655 ]

Met from all parts to solemnize this Feast.

Samson with these immixt, inevitably

Pulld down the same destruction on himself;

The vulgar only scap'd who stood without.

Chor. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! [ 1660 ]

Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd

The work for which thou wast foretold

To Israel, and now ly'st victorious

Among thy slain self-kill'd

Not willingly, but tangl'd in the fold [ 1665 ]

Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd

Thee with thy slaughter'd foes in number more

Then all thy life had slain before.

Semichor. While thir hearts were jocund and sublime,

Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine, [ 1670 ]

And fat regorg'd of Bulls and Goats,

Chaunting thir Idol, and preferring

Before our living Dread who dwells

In Silo his bright Sanctuary:

Among them he a spirit of phrenzy sent, [ 1675 ]

Who hurt thir minds,

And urg'd them on with mad desire

To call in hast for thir destroyer;

They only set on sport and play

Unweetingly importun'd [ 1680 ]

Thir own destruction to come speedy upon them.

So fond are mortal men

Fall'n into wrath divine,

As thir own ruin on themselves to invite,

Insensate left, or to sense reprobate, [ 1685 ]

And with blindness internal struck.

Semichor. But he though blind of sight,

Despis'd and thought extinguish't quite,

With inward eyes illuminated

His fierie vertue rouz'd [ 1690 ]

From under ashes into sudden flame,

And as an ev'ning Dragon came,

Assailant on the perched roosts,

And nests in order rang'd

Of tame villatic Fowl; but as an Eagle [ 1695 ]

His cloudless thunder bolted on thir heads.

So vertue giv'n for lost,

Deprest, and overthrown, as seem'd,

Like that self-begott'n bird

In the Arabian woods embost, [ 1700 ]

That no second knows nor third,

And lay e're while a Holocaust,

From out her ashie womb now teem'd

Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most

When most unactive deem'd, [ 1705 ]

And though her body die, her fame survives,

A secular bird ages of lives.

Man. Come, come, no time for lamentation now,

Nor much more cause, Samson hath quit himself

Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd [ 1710 ]

A life Heroic, on his Enemies

Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning,

And lamentation to the Sons of Caphtor

Through all Philistian bounds. To Israel

Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them [ 1715 ]

Find courage to lay hold on this occasion,

To himself and Fathers house eternal fame;

And which is best and happiest yet, all this

With God not parted from him, as was fear'd,

But favouring and assisting to the end. [ 1720 ]

Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt,

Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair,

And what may quiet us in a death so noble.

Let us go find the body where it lies [ 1725 ]

Sok't in his enemies blood, and from the stream

With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off

The clotted gore. I with what speed the while

(Gaza is not in plight to say us nay)

Will send for all my kindred, all my friends [ 1730 ]

To fetch him hence and solemnly attend

With silent obsequie and funeral train

Home to his Fathers house: there will I build him

A Monument, and plant it round with shade

Of Laurel ever green, and branching Palm, [ 1735 ]

With all his Trophies hung, and Acts enroll'd

In copious Legend, or sweet Lyric Song.

Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,

And from his memory inflame thir breasts

To matchless valour, and adventures high: [ 1740 ]

The Virgins also shall on feastful days

Visit his Tomb with flowers, only bewailing

His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,

From whence captivity and loss of eyes.

Chor. All is best, though we oft doubt, [ 1745 ]

What th' unsearchable dispose

Of highest wisdom brings about,

And ever best found in the close.

Oft he seems to hide his face,

But unexpectedly returns [ 1750 ]

And to his faithful Champion hath in place

Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns

And all that band them to resist

His uncontroulable intent,

His servants he with new acquist [ 1755 ]

Of true experience from this great event

With peace and consolation hath dismist,

And calm of mind all passion spent.