Poetry Feast

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.

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The Persons.

Samson.
Manoa the Father of Samson.
Dalila his Wife.
Harapha of Gath.
Publick Officer.
Messenger.
Chorus of Danites.

The Scene before the Prison in Gaza.
[Editorial note: 1Kb]

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Sams.
1 A little onward lend thy guiding hand
2 To these dark steps, a little further on;
3 For yonder bank hath choice of Sun or shade,
4 There I am wont to sit, when any chance
5 Relieves me from my task of servile toyl,
6 Daily in the common Prison else enjoyn’d me,
7 Where I a Prisoner chain’d, scarce freely draw
8 The air imprison’d also, close and damp,
9 Unwholsom draught: but here I feel amends,
10 The breath of Heav’n fresh-blowing, pure and sweet,
11 With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.

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12 This day a solemn Feast the people hold
13 To Dagon thir Sea-Idol, and forbid
14 Laborious works, unwillingly this rest
15 Thir Superstition yields me; hence with leave
16 Retiring from the popular noise, I seek
17 This unfrequented place to find some ease,
18 Ease to the body some, none to the mind
19 From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm
20 Of Hornets arm’d, no sooner found alone,
21 But rush upon me thronging, and present
22 Times past, what once I was, and what am now.
23 O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold
24 Twice by an Angel, who at last in sight
25 Of both my Parents all in flames ascended
26 From off the Altar, where an Off’ring burn’d,
27 As in a fiery column charioting
28 His Godlike presence, and from some great act
29 Or benefit reveal’d to Abraham’s race?
30 Why was my breeding order’d and prescrib’d

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31 As of a person separate to God,
32 Design’d for great exploits; if I must dye
33 Betray’d, Captiv’d, and both my Eyes put out,
34 Made of my Enemies the scorn and gaze;
35 To grind in Brazen Fetters under task
36 With this Heav’n-gifted strength? O glorious strength
37 Put to the labour of a Beast, debas’t
38 Lower then bondslave! Promise was that I
39 Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver;
40 Ask for this great Deliverer now, and find him
41 Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves,
42 Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke;
43 Yet stay, let me not rashly call in doubt
44 Divine Prediction; what if all foretold
45 Had been fulfilld but through mine own default,
46 Whom have I to complain of but my self?
47 Who this high gift of strength committed to me,
48 In what part lodg’d, how easily bereft me,
49 Under the Seal of silence could not keep,

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50 But weakly to a woman must reveal it,
51 O’recome with importunity and tears.
52 O impotence of mind, in body strong!
53 But what is strength without a double share
54 Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensom,
55 Proudly secure, yet liable to fall
56 By weakest suttleties, not made to rule,
57 But to subserve where wisdom bears command.
58 God, when he gave me strength, to shew withal
59 How slight the gift was, hung it in my Hair.
60 But peace, I must not quarrel with the will
61 Of highest dispensation, which herein
62 Happ’ly had ends above my reach to know:
63 Suffices that to me strength is my bane,
64 And proves the sourse of all my miseries;
65 So many, and so huge, that each apart
66 Would ask a life to wail, but chief of all,
67 O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!
68 Blind among enemies, O worse then chains,

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70 Dungeon, or beggery, or decrepit age!
71 Light the prime work of God to me is extinct,
72 And all her various objects of delight
73 Annull’d, which might in part my grief have eas’d,
74 Inferiour to the vilest now become
75 Of man or worm; the vilest here excel me,
76 They creep, yet see, I dark in light expos’d
77 To daily fraud, contempt, abuse and wrong,
78 Within doors, or without, still as a fool,
79 In power of others, never in my own;
80 Scarce half I seem to live, dead more then half.
81 O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,
82 Irrecoverably dark, total Eclipse
83 Without all hope of day!
84 O first created Beam, and thou great Word,
85 Let there be light, and light was over all;
86 Why am I thus bereav’d thy prime decree?
87 The Sun to me is dark
88 And silent as the Moon,

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89 When she deserts the night
90 Hid in her vacant interlunar cave.
91 Since light so necessary is to life,
92 And almost life it self, if it be true
93 That light is in the Soul,
94 She all in every part; why was the sight
95 To such a tender ball as th’ eye confin’d?
96 So obvious and so easie to be quench’t,
97 And not as feeling through all parts diffus’d,
98 That she might look at will through every pore?
99 Then had I not been thus exil’d from light;
100 As in the land of darkness yet in light,
101 To live a life half dead, a living death,
102 And buried; but O yet more miserable!
103 My self, my Sepulcher, a moving Grave,
104 Buried, yet not exempt
105 By priviledge of death and burial
106 From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs,
107 But made hereby obnoxious more

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108 To all the miseries of life,
109 Life in captivity
110 Among inhuman foes.
111 But who are these? for with joint pace I hear
112 The tread of many feet stearing this way;
113 Perhaps my enemies who come to stare
114 At my affliction, and perhaps to insult,
115 Thir daily practice to afflict me more.
Chor.
116 This, this is he; softly a while,
117 Let us not break in upon him;
118 O change beyond report, thought, or belief!
119 See how he lies at random, carelesly diffus’d,
120 With languish’t head unpropt,
121 As one past hope, abandon’d,
122 And by himself given over;
123 In slavish habit, ill-fitted weeds
124 O’re worn and soild;
125 Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be hee,
126 That Heroic, that Renown’d,

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127 Irresistible Samson? whom unarm’d
128 No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast could withstand;
129 Who tore the Lion, as the Lion tears the Kid,
130 Ran on embattelld Armies clad in Iron,
131 And weaponless himself,
132 Made Arms ridiculous, useless the forgery
133 Of brazen shield and spear, the hammer’d Cuirass,
134 Chalybean temper’d steel, and frock of mail
135 Adamantean Proof;
136 But safest he who stood aloof,
137 When insupportably his foot advanc’t,
138 In scorn of thir proud arms and warlike tools,
139 Spurn’d them to death by Troops. The bold Ascalonite
140 Fled from his Lion ramp, old Warriors turn’d
141 Thir plated backs under his heel;
142 Or grovling soild thir crested helmets in the dust.
143 Then with what trivial weapon came to hand,
144 The Jaw of a dead Ass, his sword of bone,
145 A thousand fore-skins fell, the flower of Palestin

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146 In Ramath-lechi famous to this day:
147 Then by main force pull’d up, and on his shoulders bore
148 The Gates of Azza, Post, and massie Bar
149 Up to the Hill by Hebron, seat of Giants old,
150 No journey of a Sabbath day, and loaded so;
151 Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heav’n.
152 Which shall I first bewail,
153 Thy Bondage or lost Sight,
154 Prison within Prison
155 Inseparably dark?
156 Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!)
157 The Dungeon of thy self; thy Soul
158 (Which Men enjoying sight oft without cause complain)
159 Imprison’d now indeed,
160 In real darkness of the body dwells,
161 Shut up from outward light
162 To incorporate with gloomy night;
163 For inward light alas
164 Puts forth no visual beam.

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165 O mirror of our fickle state,
166 Since man on earth unparallel’d.
167 The rarer thy example stands,
168 By how much from the top of wondrous glory,
169 Strongest of mortal men,
170 To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall’n.
171 For him I reckon not in high estate
172 Whom long descent of birth
173 Or the sphear of fortune raises;
174 But thee whose strength, while vertue was her mate,
175 Might have subdu’d the Earth,
176 Universally crown’d with highest praises.
Sam.
177 I hear the sound of words, thir sense the air
178 Dissolves unjointed e’re it reach my ear.
Chor.
179 Hee speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might,
180 The glory late of Israel, now the grief;
181 We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown
182 From Eshtaol and Zora’s fruitful Vale
183 To visit or bewail thee, or if better,

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184 Counsel or Consolation we may bring,
185 Salve to thy Sores, apt words have power to swage
186 The tumors of a troubl’d mind,
187 And are as Balm to fester’d wounds.
Sam.
188 Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I learn
189 Now of my own experience, not by talk,
190 How counterfeit a coin they are who friends
191 Bear in their Superscription (of the most
192 I would be understood) in prosperous days
193 They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head
194 Not to be found, though sought. Yee see, O friends,
195 How many evils have enclos’d me round;
196 Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me,
197 Blindness, for had I sight, confus’d with shame,
198 How could I once look up, or heave the head,
199 Who like a foolish Pilot have shipwrack’t,
200 My Vessel trusted to me from above,
201 Gloriously rigg’d; and for a word, a tear,
202 Fool, have divulg’d the secret gift of God

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203 To a deceitful Woman: tell me Friends,
204 Am I not sung and proverbd for a Fool
205 In every street, do they not say, how well
206 Are come upon him his deserts? yet why?
207 Immeasurable strength they might behold
208 In me, of wisdom nothing more then mean;
209 This with the other should, at least, have paird,
210 These two proportiond ill drove me transverse.
Chor.
211 Tax not divine disposal, wisest Men
212 Have err’d, and by bad Women been deceiv’d;
213 And shall again, pretend they ne’re so wise.
214 Deject not then so overmuch thy self,
215 Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides;
216 Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder
217 Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather
218 Then of thine own Tribe fairer, or as fair,
219 At least of thy own Nation, and as noble.
Sam.
220 The first I saw at Timna, and she pleas’d
221 Mee, not my Parents, that I sought to wed,

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222 The daughter of an Infidel: they knew not
223 That what I motion’d was of God; I knew
224 From intimate impulse, and therefore urg’d
225 The Marriage on; that by occasion hence
226 I might begin Israel’s Deliverance,
227 The work to which I was divinely call’d;
228 She proving false, the next I took to Wife
229 (O that I never had! fond wish too late.)
230 Was in the Vale of Sorec, Dalila,
231 That specious Monster, my accomplisht snare.
232 I thought it lawful from my former act,
233 And the same end; still watching to oppress
234 Israel’s oppressours: of what now I suffer
235 She was not the prime cause, but I my self,
236 Who vanquisht with a peal of words (O weakness!)
237 Gave up my fort of silence to a Woman.
Chor.
238 In seeking just occasion to provoke
239 The Philistine, thy Countries Enemy,
240 Thou never wast remiss, I bear thee witness:

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241 Yet Israel still serves with all his Sons.
Sam.
242 That fault I take not on me, but transfer
243 On Israel’s Governours, and Heads of Tribes,
244 Who seeing those great acts which God had done
245 Singly by me against their Conquerours
246 Acknowledg’d not; or not at all consider’d
247 Deliverance offerd: I on th’ other side
248 Us’d no ambition to commend my deeds,
249 The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the dooer;
250 But they persisted deaf, and would not seem
251 To count them things worth notice, till at length
252 Thir Lords the Philistines with gather’d powers
253 Enterd Judea seeking mee, who then
254 Safe to the rock of Etham was retir’d,
255 Not flying, but fore-casting in what place
256 To set upon them, what advantag’d best;
257 Mean while the men of Judah to prevent
258 The harrass of thir Land, beset me round;
259 I willingly on some conditions came

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260 Into thir hands, and they as gladly yield me
261 To the uncircumcis’d a welcom prey,
262 Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threds
263 Toucht with the flame: on thir whole Host I flew
264 Unarm’d, and with a trivial weapon fell’d
265 Their choicest youth; they only liv’d who fled.
266 Had Judah that day join’d, or one whole Tribe,
267 They had by this possess’d the Towers of Gath,
268 And lorded over them whom now they serve;
269 But what more oft in Nations grown corrupt,
270 And by thir vices brought to servitude,
271 Then to love Bondage more then Liberty,
272 Bondage with ease then strenuous liberty;
273 And to despise, or envy, or suspect
274 Whom God hath of his special favour rais’d
275 As thir Deliverer; if he aught begin,
276 How frequent to desert him, and at last
277 To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds?
Cho.
278 Thy words to my remembrance bring

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279 How Succoth and the Fort of Penuel
280 Thir great Deliverer contemn’d,
281 The matchless Gideon in pursuit
282 Of Madian and her vanquisht Kings:
283 And how ingrateful Ephraim
284 Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument,
285 Not worse then by his shield and spear
286 Defended Israel from the Ammonite,
287 Had not his prowess quell’d thir pride
288 In that sore battel when so many dy’d
289 Without Reprieve adjudg’d to death,
290 For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth.
Sam.
291 Of such examples adde mee to the roul,
292 Mee easily indeed mine may neglect,
293 But Gods propos’d deliverance not so.
Chor.
294 Just are the ways of God,
295 And justifiable to Men;
296 Unless there be who think not God at all,
297 If any be, they walk obscure;

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298 For of such Doctrine never was there School,
299 But the heart of the Fool,
300 And no man therein Doctor but himself.

301 Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just,
302 As to his own edicts, found contradicting,
303 Then give the rains to wandring thought,
304 Regardless of his glories diminution;
305 Till by thir own perplexities involv’d
306 They ravel more, still less resolv’d,
307 But never find self-satisfying solution.

308 As if they would confine th’ interminable,
309 And tie him to his own prescript,
310 Who made our Laws to bind us, not himself,
311 And hath sull right to exempt
312 Whom so itipleases him by choice
313 From National obstriction, without taint
314 Of sin, or legal debt;
315 For with his own Laws he can best dispence.

316 He would not else who never wanted means,

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317 Nor in respect of the enemy just cause
318 To set his people free,
319 Have prompted this Heroic Nazarite,
320 Against his vow of strictest purity,
321 To seek in marriage that fallacious Bride,
322 Unclean, unchaste.

323 Down Reason then, at least vain reasonings down,
324 Though Reason here aver
325 That moral verdit quits her of unclean:
326 Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his.

327 But see here comes thy reverend Sire
328 With careful step, Locks white as doune,
329 Old Manoah: advise
330 Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him.
Sam.
331 Ay me, another inward grief awak’t,
332 With mention of that name renews th’ assault.
Man.
333 Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem,
334 Though in this uncouth place; if old respect,
335 As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend,

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336 My Son now Captive, hither hath inform’d
337 Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age.
338 Came lagging after; say if he be here.
Chor.
339 As signal now in low dejected state,
340 As earst in highest, behold him where he lies.
Man.
341 O miserable change! is this the man,
342 That invincible Samson, far renown’d,
343 The dread of Israel’s foes, who with a strength
344 Equivalent to Angels walk’d thir streets,
345 None offering fight; who single combatant
346 Duell’d thir Armies rank’t in proud array,
347 Himself an Army, now unequal match
348 To save himself against a coward arm’d
349 At one spears length. O ever failing trust
350 In mortal strength! and oh what not in man
351 Deceivable and vain! Nay what thing good
352 Pray’d for, but often proves our woe, our bane?
353 I pray’d for Children, and thought barrenness
354 In wedlock a reproach; I gain’d a Son,

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355 And such a Son as all Men hail’d me happy;
356 Who would be now a Father in my stead?
357 O wherefore did God grant me my request,
358 And as a blessing with such pomp adorn’d?
359 Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt
360 Our earnest Prayers, then giv’n with solemn hand
361 As Graces, draw a Scorpions tail behind?
362 For this did the Angel twice descend? for this
363 Ordain’d thy nurture holy, as of a Plant;
364 Select, and Sacred, Glorious for a while,
365 The miracle of men: then in an hour
366 Ensnar’d, assaulted, overcome, led bound,
367 Thy Foes derision, Captive, Poor, and Blind
368 Into a Dungeon thrust, to work with Slaves?
369 Alas methinks whom God hath chosen once
370 To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err,
371 He should not so o’rewhelm, and as a thrall
372 Subject him to so foul indignities,
373 Be it but for honours sake of former deeds,

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Sam.
374 Appoint not heavenly disposition, Father,
375 Nothing of all these evils hath befall’n me
376 But justly; I my self have brought them on,
377 Sole Author I, sole cause: if aught seem vile,
378 As vile hath been my folly, who have profan’d
379 The mystery of God giv’n me under pledge
380 Of vow, and have betray’d it to a woman,
381 A Canaanite, my faithless enemy.
382 This well I knew, nor was at all surpris’d,
383 But warn’d by oft experience: did not she
384 Of Timna first betray me, and reveal
385 The secret wrested from me in her highth
386 Of Nuptial Love profest, carrying it strait
387 To them who had corrupted her, my Spies,
388 And Rivals? In this other was there found
389 More Faith? who also in her prime of love,
390 Spousal embraces, vitiated with Gold,
391 Though offer’d only, by the sent conceiv’d
392 Her spurious first-born; Treason against me?

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393 Thrice she assay’d with flattering prayers and sighs,
394 And amorous reproaches to win from me
395 My capital secret, in what part my strength
396 Lay stor’d, in what part summ’d, that she might know:
397 Thrice I deluded her, and turn’d to sport
398 Her importunity, each time perceiving
399 How openly, and with what impudence
400 She purpos’d to betray me, and (which was worse
401 Then undissembl’d hate) with what contempt
402 She sought to make me Traytor to my self;
403 Yet the fourth time, when mustring all her wiles,
404 With blandisht parlies, feminine assaults,
405 Tongue-batteries, she surceas’d not day nor night
406 To storm me over-watch’t, and wearied out.
407 At times when men seek most repose and rest,
408 I yielded, and unlock’d her all my heart,
409 Who with a grain of manhood well resolv’d
410 Might easily have shook off all her snares:
411 But foul effeminacy held me yok’t

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412 Her Bond-slave; O indignity, O blot
413 To Honour and Religion! servil mind
414 Rewarded well with servil punishment!
415 The base degree to which I now am fall’n,
416 These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base
417 As was my former servitude, ignoble,
418 Unmanly, ignominious, infamous,
419 True slavery, and that blindness worse then this,
420 That saw not how degeneratly I serv’d.
Man.
421 I cannot praise thy Marriage choises, Son,
422 Rather approv’d them not; but thou didst plead
423 Divine impulsion prompting how thou might’st
424 Find some occasion to infest our Foes.
425 I state not that; this I am sure; our Foes
426 Found soon occasion thereby to make thee
427 Thir Captive, and thir triumph; thou the sooner
428 Temptation found’st, or over-potent charms
429 To violate the sacred trust of silence
430 Deposited within thee; which to have kept

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431 Tacit, was in thy power; true; and thou bear’st
432 Enough, and more the burden of that fault;
433 Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying
434 That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains,
435 This day the Philistines a popular Feast
436 Here celebrate in Gaza; and proclaim
437 Great Pomp, and Sacrifice, and Praises loud
438 To Dagon, as their God who hath deliver’d
439 Thee Samson bound and blind into thir hands
440 Them out of thine, who slew’st them many a slain.
441 So Dagon shall be magnifi’d, and God,
442 Besides whom is no God, compar’d with Idols,
443 Disglorifi’d, blasphem’d, and had in scorn
444 By th’ Idolatrous rout amidst thir wine;
445 Which to have come to pass by means of thee,
446 Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest,
447 Of all reproach the most with shame that ever
448 Could have befall’n thee and thy Fathers house.
Sam.
449 Father, I do acknowledge and confess

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450 That I this honour, I this pomp have brought
451 To Dagon, and advanc’d his praises high
452 Among the Heathen round; to God have brought
453 Dishonour, obloquie, and op’t the mouths
454 Of Idolists, and Atheists; have brought scandal
455 To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt
456 In feeble hearts, propense anough before
457 To waver, or fall off and joyn with Idols;
458 Which is my chief affliction, shame and sorrow;
459 The anguish of my Soul, that suffers not
460 Mine eie to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest:
461 This only hope relieves me, that the strife
462 With me hath end; all the contest is now
463 ‘Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath presum’d,
464 Me overthrown, to enter lists with God,
465 His Deity comparing and preferring
466 Before the God of Abraham. He, be sure,
467 Will not connive, or linger, thus provok’d,
468 But will arise and his great name assert:

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469 Dagon must stoop, and shall e’re long receive
470 Such a discomfit, as shall quite despoil him
471 Of all these boasted Trophies won on me,
472 And with confusion blank his Worshippers.
Man.
473 With cause this hope relieves thee, and these words
474 I as a Prophecy receive: for God,
475 Nothing more certain, will not long defer
476 To vindicate the glory of his name
477 Against all competition, nor will long
478 Endure it, doubtful whether God be Lord,
479 Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done?
480 Thou must not in the mean while here forgot
481 Lie in this miserable loathsom plight
482 Neglected. I already have made way
483 To some Philistian Lords, with whom to treat
484 About thy ransom: well they may by this
485 Have satisfi’d thir utmost of revenge
486 By pains and slaveries, worse then death inflicted
487 On thee, who now no more canst do them harm.

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Sam.
488 Spare that proposal, Father, spare the trouble
489 Of that sollicitation; let me here,
490 As I deserve, pay on my punishment;
491 And expiate, if possible, my crime,
492 Shameful garrulity. To have reveal’d
493 Secrets of men, the secrets of a friend,
494 How hainous had the fact been, how deserving
495 Contempt, and scorn of all, to be excluded
496 All friendship, and avoided as a blab,
497 The mark of fool set on his front?
498 But I Gods counsel have not kept, his holy secret
499 Presumptuously have publish’d, impiously,
500 Weakly at least, and shamefully: A sin
501 That Gentiles in thir Parables condemn
502 To thir abyss and horrid pains confin’d.
Man.
503 Be penitent and for thy fault contrite,
504 But act not in thy own affliction, Son,
505 Repent the sin, but if the punishment
506 Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids;

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507 Or th’ execution leave to high disposal,
508 And let another hand, not thine, exact
509 Thy penal forfeit from thy self; perhaps
510 God will relent, and quit thee all his debt;
511 Who evermore approves and more accepts
512 (Best pleas’d with humble and filial submission)
513 Him who imploring mercy sues for life,
514 Then who self-rigorous chooses death as due;
515 Which argues over-just, and self-displeas’d
516 For self-offence, more then for God offended.
517 Reject not then what offerd means, who knows
518 But God hath set before us, to return thee
519 Home to thy countrey and his sacred house,
520 Where thou mayst bring thy off’rings, to avert
521 His further ire, with praiers and vows renew’d.
Sam.
522 His pardon I implore; but as for life,
523 To what end should I seek it? when in strength
524 All mortals I excell’d, and great in hopes
525 With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts

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526 Of birth from Heav’n foretold and high exploits,
527 Full of divine instinct, after some proof
528 Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond
529 The Sons of Anac, famous now and blaz’d,
530 Fearless of danger, like a petty God
531 I walk’d about admir’d of all and dreaded
532 On hostile ground, none daring my affront.
533 Then swoll’n with pride into the snare I fell
534 Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,
535 Softn’d with pleasure and voluptuous life;
536 At length to lay my head and hallow’d pledge
537 Of all my strength in the lascivious lap
538 Of a deceitful Concubine who shore me
539 Like a tame Weather, all my precious fleece,
540 Then turn’d me out ridiculous, despoil’d,
541 Shav’n, and disarm’d among my enemies.
Chor.
542 Desire of wine and all delicious drinks,
543 Which many a famous Warriour overturns,
544 Thou couldst repress, nor did the dancing Rubie

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545 Sparkling, out-pow’rd, the flavor, or the smell,
546 Or taste that cheers the heart of Gods and men,
547 Allure thee from the cool Crystalline stream.
Sam.
548 Where ever fountain or fresh current flow’d
549 Against the Eastern ray, translucent, pure.
550 With touch ætherial of Heav’ns fiery rod
551 I drank, from the clear milkie juice allaying
552 Thirst, and refresht; nor envy’d them the grape
553 Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes.
Chor.
554 O madness, to think use of strongest wines
555 And strongest drinks our chief support of health,
556 When God with these forbid’n made choice to rear
557 His mighty Champion, strong above compare,
558 Whose drink was only from the liquid brook.
Sam.
559 But what avail’d this temperance, not compleat
560 Against another object more enticing?
561 What boots it at one gate to make defence,
562 And at another to let in the foe
563 Effeminatly vanquish’t? by which means,

[Page 39 ]

564 Now blind, disheartn’d, sham’d, dishonour’d, quell’d,
565 To what can I be useful, wherein serve
566 My Nation, and the work from Heav’n impos’d,
567 But to sit idle on the houshold hearth,
568 A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze,
569 Or pitied object, these redundant locks
570 Robustious to no purpose clustring down,
571 Vain monument of strength; till length of years
572 And sedentary numness craze my limbs
573 To a contemptible old age obscure.
574 Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread,
575 Till vermin or the draff of servil food
576 Consume me, and oft-invocated death
577 Hast’n the welcom end of all my pains.
Man.
578 Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift
579 Which was expresly giv’n thee to annoy them?
580 Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle,
581 Inglorious, unimploy’d, with age out-worn.
582 But God who caus’d a fountain at thy prayer

[Page 40 ]

583 From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allay
584 After the brunt of battel, can as easie
585 Cause light again within thy eies to spring,
586 Wherewith to serve him better then thou hast;
587 And I perswade me so; why else this strength
588 Miraculous yet remaining in those locks?
589 His might continues in thee not for naught,
590 Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus.
Sam.
591 All otherwise to me my thoughts portend,
592 That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light,
593 Nor th’ other light of life continue long,
594 But yield to double darkness nigh at hand:
595 So much I feel my genial spirits droop,
596 My hopes all flat, nature within me seems
597 In all her functions weary of her self;
598 My race of glory run, and race of shame,
599 And I shall shortly be with them that rest.
Man.
600 Believe not these suggestions which proceed
601 From anguish of the mind and humours black,

[Page 41 ]

602 That mingle with thy fancy. I however
603 Must not omit a Fathers timely care
604 To prosecute the means of thy deliverance
605 By ransom or how else: mean while be calm,
606 And healing words from these thy friends admit.
Sam.
607 O that torment should not be confin’d
608 To the bodies wounds and sores
609 With maladies innumerable
610 In heart, head, brest, and reins;
611 But must secret passage find
612 To th’ inmost mind,
613 There exercise all his fierce accidents,
614 And on her purest spirits prey,
615 As on entrails, joints, and limbs,
616 With answerable pains, but more intense,
617 Though void of corporal sense.

618 My griefs not only pain me
619 As a lingring disease,
620 But finding no redress, ferment and rage,

[Page 42 ]

621 Nor less then wounds immedicable
622 Ranckle, and fester, and gangrene,
623 To black mortification.
624 Thoughts my Tormenters arm’d with deadly stings
625 Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts,
626 Exasperate, exulcerate, and raise
627 Dire inflammation which no cooling herb
628 Or medcinal liquor can asswage,
629 Nor breath of Vernal Air from snowy Alp.
630 Sleep hath forsook and giv’n me o’re
631 To deaths benumming Opium as my only cure.
632 Thence faintings, swounings of despair,
633 And sense of Heav’ns desertion.

634 I was his nursling once and choice delight,
635 His destin’d from the womb,
636 Promisd by Heavenly message twice descending.
637 Under his special eie
638 Abstemious I grew up and thriv’d amain;
639 He led me on to mightiest deeds

[Page 43 ]

640 Above the nerve of mortal arm
641 Against the uncircumcis’d, our enemies.
642 But now hath cast me off as never known,
643 And to those cruel enemies,
644 Whom I by his appointment had provok’t,
645 Left me all helpless with th’ irreparable loss
646 Of sight, reserv’d alive to be repeated
647 The subject of thir cruelty, or scorn.
648 Nor am I in the list of them that hope;
649 Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless;
650 This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard,
651 No long petition, speedy death,
652 The close of all my miseries, and the balm.
Chor.
653 Many are the sayings of the wise
654 In antient and in modern books enroll’d;
655 Extolling Patience as the truest fortitude;
656 And to the bearing well of all calamities,
657 All chances incident to mans frail life
658 Consolatories writ

[Page 44 ]

659 With studied argument, and much perswasion sought
660 Lenient of grief and anxious thought,
661 But with th’ afflicted in his pangs thir sound
662 Little prevails, or rather seems a tune,
663 Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint,
664 Unless he feel within
665 Some sourse of consolation from above;
666 Secret refreshings, that repair his strength,
667 And fainting spirits uphold.

668 God of our Fathers, what is man!
669 That thou towards him with hand so various,
670 Or might I say contrarious,
671 Temperst thy providence through his short course,
672 Not evenly, as thou rul’st
673 The Angelic orders and inferiour creatures mute,
674 Irrational and brute.
675 Nor do I name of men the common rout,
676 That wandring loose about
677 Grow up and perish, as the summer flie,

[Page 45 ]

678 Heads without name no more rememberd,
679 But such as thou hast solemnly elected,
680 With gifts and graces eminently adorn’d
681 To some great work, thy glory,
682 And peoples safety, which in part they effect:
683 Yet toward these thus dignifi’d, thou oft
684 Amidst thir highth of noon,
685 Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard
686 Of highest favours past
687 From thee on them, or them to thee of service.

688 Nor only dost degrade them, or remit
689 To life obscur’d, which were a fair dismission,
690 But throw’st them lower then thou didst exalt them high,
691 Unseemly falls in human eie,
692 Too grievous for the trespass or omission,
693 Oft leav’st them to the hostile sword
694 Of Heathen and prophane, thir carkasses
695 To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv’d:
696 Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times,

[Page 46 ]

697 And condemnation of the ingrateful multitude.
698 If these they scape, perhaps in poverty
699 With sickness and disease thou bow’st them down,
700 Painful diseases and deform’d,
701 In crude old age;
702 Though not disordinate, yet causless suffring
703 The punishment of dissolute days, in fine,
704 Just or unjust, alike seem miserable,
705 For oft alike, both come to evil end.

706 So deal not with this once thy glorious Champion,
707 The Image of thy strength, and mighty minister.
708 What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already?
710 Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn
711 His labours, for thou canst, to peaceful end.

712 But who is this, what thing of Sea or Land?
713 Femal of sex it seems,
714 That so bedeckt, ornate, and gay,
715 Comes this way sailing
716 Like a stately Ship

[Page 47 ]

717 Of Tarsus, bound for th’ Isles
718 Of Javan or Gadier
719 With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,
720 Sails fill’d, and streamers waving,
720 Courted by all the winds that hold them play,
721 An Amber sent of odorous perfume
722 Her harbinger, a damsel train behind;
723 Some rich Philistian Matron she may seem,
724 And now at nearer view, no other certain
725 Then Dalila thy wife.
Sam.
726 My Wife, my Traytress, let her not come near me.
Cho.
727 Yet on she moves, now stands & eies thee fixt,
728 About t’ have spoke, but now, with head declin’d
729 Like a fair flower surcharg’d with dew, she weeps
730 And words addrest seem into tears dissolv’d,
731 Wetting the borders of her silk’n veil:
732 But now again she makes address to speak.
Dal.
733 With doubtful feet and wavering resolution
734 I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson,

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735 Which to have merited, without excuse,
736 I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears
737 May expiate (though the fact more evil drew
738 In the perverse event then I foresaw)
739 My penance hath not slack’n'd, though my pardon
740 No way assur’d. But conjugal affection
741 Prevailing over fear, and timerous doubt
742 Hath led me on desirous to behold
743 Once more thy face, and know of thy estate.
744 If aught in my ability may serve
745 To light’n what thou suffer’st, and appease
746 Thy mind with what amends is in my power,
747 Though late, yet in some part to recompense
748 My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.
Sam.
749 Out, out Hyæna; these are thy wonted arts,
750 And arts of every woman false like thee,
751 To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,
752 Then as repentant to submit, beseech,
753 And reconcilement move with feign’d remorse,

[Page 49 ]

754 Confess, and promise wonders in her change,
755 Not truly penitent, but chief to try
756 Her husband, how far urg’d his patience bears,
757 His vertue or weakness which way to assail:
758 Then with more cautious and instructed skill
759 Again transgresses, and again submits;
760 That wisest and best men full oft beguil’d
761 With goodness principl’d not to reject
762 The penitent, but ever to forgive,
763 Are drawn to wear out miserable days,
764 Entangl’d with a poysnous bosom snake,
765 If not by quick destruction soon cut off
766 As I by thee, to Ages an example.
Dal.
767 Yet hear me Samson; not that I endeavour
768 To lessen or extenuate my offence,
769 But that on th’ other side if it be weigh’d
770 By it self, with aggravations not surcharg’d,
771 Or else with just allowance counterpois’d,
772 I may, if possible, thy pardon find

[Page 50 ]

773 The easier towards me, or thy hatred less.
774 First granting, as I do, it was a weakness
775 In me, but incident to all our sex,
776 Curiosity, inquisitive, importune
777 Of secrets, then with like infirmity
778 To publish them, both common female faults:
780 Was it not weakness also to make known
781 For importunity, that is for naught,
782 Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety?
783 To what I did thou shewdst me first the way.
784 But I to enemies reveal’d, and should not.
785 Nor shouldst thou have trusted that to womans frailty
786 E’re I to thee, thou to thyself wast cruel.
787 Let weakness then with weakness come to parl
788 So near related, or the same of kind,
789 Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine
790 The gentler, if severely thou exact not
791 More strength from me, then in thy self was found.
792 And what if Love, which thou interpret’st hate,

[Page 51 ]

793 The jealousie of Love, powerful of sway
794 In human hearts, nor less in mine towards thee,
795 Caus’d what I did? I saw thee mutable
796 Of fancy, feard lest one day thou wouldst leave me
797 As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore
798 How to endear, and hold thee to me firmest:
799 No better way I saw then by importuning
800 To learn thy secrets, get into my power
801 Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say;
802 Why then reveal’d? I was assur’d by those
803 Who tempted me, that nothing was design’d
804 Against thee but safe custody, and hold:
805 That made for me, I knew that liberty
806 Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,
807 While I at home sate full of cares and fears
808 Wailing thy absence in my widow’d bed;
809 Here I should still enjoy thee day and night
810 Mine and Loves prisoner, not the Philistines,
810 Whole to my self, unhazarded abroad,

[Page 52 ]

811 Fearless at home of partners in my love.
812 These reasons in Loves law have past for good,
813 Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps;
814 And Love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much wo,
815 Yet always pity or pardon hath obtain’d.
816 Be not unlike all others, not austere
817 As thou art strong, inflexible as steel.
818 If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed,
819 In uncompassionate anger do not so.
Sam.
820 How cunningly the sorceress displays
821 Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine?
822 That malice not repentance brought thee hither,
823 By this appears: I gave, thou say’st, th’ example,
824 I led the way; bitter reproach, but true,
825 I to my self was false e’re thou to me,
826 Such pardon therefore as I give my folly,
827 Take to thy wicked deed: which when thou seest
828 Impartial, self-severe, inexorable,
829 Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather

[Page 53 ]

830 Confess it feign’d, weakness is thy excuse,
831 And I believe it, weakness to resist
832 Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse,
833 What Murtherer, what Traytor, Parricide,
834 Incestuous, Sacrilegious, but may plead it?
835 All wickedness is weakness: that plea therefore
836 With God or Man will gain thee no remission.
837 But Love constrain’d thee; call it furious rage
838 To satisfie thy lust: Love seeks to have Love;
839 My love how couldst thou hope, who tookst the way
840 To raise in me inexpiable hate,
841 Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray’d?
842 In vain thou striv’st to cover shame with shame,
843 Or by evasions thy crime uncoverst more.
Dal.
844 Since thou determinst weakness for no plea
845 In man or woman, though to thy own condemning,
846 Hear what assaults I had, what snares besides,
847 What sieges girt me round, e’re I consented;
848 Which might have aw’d the best resolv’d of men,

[Page 54 ]

849 The constantest to have yielded without blame.
850 It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay’st,
851 That wrought with me: thou know’st the Magistrates
852 And Princes of my countrey came in person,
853 Sollicited, commanded, threatn’d, urg’d,
854 Adjur’d by all the bonds of civil Duty
855 And of Religion, press’d how just it was,
856 How honourable, how glorious to entrap
857 A common enemy, who had destroy’d
858 Such numbers of our Nation: and the Priest
859 Was not behind, but ever at my ear,
860 Preaching how meritorious with the gods
861 It would be to ensnare an irreligious
862 Dishonourer of Dagon: what had I
863 To oppose against such powerful arguments?
864 Only my love of thee held long debate;
865 And combated in silence all these reasons
866 With hard contest: at length that grounded maxim
867 So rise and celebrated in the mouths

[Page 55 ]

868 Of wisest men; that to the public good
870 Private respects must yield; with grave authority
871 Took full possession of me and prevail’d;
872 Vertue, as I thought, truth, duty so enjoyning.
Sam.
873 I thought where all thy circling wiles would end;
874 In feign’d Religion, smooth hypocrisie.
875 But had thy love, still odiously pretended,
876 Bin, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee
877 Far other reasonings, brought forth other deeds.
878 I before all the daughters of my Tribe
879 And of my Nation chose thee from among
880 My enemies, lov’d thee, as too well thou knew’st,
881 Too well, unbosom’d all my secrets to thee,
882 Not out of levity, but over-powr’d
883 By thy request, who could deny thee nothing;
884 Yet now am judg’d an enemy. Why then
885 Didst thou at first reccive me for thy husband?
886 Then, as since then, thy countries foe profest:
887 Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave

[Page 56 ]

888 Parents and countrey; nor was I their subject,
889 Nor under their protection but my own,
890 Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life
890 Thy countrey sought of thee, it sought unjustly,
891 Against the law of nature, law of nations,
892 No more thy countrey, but an impious crew
893 Of men conspiring to uphold thir state
894 By worse then hostile deeds, violating the ends
895 For which our countrey is a name so dear;
896 Not therefore to be obey’d. But zeal mov’d thee;
897 To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable
898 To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes
899 But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction
900 Of their own deity, Gods cannot be:
901 Less therefore to be pleas’d, obey’d, or fear’d,
902 These false pretexts and varnish’d colours failing,
903 Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear?
Dal.
904 In argument with men a woman ever
905 Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.

[Page 57 ]

Sam.
906 For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath,
907 Witness when I was worried with thy peals.
Dal.
908 I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken
909 In what I thought would have succeeded best.
910 Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson,
911 Afford me place to shew what recompence
912 Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone,
913 Misguided; only what remains past cure
914 Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist
915 To afflict thy self in vain: though sight be lost,
916 Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy’d
917 Where other senses want not their delights
918 At home in leisure and domestic ease,
919 Exempt from many a care and chance to which
920 Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad.
921 I to the Lords will intercede, not doubting
922 Thir favourable ear, that I may fetch thee
923 From forth this loathsom prison-house, to abide
924 With me, where my redoubl’d love and care

[Page 58 ]

925 With nursing diligence, to me glad office,
926 May ever tend about thee to old age
927 With all things grateful chear’d, and so suppli’d,
928 That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss.
Sams.
929 No, no, of my condition take no care;
930 It fits not; thou and I long since are twain;
931 Nor think me so unwary or accurst
932 To bring my feet again into the snare
933 Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains
934 Though dearly to my cost, thy ginns, and toyls;
935 Thy fair enchanted cup, and warbling charms
936 No more on me have power, their force is null’d,
937 So much of Adders wisdom I have learn’t
938 To fence my ear against thy sorceries.
939 If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men
940 Lov’d, honour’d, fear’d me, thou alone could hate me
941 Thy Husband, slight me, sell me, and forgo me;
942 How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby
943 Deceiveable, in most things as a child

[Page 59 ]

944 Helpless, thence easily contemn’d, and scorn’d,
945 And last neglected? How wouldst thou insult
946 When I must live uxorious to thy will
947 In perfet thraldom, how again betray me,
948 Bearing my words and doings to the Lords
949 To gloss upon, and censuring, frown or smile?
950 This Gaol I count the house of Liberty
951 To thine whose doors my feet shall never enter.
Dal.
952 Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand.
Sam.
953 Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake
954 My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.
955 At distance I forgive thee, go with that;
956 Bewail thy falshood, and the pious works
957 It hath brought forth to make thee memorable
958 Among illustrious women, faithful wives:
959 Cherish thy hast’n'd widowhood with the gold
960 Of Matrimonial treason: so farewel.
Dal.
961 I see thou art implacable, more deaf
962 To prayers, then winds and seas, yet winds to seas

[Page 60 ]

963 Are reconcil’d at length, and Sea to Shore:
964 Thy anger, unappeasable, still rages,
965 Eternal tempest never to be calm’d.
966 Why do I humble thus my self, and suing
967 For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate?
968 Bid go with evil omen and the brand
969 Of infamy upon my name denounc’t?
970 To mix with thy concernments I desist
971 Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own.
972 Fame if not double-fac’t is double-mouth’d,
973 And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds,
974 On both his wings, one black, th’ other white,
975 Bears greatest names in his wild aerie flight.
976 My name perhaps among the Circumcis’d
977 In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering Tribes,
978 To all posterity may stand defam’d,
979 With malediction mention’d, and the blot
980 Of falshood most unconjugal traduc’t.
981 But in my countrey where I most desire,

[Page 61 ]

982 In Ecron, Gaza, Asdod, and in Gath
983 I shall be nam’d among the famousest
984 Of Women, sung at solemn festivals,
985 Living and dead recorded, who to save
986 Her countrey from a fierce destroyer, chose
987 Above the faith of wedlock-bands, my tomb
988 With odours visited and annual flowers.
989 Not less renown’d then in Mount Ephraim,
990 Jael, who with inhospitable guile
1 Smote Sisera sleeping through the Temples nail’d.
2 Nor shall I count it hainous to enjoy
3 The public marks of honour and reward
4 Conferr’d upon me, for the piety
5 Which to my countrey I was judg’d to have shewn.
6 At this who ever envies or repines
7 I leave him to his lot, and like my own.
Chor.
8 She’s gone, a manifest Serpent by her sting
9 Discover’d in the end; till now conceal’d.
Sam.
10 So let her go, God sent her to debase me,

[Page 62 ]

11 And aggravate my folly who committed
12 To such a viper his most sacred trust
13 Of secresie, my safety, and my life.
Chor.
14 Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power,
15 After offence returning, to regain
16 Love once possest, nor can be easily
17 Repuls’t, without much inward passion felt
18 And secret sting of amorous remorse.
Sam.
19 Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end,
20 Not wedlock-trechery endangering life.
Cho.
21 It is not vertue, wisdom, valour, wit,
22 Strength, comliness of shape, or amplest merit
23 That womans love can win or long inherit;
24 But what it is, hard is to say,
25 Harder to hit,
26 (Which way soever men refer it)
27 Much like thy riddle, Samson, in one day
28 Or seven, though one should musing sit;

29 If any of these or all, the Timnian bride

[Page 63 ]

30 Had not so soon preferr’d
31 Thy Paranymph, worthless to thee compar’d,
32 Successour in thy bed,
33 Nor both so loosly disally’d
34 Thir nuptials, nor this last so trecherously
35 Had shorn the fatal harvest of thy head.
36 Is it for that such outward ornament
37 Was lavish’t on thir Sex, that inward gifts
38 Were left for hast unfinish’t, judgment scant,
39 Capacity not rais’d to apprehend
40 Or value what is best
41 In choice, but oftest to affect the wrong?
42 Or was too much of self-love mixt,
43 Of constancy no root infixt,
44 That either they love nothing, or not long?

45 What e’re it be, to wisest men and best
46 Seeming at first all heavenly under virgin veil,
47 Soft, modest, meek, demure,
48 Once join’d, the contrary she proves, a thorn

[Page 64 ]

49 Intestin, far within defensive arms
50 A cleaving mischief, in his way to vertue
51 Adverse and turbulent, or by her charms
52 Draws him awry enslav’d
53 With dotage, and his sense deprav’d
54 To folly and shameful deeds which ruin ends.
55 What Pilot so expert but needs must wreck
56 Embarqu’d with such a Stears-mate at the Helm?

57 Favour’d of Heav’n who finds
58 One vertuous rarely found,
59 That in domestic good combines:
60 Happy that house! his way to peace is smooth:
61 But vertue which breaks through all opposition,
62 And all temptation can remove,
63 Most shines and most is acceptable above.

64 Therefore Gods universal Law
65 Gave to the man despotic power
66 Over his female in due awe,
67 Nor from that right to part an hour,

[Page 65 ]

68 Smile she or lowre:
69 So shall he least confusion draw
70 On his whole life, not sway’d
71 By female usurpation, nor dismay’d.

72 But had we best retire, I see a storm?
Sam.
73 Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain.
Chor.
74 But this another kind of tempest brings.
Sam.
75 Be less abstruse, my riddling days are past.
Chor.
76 Look now for no inchanting voice, nor fear
77 The bait of honied words; a rougher tongue
78 Draws hitherward, I know him by his stride,
79 The Giant Harapha of Gath, his look
80 Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud.
81 Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither
82 I less conjecture then when first I saw
83 The sumptuous Dalila floating this way:
84 His habit carries peace, his brow defiance.
Sam.
85 Or peace or not, alike to me he comes.
Chor.
86 His fraught we soon shall know, he now arrives.

[Page 66 ]

Har.
87 I come not Samson, to condole thy chance,
88 As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been,
89 Though for no friendly intent. I am of Gath,
90 Men call me Harapha, of stock renown’d
91 As Og or Anak and the Emims old
92 That Kiriathaim held, thou knowst me now
93 If thou at all art known. Much I have heard
94 Of thy prodigious might and feats perform’d
95 Incredible to me, in this displeas’d,
96 That I was never present on the place
97 Of those encounters, where we might have tri’d
98 Each others force in camp or listed field:
99 And now am come to see of whom such noise
100 Hath walk’d about, and each limb to survey,
101 If thy appearance answer loud report.
Sam.
102 The way to know were not to see but taste.
Har.
103 Dost thou already single me; I thought
104 Gives and the Mill had tam’d thee? O that fortune
105 Had brought me to the field where thou art fam’d

[Page 67 ]

106 To have wrought such wonders with an Asses Jaw;
107 I should have forc’d thee soon wish other arms,
108 Or left thy carkass where the Ass lay thrown:
109 So had the glory of Prowess been recover’d
110 To Palestine, won by a Philistine
111 From the unforeskinn’d race, of whom thou bear’st
112 The highest name for valiant Acts, that honour
113 Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee,
114 I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out.
Sam.
115 Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do
116 What then thou would’st, thou seest it in thy hand.
Har.
117 To combat with a blind man I disdain,
118 And thou hast need much washing to be toucht.
Sam.
119 Such usage as your honourable Lords
120 Afford me assassinated and betray’d,
121 Who durst not with thir whole united powers
122 In fight withstand me single and unarm’d,
123 Nor in the house with chamber Ambushes
124 Close-banded durst attaque me, no not sleeping,

[Page 68 ]

125 Till they had hir’d a woman with their gold
126 Breaking her Marriage Faith to circumvent me.
127 Therefore without feign’d shifts let be assign’d
128 Some narrow place enclos’d, where sight may give thee,
129 Or rather flight, no great advantage on me;
130 Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy Helmet
131 And Brigandine of brass, thy broad Habergeon,
132 Vant-brass and Greves, and Gauntlet, add thy Spear
133 A Weavers beam, and seven-times-folded shield,
134 I only with an Oak’n staff will meet thee,
135 And raise such out-cries on thy clatter’d Iron,
136 Which long shall not with-hold mee from thy head,
137 That in a little time while breath remains thee,
138 Thou oft shalt wish thy self at Gath to boast
139 Again in safety what thou wouldst have done
140 To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more.
Har.
141 Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms
142 Which greatest Heroes have in battel worn,
143 Thir ornament and safety, had not spells

[Page 69 ]

144 And black enchantments, some Magicians Art
145 Arm’d thee or charm’d thee strong, which thou from Heaven
146 Feigndst at thy birth was giv’n thee in thy hair,
147 Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs
148 Were bristles rang’d like those that ridge the back
149 Of chaf’t wild Boars, or ruffl’d Porcupines.
Sam.
150 I know no Spells, use no forbidden Arts;
151 My trust is in the living God who gave me
152 At my Nativity this strength, diffus’d
153 No less through all my sinews, joints and bones,
154 Then thine, while I preserv’d these locks unshorn,
155 The pledge of my unviolated vow.
156 For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god,
157 Go to his Temple, invocate his aid
158 With solemnest devotion, spread before him
159 How highly it concerns his glory now
160 To frustrate and dissolve these Magic spells,
160 Which I to be the power of Israel’s God
161 Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test,

[Page 70 ]

162 Offering to combat thee his Champion bold,
163 With th’ utmost of his Godhead seconded:
164 Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow
165 Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine.
Har.
166 Presume not on thy God, what e’re he be,
167 Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off
168 Quite from his people, and delivered up
169 Into thy Enemies hand permitted them
170 To put out both thine eyes, and fetter’d send thee
171 Into the common Prison, there to grind
172 Among the Slaves and Asses thy comrades,
173 As good for nothing else, no better service
174 With those thy boyst’rous locks, no worthy match
175 For valour to assail, nor by the sword
176 Of noble Warriour, so to stain his honour,
177 But by the Barbers razor best subdu’d.
Sam.
178 All these indignities, for such they are
180 From thine, these evils I deserve and more,
181 Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me

[Page 71 ]

182 Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon
183 Whose ear is ever open; and his eye
184 Gracious to re-admit the suppliant;
185 In confidence whereof I once again
186 Defie thee to the trial of mortal fight,
187 By combat to decide whose god is God,
188 Thine or whom I with Israel’s Sons adore.
Har.
189 Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting
190 He will accept thee to defend his cause,
191 A Murtherer, a Revolter, and a Robber.
Sam.
192 Tongue-doubtie Giant, how dost thou prove me these?
Har.
193 Is not thy Nation subject to our Lords?
194 Thir Magistrates confest it, when they took thee
195 As a League-breaker and deliver’d bound
196 Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed
197 Notorious murder on those thirty men
198 At Askalon, who never did thee harm,
199 Then like a Robber stripdst them of thir robes?
200 The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league,

[Page 72 ]

201 Went up with armed powers thee only seeking,
202 To others did no violence nor spoil.
Sam.
203 Among the Daughters of the Philistines
204 I chose a Wife, which argu’d me no foe;
205 And in your City held my Nuptial Feast:
206 But your ill-meaning Politician Lords,
207 Under pretence of Bridal friends and guests,
208 Appointed to await me thirty spies,
209 Who threatning cruel death constrain’d the bride
210 To wring from me and tell to them my secret,
211 That solv’d the riddle which I had propos’d.
212 When I perceiv’d all set on enmity,
213 As on my enemies, where ever chanc’d,
214 I us’d hostility, and took thir spoil
215 To pay my underminers in thir coin.
216 My Nation was subjected to your Lords.
217 It was the force of Conquest; force with force
218 Is well ejected when the Conquer’d can.
219 But I a private person, whom my Countrey

[Page 73 ]

220 As a league-breaker gave up bound, presum’d
221 Single Rebellion and did Hostile Acts.
222 I was no private but a person rais’d
223 With strength sufficient and command from Heav’n
224 To free my Countrey; if their servile minds
225 Me their Deliverer sent would not receive,
226 But to thir Masters gave me up for nought,
227 Th’ unworthier they; whence to this day they serve.
228 I was to do my part from Heav’n assign’d,
229 And had perform’d it if my known offence
230 Had not disabl’d me, not all your force:
231 These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant
232 Though by his blindness maim’d for high attempts,
233 Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
234 As a petty enterprise of small enforce.
Har.
235 With thee a Man condemn’d, a Slave enrol’d,
236 Due by the Law to capital punishment?
237 To fight with thee no man of arms will deign.
Sam.
238 Cam’st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me,

[Page 74 ]

239 To descant on my strength, and give thy verdit?
240 Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform’d;
241 But take good heed my hand survey not thee.
Har.
242 O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus’d
243 Hear these dishonours, and not render death?
Sam.
244 No man with-holds thee, nothing from thy hand
245 Fear I incurable; bring up thy van,
246 My heels are fetter’d, but my fist is free.
Har.
247 This insolence other kind of answer fits.
Sams.
248 Go baffl’d coward, lest I run upon thee,
249 Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast,
250 And with one buffet lay thy structure low,
251 Or swing thee in the Air, then dash thee down
252 To the hazard of thy brains and shatter’d sides.
Har.
253 By Astaroth e’re long thou shalt lament
254 These braveries in Irons loaden on thee.
Chor.
255 His Giantship is gone somewhat crest-fall’n,
256 Stalking with less unconsci’nable strides,
257 And lower looks, but in a sultrie chafe.

[Page 75 ]

Sam.
258 I dread him not, nor all his Giant-brood,
259 Though Fame divulge him Father of five Sons
260 All of Gigantic size, Goliah chief.
Chor.
261 He will directly to the Lords, I fear,
262 And with malitious counsel stir them up
263 Some way or other yet further to afflict thee.
Sam.
264 He must allege some cause, and offer’d fight
265 Will not dare mention, lest a question rise
266 Whether he durst accept the offer or not,
267 And that he durst not plain enough appear’d.
268 Much more affliction then already felt
269 They cannot well impose, nor I sustain;
270 If they intend advantage of my labours
271 The work of many hands, which earns my keeping
272 With no small profit daily to my owners.
273 But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove
274 My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence,
275 The worst that he can give, to me the best.
276 Yet so it may fall out, because thir end

[Page 76 ]

277 Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine
278 Draw thir own ruin who attempt the deed.
Chor.
279 Oh how comely it is and how reviving
280 To the Spirits of just men long opprest!
281 When God into the hands of thir deliverer
282 Puts invincible might
283 To quell the mighty of the Earth, th’ oppressour,
284 The brute and boist’rous force of violent men
285 Hardy and industrious to support
286 Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue
287 The righteous and all such as honour Truth;
288 He all thir Ammunition
289 And feats of War defeats
290 With plain Heroic magnitude of mind
291 And celestial vigour arm’d,
292 Thir Armories and Magazins contemns,
293 Renders them useless, while
294 With winged expedition
295 Swift as the lightning glance he executes

[Page 77 ]

296 His errand on the wicked, who surpris’d
297 Lose thir defence distracted and amaz’d.

298 But patience is more oft the exercise
299 Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude,
300 Making them each his own Deliverer,
301 And Victor over all
302 That tyrannie or fortune can inflict,
303 Either of these is in thy lot,
304 Samson, with might endu’d
305 Above the Sons of men; but sight bereav’d
306 May chance to number thee with those
307 Whom Patience finally must crown.
308 This Idols day hath bin to thee no day of rest,

309 Labouring thy mind
310 More then the working day thy hands,
311 And yet perhaps more trouble is behind.
312 For I descry this way
313 Some other tending, in his hand
314 A Scepter or quaint staff he bears,

[Page 78 ]

315 Comes on amain, speed in his look.
316 By his habit I discern him now
317 A Public Officer, and now at hand.
318 His message will be short and voluble.
Off.
319 Ebrews, the Pris’ner Samson here I seek.
Chor.
320 His manacles remark him, there he fits.
Off.
321 Samson, to thee our Lords thus bid me say;
322 This day to Dagon is a solemn Feast,
323 With Sacrifices, Triumph, Pomp, and Games;
324 Thy strength they know surpassing human rate,
325 And now some public proof thereof require
326 To honour this great Feast, and great Assembly;
327 Rise therefore with all speed and come along,
328 Where I will see thee heartn’d and fresh clad
329 To appear as fits before th’ illustrious Lords.
Sam.
330 Thou knowst I am an Ebrew, therefore tell them,
331 Our Law forbids at thir Religious Rites
332 My presence; for that cause I cannot come.
Off.
333 This answer, be assur’d, will not content them.

[Page 79 ]

Sam.
334 Have they not Sword-players, and ev’ry sort
335 Of Gymnic Artists, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners,
336 Juglers and Dancers, Antics, Mummers, Mimics,
337 But they must pick me out with shackles tir’d,
338 And over-labour’d at thir publick Mill,
339 To make them sport with blind activity?
340 Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels
341 On my refusal to distress me more,
342 Or make a game of my calamities?
343 Return the way thou cam’st, I will not come.
Off.
344 Regard thy self, this will offend them highly.
Sam.
345 My self? my conscience and internal peace.
346 Can they think me so broken, so debas’d
347 With corporal servitude, that my mind ever
348 Will condescend to such absurd commands?
349 Although thir drudge, to be thir fool or jester,
350 And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief
351 To shew them feats, and play before thir god,
352 The worst of all indignities, yet on me

[Page 80 ]

353 Joyn’d with extream contempt? I will not come.
Off.
354 My message was impos’d on me with speed,
355 Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution?
Sam.
356 So take it with what speed thy message needs.
Off.
357 I am sorry what this stoutness will produce.
Sa.
358 Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed.
Chor.
359 Consider, Samson; matters now are strain’d
360 Up to the highth, whether to hold or break;
361 He’s gone, and who knows how he may report
362 Thy words by adding fuel to the flame?
363 Expect another message more imperious,
364 More Lordly thund’ring then thou well wilt bear.
Sam.
365 Shall I abuse this Consecrated gift
366 Of strength, again returning with my hair
367 After my great transgression, so requite
368 Favour renew’d, and add a greater sin
369 By prostituting holy things to Idols;
370 A Nazarite in place abominable
371 Vaunting my strength in honour to thir Dagon?

[Page 81 ]

372 Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous,
373 What act more execrably unclean, prophane?
Chor.
374 Yet with this strength thou serv’st the Philistines,
375 Idolatrous, uncircumcis’d, unclean.
Sam.
376 Not in thir Idol-worship, but by labour
377 Honest and lawful to deserve my food
378 Of those who have me in thir civil power.
Chor.
379 Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not.
Sam.
380 Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds
381 But who constrains me to the Temple of Dagon,
382 Not dragging? the Philistian Lords command.
383 Commands are no constraints. If I obey them,
384 I do it freely; venturing to displease
385 God for the fear of Man, and Man prefer,
386 Set God behind: which in his jealousie
387 Shall never, unrepented, find forgiveness.
388 Yet that he may dispense with me or thee
389 Present in Temples at Idolatrous Rites
390 For some important cause, thou needst not doubt.

[Page 82 ]

Chor.
391 How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach.
Sam.
392 Be of good courage, I begin to feel
393 Some rouzing motions in me which dispose
394 To something extraordinary my thoughts.
395 I with this Messenger will go along,
396 Nothing to do, be sure, that may dishonour
397 Our Law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.
398 If there be aught of presage in the mind,
399 This day will be remarkable in my life
400 By some great act, or of my days the last.
Chor.
401 In time thou hast resolv’d, the man returns.
Off.
402 Samson, this second message from our Lords
403 To thee I am bid say. Art thou our Slave,
404 Our Captive, at the public Mill our drudge,
405 And dar’st thou at our sending and command
406 Dispute thy coming? come without delay;
407 Or we shall find such Engines to assail
408 And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force,
409 Though thou wert firmlier fastn’d then a rock.

[Page 83 ]

Sam.
410 I could be well content to try thir Art,
411 Which to no few of them would prove pernicious.
412 Yet knowing thir advantages too many,
413 Because they shall not trail me through thir streets
414 Like a wild Beast, I am content to go.
415 Masters commands come with a power resistless
416 To such as owe them absolute subjection;
417 And for a life who will not change his purpose?
418 (So mutable are all the ways of men)
419 Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply
420 Scandalous or forbidden in our Law.
Off.
421 I praise thy resolution, doff these links:
422 By this compliance thou wilt win the Lords
423 To favour, and perhaps to set thee free.
Sam.
424 Brethren farewel, your company along
425 I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them
426 To see me girt with Friends; and how the sight
427 Of me as of a common Enemy,
428 So dreaded once may now exasperate them

[Page 84 ]

429 I know not. Lords are Lordliest in thir wine;
430 And the well-feasted Priest then soonest fir’d
431 With zeal, if aught Religion seem concern’d:
432 No less the people on thir Holy-days
433 Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable;
434 Happ’n what may, of me expect to hear
435 Nothing dishonourable, impure, unworthy
436 Our God, our Law, my Nation, or my self,
437 The last of me or no I cannot warrant.
Chor.
438 Go, and the Holy One
439 Of Israel be thy guide
440 To what may serve his glory best, & spread his name
441 Great among the Heathen round:
442 Send thee the Angel of thy Birth, to stand
443 Fast by thy side, who from thy Fathers field
444 Rode up in flames after his message told
445 Of thy conception, and be now a shield
446 Of fire; that Spirit that first rusht on thee
447 In the Camp of Dan

[Page 85 ]

448 Be efficacious in thee now at need.
449 For never was from Heaven imparted
450 Measure of strength so great to mortal seed,
451 As in thy wond’rous actions hath been seen.
452 But wherefore comes old Manoa in such hast
453 With youthful steps? much livelier then e’re while
454 He seems: supposing here to find his Son,
455 Or of him bringing to us some glad news?
Man.
456 Peace with you brethren; my inducement hither
457 Was not at present here to find my Son,
458 By order of the Lords new parted hence
459 To come and play before them at thir Feast.
460 I heard all as I came, the City rings
461 And numbers thither flock, I had no will,
462 Lest I should see him forc’t to things unseemly.
463 But that which mov’d my coming now, was chiefly
464 To give ye part with me what hope I have
465 With good success to work his liberty.
Cho.
466 That hope would much rejoyce us to partake

[Page 86 ]

467 With thee; say reverend Sire, we thirst to hear.
Man.
468 I have attempted one by one the Lords
469 Either at home, or through the high street passing,
470 With supplication prone and Fathers tears
471 To accept of ransom for my Son thir pris’ner,
472 Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh,
473 Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite;
474 That part most reverenc’d Dagon and his Priests,
475 Others more moderate seeming, but thir aim
476 Private reward, for which both God and State
477 They easily would set to sale, a third
478 More generous far and civil, who confess’d
479 They had anough reveng’d, having reduc’t
480 Thir foe to misery beneath thir fears,
481 The rest was magnanimity to remit,
482 If some convenient ransom were propos’d.
483 What noise or shout was that? it tore the Skie.
Chor.
484 Doubtless the people shouting to behold
485 Thir once great dread, captive, & blind before them,

[Page 87 ]

486 Or at some proof of strength before them shown.
Man.
487 His ransom, if my whole inheritance
488 May compass it, shall willingly be paid
489 And numberd down: much rather I shall chuse
490 To live the poorest in my Tribe, then richest,
491 And he in that calamitous prison left.
492 No, I am fixt not to part hence without him.
493 For his redemption all my Patrimony,
494 If need be, I am ready to forgo
495 And quit: not wanting him, I shall want nothing.
Chor.
496 Fathers are wont to lay up for thir Sons,
497 Thou for thy Son art bent to lay out all;
498 Sons wont to nurse thir Parents in old age,
499 Thou in old age car’st how to nurse thy Son.
500 Made older then thy age through eye-sight lost.
Man.
501 It shall be my delight to tend his eyes,
502 And view him sitting in the house, enobl’d
503 With all those high exploits by him atchiev’d,
504 And on his shoulders waving down those locks,

[Page 88 ]

505 That of a Nation arm’d the strength contain’d:
506 And I perswade me God had not permitted
507 His strength again to grow up with his hair
508 Garrison’d round about him like a Camp
509 Of faithful Souldiery, were not his purpose
510 To use him further yet in some great service,
511 Not to sit idle with so great a gift
512 Useless, and thence ridiculous about him.
513 And since his strength with eye-sight was not lost,
514 God will restore him eye-sight to his strength.
Chor.
515 Thy hopes are not ill founded nor seem vain
516 Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon
517 Conceiv’d, agreeable to a Fathers love,
518 In both which we, as next participate.
Man.
519 I know your friendly minds and—O what noise!
520 Mercy of Heav’n what hideous noise was that!
521 Horribly loud unlike the former shout.
Chor.
522 Noise call you it or universal groan
523 As if the whole inhabitation perish’d,

[Page 89 ]

524 Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noise,
525 Ruin, destruction at the utmost point.
Man.
526 Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise,
527 Oh it continues, they have slain my Son.
Chor.
528 Thy Son is rather slaying them, that outcry
529 From slaughter of one foe could not ascend.
Man.
530 Some dismal accident it needs must be;
531 What shall we do, stay here or run and see?
Chor.
532 Best keep together here, lest running thither
533 We unawares run into dangers mouth.
534 This evil on the Philistines is fall’n,
535 From whom could else a general cry be heard?
536 The sufferers then will scarce molest us here,
537 From other hands we need not much to fear.
538 What if his eye-sight (for to Israels God
539 Nothing is hard) by miracle restor’d,
540 He now be dealing dole among his foes,
541 And over heaps of slaughter’d walk his way?
Man.
542 That were a joy presumptuous to be thought.
Chor.
543 Yet God hath wrought things as incredible
544 For his people of old; what hinders now?
Man.
545 He can I know, but doubt to think he will;
546 Yet Hope would fain subscribe, and tempts Belief.
547 A little stay will bring some notice hither,
Chor.
548 Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner;
549 For evil news rides post, while good news baits.
540 And to our wish I see one hither speeding,
541 An Ebrew, as I guess, and of our Tribe.
Mess.
542 O whither shall I run, or which way flie

[Page 90 ]

543 The sight of this so horrid spectacle
544 Which earst my eyes beheld and yet behold;
545 For dire imagination still persues me.
546 But providence or instinct of nature seems,
547 Or reason though disturb’d, and scarse consulted
548 To have guided me aright, I know not how,
549 To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these
550 My Countreymen, whom here I knew remaining,
551 As at some distance from the place of horrour,
552 So in the sad event too much concern’d.
Man.
553 The accident was loud, & here before thee
554 With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not,
555 No Preface needs, thou seest we long to know.
Mess.
556 It would burst forth, but I recover breath
557 And sense distract, to know well what I utter.
Man.
558 Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer.
Mess.
559 Gaza yet stands, but all her Sons are fall’n,
560 All in a moment overwhelm’d and fall’n.
Man.
561 Sad, but thou knowst to Israelites not saddest

[Page 91 ]

562 The desolation of a Hostile City.
Mess.
563 Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfet.
Man.
564 Relate by whom.
Mess.
564 By Samson.
Man.
564 That still lessens

565 The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Mess.
566 Ah Manoa I refrain, too suddenly
567 To utter what will come at last too soon;
568 Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption
569 Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.
Man.
570 Suspense in news is torture, speak them out.
Mess.
571 Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead.
Man.
572 The worst indeed, O all my hope’s defeated
573 To free him hence! but death who sets all free
574 Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge.
575 What windy joy this day had I conceiv’d
576 Hopeful of his Delivery, which now proves
577 Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring
578 Nipt with the lagging rear of winters frost.
579 Yet e’re I give the rains to grief, say first,
580 How dy’d he? death to life is crown or shame.

[Page 92 ]

581 All by him fell thou say’st, by whom fell he,
582 What glorious hand gave Samson his deaths wound?
Mess.
583 Unwounded of his enemies he fell.
Man.
584 Wearied with slaughter then or how? explain.
Mess.
585 By his own hands.
Man.
585 Self-violence? what cause
586 Brought him so soon at variance with himself
587 Among his foes?
Mess.
587 Inevitable cause
588 At once both to destroy and be destroy’d;
589 The Edifice where all were met to see him
590 Upon thir heads and on his own he pull’d.
Man.
591 O lastly over-strong against thy self!
592 A dreadful way thou took’st to thy revenge.
593 More then anough we know; but while things yet
594 Are in confusion, give us if thou canst,
595 Eye-witness of what first or last was done,
596 Relation more particular and distinct.
Mess.
597 Occasions drew me early to this City,
598 And as the gates I enter’d with Sun-rise,
599 The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim’d

[Page 93 ]

600 Through each high street: little I had dispatch’t
601 When all abroad was rumour’d that this day
602 Samson should be brought forth to shew the people
603 Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games;
604 I sorrow’d at his captive state, but minded
605 Not to be absent at that spectacle.
606 The building was a spacious Theatre
607 Half round on two main Pillars vaulted high,
608 With seats where all the Lords and each degree
609 Of sort, might sit in order to behold,
610 The other side was op’n, where the throng
611 On banks and scaffolds under Skie might stand;
612 I among these aloof obscurely stood.
613 The Feast and noon grew high, and Sacrifice
614 Had fill’d thir hearts with mirth, high chear, & wine,
615 When to thir sports they turn’d. Immediately
616 Was Samson as a public servant brought,
617 In thir state Livery clad; before him Pipes
618 And Timbre’s, on each side went armed guards,

[Page 94 ]

619 Both horse and foot before him and behind
620 Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts and Spears.
621 At sight of him the people with a shout
622 Rifted the Air clamouring thir god with praise,
623 Who had made thir dreadful enemy thir thrall.
624 He patient but undaunted where they led him,
625 Came to the place, and what was set before him
626 Which without help of eye, might be assay’d,
627 To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform’d
628 All with incredible, stupendious force,
629 None daring to appear Antagonist.
630 At length for intermission sake they led him
631 Between the pillars; he his guide requested
632 (For so from such as nearer stood we heard)
633 As over-tir’d to let him lean a while
634 With both his arms on those two massie Pillars
635 That to the arched roof gave main support.
636 He unsuspitious led him; which when Samson
637 Felt in his arms, with head a while enclin’d,

[Page 95 ]

638 And eyes fast fixt he stood, as one who pray’d,
639 Or some great matter in his mind revolv’d.
640 At last with head erect thus cryed aloud,
641 Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos’d
642 I have perform’d, as reason was, obeying,
643 Not without wonder or delight beheld.
644 Now of my own accord such other tryal
645 I mean to shew you of my strength, yet greater;
646 As with amaze shall strike all who behold.
647 This utter’d, straining all his nerves he bow’d,
648 As with the force of winds and waters pent,
649 When Mountains tremble, those two massie Pillars
650 With horrible convulsion to and fro,
651 He tugg’d, he shook, till down they came and drew
652 The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder
653 Upon the heads of all who sate beneath,
654 Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests,
655 Thir choice nobility and flower, not only
656 Of this but each Philistian City round

[Page 96 ]

657 Met from all parts to solemnize this Feast.
658 Samson with these immixt, inevitably
659 Pulld down the same destruction on himself;
660 The vulgar only scap’d who stood without.
Chor.
661 O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious!
662 Living or dying thou hast fulfill’d
663 The work for which thou wast foretold
664 To Israel, and now ly’st victorious
665 Among thy slain self-kill’d
666 Not willingly, but tangl’d in the fold,
667 Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin’d
668 Thee with thy slaughter’d foes in number more
669 Then all thy life had slain before.
Semichor.
670 While thir hearts were jocund and sublime,
671 Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine,
672 And fat regorg’d of Bulls and Goats,
673 Chaunting thir Idol, and preferring
674 Before our living Dread who dwells
675 In Silo his bright Sanctuary:

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676 Among them he a spirit of phrenzie sent,
677 Who hurt thir minds,
678 And urg’d them on with mad desire
679 To call in hast for thir destroyer;
680 They only set on sport and play
681 Unweetingly importun’d
682 Thir own destruction to come speedy upon them.
683 So fond are mortal men
684 Fall’n into wrath divine,
685 As thir own ruin on themselves to invite,
686 Insensate left, or to sense reprobate,
687 And with blindness internal struck.
Semichor.
688 But he though blind of sight,
689 Despis’d and thought extinguish’t quite,
690 With inward eyes illuminated
691 His fierie vertue rouz’d
692 From under ashes into sudden flame,
693 And as an ev’ning Dragon came,
694 Assailant on the perched roosts,

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695 And nests in order rang’d
696 Of tame villatic Fowl; but as an Eagle
697 His cloudless thunder bolted on thir heads.
698 So vertue giv’n for lost,
699 Deprest, and overthrown, as seem’d,
700 Like that self-begott’n bird
701 In the Arabian woods embost,
702 That no second knows nor third,
703 And lay e’re while a Holocaust,
704 From out her ashie womb now teem’d,
705 Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most
706 When most unactive deem’d,
707 And though her body die, her fame survives,
708 A secular bird ages of lives.
Man.
709 Come, come, no time for lamentation now,
710 Nor much more cause, Samson hath quit himself
711 Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish’d
712 A life Heroic, on his Enemies
713 Fully reveng’d, hath left them years of mourning,

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714 And lamentation to the Sons of Caphtor
715 Through all Philistian bounds. To Israel
716 Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them
717 Find courage to lay hold on this occasion,
718 To himself and Fathers house eternal fame;
719 And which is best and happiest yet, all this
720 With God not parted from him, as was feard,
721 But favouring and assisting to the end.
722 Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail
723 Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt,
724 Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair,
725 And what may quiet us in a death so noble.
726 Let us go find the body where it lies
727 Sok’t in his enemies blood, and from the stream
728 With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off
729 The clotted gore. I with what speed the while
730 (Gaza is not in plight to say us nay)
731 Will send for all my kindred, all my friends
732 To fetch him hence and solemnly attend

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733 With silent obsequie and funeral train
734 Home to his Fathers house: there will I build him
735 A Monument, and plant it round with shade
736 Of Laurel ever green, and branching Palm,
737 With all his Trophies hung, and Acts enroll’d
738 In copious Legend, or sweet Lyric Song.
739 Thither shall all the valiant youth resort,
740 And from his memory inflame thir breasts
741 To matchless valour, and adventures high:
742 The Virgins also shall on feastful days
743 Visit his Tomb with flowers, only bewailing
744 His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
745 From whence captivity and loss of eyes.
Chor.
746 All is best, though we oft doubt,
747 What th’ unsearchable dispose
748 Of highest wisdom brings about,
749 And ever best found in the close.
750 Oft he seems to hide his face,
751 But unexpectedly returns

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752 And to his faithful Champion hath in place
753 Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns
754 And all that band them to resist
755 His uncontroulable intent,
756 His servants he with new acquist
757 Of true experience from this great event
758 With peace and consolation hath dismist,
759 And calm of mind all passion spent.

John Milton