Hath paid his ranfom now and full discharge. What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves Abortive as the firft-born bloom of fpring Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's frost! Yet, ere I give the reins to grief, say first, How dy'd he; death to life is crown or shame. All by him fell thou fay'ft, by whom fell he,
What glorious hand gave Samfon his death's wound? MESS. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.
MAN. Wearied with flaughter then, or how? explain. MESS. By his own hands.
MAN. Self-violence? what caufe
Brought him fo foon at variance with himself Among his foes?
MESS. Inevitable cause,
At once both to deftroy and be destroy'd; The edifice, where all were met to fee him, Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd. MAN. O laftly over-ftrong against thy felf! A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge. More than enough we know; but while things yet Are in confufion, give us if thou canst,
Eye-witness of what first or last was done,
Relation more particular and diftin&t.
MESS. Occafions drew me early to this city,
And as the gates I enter'd with fun-rife, The morning trumpets feftival proclam'd
Through each high-ftreet: little I had dispatch'd, When all abroad was rumor'd that this day
Samfon should be brought forth, to show the people Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games; I forrow'd at his captive state, but minded Not to be abfent at that fpectacle.
The building was a spacious theatre Half-round on two main pillars vaulted high, With feats where all the lords and each degree Of fort, might fit in order to behold; The other fide was open, where the throng On banks and fcaffolds under fky might stand; I among these aloof obscurely ftood.
The feaft and noon grew high, and facrifice
Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high chear, and wine, When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately
Was Samfon as a public fervant brought,
In their state livery clad; before him pipes
And timbrels, on cach fide went armed guards, Both horfe and foot, before him and behind Archers and flingers, cataphracts and fpears. At fight of him, the people with a shout Rifted the air, clamoring their God with praife, Who' had made their dreadful enemy their 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, To heave, pull, draw, or break, he ftill perform'd All with incredible, ftupendous force,
None daring to appear antagonist.
At length for intermiffion fake they led him Between the pillars; he his guide requested
(For fo from fuch as nearer stood we heard) As over-tir'd to let him lean a while With both his arms on thofe two maffy pillars, That to the arched roof gave main support. He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfon Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd, And eyes fast fix'd, he stood, as one who pray'd, Or fome great matter in his mind revolv'd:
At laft with head erect thus cry'd 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 fuch other trial
I mean to show you of my ftrength, yet greater; As with amaze fhall ftrike all who behold. This utter'd, ftraining all his nerves he bow'd, As with the force of winds and water pents, When mountains tremble, thofe two maffy pillars With horrible convulfion to and fro,
He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came, and drew The whole roof after them, with burft of thunder Upon the heads of all who fat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priefts, Their choice nobility and flower, not only Of this but each Philiftian city round,
Met from all parts to folemnize this feast. Samfon with thefe immix'd, inevitably
Pull'd down the fame deftruction on himself; The vulgar only fcap'd who stood without.
CHO. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! 1660
They only fet on sport and play Unweetingly importun'd
Their own deftruction to come speedy upon them.
So fond are mortal men
Fall'n into wrath divine,
As their own ruin on themselves t' invite,
Infenfate left, or to fenfe reprobate,
And with blindnefs internal ftruck.
2 SEMICHOR. But he, though blind of fight,
Defpis'd and thought extinguifh'd quite,
With inward eyes illuminated,
His fiery virtue rous'd
From under afhes into fudden flame,
And as an evening dragon came,
MAN. Come, come, no time for lamentation now,
Nor much more caufe; Samfon hath quit himself Like Samfon, and heroicly hath finish'd
A life heroic, on his enemies
Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning, And lamentation to the fons of Caphtor
Through all Philiftian bounds, to Ifrael
Honor hath left, and freedom, let but them Find courage to lay hold on this occafion; To' himself and father's houfe eternal fame; And which is beft and happiest yet, all this With God not parted from him, as was fear'd, But favoring and affifting to the end,
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