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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,

1575

1580

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.

1585

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,

1590

Eye-witness of what first or last was done,

Relation more particular and diftin&t.

1595

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

1600 Samfon

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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

1605

1610

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

1615

1620

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,

1625

None daring to appear antagonist.

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

1630

(For

(For fo from fuch as nearer stood we heard)
As over-tir'd to let him lean a while
With both his arms on thofe two maffy pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main 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,

1635

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,

1645

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

Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priefts,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only
Of this but each Philiftian city round,

1655

Met from all parts to folemnize this feast.
Samfon with thefe immix'd, inevitably

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

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

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1680

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

1685

1690

From

From under afhes into fudden flame,

And as an evening dragon came,

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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

1710

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,

1715

1720

Nothing

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