Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail Or knock the breast, no weaknefs, no contempt, Sok'd in his enemies' blood, and from the ftream Will fend for all my kindred, all my friends, With filent obfequy and funeral train 1725 1730 1735 Home to his father's houfe: there will I build him 174.0 1745 What th' unsearchable dispose Of highest wisdom brings about, And ever beft found in the close. Oft he seems to hide his face, 1750 F And And to his faithful champion hath in place Borne witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns, And all that band them to refift His uncontrolable intent; His fervants he with new acquist Of true experience from this great event 1755 END OF SAMSON AGONISTES. To the first edition of the author's poems, printed in 1645, was prefixed the following advertisement of IT The STATIONER to the READER. T is not any private respect of gain, gentle Reader, for the flightest pamphlet is now-a-days more vendible than the works of learnedeft men; but it is the love I have to our own language, that hath made me diligent to collect and set forth fuch pieces both in profe and verfe, as may renew the wonted honor and efteem of our English tongue: and it's the worth of these both English and Latin poems, not the florish of any prefixed encomiums, that can invite thee to buy them, though these are not without the highest commendations and applaufe of the learnedeft Academics, both domestic and foreign; and amongst those of our own country, the unparallel'd atteftation of that renown'd Provost of Eton, Sir Henry Wotton. I know not thy palate how it relishes fuch dainties, nor how harmonious thy foul is; perhaps more trivial airs may please thee better. But howfoever thy opinion is spent upon these, that encouragement I have already received from the most ingenious men in their clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Waller's late choice pieces, hath once more made me adventure into the world, prefenting it with these ever-green, and not to be blasted laurels. The Author's more peculiar excellency in thefe ftudies was too well known to conceal his papers, er to keep me from attempting to folicit them from. him. F 3 |