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Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail

Or knock the breast, no weaknefs, no contempt,
Difpraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair
And what may quiet us in a death so noble.
Let us go find the body where it lies

Sok'd in his enemies' blood, and from the ftream
With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off
The clotted gore. I with what speed the while
(Gaza is not in plight to fay us nay)

Will fend for all my kindred, all my friends,
To fetch him hence, and folemnly attend

With filent obfequy and funeral train

1725

1730

1735

Home to his father's houfe: there will I build him
A monument, and plant it round with shade
Of laurel ever green, and branching palm,
With all his trophies hung, and acts inroll'd
In copious legend, or fweet lyric fong.
Thither shall all the valiant youth refort,
And from his memory inflame their breasts
To matchless valor, and adventures high:
The virgins also shall on feastful days
Vifit his tomb with flowers, only bewailing
His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice,
From whence captivity and loss of eyes.
CHO. All is best, though we oft doubt,

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,
But unexpectedly returns,
VOL. III.

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
With peace and confolation hath difmift,
And calm of mind, all paffion spent.

1755

END OF SAMSON AGONISTES.

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"Cingite, ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro.”

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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.

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