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MAN. Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise: Oh it continues, they have flain my fon.

CHO. Thy fon is rather flaying them, that outcry From flaughter of one foe could not ascend.

MAN. Some dismal accident it needs must be; What shall we do? stay here, or run and see ? 1520 CHO. Beft keep together here, left running thither We unawares run into danger's mouth.

This evil on the Philistines is fall'n;

From whom could elfe a general cry be heard?
The fufferers then will scarce moleft us here,
From other hands we need not much to fear.
What if, his eye-fight (for to Ifrael's God
Nothing is hard) by miracle restor❜d,
He now be dealing dole among his foes,

1525

And over heaps of flaughter'd walk his way?

1530

MAN. That were a joy presumptuous to be thought. CHO. Yet God hath wrought things as incredible

For his people of old; what hinders now?

MAN. He can I know, but doubt to think he will; Yet hope would fain subscribe, and tempts belief. 1535 A little stay will bring fome notice hither.

CHO. Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner; For evil news rides poft, while good news baits. And to our wish I fee one hither speeding,

An Hebrew, as I guess, and of our tribe.

MESS. O whither fhall I run, or which way fly

The fight of this fo horrid fpectacle,

Which erft my eyes beheld, and yet behold?
For dire imagination ftill purfues me,

1540

But

But providence or inftinct of nature seems,
Or reason though difturb'd, and scarce confulted,
To' have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first, reverend Manoah, and to these
My countrymen, whom here I knew remaining,
As at some distance from the place of horror,
So in the fad event too much concern'd.

1545

1550

MAN, The accident was loud, and here before thee With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not; No preface needs, thou feeft we long to know. MESS. It would burst forth, but I recover breath And fense distract, to know well what I utter.

MAN. Tell us the fum, the circumftance defer. MESS. Gaza, yet ftands, but all her fons are fall'n, All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n.

MAN. Sad, but thou know'ft to Ifraelites not faddeft, The defolation of a hostile city. [furfeit. MESS. Feed on that firft, there may in grief be MAN. Relate by whom.

MESS. By Samson.

MAN. That still leffens

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

MESS. Ah Manoah, I refrain too fuddenly 1565 To utter what will come at last too foon; Left evil tidings with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep.

MAN. Sufpenfe in news is torture, speak them out. MESS. Take then the worst in brief, Samfon is dead. MAN. The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated To free him hence! but death who fets all free

Hath

Hath paid his ranfome now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd
Hopeful of his delivery, which now proves
Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring
Nipt with the lagging rear of winter's froft!
Yet, ere I give the reins to grief, say first,
How dy'd he; death to life is crown or shame.

1575

All by him fell thou fay'ft, by whom fell he,

1580

What glorious hand gave Samson 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 cause

'Brought him fo foon at variance with himself Among his foes?

MESS. Inevitable caufe,

At once both to destroy and be destroy'd;
The edifice, where all were met to see him,
Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.

MAN. O laftly over-ftrong against thyself! 1590
A dreadful way thou took'ft to thy revenge.
More than enough we know; but while things yet
Are in confufion, give us if thou canst,

Eye-witness of what firft or laft was done,

Relation more particular and distinct.

1595

MESS. Occafions drew me early to this city,

And as the gates I enter'd with fun-rise,
The morning trumpets feftival proclam'd
Through each high-street: little I had dispatch'd,
When all abroad was rumor'd that this day

1600 Samfon

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 spectacle.

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

1605

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand; 1610 I among these aloof obfcurely stood.

The feast 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,

1615

In their ftate livery clad; before him pipes
And timbrels, on each fide went armed guards,
Both horfe and foot, before him and behind
Archers and flingers, cataphracts and spears.
At fight of him, the people with a shout
Rifted the air, clamoring their God with praise,
Who' had made their dreadful enemy their thrall.
He patient but undaunted where they led him,
Came to the place, and what was fet before him,
Which without help of eye might be affay'd,

1620

1625

To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still 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

1630

(For

(For fo from fuch as nearer ftood we heard)

As over-tir'd to let him lean a while

With both his arms on those two massy pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main support.
He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfon 1635
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 reafon 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 waters pent,
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 burst of thunder
Upon the heads of all who fat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower, not only

Of this but each Philistian city round,

1665

Met from all parts to folemnize this feast.

Samfon with these immix'd, inevitably

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

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

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