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? 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? 1540 But But providence or inftinct of nature seems, 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. 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; MAN. O laftly over-ftrong against thyself! 1590 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, 1600 Samfon Samfon should be brought forth, to show the people The building was a spacious theatre 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, 1615 In their ftate livery clad; before him pipes 1620 1625 To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd At length for intermiffion fake they led him 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, I mean to show you of my ftrength, yet greater; As with amaze fhall ftrike all who behold. 1645 He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came, and drew 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; CHо. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! 1660 |