For dire imagination ftill purfues me.

But Providence, or inftinct of Nature feems,
Or Reafon, though difturb'd, and scarce confulted
To have guided me aright, I know not how,
To thee first, reverend Manoa, and to these

My countrymen; whom here I knew remaining,
As at fome distance from the place of horror,
So in the fad event too much concern'd.

1545

1550

Man. The accident was loud, and heard before thee
With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not;
No preface needs, thou feeft we long to know.

Me. It would burst forth; but I recover breath And fenfe diftract, to know well what I utter.

Man. Tell us the fum, the circumftance defer.

Me. Gaza yet ftands, but all her Sons 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 hoftile City.

1556

1561

Me. Feed on that firft; there may in grief be furfeit.

Man. Relate by whom. Me. By Samfon.

The forrow, and converts it nigh to joy.

Mef. Ah! Manoa, I refrain, too fuddenly To utter what will come at last too foon ; Left evil tidings, with too rude irruption Hitting thy aged ear, fhould pierce too deep.

Man. That [ftill leffens

1565

Man. Sufpence in news is torture; fpeak them out.
Me. Then take the worft in brief, Samfon is dead. 1570.

Man.

Man. The worst indeed: O all my hopes defeated
To free him hence! but death, who fets all free,
Hath paid his ranfom now and full discharge.
What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd,
Hopeful of his Deliv'ry, which now proves
Abortive, as the first born bloom of Spring,
Nipt with the lagging reer 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?
What glorious hand gave Samfon his death's wound?

1575

1580

Me. Unwounded of his enemies he fell.

Man. Wearied with flaughter then, or how? explain

Me. By his own hands.

Man. Self-violence! what cause

Brought him so soon at variance with himself
Among his Foes?

3585

Mell. Inevitable caufe,

At once both to destroy and be destroyed:

The Edifice, where all were met to see him,

1590

Upon their heads and on his own he pull'd.

Man. Olaftly over-ftrong against thyself!

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 canft,

1595

Eye-witness of what firft or laft was done,
Relation more particular and distinct.

Mel. Occafions drew me early to this City, And as the gates I enter'd with Sun-rife, The Morning Trumpets Festival proclaim'd

1600 Through

Through each high-street: little had I dispatch'd,
When all abroad was rumour'd that this day
Samjon fhould be brought forth to fhew the people
Proof of his mighty ftrength in feats and games.
I forrow'd at his captive ftate, but minded
Not to be abfent at that spectacle.

The building was a fpacious 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 scaffolds under Skie might stand;

1605

1610

I among thofe aloof obfcurely ftood."

The Feaft and Noon grew high, and Sacrifice

Had fill'd their hearts with mirth, high chear and wine, When to their sports they turn'd. Immediately

1616

Was Samfon as a publick fervant brought,

In their state Livery clad; before him Pipes

And Timbrels; on each fide went armed guards,

1620

Both horfe and foot, before him and behind
Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts, and Spears.
At fight of him the people with a fhout
Rifted the Air, clamouring 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,

1625

To heave, pull, draw, and break, he still perform'd
All with incredible ftupendous force,

None daring to appear Antagonist.

1630

At length for intermiffion-fake they led him
Between the Pillars; he his guide requested
(For fo from fuch as nearer ftood we heard)
As over-tir'd, to let him lean awhile

With both his arms on those two maffie Pillars,
That to the arched roof gave main fupport.
He unfufpicious led him; which when Samfon
Felt in his arms, with head a while inclin'd,

1635

And

And eyes faft fixt, 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
I have perform'd, as reafon was, obeying,
Nor without wonder or delight beheld:
Now of my own accord fuch other trial
I mean to fhew you of my strength, 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,

1640

1645

When Mountains tremble, those two maffie Pillars 1650 With horrible confufion to and fro,

He tugg'd, he fhook, 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 Priests,

1655

Their choice Nobility, and Flower, not only
Of this but each Philiflian City round,
Met from all parts to folemnize this Feaft.
Samson with these inmixt, inevitably

Pull'd down the fame deftruction on himself;

1660

The vulgar only fcap'd, who ftood without.

Chor. O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious!

Living or dying thou haft fulfill'd

The work for which thou waft foretold

Semichor. While their hearts were jocund and sublime,

Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine,

And fat regorg'd of Bulls and Goats,

Chaunting their Idol, and preferring

Before

Before our living Dread, who dwells

In Silo, his bright Sanctuary;

Among them he a fpirit of phrenzie fent,
Who hurt their minds,

And urg'd them on with mad defire

To call in hafte for their deftroyer:
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 blindness internal ftruck.

Semichor. But he, though blind of fight, Defpis'd, and thought extinguifh'd quite, With inward eyes illuminated,

His fiery virtue rous'd

1675

1680

1685

1690

From under ashes into fudden flame;

And as ev'ning Dragon came,

Affailant on the perched roofts,

1695

And nefts in order rang'd'

Of tame villatick Fowl; but, as an Eagle,

1705

Revives, re-flourishes, then vigorous meft,

When most unactive deem'd,

And though her body die, her fame furvives,

A fecular Bird ages of lives.

Man. Come, come, no time for lamentation now,

1709

Nor