The ARGUMENT.

AMSON made Captive, Blind, and now in the Prifon at Gaza, there to labor as in a common work-boufe; on a Festival day, in the general ceffation from labour, comes forth into the open Air, to a place nigh, fomewhat retir'd, there to fit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be visited by certain friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who feek to comfort him what they can; then by his old Father Manoa, who endeavours the like, and withal tells him his purpofe to procure his liberty by ranfom; and laftly, that this Feaft was proclaim'd by the Philiftines as a day of Thanksgiving for their deliverance from the hands of Samfon, which yet more troubles him. Manoa then departs to profecute his endeavour with the Philiftian Lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and lastly by a publick Officer to require his coming to the Feast before the Lords and People, to play or fhew his ftrength in their prefence: he at firft refuses, difmiling the publick Officer with abfolute denial to come; at length perfuaded inwardly that this was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the fecond time with great threatnings to fetch him. The Chorus yet

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remaining on the place, Manoa returns full of joyful hopes to procure ere long his Son's deliverance: in the midst of which difcourfe an Hebrew comes in hafte, confusedly at firft, and afterward more diftinctly relating to him the Catastrophe, what Sampfon had done to the Philiftines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the Tragedy ends.

Messenger.

Chorus of Danites.

The Scene before the Prifon in Gaza.

I Lightbody Sculp

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