THE PERSONS. SAMSON. MANOAH, the Father of Samfon. DALILA, his Wife. HARAPHA of Gath. Public Officer. Meffenger. Chorus of Danites. The SCENE before the Prison in Gaza. 211 SAMSON AGONISTES. A SAMSON. Little onward lend thy guiding hand To thefe dark steps, a little further on; Samfon Agoniftes] The fubject but a very indifferent one for a dramatic fable. However he has made the best of it. He feems to have chofen it for the fake of the fatire on bad wives. Warburton. Samfon Agoniftes] That is Samfon an allor, Samfon reprefented in a play. Aywins, ludio, hiftrio, actor fcenicus. Samfon] Milton after the example of the Greek tragedians, whom he profeffes to imitate, opens his drama with introducing one of its principal perfonages explaining the story upon which it is founded. Thyer. 1. A little onward lend thy guiding hand 5 The To thefe dark steps,] So Tirefias in Euripides, Phæniffæ ver. 841. Ηγε προπάροιθε θυγατερ, ὡς τυφλῳ ποδι &c. Richardfon. 3. For yonder bank] The fcene of this tragedy is much the fame as that of the Οιδίπες επι κολωνῳ in Sophocles, where blind Oedipus is conducted in like manner and reprefented fitting upon a little hill near Athens: but yet I think there is fcarcely a fingle thought the fame in the two pieces, and I am fure the Greek tragedy can have no pretence to be esteem'd better, but only because it is two thousand years older. I I 15 The breath of Heav'n fresh blowing, pure and sweet, 13. To Dagon their fea-idol,] For Milton both here and in the Paradife Loft follows the opinion of thofe, who defcribe this idol as part man, part fish. I. 462. Dagon his name, fea monfter, upward man And downward fish. 24. Twice by an Angel,] Once to his mother, and again to his father Manoah and his mother both, 20 25 From From off the altar, where an offering burn'd, His god-like prefence, and from fome Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race? great act Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd Defign'd for great exploits; if I muft die To grind in brazen fetters under task Put to the labor of a beaft, debas'd 30 35 With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious strength Lower than bond-flave! Promife was that I ftood tho' not exprefs'd. As in a fiery column charioting &c, and as from fome great act Sc. 33. Betray'd, captiv'd,] It should be pronounced with the accent upon the last fyllable, as afterwards ver. 694. To dogs and fowls a prey, or elfe captiv'd. I think we commonly pronounce it with the accent upon the fat 40 Himself in bonds under Philiftian yoke : Yet ftay, let me not rafhly call in doubt By weakest subtleties, not made to rule, But to fubferve where wisdom bears command! 53. But what is ftrength without Of wisdom, &c] Ovid. Met. XIII. 363. Tu vires fine mente geris- 50 55 69 Of |