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OF DRAMATIC TRAGEDY, &c.

before of his attaining to the tyranny. Auguftus Caefar alfo had begun his Ajax, but, unable to please his own judgment with what he had begun, left it unfinifhed. Seneca the philofopher is by fome thought the author of thofe tragedies (at least the best of them) that go under that name. Gregory Nazianzen, a father of the church, thought it not unbefeeming the fanctity of his perfon to write a tragedy, which is entitled, Chrift Suffering: This is mentioned to vindicate tragedy from the fmall efteem, or rather infamy, which in the account of many it undergoes at this day with other common interludes; happening through the poet's error of intermixing comic stuff with tragic fadnefs and gravity; or introducing trivial and vulgar perfons, which by all judicious hath been counted abfurd; and brought in without difcretion, corruptly to gratify the people. And though ancient tragedy ufe no prologue, yet ufing fometimes, in case of self-defence, or explanation, that which Martial calls an epistle. In behalf of this tragedy coming forth after the ancient manner much different from what among us paffes for beft, thus much before hand be may epiftled; that chorus is here introduced after the Greek manner, not ancient only but modern, and ftill in ufe among the Italians. In the modelling therefore of this poem, with good reason, the ancients and Italians are rather follow'd, as of much more authority and fame. The measure of verfe used in the chorus is of all forts, call'd by the Greeks Monoftrophic, or rather Apolelymenon, without regard had to Strophe, Antistrophe, or Epod, which were a kind ftanza's fram'd only for the mufic, then ufed with the chorus that fung; not effential to the poem, and therefore not material ;.

OF DRAMATIC TRAGEDY, &c.

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or being divided into ftanza's or pauses, they may be called Allaeoftropha. Divifion into act and scene referring chiefly to stage (to which this work never was intended) is here omitted.

It fuffices if the whole drama be found not produced beyond the fifth act. Of the style and uniformity, and that commonly call'd the plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but fuch oeconomy or difpofition of the fable as may stand best with verifimilitude and decorum, they only will beft judge who are not unacquainted with Æfchylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the three tragic poets unequall'd yet by any, and the best rule to all who endeavour to write tragedy. The circumfcription of time, wherein the whole drama begins and ends is, according to ancient rule, and beft example, within the space of 24 hours.

Samfon made captive, blind, and now in the prifon at Gaza, there to labour as in a common work-house, on a festival-day, in the general ceffation from labour, comes forth into the open air, to a place nigh, fomewhat retired, there to fit a while and bemoan his condition. Where he happens at length to be vifited 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 purpose to procure his liberty by ranfom; laftly, that this feaft was proclaimed 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 Philistine lords for Samfon's redemption; who in the mean while is vifited by other perfons; and laftly by a public officer to require his coming to the feafst before the lords and people, to play or fhew his ftrength in their prefence; he at first refufes, difmiffing the public 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 remaining on the place, Manoa returns fall of joyful hope, to procure ere long his fon's deliverance: In the midst of which difcourfe an Hebrew comes in hafte, confusedly at first, and afterwards more distinctly, relating the catastrophe, what Samfon had done to the Philistines, and by accident to himself; wherewith the tragedy ends.